Check the Car Before Making an Offer

 As any car buyer knows, it’s essential to check the car — or at least a few parts of it — before making an offer on a used vehicle. This inspection can reveal the history of a vehicle and help weed out some of the less-obvious problems that could turn up later on.

The easiest thing to spot is obvious damage. If the car has a big ding or a dent in it, there may be underlying issues that warrant further research and possibly a lower price from the seller. Examine the area around the ding carefully for signs of body work that was done poorly or a ding that was just filled in with paint rather than actually repaired.

Check the windshield and windows for cracks, chips or stains. It’s not uncommon for minor chips to develop into larger ones over time, but if they’re widespread, it could be an indicator of poor maintenance or even an accident. You can also look at the spaces between the bonnet and body panels, which should be straight and uniform in width from top to bottom.

A good place to start is the engine bay. In addition to checking the air filter, oil and transmission fluid levels, look at the engine hoses for bulges or dings. These are usually indicators of leaks or other internal problems. Check for loose or missing bolts or caps on the air filters, as well. These are easy to forget or ignore, but they can be a sign of poor maintenance or an accident that was never reported.

It’s always a good idea to inspect the battery and wiring in any vehicle. The battery should be fully charged and in good condition, and the wires should be free of tears or cuts. You can also ask a mechanic to hook up a scan tool to the vehicle’s data link connector, which can retrieve error codes and provide other important information about a car’s health.

If the vehicle has been flooded, it should show up on the car’s history report, but some sellers aren’t always honest. If the car’s paint is glossy and even, but has a few rough spots that look like they were painted over with some kind of body filler, it was probably repainted at one point. Run your fingers along the doorjambs and trunk/cargo area to feel for a rough texture, another indication of body work.

Finally, be sure to check the headlamps and exterior lights to ensure they all function properly. Plastic light housings can fade over time, and if the bulbs appear extremely cloudy or yellowed it could mean that they were replaced with non-matching units. A quick test drive can also show whether the cruise control, navigation system, parking-aid controls and other electronic features are working properly. They shouldn’t be clumsy, difficult to operate or make noise when turned on. This is especially important if you plan on using the vehicle for long trips or for driving in unfamiliar areas.hpi check for free