There are several steps a buyer should take when considering used cars.  The first is to set up an inspection.  Always inspect used cars thoroughly before taking them to a qualified mechanic for a final inspection.  You can learn a lot about used cars by looking them over thoroughly.  If you find some of the problems yourself, you can greatly lessen the time needed by a mechanic.  If you find some areas of concern on one of the used cars, point them out to your qualified mechanic during the final inspection. It is much less expensive to discover problems early on, than to wait until it is a hindrance to important travel.  You don't have to be a car repair professional to save time and money and avoid frustration.

Vehicle History Report

Contact the owner of the vehicle to obtain the VIN so you can get a vehicle history report.  Once you have the VIN you can purchase an inexpensive AutoCheck vehicle history report and find out if there is anything suspect in the vehicle's past, such as multiple owners, or any type of branded title.

Owners of Used Cars

As part of your self-inspection of the vehicle, you should speak with the owner and ask a few questions such as how long they've owned the vehicle, how often the oil was changed and where, do they have records for maintenance and service, has the vehicle been damaged or flooded (this can be verified on the AutoCheck vehicle history report, but it's a good question to ask to gauge the owner's honesty), why are they selling the vehicle, and other questions regarding maintenance, service, and storage.  After asking these questions, you need to decide whether you trust/believe the owner.

Check the Engine

A vehicle history report can't tell you if a used car has been kept in a garage or exposed to the elements, or how the owner/s have driven it.  You need to check under the hood and look for certain important indicators.  The various types of fluids should be checked; how are their levels?  Do the fluid containers appear burned, or have obvious lines indicating that they were not refilled often?  Take a step back and view the engine as a whole.  Are there any areas that seem cleaner/newer than other parts?  This would be an indication that things have been replaced.  These are the type of concerns you need to keep in mind as you consider used cars.