what to ask car dealer about used car

Don't Buy a Lemon — Ask the Used Car Dealer These Questions

Here'due south how to buy a used machine that won't let you downwardly.

Used cars come up with baggage from their previous owners. A used car might need a full engine rebuild or it might need nothing more than a new set of tires. Before you drive a used automobile off the lot, make sure you know exactly what happened in its history, what'southward been done to fix whatsoever issues and how protected you lot'll exist from future problems.

GOBankingRates spoke to car experts about the questions you should ask the dealer before buying a used auto so that you don't make whatsoever machine-ownership mistakes and end up with a lemon.

Last updated: Oct. 8, 2019

What To Exercise Before You Go To the Dealer

Before you fifty-fifty set up foot in the dealership, it's important to do some inquiry first.

"As consumers, the more time you lot can spend researching before you lot get there, the more comfy you are making choices and sticking to principles that you lot've laid out," said Alain Nana-Sinkam, vice president of strategic initiatives at TrueCar. "Effigy out what your game programme is, what your upkeep is and your criteria, so that when y'all go out, you tin can be more measured in the way that yous approach things."

Once yous have a expert idea of what you want and what a reasonable price is, it's fourth dimension to get to the dealer to get your specific questions answered. Here's what y'all need to ask.

What's the Vehicle History?

Before you buy a used car, y'all should know its history. And a dealer should be willing to provide reports on the used cars they're selling.

"CARFAX and AutoCheck are two of the major ones," said Nana-Sinkam. "Those vehicle history reports are going to tell you lot whether a machine has been in a major blow, if it has flood impairment, hail harm, if it's been totaled and put back together, [or] if it used to exist a taxi. Things that would be disquisitional to sympathize, not necessarily to completely disqualify information technology, but things that you need to know to decide if y'all want to own this car and what yous want to pay for it."

Does It Have a Branded Title?

Before y'all settle on a used set up of wheels, bank check its title. If the title is branded, you'll want to get more information.

"A branded championship ways that a car was totaled and then put back together," said Nana-Sinkam. "With that blazon of vehicle, you need to be mindful of if the weld was well done. That might give you suspension."

This shouldn't necessarily disqualify a car, but it'south something you should definitely take note of.

What Practice You Know Virtually the Items Noted in the Vehicle History?

Whatever insight the dealer can provide into the items noted in the automobile's history written report can assistance yous make a more informed decision near the purchase. However, the dealer might not have all the answers.

"In some cases, they won't know if they weren't involved [with] the vehicle in its previous lives when those things took identify," said Nana-Sinkam.

Tin I Go This Checked Out by My Personal Mechanic?

Consider taking the vehicle to get checked out by your personal mechanic. Tell them what'due south on the vehicle history written report and ask them to see if there's annihilation incorrect with it.

"When you have a [mechanic] you feel comfortable working with, they can cut through the noise and tell you exactly what's going on," said Nana-Sinkam.

What Are the Terms of the Warranty?

If you lot want to observe out whether the dealer stands behind the car they're selling you, notice out what kind of warranty they'll offer.

"If yous see a challenged vehicle history and the dealer is selling the automobile as-is, that kind of helps y'all to respond the question of what you should await going forward and what the implications of that are," said Nana-Sinkam. "But if the dealer includes a much more comprehensive warranty with the vehicle… [and] they're in that location to ready information technology for you, then that will help you to experience a little more comfortable."

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Is There an Extended Warranty Available?

Before yous sign the contract to buy a used car, find out if the dealer offers an extended warranty.

"If there is, how much does information technology cost and what does it embrace? Sometimes the warranties are only going to cover what we telephone call engine and power train, so it'due south going to embrace the mechanical stuff," said Nana-Sinkam. "Just if a mechanical window breaks or a slice of trim falls off, the warranty might not cover that."

What Other Coverages Are Available?

Don't finish at the standard warranty items. Notice out if the dealer will comprehend whatsoever other repairs or maintenance costs.

"Empathise non just what coverages come with the vehicle, only what coverages are bachelor," said Nana-Sinkam. "This can assist you make the most educated decision based on if y'all could add together something and how much yous can pay for it."

For example, a dealer might offering additional coverage for electrical systems and rubber features.

What'southward the Car's Recall History?

Some models might have a mutual problem, which leads to a recall. It's important to make sure the problems on recalled items for a car have been resolved.

"If a car had a problem that was so pregnant that the manufacturer issued a mandate that all the cars had to come up back to be stock-still, understand what sort of recall history the vehicle has had and whether the one car that you're looking at had that repair done," said Nana-Sinkam.

Is This a Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle?

Discover out if the auto you want to buy is certified pre-endemic (CPO). In that location are several benefits to ownership a car with this designation.

