Developing a Used Car Checklist

When looking at used cars, there are a number of items that a buyer should check before deciding whether or not to purchase the vehicle. Some of these are easily completed while others may require some research.

Use a service like Carfax to find out the history of the car. This can give you a great deal of information about the car. You can find out if it has been in a major accident or ever suffered any fire or flood damage. Find out it there have been any recalls on the car, and if so, have they been repaired.

Have the most expensive parts checked over by your mechanic. The engine and transmission are usually the most expensive to fix. Mechanics will generally do this for a reasonable fee. Check the tires to see if they have much tread left on them.

Check the rest of the basics as well. Make sure that all of the lights on the car work, that the air conditioner and heater work, and that the brakes work well. This may all sound very basic, yet many people often overlook these things. Be sure to test-drive the car and check to see that the car steers straight and that there are no vibrations or rattles. By performing some simple checks you can save yourself from making a poor decision.