How to Research a Used Car

Buying a used car can be tricky, and if you're not careful, you could end up with a lemon. Carefully inspecting the car is a must. By researching the used car before buying it, you'll know exactly what you're getting. The last thing you want is a car full of surprises.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Check the car yourself while you're at the dealership. Look for signs, like a paint line around the window edges, that the car has been in an accident. Check for signs of water damage, like mold, rust or a musty smell, that would suggest the car had been flooded at one time.

2. Find the 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN. You can find it on the passenger-side door, the trunk lid, the hood or certain model parts under the hood.

3. Look up the car online. Price the car on Edmunds, in the Kelly Blue Book or the NADA book (see Resources). Check the prices of other used cars of the same make so you can negotiate the price at the dealership.

4. Run a CarFax report (see Resources). Type in the VIN on the CarFax website to pull up a report. The report tells you every accident the car has been in. Some dealerships will run this report for you if you ask.

5. Take the car to a mechanic. A mechanic can put the car on a lift and inspect it for accident or water damage. An expert is more likely to find problems with the car than you just looking it over at the dealership.

Tips & Warnings

• Take someone with you if you're not very knowledgeable about cars. It's always helpful to have another pair of eyes at the dealership.
• Never buy a car where the VIN has been filed off. Chances are, the car is stolen.

Resources

• Edmunds
• CarFax