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Let’s be honest. How many of us have made a bad vehicle purchase for failing to thoroughly inspect a secondhand car before buying it? It shouldn’t have happened if we had a used car checklist, which contains a list of items to check and questions to ask the seller when viewing a vehicle. A checklist can also have hints and reminders on how to spot a cleverly disguised lemon or a stolen car. Doing an inspection is necessary, and a checklist helps you avoid overlooking essential parts. Prepare Yourself Private sellers often encourage potential buyers to come and inspect the vehicle being offered for sale; this is a good sign that the seller is trustworthy. However, to further protect yourself, it’s best to bring a mechanic along when you visit the car. If you’re confident in your inspection skills, you can go by yourself, but remember to bring the following: paper towels or a dry rag for checking the engine oil, a music CD for testing the car stereo (or USB of music files, if applicable), a small flashlight to help you see under the car for any leaks and corrosion, a small magnet so you can check the car’s body work, a notebook and pen so you can take notes and other important information, and a used cars checklist of parts to check. You can also request the seller beforehand to provide you a copy of the vehicle’s auto history report and registration. Vehicle Registration Document Experts advise that the first thing to check is the vehicle’s registration document, because if there’s one thing amiss there, even if the car is in perfect condition, you won’t be able to have it properly registered under your name if you decide to buy it. Check if the document has a watermark and all information is correct—the plate number should match, the VIN numbers etched should match those on the engine or lights, and the document has not been doctored or tampered with. Areas of Inspection There are nine main areas of inspection, each with a number of minor components. These nine inspection points are the vehicle exterior, tires, engine compartment, interior, suspension, frame, transmission (manual/automatic), brakes, and steering. A used cars checklist has all these in detail. Make sure you pay attention to the little things, because these little details when taken together can show whether a car is a keeper or not. Things to watch out for Expect dirt and blemishes in the car’s interiors, and it’s up to you to judge if these are negligible and easily replaced. Outside, take your magnet and put it on the sheet metal—if it doesn’t stick, it means that there’s a thick layer of filler under the paint, indicating poor dent repair—which can be a cause for concern. A serious issue is a fluid leak, because you won’t have an idea when a small, “that’s okay” leak will become a major problem for you in the future. The cost of having it fixed is nothing to joke about, either. It’s really important to assess a secondhand car’s overall condition to see if it’s worth your money. If you don’t bring with you a used cars checklist, you might end up paying for more for repairs in the future.
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