How to inspect a used car:

Build a friendly report with the person. Talk about the weather or what a nice neighborhood or quite street they live on. Ask if they have lived there long. If they have it says that they are stable and lends credibility to honesty. Always talk to break the ice and build somewhat of a friendship. Always ask leading questions that you can ask again and verify later. A person caught in the first lie will generally be more honest going forward.

Has the car been washed? Does the person really want to sell a car? Are they taking a lackadaisical approach to it? Someone that really wants to sell a car and really cares will make sure the vehicle is really clean. It says a lot about the person. I take care of my car. Have you ever seen a filthy car on a dealer lot? How well a person took care of the car is one of my top priorities.

Start by standing back from the vehicle at all four corners and down the sides. You are looking for imperfections in the body and paint. When you look at the vehicle with daylight reflecting off the paint job you will see small door dings and some large dents from major accidents that have been pounded out. They show up as changes in color from light to dark. If someone parked in the back of the lot at the supermarket and walked a little extra you won’t see the door dings. Lots of door dings indicates the person was not as in tune to taking care of their vehicle. Ask the seller if the car has been in any accidents.

Tap your knuckle around all body panels as you walk around the vehicle. You are listening for a nice ring tone of metal. If you hear a thud or a different sound you may have tapped on some body putty. Good repairs shops can make the outside look like the car was never in an accident but they can’t cover up the sound. Does the seller start back tracking on any accident damage questions?

Look at all the weld joints where body panels meet. Especially look in the engine compartment or trunk area. Paint shops can’t match a color exactly nor can they spray the outside and the inside of the vehicle after it has been built. You will see paint build up, color differences, and dirty areas to paint transitions. If any of these items are present assume the vehicle has been in some sort of accident and you may have major structural damage. Most cars built today use a uni-body design which means that the frame of the vehicle is built in with the body to afford crumple zones.

I will always walk away from a vehicle that has been in a major accident or when a seller has not been forthright about the condition of the vehicle. Never trust a word they say. Let someone else deal with the problems.