When Buying a Used Car, Always Avoid These Deal-Breaker Red Flags
Buying a used car can save you a lot of money on a great vehicle. But, buying the wrong pre-owned car will actually lose you a lot of cash by being a money pit. How do you avoid purchasing a lemon from a car dealership? Here are the deal-breakers that should act as red flags when you shop for a used sedan, truck, or SUV.
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The car doesn’t drive well
This is why it’s always vital to test-drive a used car instead of buying it online without seeing it in person. Driving it on the local streets and highways will alert you of any powertrain or drivetrain. Look for:
- Suspicious noises from under the hood like knocking, squealing, groaning, or clicking
- Unexpecting revving or struggling to change gears (transmission issues)
- Sluggish acceleration
- Rough idling
- A smoking, coughing exhaust system
These issues might be fixable, but do you really want to buy a car that needs costly fixes before you can drive it?
There’s damage that may be more than cosmetic
A dirty or stinky car cabin is common in used cars; one that has a musky smell is a deal-breaker. That’s because a mildew scent can be evidence of water damage. You can also spot water damage in the glovebox, under the seats, and around the spare tire in the trunk.
Such damage is majorly problematic because modern cars are chock-full of electronic and electrical components. Even if these parts function fine, the upholstery could be rotting.
On the vehicle exterior, look for rust — especially if the car spent time on snow-covered, salt-heavy roads. Many rusty cars look better than they are underneath because of the many plastic panels and bumpers on today’s vehicles. Look for frame rust along the axles, door sills, rocker panels, cross member, and other undercarriage areas.
You notice signs of poor maintenance
Only buy used cars that have been properly serviced by their prior owners. How can you tell if a used vehicle has been neglected or abused? Fluids like motor oil and brake fluid are gunky or depleted. The filters are disgustingly filthy. The owner has no receipts or evidence of service.
Inconsistent cosmetics should also tip you off to slapdash accident repairs, such as mismatched paint jobs or contrasting headlamp conditions.
If you notice any of these alarming signs on a used car for sale, you’re better off looking at a different vehicle. The best way to avoid these pitfalls is to only shop at a car dealership that you trust.
Aaron is unashamed to be a native Clevelander and the proud driver of a Hyundai Veloster Turbo (which recently replaced his 1995 Saturn SC-2). He gleefully utilizes his background in theater, literature, and communication to dramatically recite his own articles to nearby youth. Mr. Widmar happily resides in Dayton, Ohio with his magnificent wife, Vicki, but is often on the road with her exploring new destinations. Aaron has high aspirations for his writing career but often gets distracted pondering the profound nature of the human condition and forgets what he was writing… See more articles by Aaron.