Tips on Inspecting a Used Car

Before you even test-drive a used car, you need to check out a few things before you actually drive it. While it is pretty tempting to hop into a fairly mint-condition, used sports car (say, a 2007 Ford Mustang) and take it for a spin, it is wiser to check on the small bits of physical wear before revving down the street.

Exterior Rust – These nasty bits should be easy to detect on your own, and are critical concerns as rusted components generally could be as damaging to the vehicle’s performance as to its appearance and value. Inspecting the vehicle during daytime would make it easier for you to spot rust and other damaging telltale signs.

Undercarriage – Check everything underneath for rust and look out for differences in separate sections. For instance, a freshly painted section that stands out from rust-filled others may indicate that the car was repaired; perhaps as a result of previous accident. Take note of parts that leak, and other signs of wear.

Suspension – The car should ideally be on level ground to do this. Check if the vehicle is perfectly parallel to the ground, because if it sags to one side, it may lead to some serious complications in the long run.

Tires – Check for both overall wear and uneven wear, as all tires should have enough tread on them for good traction on the road. Uneven wear may indicate that wheel alignment is off, so watch out for that, too.