Planning on buying a used car. No one wants to get stuck with a clunker. Smart and savvy shoppers know how to prevent that from happening. Here are five highly important things to look for in a used car.
Strong brakes
Slam the brakes as hard as you can. Seriously. They call it a “test-drive” for a reason! If you want to be a safe driver, you need to test the vehicle’s ability to handle emergency situations (like a sudden stop). Strong brakes help you avoid hitting something. Sounds important, huh?
Repair history
The car doesn’t have to be perfect. Fender benders and minor accidents happen. Unless you’re OCD about having a spotless exterior, don’t worry about it. That said, expect to receive a full repair history. Get a Carfax to verify that information. Ask the seller to explain anything that might be significant.
Smooth ride
Here’s a big mistake: ending the test-drive after you travel around the block. Uh, no. You can do better than that! Make sure this car can perform in a variety of settings. See how the engine handles stop-and-go driving in a small neighborhood. Test its high-speed performance on a busy highway or interstate. Drive it at night and during rainy or inclement weather. You get the idea.
Matching tires
You’d be amazed how many people replace one tire at a time. Then they end up with a set of four completely different tires. You might as well walk around wearing a high heel on one foot and a tennis shoe on the other. If the tires are mismatched, you can expect the rest of the vehicle to be poorly maintained. Consider it a deal-breaker.
Kept up fluids
Brake fluid should be yellow. If it’s brown or black, that’s a bad sign. Cancel the deal then and there. Repairing a brake system costs hundreds of dollars. No, thanks.
Bonus Tip: Swing by a mechanic.
After you check off every item on this list of things to look for in a used car, ask a trusted mechanic to inspect the vehicle. Brakes, engine, and transmission are major areas of concern. Get a second opinion before you make such an important investment.
