When it comes to buying a used vehicle, it is not just about its appearance, mileage or brand. After all prior to payment for the car, it is recommended to check whether everything works. Then you will get a car with all “pluses” and “minuses”. To fully protect yourself from unpleasant surprises, you need to check the car before purchasing. You want to ensure that your money is well spent on something that will last. Most of the time, you don’t have access to vehicles ahead of time so when you walk up to the lot and see one you like, you’re either going to make an offer or move on. In this article, you’ll find some interesting facts that can help you find a great car at the right price.
Top 10 Checklist before buying a used car :-
Car shopping can be a nerve-wracking experience for anyone when you’re looking for a great deal on a used car and especially when you have zero knowledge about cars. In order to buy the right one, you need to know what to look out for, where to find it and what the common problems with it are.
With our brilliant service in Melbourne, JZ Motors in Ferntree Gully proudly offers the best possible quality vehicles, finance solution, trade-in vehicle, after sales service and much more….
If you correctly do your homework, that’s it! Here’s a comprehensive checklist for buying a used car: Keep reading!
1) Checking the Tyres :
Don’t underestimate the importance of checking a car’s tyres. Tyres play a major role in the performance of your vehicle and are vital if you want to keep you and your passengers safe on the roads. Make sure your tyres meet the legal tyre tread depth in Australia.
Tyre tread is the rubber covering the outer circumference of your car’s tyre. It comes into contact with the road surface, whether it be a smooth highway or a muddy off-road terrain.
Tread depth is the measurement of how much rubber your tyre has left on it. When a tyre is brand new, it starts off with about 8mm of tread depth—that’s how deep into the tyre the grooves are. However, since your tyre is always in constant friction with the road, the tread will eventually wear down. As the tread gets shallower, going down from 8mm to 5mm to 3mm and so on, your tyre will lose its ability to grip and stay on the road.
Having worn tyres means the only contact patch between you and the road is past its best. Accidents might happen due to worn-out tyres.
The law requires all passenger vehicles to be fitted with tyres that are no less than 1.6mm when measured across the tyre’s worn surface.
To check your tyre tread, insert a 20c coin into the grooves on your tyre. If you can see the entire head of the platypus and your tread doesn’t reach or cover it, replace your tyres as soon as possible. We recommend checking your tyre tread once a month and before any long road trips.
2) Pay attention to Dents and scratches:
On first inspection, the car’s bodywork looks to be in good condition, with only some very minor scratches and dents. In clear daylight, there are no corrosion or extra dents that appear more significant than expected. The plates are still affixed to the front and rear of the vehicle, meaning they haven’t been replaced – that’s a good sign as it means the previous owner didn’t get clamped every time they parked.
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- What’s the bodywork like?
- Do the wheels show signs of kerbing?
- Inspect the car in clear daylight…during nighttime or rain can hide the visibility.
- Don’t let small dents or scratches scare you away from a car. They can be fixed cheaply and easily.
3) Look for Panel gaps:
When you’re buying a used car, part of the inspection process should include looking at the bodywork. Maybe you didn’t notice it – but a car’s body is almost its own ecosystem. There’s a lot to think about – dents, scratches, knocks and nicks, as well as panel fit (ie how tightly the panels are clamped together). Because of all this detail – you should always get an expert second opinion before signing on that dotted line. That said – here are the key things to look out for while inspecting the outside of your used car:-
- Check the gaps between panels, to make sure there aren’t any large spaces in between
- Large panel gaps could be a sign that a car has been badly repaired after a crash,
- Check for any colour differences between panels – if there are different colouring on adjacent panels, it could mean the car had been repainted after a crash.
4) Fluid levels matters a lot:
You might think that buying a new car is all about the glossy paintwork and amazing interior but if you’re going to be driving around in it this summer, you should also be thinking about whether the car has been well looked after.
Give the car a thorough inspection before taking it for a test drive. Fluid levels are an easy way to spot problems with your car’s maintenance. Consider the below points:-
- Bonnet check – look for oil, brake and power steering fluid levels.
