'Buyer Beware' is a common caution when people say they are thinking of buying a secondhand car privately. Everyone seems to have stories about buying a ‘lemon’ so we thought we’d help you out by creating a handy checklist of things to check when buying a secondhand car.
When you buy privately, you might not have the same legal protection as when purchasing from a dealer. It's your responsibility to ask the right questions and thoroughly inspect the car before making the purchase.
Read on to learn more about things to check when buying a secondhand car.
• Does the mileage and appearance of the car look consistent with the car's age?
• Are there any signs of inconsistent gaps between panels or mismatched colours that could indicate major repairs?
• Check the paint. Is it finished evenly across the car?
• Are there any traces of paint spray on handles, window seals or plastic mouldings?
• What are the tyres like? If the tyres have less than 3mm of tread, you'll need to replace them.
• Check the spare wheel or tyre inflator/sealant kit. Is it in good condition?
• Are the jack and other tools present?
• Do the seatbelts operate correctly?
• If the car has airbags, do the warning lights operate as described in the handbook? Typically, they come on when you start the car and then go out shortly after.
• Do the lights and windscreen wipers/washers work correctly?
• Do all warning lights operate typically?
• Are the brakes effective and even, or does the car pull to one side?
• Are there any unusual noises when you brake?
• Does the handbrake work effectively?
• Does the car have ABS fitted? Does the warning light turn off after the engine is started?
• Does the engine sound normal?
• What does the oil warning light do? Does it go out as soon as the engine starts?
• Is there thick, visible exhaust?
• If the car is manual, does the clutch operate normally?
• Is the oil level right?
• Do the locks (including central locking and remote control) work properly?
• Do all windows (including any sunroof if present) function normally?
• How many keys are there? Review the handbook (if present) to see which keys were provided when the car was new.
• Does the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, radio/Bluetooth/CD, navigation, indicators etc all work properly?
Typically, a used car dealer will offer a wide range of used vehicles to choose from, all in excellent working order and ready to drive off the lot. This saves you time and gives you peace of mind, knowing the car you buy is worth it. Tony Lahood's range of secondhand cars.
Ready to buy a used car? Start by googling "car yards near me", then talk to Tony Lahood's team of experts at our quality used car dealership. We have an extensive range of the best secondhand cars at our Croydon and Lidcombe locations, plus all of our used cars come with a 3-year used car warranty.
Get a great secondhand car at Tony Lahood Motors today.
