Choosing a used car inspection before purchase can save consumers thousands of dollars by uncovering major mechanical, exterior and interior problems. Use this used car inspection checklist to avoid buying a lemon.
* Obtain Vehicle History Report – Get the vehicle identification number (VIN) and buy a vehicle history report. This shows any accident history, accident indicators (airbag deployments, etc.), title and registration, number of owners, frame/structural damage, flood or salvage history, odometer rollback, lemon history, service and repair information and more.
* Check VIN – The VIN appears in several locations – and all should match. Look on the dashboard, driver’s door jamb, on the engine, hood and other parts. Also check the VIN on the registration, title, and other documents.
* Verify Mileage – Check the car’s actual mileage against vehicle history. Ask about the vehicle’s gas mileage mpg or miles per gallon. A Honda Civic, for example, should get better fuel economy than a mid-size SUV. Similarly, Toyota car gas mileage as stated by the seller should match with estimates provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the model year, vehicle and engine/transmission.
* Do Complete Visual Inspection – Plan to spend at least a half hour going over the car’s exterior and interior during the used car inspection.
o Note any visible defects such as paint dents, chips, scratches, broken lenses, worn windshield wipers, missing wheel covers or hubcaps. Don’t buy a car with excessive corrosion or rust.
o Check to see vehicle lines are perfectly straight and note any gaps in body panels.
o Check paint quality for any ripples, differences in color, patches that are shinier than others.
o If the vehicle has a trailer hitch, it may mean excessive engine/transmission wear.
o Inspect tires. Look for uniform quality, brand names, no cuts, bubbles, cracks or uneven wear.
o Inside, check for excessive driver’s seat wear.
o Check all locks (windows, doors, trunks) and keyless entry.
o Check for any musty odors or excessive use of air fresheners.
o Look for any signs of flood/water damage.
* Test Operation
o Test all doors to ensure they open/close easily
o On the instrument panel, make sure all gauges work properly.
o Test all electrical accessories: power windows, locks, wipers, rear wiper/washer, sunroof, seat adjustments, mirrors, and stereo/CD.
o Verify heating and air conditioning controls work properly.
* Check Engine and Transmission – Obtain the car’s service records, if possible to see if it was maintained properly. Check under the hood to see if there’s any burned oil smell, corroded battery terminals, or oil leaks. Check the oil filler cap to see if there are thick or black deposits. Check the engine oil. If it’s very dirty or below the “Low” mark, steer clear of the car. Also check the transmission. The gears should move smoothly between Drive, Park, Neutral and Reverse, whether manual or automatic, with no hesitation.
* Take Test Drive – Be sure to test drive the vehicle. It should start easily, have no shakes, shimmies, or make excessive noise or smoke. Make sure the steering is responsive, no pulling to one side, no creaks or knocks when going over bumps, no pulsating when braking.
* Don’t Buy Until Satisfied – Don’t give any deposit or sign any contract until completely satisfied with the used car inspection.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Buying Certified and Reliable Used Car
No doubt you have made your mind up to buy a used car, after being sick of traveling on the bus everyday, to work or college, and you want to gain your independence. For whatever reason, you will want a car that will get you from one place to another and back again. More than likely, the route of getting a certified reliable used car will be the route that you want to go down.
There are many benefits to looking at certified used cars, and some people are opting to choose this type of car over buying a new model. Certified cars undergo rigorous testing, checking different parts of the car, to ensure that it is sound. They will check such things as the original engine parts and if any replacement parts have been added to the car since it was first registered – they will also check the wear and tear of these parts, to ensure that the car is consistent. The main things about this type of car is that is it will be more expensive than a typical car that you would buy from a friend or independent seller; if you are unsure of the inner workings of how a car works, then this could be a good option for you.
Certified cars also carry warranties, which means that previous work carried out on them, before it has been sold to you, will be of high quality and has to pass specified used car inspection, making this type of car more reliable. If you are looking to finance such a car from a dealership, or leasing company, then you will also find it a little easier for them to say yes to your deal, as they will be able to see that the car is going to last and has been given a suitable rating for it to last for the foreseeable future. More so, when you buy a used car with certification, you will be able to buy the make, model and color of car that you want without the immediate depreciating value that a new one would cost you once you have driven it off the fore-court. When you are looking at certified cars, be sure to understand what is included and what each individual dealer believes to be checked and included in a certified used car, as some will not include certain areas of the car, whereas others will.
The main question you will want to have at the back of your mind, when you walk into a dealership then, is whether the car is actually certified and to what extent does this certification cover the car for you when you buy it. For a car to be certified it must pass used car inspection check by an experienced and certified mechanic. However, you’ll find that many dealers will offer a 100 point inspection before selling the car to you.
When you are looking to buy a certified used car, you should remember some of the tips above and also know that you should go to a reliable dealership that has a good reputation for selling used cars. You should make sure that the information contained within the inspection you understand from each dealership, and that you are happy that such an inspection means that you shouldn’t have too many problems with your first used car
There are many benefits to looking at certified used cars, and some people are opting to choose this type of car over buying a new model. Certified cars undergo rigorous testing, checking different parts of the car, to ensure that it is sound. They will check such things as the original engine parts and if any replacement parts have been added to the car since it was first registered – they will also check the wear and tear of these parts, to ensure that the car is consistent. The main things about this type of car is that is it will be more expensive than a typical car that you would buy from a friend or independent seller; if you are unsure of the inner workings of how a car works, then this could be a good option for you.
Certified cars also carry warranties, which means that previous work carried out on them, before it has been sold to you, will be of high quality and has to pass specified used car inspection, making this type of car more reliable. If you are looking to finance such a car from a dealership, or leasing company, then you will also find it a little easier for them to say yes to your deal, as they will be able to see that the car is going to last and has been given a suitable rating for it to last for the foreseeable future. More so, when you buy a used car with certification, you will be able to buy the make, model and color of car that you want without the immediate depreciating value that a new one would cost you once you have driven it off the fore-court. When you are looking at certified cars, be sure to understand what is included and what each individual dealer believes to be checked and included in a certified used car, as some will not include certain areas of the car, whereas others will.
The main question you will want to have at the back of your mind, when you walk into a dealership then, is whether the car is actually certified and to what extent does this certification cover the car for you when you buy it. For a car to be certified it must pass used car inspection check by an experienced and certified mechanic. However, you’ll find that many dealers will offer a 100 point inspection before selling the car to you.
When you are looking to buy a certified used car, you should remember some of the tips above and also know that you should go to a reliable dealership that has a good reputation for selling used cars. You should make sure that the information contained within the inspection you understand from each dealership, and that you are happy that such an inspection means that you shouldn’t have too many problems with your first used car
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