How to Avoid Problematic Car Purchases?

Paul Hadley
10/18/201818th October, 2018
Filed under Car Topics

Buying a pre-owned car should be approached very responsibly. The choice of a reliable and damage-free vehicle is simplified if you buy a new model. However, when it comes to a pre-owned car, then it is worthwhile to figure out how to inspect the automobile before buying it. This will help to ensure that it works properly and to avoid various problems or extra expenses.

Careful Car Check

Not all people know how to check the car before buying. The checking can be a real problem for you if you are not tech savvy unless you are contacting FAX VIN check and their experts. However, you can always ask for documents to reduce the risks of becoming the owner of a broken or stolen car. There are also several points for you to pay attention to. First of all, you should carefully inspect the body of the vehicle. It must be clean and damage-free. If there is dirt on the surface, you will not be able to notice various defects, including small dents and scratches.

It is important to make sure that the hue of all the car elements is the same. Inspect the car from several angles at a distance of 2-3 m. Some dents are difficult to notice, so it is worth to sit down near the rear wing and carefully look at the cover. If it is paint and varnish, then you will see all possible bends and surface irregularities, indicating the presence of damages in the car.

It is equally important to inspect the compartment intended for the spare wheel. If there is corrosion, then the car most likely was in an accident and was poorly repaired. Be sure to inspect the engine of the car. If there is dust or dirt on it, it is a canary in the coal mine. There may probably be stains or other defects that the seller wants to hide. Pay attention to the inside containers. They must have marks indicating the minimum and maximum level of liquid in them.

When checking the engine, check for any obvious leaks, smells and signs of poor maintenance. Check the engine oil level if it is low you might be better off staying away from this car. If possible, try to get an engine expert or mechanic with you. If not done right you might end up having to buy a used or reconditioned engine very soon, which can be costly depending on the type of car.

Of course, you can spend hours and days conducting a technical car diagnostics. However, the optimum check when buying a car is its test drive. A good seller will agree to have a test car run. Do not be afraid to request test drive of the car – it is a normal practice. During such a short trip, you can check the work of the gearbox, suspension and various equipment, including the handlebar. It is also important to pay attention to the behaviour of the car on the road and make sure that the steering wheel does not vibrate when braking abruptly. The best idea would be to check the car in the appropriate service center. Only after a complete diagnosis, you will know everything about the technical state of the car, which will help make the right choice.

author avatar Written by Paul Hadley

Rate This Article

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)

You can use this feature to rate this page. Please be generous, giving a higher rating helps us to create more content like this 🙏