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You don't have to buy someone else's
problems when you buy a used car. With millions of records in their
database, CARFAX can virtually give you the complete history of any
used car from the time it was manufactured until right now. By
running a CARFAX you can spot and major problems that could cost big
money
Find out instantly if a used car has any major problems
like:
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Salvage history
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Major accidents
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Odometer rollback
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Flood damage
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Fire damage
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Theft
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Lemon law buyback
But don't rely on CARFAX alone. Many problems will never show up
on CARFAX. It's up to you to inspect a used car for problems. Use
common sense when you look over any car. If you are unsure about
anything have it inspected by a professional mechanic, or simply
pass on it. There are plenty of cars for sale, don't buy one you are
unsure about.
What to look for when inspecting a used car.
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Walk around the car. What is your first impression?
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Is the paint and body free from dents and scratches?
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Are there any signs of previous damage?
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Look inside. Do the seats or interior trim panels show excessive
wear?
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Do the tires have adequate tread remaining?
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Open the hood. Do you see any oil leaks?
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Open the trunk. is it clean? Are the spare tire and jack in
place?
Trust your first impression when you inspect any used car. Walk
around the car more than once and look it over closely. If something
seems wrong, it probably is. Move on to another car. There are too
many good cars out there to get stuck with one that will cause you
problems.
Look at the sheet metal first. Step back from the car and look
down the side. Do you see any waves in the paint? The body should be
smooth all the way down the side. Check the gap between the body
panels. Is it even? If the gap is close on one end, but wider on the
other end the car has probably been crashed. Check for any undue
dings and scratches.
Open the door and sit down. Note the condition of the seats and
carpeting. Does anything show excessive wear? Take a look at all the
controls. Turn on the radio, try the power windows and locks. You
want to verify that everything works.
Look for anything that has excessive wear. Especially look at the
accelerator and brake pedals. If the car shows very low mileage, but
it has a lot of wear on the pedals it could have a rolled back
odometer.
The car should have 4 matching tires with good tread life
remaining. If you have to buy tires it will likely cost you $300 to
$500. More if you are buying a car with high performance tires.
Check that the tires are worn evenly. If the tires are worn more on
the sides the car is not in alignment, and it will continue to wear
tires quickly until this is corrected. Improper alignment can be
caused by hitting a pothole, but it can also be the result of an
accident.
When you check under the hood look for any fluid leaks. Do you
see any excessive oil leaks? Is there any green or yellow liquid
present? if so this is a sign of a leaky coolant system. An older
car, or one with high mileage, is going to have a few minor leaks.
But if you see too much oil or fluids just pass on the car.
Open the trunk and make sure everything looks clean and dry. If
you see moisture it means the trunk is leaking, which is usually a
sign the car has been hit from behind. Check to be sure the spare
tire and jack are in place.
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