What should you look for when you buy a used car?

Answer 1

service history,
the amount of owners is correct

proof that its been serviced regularly

Check the millage on the last mot compared to now

Ask if it has been in any accidents

When you first start it up get someone to go round the back and make sure there is no heavy white or grey smoke

Pop the bonnet and check parts to make sure they are not covered in rust and you cant see any oil leaks

Look round the car for rust on wheel arches etc

Take on a test drive

How much tax is left if not alot get them to drop the price

If you do buy from a private owner dont forget to ask for a receipt

Answer 2

You don't say what country your buying in, but I'm basing my reply on the UK used car market, a lot of it should be broadly transferable to pretty much anywhere else.

a) Is the vehicle actually theres to sell?
Seems a obvious thing, but so very often overlooked, do they have the full Vehicle Registration Document, V5 in UK?
Don't be afraid to ask questions if there is any 'dual interest' noted on the document or if the address doesn't match where your buying the vehicle from.
Do they have sales documents etc to confirm legal title of the vehicle?
Any doubt at all on this, no matter how attractive the deal, walk away, keep your money and keep searching.

b) Is the vehicle well maintained and serviced correctly?
Again this is something that is largely supported by documents or a dealer stamped vehicle service history.
In the UK, just because the vehicle has passed a MOT recently, doesn't mean that its going to need work on the vehicle.
Also, its worth noting that if you purchase the vehicle privately in the UK, its 'sold as seen' you have little or no legal rights compared to buying from a used vehicle specialist.
Definitely 'let the buyer beware'.
Ask a friend or relative that has a few years experience in motoring come with you, they might see something that you don't. Remember its your hard earned that your parting company with.

If you want a 'belt and braces' peace-of-mind solution, there are motoring organisation's that will carry out a search and check on the vehicle for a fee. The RAC and AA spring to mind, but I'm sure there are others.

These will check to see if there is any finance outstanding on the vehicle, if the vehicle has ever been on MIAFTR thats the Police and Motor Insurers database for stolen and vehicles that have been declared 'write offs'.

c) Ask them why there selling the vehicle.
Again if its a private sale the more information you have, the better informed decision you can make.

d) Buy a copy of Parkers.
This guide book is basically a Bible for used cars, it will give you notes on common faults to look for and what to expect to pay for a vehicle. Its about as close to the Glass's guide that the 'man-on-the-street' can get to.

Answer 3

Normal mileage usage is usually considered 12-15000 per year. Of course the type of mileage is also critical, is the mileage mostly in city with a a lot of stop and go, or mostly high way miles. These are important answers to find out if possible.

Education and knowledge is the key, knowing as much as you can before buying a car will help you reduce the risk of buying something that is a "lemon".

Mechanically speaking, you can't foresee into the future on what if anything will break down. This of course is true with even new cars, if they didn't, they wouldn't offer a warranty.

With a used car, the best you can do is to make sure the mechanical condition basics are up to par, this really isn't so difficult if you know what to look for.

Research the history if possible, determine if the oil has been changed on a regular basis, look inside the oil cap if you can and see if you see any oil sludge or caked up oil.

Check the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s web site at www.nicb.org, they have compiled a list of vehicles that have that have been affected by hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. While this list may not include every single vehicle, it’s a good place to start with.

You should also run an online history report, but once again, this database may not be all-inclusive, it’s simply another step in the process of elimination. (See the link below concerning online history reports)

Look at the cooling system as well, remove the radiator cap (COLD ENGINE ONLY) and look to see if the water is rusted or brownish looking which would indicate possible serious issues.

----Know how to peform a "proper" test drive and what to look for during, this doesn't include a spin around the block either. A proper road test should include 25 miles of driving, cold and hot, along with different road surfaces as well.---

Perform a visual inspection for signs of paint/body repairs--sample pics at the link below.

See the links below for more info that may help.

Jerry
http://www.usedcarwise.com

Answer 4

With the internet you can learn alot about a car before you buy it. First, Look at the blue book and determine wether the price is fair. The blue book will actually give you figures for condition and milage and will help alot. Second, and very important if you like the car once you have seen it run a CARFAX on the vehicle. all you need is the Vin # that is located in the front window of the car. Just type in the vin number and it will let you know wether the car has ever been in an accident or a flood. it will also give you an idea wether the milage is true etc. Really worth the money and sometimes they will give you the first one for free.
Look for something with low milage. They can make any car look good but one of my tricks is to look at the gas and brake pedal. The wear is really apparent and if they are saying that this is a newer car and the pedals are all worn out you will know something is up. There are some great deals out there but there are some bad ripoffs as well. Carfax has saved me a couple of times. Good Luck

Answer 5

Make sure the owner ship is clear, check parking fees if it has a date, check licence and insurance, these will help you to burgain properly, then look at its body, buying an old car the boby matters a lot, the rest can be changed when u want, but if money is a problem consider the sound ness of the engine

Answer 6

How much MOT it has remaining. Also if it is mechanically sound, take it for a test drive to see how it drives, and have a check around (or get someone who knows more about cars to do it) to see if you can spot any forseeable problems. Also check service history. If its been serviced regularly its been taken care of and should give the car more life. See when the Cam belt was changed, also check mileage against year of car, high mileage cars are more prone to problems. Also ask about fuel consumption, as you dont want a gas guzzler and check for dents/scratches!
Also if it has any tax it's a bonus! Good luck!

Answer 7

differences in paint work could indicate an accident. Listen to the motor, check no rattling etc... lift the bonnet & make sure all the bits are there. Check radio, windows etc for electronic faults. Make sure you always have the log book & MOT history. Take down the reg & do a police check on it to check it's not stolen.

Answer 8

I think you should check the mileage and service history. Try and choose one with a recent-ish MOT and look out for signs of rust. Best thing to do is take someone along who knows about cars.

Answer 9

Check that the millage is genuine, that it has a service history book that recorded all its services in the past, and that its not stolen. Best to buy a car that has only one owner previously.

Answer 10

Look at www.autotrader.co.uk and compare a few models I like. Find one that suits my purpose and look around for one. Bought a Ford Focus last year, superb motor, had a Proton Compact before that, too low now with my bad back but a very underrated motor, goes like the wind and very stable. Wife has it now. 7 years old, MOT cost £17.50 in parts this year.