If you’re shopping for used cars, you should thoroughly inspect the vehicle before you make a commitment to buy it. Pre-owned vehicles can be a great investment, because a new car begins to depreciate the minute you drive it off the lot. However, making a thorough inspection is vital, because you need to make sure that you’re getting your money’s worth. Since the vehicle isn’t brand new, you will need to know what sort of condition it’s in and understand what you will need to spend money to fix. This can help you decide whether or not the automobile is a good value or whether or not you should keep looking at other used cars.
First, you should check the exterior. The windshield should be free of cracks, and the body should not have any dents, dings, or scratches. You should check if the seams are properly aligned and make sure that the windshield wipers and blades work. Additionally, you should look at the headlights and make sure they aren’t too yellowed. Finally, you should make sure that the paint job is fresh and that the entire body is painted the same color. A vehicle whose exterior looks good will require less detailing work later on.
The next step of inspecting used cars is to carefully inspect the tires. They should be a reputable brand and all four should be of the same make. Be sure to measure the tire pressure, fill the tires if it is too low, and measure it again a short time later. If the pressure has dropped right after you filled the tires, there may be a nail embedded in one of them. You should also check the tires for cuts, bubbles, and cracks.
After looking over the tires, it’s time to move on to the interior. Make sure the doors, windows, and trunk open and close without any difficulty, and check the seats and floor for stains or tears. It’s also important to make sure the heater, air conditioner, stereo, lights, and windshield wipers work. It is also smart to check the dashboard lights to make sure they illuminate properly, and make sure none of the warning lights are on when you start the engine.
It is also important to check the steering and brakes of any used cars that you’re thinking of purchasing. You should make sure the vehicle steers smoothly without any shaking or vibrating. Additionally, be sure to do some test turns to make sure the vehicle can turn without any clicking, clunking, or resistance. Finally, you should make sure that the automobile brakes without any resistance and that the parking brake engages and disengages freely. If you hear a grinding noise while braking, there could be something seriously wrong with the vehicle.
