3 Things to Look For When Shopping for a Used Car
When shopping for a used car, it is important to know what to look for. Here are three things that you should look for the next time you go shopping for a used vehicle.
- Inspect the Exterior
When buying a used car, the first thing you should do is an inspection of the car that you want to buy. When looking, make sure you take a look at the exterior and make sure there isn’t any damage. Look at the glass and make sure there are no cracks or chips in the glass. Big cracks can be costly to repair, but chips can be used as bargaining tools for a better price on the vehicle.
On the outside of the vehicle, you also want to look for any dents or scratches in the car. If there are big dents, it could mean the vehicle has been in an accident. This could mean there are more significant issues inside the car as well. You should also look for big patches of rust.
When looking at tires, make sure the tires are the same brand and that they are worn equally. You may want to make sure that the tire treads aren’t worn down either, as you don’t want to replace tires right after buying a new vehicle.
Finally, make sure the vehicle sits flat when parked on an even surface. Test the suspension and make sure that when you push down, the car bounces once. If it keeps bouncing, the shocks are probably broken.
- Look Inside
You also need to sit inside the vehicle before buying a used car. Things to look out for are smells that could mean there are leaks in the vehicle causing mold. There also could be a smokey smell from a previous owner who smokes. Make sure the upholstery isn’t ripped and that the seat belts work. You can see how used a vehicle is by looking at the pedals of the vehicle as well.
You should turn on the vehicle without starting the engine to make sure all the control lights turn on. It is also important to make sure that all the lights outside the vehicle work, including headlights, taillights, and turning lights. Be sure to turn on the sound system and make sure that it is working too.
- Check Under the Hood
The last thing you are going to want to look for is how the vehicle looks under the hood. Make sure that all the hoses are in good condition and that there is no cracking. You should also listen and ensure there are no weird sounds coming from the vehicle. Finally, check the fluid levels, radiator, and battery. The Consumer Reports website has a great guide where they list what to look for under the hood.
After you have done all the inspecting, be sure to take the vehicle for a test drive and see how it feels on the road. These are just a few things to look for when buying a used car. For an excellent selection of used cars, you can visit Greenwood Auto Sales.