Buying a Used Vehicle? 20 Questions To Ask

If you plan on buying a used vehicle, there are some very important questions you need to ask.

This is aside from running a VIN check also which is very important to ensure that you do not waste money buying a damaged vehicle.

1. Do a thorough check

The first thing you want to do is a comprehensive and thorough check and this can be done visually.

So you want to do this by walking around the car and doing a visual inspection. What is your first impression of the vehicle? Is the interior and exterior well maintained by the previous owner? Can the seller provide past records of maintenance done on the vehicle?

If not, then you want to use our VIN check service tool to get this report.

2. Test Drive the car.

Also you want to take the vehicle for a test drive and see how well it moves. By doing so, you want to have some idea of the condition of the vehicle.

3. Check the engine

When checking the engine, here is a checklist of questions that you want answered

• Does the engine run well?
• Does it idle smoothly?
• Are there any noises coming from the engine
• Does it start well and immediately
• Does the exhaust smoke a lot?
• Does the engine have enough power to accelerate smoothly?

You want to make sure that the answers to these questions are all “YES”… otherwise the engine might not be in good condition and will need some work.

4. Transmission

When examining the transmission, you want to ask the following questions

• Does it slip or not engage properly when used?
• Does it shift smoothly?
• Do you detect any cracking noises in the gears?

If the answer to any of these questions is “YES”, then the transmission is bad and might need to be worked on.

5. Brakes and Suspension

You want to ask the following questions when examining the brakes and suspension

• Does it behave like an old train? Meaning does it take a while before it stops?
• When you apply the brakes, does it pull your hands to one side of the road?
• Does it vibrate at certain speeds or when you brake?
• Are there noises when you brake, turn or drive over speed brakes?

You want to ensure that the answers to all these questions are “NO” to confirm that you have a healthy vehicle.