Buying a used car can save money if you know what to look for. If you don’t, you may just be buying someone else’s problems. To buy a used car, you need know-how. What to look for, where to look for it and when to say no and walk away. This checklist will help you inspect the used car you are thinking of buying to ensure that the car is right for you.

Checklist

 Check the car’s body.

Check the tires.

Check the car’s interior.

Check the transmission.

Check the engine.

Test drive the vehicle.

Check the car’s history

Record Details

The contract.

The above is a printable list that you should take with you when you go to look at used cars. Let’s look at this list more in-depth.

The Car’s Body

Check the complete interior of the car. Take a pen and notepad along and mark all defects in the book. These are the things to inspect.

• Broken light lenses.

• Cracks in the windshield.

• Worn or rusted windshield wipers.

• Missing hubcaps (wheel covers.)

• Cracked or corroded mirrors.

• Dents on the car’s body (scratches too.) If you are buying a used car from a dealer, be sure these repairs are included in the contract. If buying the car privately, ask the owner to repair them or take the cost of repairs off the purchase of the vehicle.

• Look under the car on the chassis to find out if it is bend or cracked.

Tires

Check all four tires and the spare carefully.

• Take a tire gauge with you and test the tire’s pressure. Each tire should have the same pressure.

• Check the tires and the spare carefully. Are they a well known brand such as Goodyear, Firestone or Michelin?

• Are the tires the same size and make?

• Is there a lot of tread on them, or are they almost bare of tread, or slick?

• Are the tires wearing on the inside or the outside edges? If so, the car is badly out of alignment.

• Do any of the tires, including the spare have nicks, cuts or cracks?