10 Things to Inspect Before Buying a Used Car

Avoid buying a bad used car by inspecting these 10 things before signing on the dotted line.

Buying a used car instead of a new car can save you thousands of dollars. But if you buy the wrong car, it can end up costing you a lot more in the long run. Ending up with a rebuilt wreck, salvaged vehicle or flood-damaged vehicle is not as uncommon as you might think. That’s because it’s difficult to spot the bad cars from the good ones.

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How to correctly inspect a used car

Even if you buy a used car that’s known for its dependability and reliability doesn’t guarantee that’s it’s going to be a good vehicle or it’s not been wrecked and put back together in the past.

You should always do your research before buying a new or used car. The two additional things I’ve always highly recommended to my readers when buying a used car is:

1) Have the vehicle put on a lift and inspected by a certified mechanic.
2) Get and review the used car’s vehicle history report.

Doing these two things will greatly decrease the chance of you purchasing a bad vehicle and keep you from paying costly repair bills in the future. The mechanic can tell you if the vehicle has had any physical damage and the mechanical systems are in working order. The vehicle history report will tell you if there are any discrepancies in the title or odometer history.

Before spending money on a mechanic and a history report, here are 10 things you can do to pre-inspect a vehicle to make sure you’re not buying someone else’s nightmare.

If you’re looking to buy a new car, make sure you familiarize yourself with the most common car buying mistakes when buying a car from a dealership.

Step-by-step walkthrough on how to buy a new car | New Car Buying Cheat Sheet

10 things to inspect on a used car

1) Visually Inspect up-close – Look for paint lines created by masking tape around windows, fenders, trunk, and engine compartment. Run your fingernail across the paint line to see if your nail catches on it. Keep an eye out for any scratches, dings, or dents in the body. Also, look for signs of rust in the creases or folds.
2) Check out the paintwork – Inspect the paint and watch for runs, sanding marks, trash in the paint, or orange peel (wavy lines that look like an orange). Look for overspray dust on the tires, glass, muffler, inside the door jambs, or on the mechanical systems under the vehicle. Step back from the vehicle and make sure the paint finish is uniform and even. It’s not uncommon to see a door or trunk hatch a slightly different color than the rest of the vehicle.
3) Bondo magnet test – Bring a small magnet with you. If you notice paintwork from the signs above. You can use it to run across the suspect area. If the magnet doesn’t pull towards the car, there may be Bondo or body filler in that area, indicating the vehicle has been repaired. You can also do a “tap-test” with a dime. You can hear the difference in the sound when a dime hits metal versus hitting bondo.
4) Uneven gaps – Look at the gaps between the hood, doors, fenders, and trunk area. These gaps should be straight and even. If not, the vehicle may have been put back together incorrectly.
5) Check the muffler & tailpipe – Check the underside of the muffler. Make sure there’s not a hole in it. You should also inspect the tailpipe for any greasy or black residue. This may indicate the vehicle is burning oil and this could be very costly in the future.
6) Look at the engine compartment – Inspect the engine compartment. Look for socket marks on the bolt heads where the fenders had been repaired. Check for paint lines and overspray on the inside of the fenders. Look at the underneath side of the hood for any anomalies. Look for any unnatural welds, damage, rust, or repairs from the vehicle being in an accident. Also, inspect for any packed mud or debris where it shouldn’t be.
7) Moisture in the lights – Look for moisture and condensation in the headlights and tail lights. Although it may not mean the vehicle has been underwater, it’s a good sign that if you like the vehicle, you may want to investigate further.
8) Uneven wear – Look at the tires. If the tread is uneven, it could mean the vehicle has alignment problems. These problems may extend much further than just “needing an alignment.” These problems can be minor or can be as bad as having a bad frame, keeping the vehicle from ever being aligned correctly. Make sure you test drive the vehicle, especially if the vehicle has brand new tires.
9) Rust and Corrosion – Check any folds and crevices that may hold standing water. Look for surface rust on bolt heads and hinges in door jambs. Inspect under the vehicle’s carpet and look at where the seatbelts connect to the floor. Another good place to look is in the trunk where the spare tire is located.
10) Smell is a dead giveaway – When opening the vehicle for the first time, take a huge deep breath when entering the vehicle. A moldy or musty smell is a good indicator the vehicle has been submerged in the past. This will also work with the trunk area of a vehicle.

6) Check a used car’s history report

This tip is aimed specifically at used car buyers. While the five tips above apply to buying either a new or a used car, used cars are more likely to have been in accidents and have hidden problems like flood damage. That’s why you should have any used car you want to buy inspected by an independent certified mechanic and run a history report on any vehicle you have a strong interest in.

You can find several history services online. However, they are not all created equal. I strongly recommend using a company such as AutoCheck Vehicle History Reports for reviewing the used car history you’re interested in purchasing. Their data is backed by Experian and is used by automotive industry experts daily to get the information they need to buy and sell the most trusted vehicles.

You can read more about these reports, how much they cost, and what’s included in them in my complete guide on used car vehicle history reports.

Recommended vehicle history reports

AutoCheck Vehicle History Reports - will let you know if a vehicle has been reported in an accident, branded a lemon, damaged in a flood, reported repossessed or stolen, and more. Be confident in your purchase and enjoy access to benefits such as free Buyback Protection for registered, qualified vehicles.
View all car buying tools

In summary

These telltale signs will decrease your chances of buying a bad used car, but they’re not a substitute for having a mechanic check out the vehicle and reviewing the vehicle’s history before you buy it.

If you’re in the market for a used car, I recommend using an online listing service like Ryde Shopper and Motor Trend to research and compare vehicles online. These sites will allow you to see what others are paying for the same vehicle you’re considering in your local area. You can even request a free no-obligation price quote from a dealership once you find a vehicle you’d like to purchase.

About the author

My name is Carlton Wolf and I have been in the retail and wholesale car business for well over 20 years. I created the Auto Cheat Sheet to better educate buyers on the deceptive sales practices found in many dealerships across the country. Please understand, not all car dealers are dishonest. However, you never know who you will be dealing with. I’m willing to share my knowledge and experience with anyone willing to listen. Keep in mind, I’m a car guy, not a writer.