Used car buying checklist: 25 things to check before you sign

Before you look at cars

1. Decide your all-in budget, including tax, title, registration, insurance and a cushion for repairs.
2. Decide what you need: seats, towing, fuel economy, cargo space, drive type.
3. Check your credit and get a loan pre-approval from a bank or credit union so you know what rate to beat.
4. Look up what similar cars are listed for in your area so you know what is fair.

Reading the listing

1. Look for many clear photos, including the inside, the odometer and the engine bay.
2. Check the VIN is shown, and that it matches what the seller tells you.
3. Read the description for specifics. Vague listings often hide something.
4. Ask about the price: what is included, and what fees are extra.

Before you go

1. Run a vehicle history report on the VIN. See how to read a vehicle history report.
2. Check for open safety recalls using the VIN on the government's recall site.
3. Confirm the seller is who they say they are: a licensed dealer, or a private owner whose name is on the title.

When you see the car

1. Look at the car in daylight, on level ground, when it is dry.
2. Check the tires for even wear and enough tread.
3. Look for uneven panel gaps, paint that does not match and overspray, which can mean past repairs.
4. Open and close every door, the hood and the trunk.
5. Check the lights, wipers, windows, locks, air conditioning, heat and every button.
6. Smell for mold, smoke or strong air freshener, and look for damp carpets or a musty trunk.

The test drive

1. Drive it on city streets and on a highway, for at least twenty minutes.
2. Listen for knocks, squeals, grinding and humming, and feel for pulling, shaking or hesitation.
3. Test the brakes firmly, in a safe place.
4. Make sure warning lights come on at start and go off.

See how to test drive a used car for what to listen for.

Before you pay

1. Have an independent mechanic inspect it. See how to inspect a used car.
2. Ask for the full out-the-door price in writing. See what out-the-door price means.
3. Read every document before you sign, and do not sign anything that is blank or that you do not understand.
4. Check the title: it should be in the seller's name, with no surprises such as a lien you were not told about or a brand like salvage.

After you buy

Get insurance in place before you drive away, keep all your paperwork together, and make sure the title and registration are handled on time. See what happens after you buy a used car.

Common questions