What are good questions to ask when buying a used car not from a dealer?

Question

I dont know much about cars and I am going to go look at a car this weekend and i want to know what i should ask before buying the car. What things should i look out for? It's not from a dealer.

Answer 1

Do Not Buy That Used Car If...
These are the top mistakes made by used car buyers. Don't let this happen to you!
• The 17 digit VIN#'s on the door, hood, engine, dashboard do not all match exactly
• You failed to have a mechanic check out the car on a lift
• You did not run the Experian AutoCheck Vehicle History Reports on the car's VIN# prior to purchasing
• The title still shows a lien holder with no "Lien Satisfied" stamp on it. It means they still owe the bank
• The AutoCheck report shows evidence of odometer rollback or title branded as junk, flooded, stolen, etc
• There is no VIN# on the dashboard, or it has been filed down or altered in any way
• The seller does not let you drive the car first
• The seller does not back up every verbal promise IN WRITING!
• The seller is NOT the owner of the car. It means they are a dealer's agent
• The seller has no written bill of sale identifying the car, VIN#, and stating the title has not been rebuilt, etc.
• The seller does not give you copies of anything you ask for
• It's parked along the side of the road with a For sale sign, unless you can verify they are the owner
• The seller has no drivers license, title, and registration for the car. Assume the car is stolen
• You have not verified the seller's name on their drivers license is the same person on the car title
• The seller refuses to let you take the car to a trusted mechanic for inspection
• The seller's asking price is suspiciously far below market value
• The seller makes you sign a power of attorney, or only wants cash
• The seller tells you to pay now, and he'll get you the title tomorrow, it's locked up at the bank


General Info And Features
What is the year, model, and color of the car? ________________
How many miles are on the car? ________________________________
Is the car manual or automatic transmission? __________________
What options are on the car? __________________________________
Are the seats vinyl, cloth, or leather? _______________________
If the seats are electric, are they working normally? _________
Does the car have an alarm and does it work? __________________
Does the car alarm ever false trigger? How often? _____________
________________________________________

Ownership And History
Why is the owner selling the car? ____________________________
How many owners has this car had? __________________________
Was the car driven by a person who smokes? __________________
Has the odometer ever been rolled back? _____________________
What is the 17 digit VIN# of this car? _______________________________
(Get this info and obtain a AutoCheck Vehicle History Report)
Does the car have an extended warranty? _________
If so, is the Extended Warranty transferable to a new owner? _________
(This can only be verified in writing from the existing policy. Word of honor is not good enough).
Has the title been branded by an insurance company as junked, flooded, totaled, etc.? ______
(In some states they are required by law to disclose this in the ad).
Has the car ever been in an accident, and if so, was there frame damage, and how much was the repair? __________
Has the car ever been repainted? _______________
How often was the car waxed? __________________
Has the car been used for hire as a taxi or limousine? ________
Does the seller have the title in their posession for inspection?_____________
Is the seller acting on behalf of a dealer?_____________
________________________________________

Maintenance And Condition
Do they have all maintenance records, proof of tune ups, and oil change receipts? ________
What are all the major problems with the car? ____________________________________________
____________________________________________________
What is the condition of the paint on the car? _________________
Are there any major scratches, dents or dimples in the paint?________
Is there any rust on the car? __________________
How is the condition of the interior, seats, the dash, roof? __________________________
Are there any transmission problems such as slipping, not changing gear, etc.? ______
If manual transmission, when was the clutch last replaced? ________
Does the A/C blow cold and does the heater blow warm? ____
Is the battery, alternator, and starter in good condition? ______________
What electrical problems are there with the car? ____________________
Does the Radio work? __________________________________________
Does the car have an oil leak, transmission leak or radiator leak? ______
When was the last time the radiator was flushed? ___________________
When was the last time the A/C system was worked on? _______
Does the car burn oil or have white exhaust? ____________________
What EXACT month was the last oil change? ____________________
When was the last tune up or fuel injector cleaning? ______________
How old are the tires and when were they last replaced? __________
If the car has headlight motors do they work properly? _____
Do the power doors and power windows work? _________________
Is the dashboard cracked? _____________
Is there a CD changer or tape player and is it working? ______
Any skipping problems with the CD player? ___________________
Are all speakers working and are any of them cracked? __________
Does the water pump make any strange rattles or noises? __________
When was the battery or alternator replaced last? ________________
Batteries last only about 2 years on average.
________________________________________

