Buying a Used Car? Here Are 10 IMPORTANT Used Car Buying Tips

You see, people aren’t generally honest, and most of the time, will do all within their power to rip you off your hard-earned money.

For those who are honest and can be relied upon (like a few good mechanics), their charges are usually high and out of reach.

Let’s get realistic right away: great chances are that the reason you’re interested in buying a used car is because you’re a little short on cash. If this is correct, doesn’t it make sense to figure out what to look out for in such a vehicle by running the inspection yourself and saving some bucks?

On surface value, this may seem like a truly bad idea, especially given that you’re not a professional and are likely to screw up things, winding up penny wise, pound foolish.

However, followed carefully (and religiously), the 10 tips shared below will help you get the best used car there is, if you decide you don’t want to pay a professional to help out.

If you decide to work with a professional mechanic, these tips will also help you understand when (and if) they decide to go rogue for whatever reason.

10 Used Car Buying Tips: A Caveat

Before proceeding to read the tips I’ve penned down below for those who are interested in buying a used vehicle (and want to inspect the car themselves), there’s something very important to note; more than one thing, as a matter of fact:

1. The presence of one (or even more) of the points shared doesn’t automatically mean a car is bad or has had a sad life. Instead, it should be viewed as a pointer to the possibility that something could be wrong, and you need to ask questions…questions that will serve as negotiation points or an inspiration to walk away.
2. Used cars are naturally tricky to inspect. If possible, always take a level-headed, rational companion with you. Two sets of attentive eyes (paired with good brains) beat only one set, always.
3. Finally, if you’re still unsure, it’s always better to pay a professional their fees for a used vehicle inspection than gamble things out and risk losing. Don’t be penny-wise and pound foolish. Remember, too, that I’m not liable for the mishaps this article may cause you as per my Terms of Use. Treat all material as informational only and proceed at your own risk.

1. Mismatched Tires, Bad Tires

The tires of a vehicle are the first thing that tells the story of how good or bad a used car’s life has been.

No vehicle owner who loves and cares for their vehicle allows it to go through the pain of being paired with four different brands of tires.

If you’re interested in a used vehicle and the front right has a Michelin, front left, Perrelli, rear right, Continental, and rear left, Yokohama, it’s time to consider walking away or asking serious questions with the view of negotiating the price downwards.

The story, in such a case, is that either the owner doesn’t care enough, doesn’t know the harm in these, or worse, is broke and can’t afford a complete, uniform, new set, and is relying on used tires to run the car.

If any of the above is true (it always is, BTW), the next question to ask yourself is: what else have they been skipping maintenance on? 

While you’re at the tires, also check for abnormal wear and overall tread life. 

Matching tires that are gone, wear-wise, are as ‘good’ as tires that are mismatched or have abnormal wear. The tires are so central to a vehicle’s safety and overall driveability that no one worth the marque they drive messes around with it.

Understand this.

2. Absence of a (Good) Spare Tire

The story of a good, usable spare tire is as important as the immediate point made above about the presence of good, matching tires.

The spare tire of a good vehicle, one in the care of a competent owner, hardly sees action…it doesn’t need to see much, by the way, since the primary tires are present and doing their jobs.

However, what happens when the spare tire is missing, badly worn out, or not in usable shape? It’s time to consider walking away.

I once owned a pre-owned 2002 Camry that I got when the vehicle was well past 10 years old.

The interesting thing was that the spare tire, despite the vehicle having more than 200k miles on the clock, was the original Bridgestone Toyota fitted on it when it rolled off the Japanese assembly plant in 2001.

Needless to say, that Camry was simply one of the best-used cars I’ve ever owned.

If the original spare tire can’t be found in the trunk, it should at least have a functional replacement, in great condition.

That the spare is hardly used isn’t an excuse to put a worn, almost gone tire there…but if the owner of a used car decides so, it is best to leave them with their car.

What else, it would be right to ask, did they get wrong?

3. A Dirty Hood & Trunk (As It Ought NOT To Be)

Most cars today come with hoods that use struts to keep them in position, same with the trunk.

You’ll want to make sure that both of these are working…you’ll also want to make sure that the jack and all other typical emergency/safety items are in the trunk , where they’re supposed to be.

No responsible vehicle owner supports their hoods or trunks with a prop stick while open.

If a car owner does this, great chance that they won’t hesitate to use cooking oil as a substitute for engine oil!

While at the hood, make sure that the hood is also clean and free of grime, grease, and dirt. Folks who tend to keep their engine bay clean also take care of other parts of their vehicles, too.

4. The Presence of Only One Key

While ignition keys can be easily duplicated when a ‘master’ key/fob is present, things take a drastic turn when you need to access your vehicle and discover that you’ve lost your key (and there’s no spare anywhere).

This is why most smart car owners always have a spare, usually at home or in the glove box or trunk of another car they own. 

However, this precautionary step, sensible as it appears, clearly isn’t for everyone. 

Many vehicle owners today simply have one key to their cars and have no plans to duplicate it. 

This, on surface value, isn’t much…however, on closer thinking and thought, a driver who misplaced a key is likely to ‘misplace’ other things in the car, not immediately seen (assuming they got more than one key, in the first place). 

