8 Ways to Make Sure You're Buying a Quality Pre-Loved Car

Buying a used car isn’t easy - and in order to find a good, quality car, you need to know exactly what to look for. Many things come into place, and if you aren’t able to pick up the most important ones you are risking to buy a car that is not worth its price. So, in order to help you evade that scenario, we have compiled a list that consists of 8 ways to be sure that you are buying a car in excellent condition.

1. Be Sure to Look into the Vehicle’s History

Vehicle history is extremely important when it comes to buying a used car. Before anything else, you should check the vehicle history with the current owner and then do your own research on what the car has been through. 

Sure, you can try and do that yourself, but some information can really be hard to find. That’s why there are companies that can help you with that, some of them even offering to do this research for you online. The experts from CarHistory.online compile this information into a comprehensive report that will serve you well. So, what information can you get? Well, you will know if the car has been in an accident, if there are, perhaps, any liens on it, whether the car has a lemon history, and so on.

2. Contact the Seller

It would be great if you contact the seller as soon as the car takes your interest. More often than not, the advertisement doesn’t disclose all the necessary information, which does make sense since not everything about the car can fit in it. So, when you talk to the current owner, he will be able to provide you some details that a background check most often can’t pick up, like, are there any small technical problems that you should be aware of? Or, why did they decide to sell it in the first place? 

If there is anything suspicious regarding the car in question, it is much more likely that you would notice it from the conversation than just from the ad. 

3. Test-Drive the Car 

Going for a test drive can help you a great deal when it comes to determining the condition of the car. The first thing that you do when you start the engine, is to make sure that everything is quiet enough, and then, listen carefully. If there are any tapping or clicking sounds, it’s not a good sign and can indicate a problem. 

It would be best if you drive the car on different types of roads and at varying speeds in order to see if the transmission shifts smoothly, as well as the brakes! Make sure to note any unusual engine noises, as well as whether all of the electronics in the car are working properly.

4. Ask for Mileage and the Year of Manufacture

As far as the year of manufacture is concerned, to be fair, it doesn’t always tell you much about the state of the car by itself - some older cars might be in a better state than some newer ones. But that being said, the older car is going to be in a good state only if it’s well maintained, so take that with a grain of salt. Also, some parts are harder to find if a car is older. On the other hand, mileage can tell you a lot, but if a context is provided. Many people tend to think that an older car with low mileage is a great find, but it isn’t always the case, since if a car is driven infrequently, the possibility is high that some plastic and rubber parts on the vehicle are dried out and have gotten brittle.

5. Check for Rust

Now when it comes to rust, a little bit of it isn’t that big of a deal, that can be fixed fairly easily. But if it so happens that you open the hood and see rust and corrosion everywhere, we’ll that’s a big red flag. Also, be sure to ask the seller about rusty parts, for instance, if there was one rusty panel that the owner has changed. The problem is, it’s an easy “fix” because the rust is the most visible and that visibility is neutralized, but on the other hand, the probability is high that the other panels are rusty, but not visible yet.

6. Inspect the Tires

Never forget to inspect the tires! If there is something wrong with them and you failed to detect the problem before the purchase, you might be looking at spending $800 in order to change the tires. 

So, what are you looking for when inspecting them? You want to turn them outwards, and then check how they are wearing off. If they are wearing off evenly - good, but if they are asymmetrically worn off, the car might have a problem with the alignment. 

7. Open the Hood

You just can’t buy the car without opening the hood first! Many people think that this is too complicated, but it really isn’t. So, the first thing that you should do is a visual inspection. Look at the engine for fluid leaks, corrosion, and cracked hoses and belts. Secondly, you want to find and check the oil and transmission dipsticks, the color of the oil is the easiest way to get insight on the state of the car.  The oil should be light brown while the transmission fluid should be pink or red, and if you happen to find any discoloration, something is probably wrong.

8. Inspect the Interior 

Last but not least - nothing says a pre-loved car as maintained interior does. Of course, it’s not the most important factor when it comes to buying a car, but you should inspect the interior anyway, you are going to spend time there every day. And we aren’t just talking about the visual aspect, but a functional one as well. Be sure to try and sit in all the seats in the vehicle, and look for any unusual wear and tear in the upholstery. Comfort is very important if you are going to drive that car for a long period of time. Also, if it so happens that the interior of the car smells kind of musty, you should thoroughly check the carpet as well as floor mats for signs of a leak or water damage.

As we have already stated, buying a car is no easy task, but there are things that you can do in order to make it easier. The ways that we have presented may help you greatly when it comes to choosing a used car that meets your needs, fits your budget, and is overall a good car. Knowing what to look for and consider is crucial in order to make an informed decision about the car you are purchasing. So, all of that being said, be sure to do your research and good luck!