Purchasing a secondhand vehicle can be a bit overwhelming. There are a ton of things to check for, from VIN numbers to branded titles. We always highly recommend seeing the vehicle in person before forking over cash, but when it comes down to it, what exactly are you looking for in these inspections?
Why Inspect a Preloved Car
A seller can hide a lot of flaws behind an online listing. One of the most important reasons you should view a secondhand vehicle in person is to catch any hidden issues before it’s too late. If you’re not too savvy with vehicles, bring a friend who is. While a professional is always the best choice, work with what you have. Read up on common issues that the model line faces, and be thorough when you see the vehicle in person. Inspecting the vehicle might even reveal safety hazards.
Any flaws you find that weren’t mentioned in the listing or during your chats with the seller might earn you some bargaining power in negotiations too.
Pro Tips are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.
Pro Tip: One of the “buzz phrases” you’ll hear if you’re buying the car from a man is if he says, “I’m not a mechanic,” and that usually means he’s hoping for plausible deniability and knows there’s something you may discover later that he didn’t tell you. Always be wary when you hear that.
How To Inspect a Used Car
So what should you be looking out for exactly during a physical inspection? You’ll want to start with exteriors and move on to interiors, but here are some specifics you should keep an eye on:
Exterior
Sometimes, a vehicle’s exteriors can tell you a lot about its current state. Other times, it might just be hiding glaring flaws. Here’s what to look out for:
Body Condition
Some things are obvious; some, not so much.
Check for scratches, dents, and rust all over the vehicle’s body (these are obvious and easy to see). Make sure the vehicle’s body panels are all aligned (you may not spot this if you don’t look carefully). And make sure the glass in the windows and windshields is crack-free (this is easy to spot). Sometimes a short crack will grow into a long crack, so be very careful about ignoring what may seem like minor cracks, particularly if they start at the edge of the glass.
Check to see if the windshield is “sand pitted” so that you can’t see through it well if the sun is bright and at an angle. You might need to pay attention to this while test driving and making turns.
While the paint job is important, also check the areas that aren’t easily repainted. Also keep an eye out for mismatched paint colors, in case they’re a sign of an undisclosed repair.
Open all the doors and look carefully for any stickers that might indicate that the vehicle is a salvage rebuild or that the speedometer has been replaced. On older vehicles, a red tenths digit means the speedo has been replaced.
Open all the doors and look carefully for any stickers that might indicate that the vehicle is a salvage rebuild or that the speedometer has been replaced. On older vehicles, a red tenths digit means the speedo has been replaced.
– Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician
Lights
Test all the lights, including the headlights, tail lights, fog lights, and puddle lights. Having a friend outside to confirm the lights are behaving properly can be a real help. All the light lenses and reflectors should be intact and undamaged. Look for moisture in the lights or excessively fogged headlights.
Tires
You can check a vehicle’s tire condition and tread depth using a quarter. If you slot it into a tire’s grooves, the tire should cover part of Washington’s head.
If it doesn’t cover his head at all, that means you’ll need to replace the tires and add that to the vehicle’s price when computing how much your secondhand ride will cost you. Using the quarter, you can check the tread depth on all the tires. If the tires aren’t wearing down evenly, it could indicate alignment or suspension issues.
Look at the age of the tires. Good looking tires can be expired and not safe.
Suspension
Check if the vehicle sits evenly at sitting level.
With the front tires straight and the vehicle on level ground, use a tape measure and take a reading rim to the fender well on all four corners.
Side to side should be the same on front and rear, but rear may be a bit more than the front on pickup trucks.
Walk around and push the vehicle’s corners to jounce the suspension (see this 10 second video).
If the vehicle rebounds once and doesn’t bounce, the shock absorbers should be in good shape. If it keeps bouncing, the shocks are worn out. You can also look with a flashlight (if you can see them) to see if the shocks are leaking oil.
Tug the top of each tire back and forth. If you hear clunking sounds or feel the wheels wobble oddly while you tug, it’s likely due to bad wheel bearings or suspension joints.
Trunk and Doors
Check the trunk and doors to make sure they open and close properly. If the VIN sticker is on the driver’s door rather than the door post, check and make sure it’s the same as the VIN that is on the plate under the windshield. If not, that door has been replaced.
The weatherstripping should also be intact. Don’t forget to look inside the vehicle’s trunk to check for water damage or even pests. Roaches and ants like cars once they get a foothold and they can be hard to get rid of.
Interior
Once you’re done checking the exteriors, it’s time to look at the interiors. Remember, you’ll be spending hours in the vehicle’s cabin, so you want it to be comfy.
Sit in the seats and see if you feel any rotten foam or broken springs. If the previous owner was very heavy, the seat might have more wear than you’ll be comfortable with.
Odor
Keep your nose sharp when opening the vehicle’s door. Remove any air fresheners to make sure they aren’t masking any incriminating odors. Moldy or musty smells in the vehicle’s cabin could mean the vehicle has some hidden water damage.
It’s very difficult to get rid of cigarette smoke too, so if the cabin smells strongly of nicotine, be ready for an uphill cleaning battle if you decide to buy the vehicle. If it smells like dogs, you’ll notice that right away.