A car owner who is careless enough not to get a duplicate will also be equally careless with a plethora of other things that will affect you should you buy the used car they’re selling. 

That said, even if ‘nothing’ is amiss, you’ll still need to duplicate the key and erase the lost one(s) from the ECU memory — a reality that will cost you, upfront. 

5. Senseless Wear

As a car is used, it wears visibly, especially in/around areas where it comes in contact with its users most: the dashboard, seats, steering, door handles, armrests, etc. 

However, while there are sensible wears, there are also dumb, senseless wears. 

A 10-year-old Lexus, for instance, with less than 100k miles has no business with torn seats, a ripped-off steering wheel, or gashes from long fingernails on the dash. 

Any of these will point to an abuse or a careless owner who was just interested in starting the vehicle and driving away, not minding anything else that needed to be done! 

Such cars ought to be left to their owners to torture them for all eternity! 

6. Expired Paperwork

The paperwork of a vehicle is something that must be up to date for such a vehicle to be considered roadworthy. 

However, this isn’t always the case: as a matter of fact, many vehicles have papers that have not been renewed since their current owners started using them!

This is a bad omen when buying a vehicle: it symbolizes a desire to cut corners and actively do the wrong thing. 

Such a vehicle owner who does not see the need to renew their papers will also not see the need to approach a reputable shop to work on their car (the thinking and logic are the same). 

And, you know how that ends… 

7. Scratches and Gashes Not Attended To (Timely)

A car, by and large, is something that is pampered and well taken care of in the right hands.

This care doesn’t only mean engine and transmission: it means, to a large extent, the body and the presence (or absence) of scratches/gashes, especially around the bumper areas, usually tells an interesting maintenance story, upfront.

Granted, scratches and dents will occur in the normal task of daily driving; however, an owner who cares and, importantly, has the best interest of the vehicle at heart will make certain that things are fixed as soon as possible. 

If you’re dealing with someone who has a vehicle for sale and claims that they maintain it, but the body tells a curious, radically different tale, you may want to pause and ask what was skipped (besides the obvious).

8. Evidence of Going Against Manufacturer Recommendations

When manufacturers design cars, they test these cars, often for impressive (and exhaustive) hours, usually spanning several months (and sometimes years) before such vehicles are certified and recommendations issued as to how they should be maintained.

Barring such ‘marketing inspired’ recommendations such as the infamous ‘sealed for life trannies’ and ‘life time transmission fluids’, these recommendations shouldn’t be taken lightly as they represent manufactuer wisdom, counsel the engineers are qualified to give.

The original Lexus 400, for instance, underwent a combined 4.4 million kilometers (2.7 million miles) of combined testing before hitting the roads as a finished product. It was little wonder that the end product was simply one of the best sedans ever made.

With such dedication to R&D, manufacturers know best what is good for their vehicles; the opinions of friends, family, and lazy mechanics don’t count for anything here. This is why, such things as using 20W50 for modern engines, citing high temperatures, and using plain water as coolant remain issues that always result in premium tears.

If you’re interested in a used car, especially as a novice and there’s evidence of the previous owner going against the manufacturer’s express recommendations (such as using plain water in the radiator instead of coolant or using 20W50 weight engine oil for an engine like the 2GR calling for 0W20), then, you should walk away.

9. Deep-Seated Rust

Rust on a vehicle is a terrible thing, but in some places, it’s more than that: it’s completely suicidal!

Take the vehicle’s frame, for instance: deep-seated rust that has affected a vehicle’s frame has not only made that vehicle unsafe to drive in, but has also made it a potential time bomb and money pit, all in one, at the same time.

On any vehicle inspection, insist on going under the vehicle (in a pit) or the vehicle going up on a ramp. There, pay particular and careful attention to the integrity of the undercarriage.

If you’re dealing with minor rust that a simple scrape will easily help go away, you can safely ignore this and proceed. However, if you scrape any rust site on a used vehicle, especially the undercarriage, and it doesn’t go away, then you need to walk away…

…if you can already see gaping holes or visible damage from the effects of the rust, then you shouldn’t just walk away, you should RUN!

10. Checkered Ownership History

Generally, one-owner vehicles are ultra-desirable in the used car market, and this isn’t unjustified. Those who can afford to buy a vehicle brand new are also more likely, able, and willing to take good care of that vehicle.

Most of such new vehicles bought spend their lives in the dealerships (for servicing), in their owners’ garages, and on the roads, when they’re being driven. Such cars are generally clean, look new, and usually have zero problems.

If you come across anyone that ticks this box, you should snap it up, even if the asking price is more than the average (provided you have verified the claim and other things also tick up nicely).

However, vehicles that have been through 3-∞ owners are generally where the problem lies. This is how it pans out: as the car gets tossed down, it depreciates and comes within a bracket where many who could not afford it new(er) now can.

These folks who could not afford it new, are also likely not able to afford its maintenance (this is especially true for SUVs, premium cars, sports cars, or other generally expensive vehicles). To cope, these new owners cut down on maintenance, use sub-standard parts, and often, rely on risky DIY procedures or use ‘mechanics’ who don’t know what they are doing.

As a general rule, don’t be more than the 3rd buyer of a vehicle. If there have been more than 2 others before you, that’s a risky body count: ignore the car (for the said reasons above).

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