In buying a used car, we know you must want the best deal for your money. With tons of options for used cars in the market, it is essential to carefully check the vehicle before you make a purchase or sign any documents.
A thorough check and test drive confirms the car meets your needs and expectations, providing peace of mind and safeguarding your investment. Here we provide you with the ultimate guidance for those who are looking to purchase a used car.
The flow of this list starts from the exterior to the interior to ease your process of checking the car.
No. | Things to check | Reason |
1. | See if there is gap at the front bonnet of the car | If there is, the car might have been in an accident. |
2. | Open the front bonnet and check the screws | If there are rust stains on the screws, the car might have been in a flood. If the screws show marks from being opened, the car might have been in an accident. |
3. | Open the engine oil cap | If there are mud stains on the cap or screw area, the car might have been in a flood. |
4. | Check for stains on the wirings | Flood stains are hard to remove, and dealers often use oil to make them look shiny. |
5. | Open the black rubber at the car door and look for dents and welding marks | Welding marks or dents could mean the car had been in an accident. |
6. | Smell the interior of the car | If it has an unpleasant scent such as moldy smell. If there is, the car might have been in a flood. |
7. | Check the seat belt by pulling it until the end | Check for water stains or mold. If you find any, it might have been a flood car. |
8. | Check if the car has its full service record | This is to check if the mileage has been adjusted on the car odometer. Other than that, it gives a clear picture of how well it was maintained. |
9. | Start the car and see if the steering shakes | If there is, there is an issue in the engine area. This could be due to the engine mounting or belting. |
10. | Turn the steering full left and right and check for noises | If there are, there might be issues with the steering rod/absorber/lower arms/bearing, etc. |
11. | Turn to each gear in the car and wait for 5 seconds between each gear | If there is any obvious shaking towards the car it could be due to the gear transmission or engine. |
12. | Test drive until you feel satisfied | Feel the driving sensation and performance whether it fits your criteria. |
After doing all of these steps, you are done! If it checks all of your boxes, go ahead and make your decision. Please be reminded that car conditions may also be affected by the year of manufacture and as a consumer, you must keep your expectations realistic, especially for cars dated 10 years and above that may come with smell, slight dents, and wear and tear.
Feel free to ask any questions or concerns that you have with your salesperson. It’s a huge decision to make especially if you are trying to buy your first car. So take your time to survey more other options if you don’t feel like it's the right one for you despite all the checkings done.
An easier solution is to rely on our free car inspection done by our specialist only at PilihCAR! Just go to our website, survey the car that you are interested in, and click the ‘GET OUR SPECIALIST TO INSPECT!’ button. Just fill up the form and our admin will reach out to you and direct you to our nearest PilihCAR certified workshops. Good luck!
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