Seats and Upholstery
Check for any suspicious stains on the upholstery. Check for tears in the leather or cloth. Be sure to check under any present seat covers. Check that the seats are comfortable and the foam isn’t worn down. See if the seat features work. Look under the seats to see if there are any old french fries or petrified apple cores.
Trim and Headliner
The vehicle’s headliner shouldn’t be sagging or stained. It might indicate a leak if the roof is showing signs of water damage. Or it might just mean the headliner needs replacing, because this happens with age even if there’s no water leak.
If the vehicle comes with a sunroof or moonroof, it should open and close properly with a good seal. Shine a flashlight on convertible tops to check for damage and operate the top to make sure it works the way it should.
Check other pieces of trim for yellowing and sun damage as well. Dash cracks went away back in the early 1990s when padded vinyl was replaced with hard plastic, but have a look anyway.
Controls
All the dashboard controls and power features should be working. Look at the gauges and indicators, as well as the different systems. Automatic windows and locks should engage as necessary, and the features advertised should be working fine.
Pro Tips are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.
Pro Tip: Sometimes the back windows won’t work because they’re stuck in their rubber tracks from non-use, but if you don’t ride back there it might not bother you for the rear windows not to work. This might also be a point you could make for a lower price from the seller.
Turn on the A/C and make sure it cools the way it should and pay attention to all the fan speeds. Listen to the blower. If it vibrates, it may have something caught in its squirrel cage.
Pedals
It’s good to check the brake, gas, and clutch pedals for wear and tear. If the vehicle’s seller is boasting about low mileage and the pedals are worn through, there’s a good chance they’re lying. If the pedals are brand-new though, it might just mean they replaced the old ones recently.
Notice clutch play and brake pedal height, and with the car running, press and hold the brake to see if it slowly falls away under your foot, which would indicate master cylinder issues.
Sound and Entertainment System
The vehicle’s radio should be working on all channels. If there’s a CD player, check that it can load and eject a disc. Check for connectivity and if the entertainment system works with your smartphone or other tech. Older vehicle entertainment systems might not connect well with newer smartphones, so check online for potential problems and solutions.
Check the sound coming from the speakers as well. If the music coming out sounds garbled or broken, it’s possible that one of the speakers is busted. Of course, if you never listen to the radio, you might not attach much significance to it, and audiophiles will usually replace the sound system anyway.
Under the Hood
If you’re confident in your automotive repair knowledge, you can also check for issues under the hood. The seller likely won’t let you disassemble anything, but you can at least poke around. Here are some things even a DIY beginner can look at:
Oil and Other Fluid Levels
If the vehicle has a dipstick, use it to check the oil level and condition. If there’s burnt oil or coolant in the oil reservoir, you’ll likely end up facing more problems later on if you buy the vehicle. Check all the fluid levels while you’re there, to include the coolant (notice if it’s rusty), the brake fluid, the power steering (and listen for whining while the steering is being operated).
Remove the oil filler cap and look with a flashlight as good as you can to see if the engine’s innards are coated with sludge.
Pro Tips are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.
Pro Tip: A “mom and pop” car may look like a cream puff but have lots of sludge that will melt and break loose when you drive the car on a trip, drain into the oil pan, and clog the oil pump pickup screen. It has happened on cars that were literally perfect in every other way.
Transmission Fluid
Transmission fluid is often overlooked. If it’s dark and smelly, the vehicle may have pulled heavy loads and cooked the fluid, which deposits varnish in places where it’ll break loose and cause problems if the transmission has never been serviced until you get the vehicle.
Look Underneath
Take a look under the car and look for obvious damage, leaking shock absorbers, and fluid leaks of any kind, even if there is no fluid on the ground underneath the vehicle.
Belts and Hoses
Notice any swollen hoses that look like they need replacing.
Take a look at the vehicle’s different belts. If any of them look worn down, you’ll likely need to have them replaced soon. Notice the pulleys to see if any of the plastic ones are showing a lot of wear. If the fan is driven by the water pump, feel it to see if the water pump bearings are loose.
Watch the belt tensioner with your flashlight while the engine is running with the A/C on and see if the tensioner is bouncing (see this 2 minute video). It shouldn’t be bouncing; if it is, it needs replacing.
Other Important Information
There’s some other important information you should gather when deciding whether or not to buy a secondhand vehicle.
Car History
Run a proper background check on the vehicle. Retrieve its VIN and ask the seller for its service history so you know what you’re getting into. Also check online for any recalls for this particular vehicle.
Mileage
Older vehicles with mileages exceeding 120,000 miles tend to require more frequent and expensive maintenance. More modern vehicles tend to have a lifespan of around 200,000 miles. Keep this in mind when buying a secondhand vehicle.
Test Drive the Car
Always test drive a secondhand vehicle before buying it. If you have limited knowledge of the vehicle’s systems, you’ll still likely feel when something’s wrong while driving. Listen for concerning sounds and test the A/C and electronics during this test drive.
Now you know what things to check when buying a used car. Putting in the time and effort when inspecting a secondhand vehicle can save you a lot of money and headaches down the road, so be sure to do it right.
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Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.