Drivability Issues
Does the car drive straight or does it pull to the right or left? __________
When was the last time the tires were aligned? ______________________
Any problems with excessive wear and balding on the tires? ________
________________________________________

Logistics
How low in price is the seller willing to go? _____________________
When can the car be picked up by the buyer? ___________________
Can the car be brought to a mechanic for an inspection? ________
Does the seller have the title to the car? ________________________
Does the seller have proof that the car is theirs to sell? _____
Does the seller have a valid driver's license to prove ownership? ______
Is any money still owed to a bank for a loan on the car? ___________
How many people have looked at the car? What are the offers? _______

Answer 2

Ask them if they can present you with a Carfax history report. That should show if the car had any major service or was in any accidents. Then just inspect things like how it the engine sounds when it runs, if there's any loud noises when it does this. Then just get a visual on some things like the tire treads to see how worn they are and also check upholstery on the inside for any skuffs or anything you wouldn't want. Some other good things to ask the person is how well they drove it and how old the tires are, how long have they owned it, were they the first, second etc owner. It may be tough to grasp the concept that this car won't be perfect since it's used, but just check some of the basics that I listed to make sure the car is still in decent shape. Also, when it comes time to buy, make sure you try to bargain with the dealer/owner. See if they will clean it for you, fill the tank, fix any minor parts, lower the price, etc. If they really want to sell you this car, then you can convince them to do some of these things, and you'll feel good that you got a good deal. Good luck and have fun choosing!

Answer 3

Here are the questions:

Are you the original owner?
Why do you want to sell your car?
Why not sell it to a dealer?
Is this the original paint, battery and tires? (if they say it's not the original paint. There might be a possibility that this car was in an accident before).
Is the mileage freeway mileage or local mileage?
Does the A/C work?
When is the last time you change the break?
Do you have all the receipts from regular oil change or maintance services?

Answer 4

well, i always say to research what it is you are wanting, therefor making an informed and intelligent decision.

aside from that, when you go to see a vehicle, keep you questions simple and basic to let the owner talk . what they say will tell you a lot about how well the vehicle had been taken care of.
look for the basics,overall condition inside and out, tires/rims etc... in good condition, engine not covered in grease and also not freshly cleaned either, maintenance records for it.
it never hurts to invite someone with you that might have some experence to give you a second opinion on the condition and maybe the price
be familiar of the price range so you won't pay too much

craigslist.org

in your area, or even the newspaper can give you realistic expectations or comparisons

Answer 5

It's always a good idea to have YOUR mechanic check a used car before you buy. If a seller doesn't want you to take the car to your mechanic, you do not want this car.
So, call them and ask if it's OK to show this car to your mechanic. If they object, find another car. If they are OK with it, ask your friends to recommend a mechanic and set the time with the mechanic to bring the car for an inspection.
Many people think this is an overkill, well, I do know about cars and can fix a lot of things myself, but I never bought a used car without my trusted mechanic and I never had problems with the cars I bought. Just personal opinion.

Answer 6

The absolutely free reverse vin check sites generally provide fake information. To get real information, money will have to be paid. The free searches provide fake information so they can get your email address to send spam.

Stay away from shady reverse vin check sites, most likely you won't get any information after you make the payment. Not to mention you won't get a report and you won't get an answer if you try to call for a refund. Stick with a reputable reverse vin check site like http://www.reversevincheck.net that has been around since 1995.

Answer 7

Has it been in any accidents and to see the maintance record to ensure regular oil changes. If they can't prove regular oil changes there is a very good posibility that they have not maintained the car properly and you don't want the maintance troubles that you would then have to pay for.

Answer 8

Carfax report please.. Have the guy pay for it and if you buy the car it can come off the top but if it fails your not out of pocket

Answer 9

-How many owners has the car had?
-Any recent body work?
-Do you keep up with regular maintenance work?
-Why are you selling?