10 Warning Signs To Look For Before Buying a Used Car

Jesse Pinkman's used car

Buying a used car is about as fun as vacuuming a beach-house, at least the buying part. But if you approach the buying process with a plan, and know what to look for, you can minimize the chance of ending up with an awful car, or getting taken advantage of by unscrupulous sales-people. We've come up with a useful guide on what to watch out for when checking out vehicles at used-car lots. While there are always other factors involved, these warning signs should cover the basics. We always recommend getting a reputable mechanic to thoroughly inspect any used car before you purchase it.

1) Title issues - If you go to purchase a vehicle and the owner can't come up with the title for you, or refuses to provide it, you should probably run the other way. Title issues can signify anything from simple owner absent-mindedness to illegal activity like vehicle theft or tax fraud. State laws will be different in regards to title and vehicle ownership, with some states allowing a vehicle older than a certain age to be sold without possession of the title, but make sure you're in compliance with the law. Also understand what a salvage title means - that the vehicle has been damaged in an accident, and was considered totaled (deemed a total loss) at one point, and be think twice before agreeing to purchase such a vehicle.

2) Dings - Many dings in the car's exterior indicate a general lack of regard for the care of the vehicle. Someone who doesn't bother to care for the car's exterior is probably not going to bother with other maintenance as well. While every car is going to have it's bumps and scrapes, one that's clearly been neglected is a clear warning sign that there could be more issues upon further inspection.

3) Modifications - If you're going to look at a nice Honda Civic to buy for your work commute, and under the hood you find thousands of dollars worth of engine modifications designed to make the car faster than a Lamborghini, it's probably a good idea to keep shopping. Modifications indicate someone who wanted a vehicle designed for racing, and it's unlikely that they didn't treat it as such. Exterior work can be almost equally bad, with absurd spoilers, vehicles lowered to 1 cm off the ground, or Gucci pattern paint jobs. Not only will you be an embarrassment to your entire family in one of these hot-boxes, you'll also probably get pulled over constantly, and be the proud recipient of a car that's been beat on by the previous owner trying to show off for his friends.

4) Seams - No, we're not talking about your khakis. Seams are the gaps between different panels in the vehicle's exterior. So the seams on each side and front of the hood, trunk, and between the fenders and doors. A good way to test whether or not the vehicle has experienced any significant damage is to compare the seams on each side of the vehicle to each other. In some cases, the seams may be so far off that you will be able to tell with your naked eye, but using a measuring tool to compare will also be helpful. A millimeter or two is not unusual, but significant differences between seams indicates body work as the result of an accident.

5) Stories - If you're going to buy a vehicle and the salesperson, or owner starts explaining away your questions with far-fetched stories which usually sound too good to be true, be extra cautious. This applies more for a private sale than a dealership, as salespeople tend to be a talkative bunch by nature anyway. Simple questions should get simple answers, and just like dating, you should be able to hear warning signs when the seller opens their mouth. If they start telling you that the car is vibrating because they just need to replace this one simple part that they will do before you pick it up, because you look like a nice guy and they knew someone that looked like you once back in their hometown but that was during the 70's, it's time to find a deal somewhere else.

6) Smokers - While buying a car from a smoker doesn't necessarily mean that it there's anything mechanically wrong with it, you should still know what you're getting yourself into. Cigarette smoke is very potent, and if someone has been lighting up in their car for the last few years, you will be the proud recipient of that stale cigarette smell for years to come. Of course, the car can be detailed, odor fresheners added, and time will eventually get rid of most of the smell, but there's no doubt that when you get into your car after it's been sitting out in the sun for hours, you will be able to tell that the previous owner really enjoyed Parliament Lights.

7) No service records - If an owner has literally no repair or maintenance records, this usually isn't a good sign, unless the car is so new that it's unlikely to have needed anything. A vehicle with all of the service records available, however, is a very good sign of a meticulous owner, and should inspire confidence in the purchase. Of course, many people will take great care of their car, but not be so great with organizing their paperwork, so this isn't an ironclad warning sign, but certainly still something to keep an eye out for.

8) Worn and mismatched tires - This is another warning sign that taken by itself may not be a huge deal, but in conjunction with any of the others becomes a good indicator of previous vehicle care. Tires that are bald, warped, or mismatched indicate poor attention to maintenance and safety. Another annoying aspect to this is that you will have to buy new tires immediately after spending money on a new (used) car. Tires should match, and at least a moderate amount of tread should still be left. Use the 'penny test' to check the tire tread.

9) Body work - Previous body work indicates accidents, and could mean hidden mechanical and structural issues with the car. In many cases, you will be able to tell when body work has been done by looking for dull paint, or paint that doesn't quite match the rest of the vehicle. You can also look for 'orange peel' in the paint by checking the car against light at different angles and looking for a bumpy texture that you may find on the outside of an orange peel. This could indicate that the vehicle was repainted. Always check the vehicle's paint in a lighted area, preferably during the day.

10) Check engine light - If a check engine light is on when you're looking at a vehicle to buy, don't take the seller's word for it that it's not a big deal. Have the engine light code read with an OBD code reader either by a mechanic, or an auto parts store, and then research to understand what the code means and whether or not it indicates a serious problem. Another thing to look for is an engine light that doesn't come on at all when you turn the key in the ignition to start the car. It should illuminate for a few seconds before turning off, so if you don't see it come on at all, it could be because someone tampered with it in an effort to hide something from you.

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