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Checking the car
What should I look for when I check the car?
Carry out a brief examination first. A five-minute check over the body work, wheels, tyres, interior trim, boot, engine bay, engine and any suspicious areas revealed by the car's paperwork will indicate if the car merits a detailed inspection. If it does, then be as meticulous as you can. If you find something suspect, be especially vigilant for related matters. For instance, if you spot a new rear bumper, the car may have had a rear-end accident, so look for signs of damage buckling underneath the car, filled or badly resprayed panels, crumpled panels in the boot and so on. Also ask the owner about it.
Print the following checklist and take it with you when viewing cars. It will help you with your examination. If you are in any doubt, though, the best advice is to have the car inspected by a professional.
Finally, view several examples before you hand over your cash. After the third or fourth, you'll be able to rate their condition and price more accurately.
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Used Car Examination Checklist
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Bodywork
- Dents
- Scratches
- Rust
- Signs of respray
- Inconsistent paint quality
- Inconsistent panel grips
- Signs of repairs and/or welding
- Body filler
- Compressed chassis legs
- Crash damage in engine bay
- Crash damage in boot area
- VIN plate tampering
Engine
- Oil leaks
- Water leaks
- Oil condition (open filler cap)
- Loose belts
- Corrosion
- Rattles, knocks and screeches
- Engine number plate tampering
- Condition of hoses
- Excessive smoke
- Condition of exhaust pipe
Cabin
- Door trim
- Ripped or stained seat upholstery
- Condition of carpets
- Damaged fascia
- Excessively worn driver seat
- Excessively worn footwell carpet
- Excessively worn pedal rubbers
- Mileage reading
- Rips in roof lining
- Damp or wet patches on carpet/seats
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Wheels and tyres
- Kerbed rims/wheel trims
- Uneven tyre wear
- Different tyre sizes
- Different makes of tyres
- Depth of tread
- Damage to tread
- Damage to sidewall
- Condition of spare
- Worn brake discs
- Scratched brake discs
Windscreen and windows
- Dents
- Scratches or chips
- Window operation
- Etching matches car registration
- Leaky seals
Electrics
- Headlights
- Rear lights
- Indicators
- Hazard lights
- Reversing light
- Interior light
- Windscreen wipers
- Electric windows
- Electric mirrors
- Audio system
- Heating/ventilation system
- Alarm
- Horn
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NEXT: THE TEST DRIVE
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BACK TO BUYING A CAR HOMEPAGE
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