Five Warning Signs to Look for When Buying a Used Car

Buying a used car means deciding on a car you cannot fully see from the outside. Some warning signs are easy to check yourself, and others are worth asking about before you hand over any money. None of the signs below proves that a car is a bad buy. Each one is a reason to look closer.

1. The seller will not allow an independent inspection

A seller who is confident in the car usually has no problem with a second opinion. If the seller refuses, or keeps putting the visit off, take that seriously. It is one of the most useful signs you will get before you pay.

What to do next: ask to have an independent pre-purchase inspection done before you sign anything. Our mobile pre-purchase inspection comes to the car, wherever it is parked. We cover Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom and Elk Grove, and about 5 to 10 miles around each. There is no travel fee. Weekday visits are $175, and Saturday visits are $250. Read more about the pre-purchase inspection.

2. Mismatched paint or uneven panel gaps

Look at the car in daylight, from a few steps back and from each side. A panel that is a slightly different shade from the one beside it, paint on rubber trim or window seals, or gaps between the doors, hood and fenders that are wider on one side all can point to past bodywork. A repair is not always a problem. It is still something you should know about, and something to ask about.

What to do next: ask the seller whether the car has been in an accident, and ask to see any repair records. Write down what you notice before you talk price. During a pre-purchase inspection, a technician looks over the body and checks the car for signs of past repair.

3. Warning lights, or a check engine light that just went off

A warning light is the car telling you that something needs attention. A check engine light that was cleared shortly before a sale can hide a problem that has not gone away. After a reset, the car's computer needs time to run its own self-checks again, so a car that was just cleared may not show the full picture.

What to do next: start the car yourself and watch the dashboard as it comes on. Ask when the light last appeared and whether anyone reset it. A computer scan reads the stored fault codes, including problems that come and go. If a light is already on and you want the cause found, our diagnostics service covers that work for $150.

4. Fluid leaks and uneven tire wear

Fresh drips or dark spots on the ground under the car, or oily residue around the engine, can mean a leaking seal or gasket. Tires worn more on one edge than the other can point to an alignment or suspension problem. Worn tires and suspension parts are costs you will likely face soon after the purchase.

What to do next: look under the car for fresh drips. With the engine cool, check the oil and the coolant levels. Run your hand and your eye across the tread of each tire, not only the middle. Then have a technician road test the car and check the brakes and suspension. A pre-purchase inspection includes a road test and a visual check of the car.

5. Missing or mismatched paperwork and history

The VIN on the car should match the VIN on the title, the registration and the other documents. A seller who cannot show a title, a title in someone else's name, or a VIN that does not match the paperwork are all reasons to stop and ask more questions. A vehicle history report shows part of a car's past, but not all of it, so the paperwork still matters.

What to do next: find the VIN on the car, often on the dashboard near the windshield or on the driver's door frame. Compare it with the title and the registration. Ask the seller to show the title, and check that the name on it matches the seller's. Our VIN verification is a 30-minute visit that compares the VIN on the car with the title and registration, at the car's location, for $40.

A sign is a reason to look closer, not proof

Seeing one of these signs does not mean the car is a bad buy. Many cars with a sign like this turn out to be fine once someone looks closely. Use the signs to ask better questions, and to decide whether a closer look is worth the cost before you commit.

Frequently asked questions

Is a pre-purchase inspection worth it on a cheaper used car?

Many buyers choose one on cheaper cars too. A single repair bill after the sale can cost more than the inspection, and the written report gives you facts to use when you talk price or decide to walk away.

Does a check engine light that is off mean the car is fine?

Not necessarily. A light that is off does not rule out a problem. A computer scan can show stored fault codes and whether the car's self-checks have finished, which helps when a light was recently reset.

Do you come to the car?

Yes. We come to the car in Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom and Elk Grove, and about 5 to 10 miles around each, with no travel fee. You do not need to move the car to our shop.

What does a VIN verification confirm?

It confirms that the VIN on the vehicle matches the VIN on the title and registration.

Does the inspection tell me whether to buy the car?

The written report lists what we found, so you can decide with the facts in front of you.

Ready to check the car before you pay?

Book a mobile pre-purchase inspection online, or call us at 916-634-5500, Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm. Tell us where the car is, and we will come to it.