How to buy a used car and what to look for

Buying a used car is quite a hassle. An experienced salesman will immediately recognize a beginner, so it’s best to bring a friend who understands cars with you. Well, you yourself should know what to ask the seller and what to look for when inspecting the car. The tips below won’t make you a pro, but they can give you a clearer idea of the process of buying a used car.

By the way, these skills and knowledge can help you in choosing a car for rent in a hiring company. Renting is like buying for a limited time. Choosing a good Cabrio car for rental also needs to be able and know what to look for.

Ask questions

Before you buy a car, ask questions in several blocks.

1. Is the seller the original owner of the car? If the answer is “yes”, then he must have all the necessary documents.

2. What is the year of manufacture of the car? How has it been running all this time? Marking the year of manufacture of glasses should not differ greatly from the year of manufacture of the car.

3. Where was it and how long did the car drive in winter? The degree of wear for one engine starting at sub-zero temperatures is equal to several hundred kilometers in the warm season.

What is the car’s mileage? It can be estimated by multiplying the average annual mileage (15-30 thousand km) by the age of the car.

4. What is the reason for selling the car? If you need money for some purpose, that’s fine. If the seller evasively answers this question, there is reason to think.

5. How many repairs were there and what parts were replaced? This will hint at problems that the owner of the car does not advertise.

6. Has the car been in an accident? The attitude of the owner towards this car will be felt in the conversation about the accident and should be paid attention to.

Inspect the car

After the questions are asked, you can proceed to inspect the car.

1. Inspect the bodywork for rust and rot. It is necessary to carefully check the thresholds, trunk (under the rug), and wheel arches. If there is some rust, then this is normal. Otherwise, you should immediately refuse to buy this car.

2. Check the paint layer. If there were scratches or dents repaired, then more likely you will be able to see them. Since getting into the color of the paint is quite difficult.

3. Look under the car. Here you need to carefully see if the liquid is dripping.

4. Pay attention to the wheels, which should not be skewed, but should stand straight. If this is not observed, then this means that the wheel alignment has not been adjusted.

5. You also need to look under the hood. The appearance of the engine can say a lot. There must be no oil leaks on the engine. Any “finishing” on the engine such as electrical tape, and wires should alert someone who wants to buy a used car.

6. You should also pay attention to all transmission belts on the pulleys for wear. A worn belt usually turns white, and reinforcement threads appear on it.

Start the engine

After inspecting the contents under the hood, you need to start the car engine. Turn the key in the ignition until the instruments turn on, but do not start the engine. Keep the hood open while doing this. After turning the key, the battery and oil pressure lights should light up, and after starting the engine, they should go out.

Notice how quickly the engine starts. A good engine should start instantly and run quietly and evenly. Pressing smoothly on the accelerator, you need to listen for knocks and drops.

If the speed does not drop immediately after releasing the gas pedal, or high idle speeds remain, then there are problems with the adjustment.

Pay attention to the color of the exhaust. Black smoke indicates that the engine needs adjustment. If the smoke is bluish, then you can’t do without a thorough repair.

Check oil and brake fluid levels. Pull the dipstick out, wipe it with a rag, and put it back in place. Then pull out the dipstick again. There are marks on the dipstick where the oil should be.

You also need to appreciate the oil for its quality. It shouldn’t be thick.

Test drive

After the actions are taken, you can proceed to the next stage of buying a used car – its test drive.