- If they’re low, it could be a sign that the car hasn’t been well maintained.
- Secondly, check the signs of any oil leakage under the bonnet.
- Checking underneath the car where it is normally parked can help a lot too.
5) Have you thought about checking under the oil cap:
When you check the oil level, it is also a good idea to have a look under the oil cap. If you scratch the oily surface of the cap with your fingernail and if it appears to have a white mayonnaise-like substance, then this is easy to spot. Your head gasket may have failed and the coolant is mixing with oil meaning that you will need to change both the oil and the coolant immediately. This can result due to condensation.
Moreover, you may also want to check the coolant expansion tank – it should look clean.
6) Keeping an eye for electric parts of your car – worth a try:
Test everything. Heading out in the car, try closing and opening the windows a few times to make sure they go up and down properly. Put on the headlights and flick switches on the dash to see if they light up. Play with all of the dials and buttons (don’t forget the boot). If something is loose stick a bit of tape down to hold it in place until you get it fixed!
When you are test driving the car, turn on the radio and actually listen to it. This may seem like just a way to get up to speed with the functionality of the stereo, but in fact, you’re listening for an underlying noise that will tell you whether or not there’s an issue with the transmission or engine. You don’t want to be cruising at 70 mph when the car’s transmission is going out and you can’t hear it over the music!
7) Windscreen Glass:
If you’re looking to buy a previously owned car it’s always worth taking a look at the windscreen. If it’s been chipped or cracked in any way, you can normally get this repaired for much cheaper than buying a new windscreen. A small crack or chip in your windscreen could turn into a crack, so it’s really important that you know what to do if you find damage. If there are any windscreen chips or cracks, take the car for an inspection to an authorised dealer to see if it needs replacing. A key requirement for car registration.
It’s also worth checking the front and rear lights, keeping an eye out for chips, cracks and any fogging or internal moisture. If a tiny stone has managed to shatter the light it means there might be other underlying problems with its history.
8) Upholstery:
While it’s always a good idea to inspect the undercarriage of a car, don’t overlook the interior. Does the front of the driver’s seat have stains? Are there any tears in the fabric? Is there excessive wear in places where you’d expect to see more wear and tear?
Another important thing you want to think about before buying a used car is how badly it smells inside. Upholstery is also one of the most neglected parts of a car, so it’s likely that any car you buy will need to be cleaned out before it can re-enter society.
9) Find out more about spare wheels and accessories:
The spare wheel is the unsung hero of your vehicle. It’s there in case you get a puncture when you are out and about. No matter how careful you are, it could be that you get a puncture. The spare wheel will allow you to keep driving until you can stop and change the tyre. But, do you know what size of the tyre is on your vehicle? Do you know if the spare wheel itself is in good condition? Has it been correctly inflated so that it can work properly in an emergency situation? Is there a jack for lifting the car if you get a puncture, and an adapter for any locking wheel nuts fitted to the vehicle?
10) How to Spot Signs Of Wear And Tear On A Used Car:
Each and every car that is more than three years old will display some signs of wear and tear. However, this wear and tear are expected to correspond with the age and mileage. It is easy to calculate the average annual mileage for any driver using an odometer from one side of the faceplate to the other. Therefore, it is important to ascertain whether a car shows an unusual amount of wear for its miles. After all, it’s better to spend time checking for potential irregularities before any problems arise.
More Suggestions:-
A lot of people drive around in old bangers and dodgy vans, but many people are reluctant to actually test drive the cars out of concern that the brakes won’t work, the steering wheel will fall off or they’ll be caught short and have to go in the back seat. But most used cars are safe unless you take them on a track.
Once you have taken your potential purchase for a spin round the block, check the above list which will give you a good insight into what you need to look out for when inspecting a second-hand car.
If you are unsure about what to expect when it comes to buying a second-hand or a new car, we are always happy to guide you with the whole process. Our extensive knowledge and 20 years of experience will give you confidence with every purchase.
Happy driving, Stay safe!!!
