How To Inspect A Used Car Before Buying

Buying a used car calls for thoroughness and paying attention to details. This is because, if you don’t inspect it well, you might fall victim to buying a damaged car that will give you lots of expenses and problems in the future. Car inspection or vehicle inspection is a practice done to ascertain if a car is in good working condition or environmentally safe.

Buying a used car is a huge purchase, therefore, it’s important you inspect it thoroughly so as to get the best deal for your money. 

Why Is Used Car Inspection Necessary

• It lets you know if the car is safe.
• It ensures you get good value for your money.
• It saves you money in the long run.
• It prevents you from unnecessary expenses.
• It gives you peace of mind about your vehicle of choice before purchase.
• It ensures you don’t become a victim of buying damaged or stolen cars.

How To Inspect A Used Car 

Inspection is especially necessary for used cars, this is because one or more persons have used the car, and you never can tell why they are choosing to sell it. Not everyone sells cars because they need money, some do because they are tired of the trouble and expenses the car brings. If you are a Nigerian, you especially need to shine your eyes when buying a used car, otherwise, you would be deceived. 

This article shows you key areas to inspect in a used car before you sign the deal and make a purchase:

Inspect The Interior

How the interior of the car looks gives you a clue about how the owner maintained it. 

• Check out the upholstery for rips, teàrs and stains. 
• Also, start the car and inspect the air conditioner and heater system if it’s working properly. 
• When inspecting the interior, you shouldn’t forget to check out the odometer readings. An average driver puts 10,000 to 15,000 miles on a car annually. 
• Observe the smell. A musty, mouldy, or mildew smell could indicate water leaks. Remove the floor carpets and check for wetness.
• Check out the sound system such as the MP3, CD player, and speakers if they are working well.
• Inspect the roof lines for leaks or cracks.

Inspect The Exterior

To properly inspect the exterior of the car, ensure the car is on a flat surface. Although it’s a used car, that doesn’t mean the exterior should be in a bad condition. Important checkpoints on the exterior of a car include: 

• The paints: observe the paint well for dents, rust, or other scratches. This might not be important to you if you intend to repaint the vehicle. However, you need to observe this well as it could be hiding other serious mechanical damage to the exterior of the car.
• Tires: The tires ought to match and be in good condition. Inspect the tires to ascertain they show even wear.
• Front: Inspect the fenders, grille, and hood. Scratches or replacements could signal the car has been involved in some terrible wreck. 
• Glass: Inspect the glasses for cracks. Big cracks or damages to the windshield could be good ground for negotiations.
• Lights: Check out the lights including the front and rear lights if they are in good working condition. 

Inspect Under The Hood

Under the hood of a car is a critical checkpoint when inspecting a used car. Excessive rust, dents and scratches could be a clue the vehicle has not been properly maintained. Important things to inspect under the hood include:

• Hoses and belts: inspect them to be sure there are no cracks, breakage or leaks.
• Battery: observe the battery well for rust, corrosion, and leaks.
• Engine: observe the engine. You might need to start the car and drive it around for a few minutes to know the true state of the engine.
• Oil filter cap: inspect the oil filter cap for leaks and cracks. A foamy residue could mean the head gasket leaks.
• Inspect the oil and transmission fluid. Ensure their colours are the expected ones and not black and dirty.
• Inspect the timing belts for cracks and excessive looseness.

Inspect Under The Vehicle

Under the vehicle is a place never to leave out when inspecting a used car. If you know where the vehicle has been parked, you can observe the ground for oil leaks such as petrol, transmission fluid, coolant etc. Inspect the tailpipe for residues. If it’s black and greasy, it means burnt oil. Tailpipe smudge should normally be dry and dark grey.

Inspect The Controls

Inspecting the controls of a car will require that you do a test drive on the car. Ideally, before paying for a used car, you ought to do a test drive to guarantee the car works and feels well to you behind the wheel. When driving, inspect for jerks or sudden bumps when changing gears. If this happens, it could be a point that there is something wrong with the engine or transmission.

During the test drive, inspect if the driver assistance features like lane assist, adaptive cruise control, etc are in good working condition. Increase and decrease speed and observe if there are vibrations on the steering wheel. When driving, watch out for strange noises, squeals, and other unusual sounds. 

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Ask Questions

Before buying a used car, it helps to ask questions about the car from the seller or the dealer. If there are any concerns about the vehicle you desire, it’s alright to ask the buyer about it. After all, it’s your money. 

DO A VIN CHECK

Every vehicle has a Vehicle Identification Number, which is unique to it. The VIN is made of 17 characters and is present on every vehicle. It is especially important you do a VIN check before buying a used car as this can dig up bad secrets the owner is choosing to hide from you. The VIN can be used to track recalls, registrations, warranty claims, thefts, insurance coverage and other pertinent missing information about your car. You can do a VIN check online by using platforms such as CarFax, EpicVIN, which run a check for you for free. Kindly note that comprehensive VIN reports on your car come at a cost.

CONCLUSION

A thorough inspection is critical before making a purchase decision on a used car. If you notice minor problems, it could be a good leverage to negotiate the price. However, the problems with the car are enormous, it might be wise to go for another vehicle.