"The chief benefits of certified pre-endemic vehicles are ii-fold. First, it ways that the car has met a detailed list of criteria that the manufacturer has set," said Nana-Sinkam. "The 2d piece [is] that they provide a longer warranty. You will find oftentimes that a CPO used auto has a longer warranty than a brand-new automobile because they've already gone over it with a fine-toothed comb and know that it's well taken care of."

Is It Certified by the Manufacturer or by the Dealer?

A certification might come from the manufacturer or the dealership. The latter is good, just the manufacturer's certification tin can requite you more protection. If you buy a used machine from a different manufacturer's dealership, annotation that information technology can only be certified by the dealership, non the manufacturer.

"An example of that would be a Nissan at a Honda dealership," said Nana-Sinkam. "Honda cannot certify that Nissan because they don't take admission to the Nissan CPO program. They might accept their ain certification, but you're non going to get the factory certification in that scenario."

How Long Has the Car Been on the Lot?

Has your dream motorcar been sitting on the lot for a while? You might want to call back twice about buying information technology.

"In my professional experience, you should shy away from a machine that's been on the lot for months," said Sean Pour, co-founder of the nationwide car-buying service SellMax. "Sometimes dealers go stuck with inventory, and that inventory often goes unmaintained."

When Was the Timing Belt Concluding Changed?

The timing belt is essential to maintaining the engine's function, and it typically needs to exist replaced every 60,000 to 100,000 miles, according to How Stuff Works.

"The timing belt can be an expensive repair," said Pour. "If information technology wasn't [replaced] and breaks, information technology can fifty-fifty impairment the engine."

Is the Mileage Original?

You lot might have your eye on a car with low miles, but make certain that mileage is legitimate.

"Sometimes the mileage volition show low on an odometer, but the dealer asks you to sign a 'TMU,' meaning that the true mileage is unknown," said Pour. "Don't sign this without understanding what it means."

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Can I Plug In a Diagnostic Reader?

Using an OBD2 reader to run a diagnostic examination on the automobile can tell y'all a lot. "You lot should be asking this whenever yous think about purchasing a used automobile," said Matt Cooke of Filter Services.

"An OBD2 reader will search for mistake codes and pull up anything that's gone wrong with the car," he said. "Often dealers will effort to get rid of a car by clearing the error codes so that they don't bear witness up on the dashboard when information technology starts up. But by plugging in a mistake reader, you'll be able to come across exactly what'southward wrong with it."

Can I Take Information technology for a Test Bulldoze?

Maybe one of the best things about car shopping is going for the exam drive. Employ this time to check all the auto'southward functions.

"Be sure to test all the components on the car — the lights, turn point, radio, horn, etc.," said Laura Gonzalez, marketing manager for AutoNation Volkswagen of Las Vegas.

Can I Check Under the Hood?

There might be bug lurking under the hood that you wouldn't notice from looking at the outside.

"Bank check under the hood for erosion, rust and overall cleanliness of the battery and ports," said Richard Reina, automotive skilful and product grooming director at CARiD.com.

When Were the Tires Last Replaced?

When you're considering all the other factors of a used car, there's one yous might overlook: the tires. Just information technology's all-time to bank check this particular, also.

"This should exist included in the vehicle history report and easy to discover out," said Reina. "New tires are expensive, and so you should observe out early if y'all need to factor that into your upkeep earlier signing on your dream used car."

Has Information technology Been Inspected past a Tertiary-Party Inspector?

A tertiary-political party inspector might catch problems that might not exist obvious to you. It can be worth finding out if your prospective auto was professionally inspected.

"Used auto shoppers should always ask if their dealer had an inspection done past a 3rd-party vehicle inspector and if so, ask to see the report," said Eric Widmer, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Alliance Inspection Direction. "Professional vehicle inspectors can almost always catch signs of damage or areas of business organization, even if the vehicle has been stock-still in the past."

What'south the Full Out-the-Door Cost?

Your eye might be on the sticker price, but information technology won't necessarily reverberate the full, last cost.

"On the negotiation front, every shopper should inquire for the car's full out-the-door cost, including taxes and fees," said Matt Smith, senior editor at CarGurus.com. "Monthly auto loan payments are bang-up for budgeting purposes, only knowing the vehicle's full cost will reveal whether you're actually getting a great deal."

What's the Render Policy?

A car is a major purchase whether it'south new or used. But if something goes seriously wrong with the car, can you return it? If you were given a lemon, are you stuck with it?

"A great thing to enquire the dealer before purchasing is what the return policy is on the motorcar," said Bryan Rodgers, owner of Rodgers Operation, a dealer alternative Audi repair and service specialist in Ottawa, Canada. "Depending on their answer, this might just tell you if the dealer is credible or non."

While yous tin can't necessarily render any auto, you lot should have options if you were given a lemon, so that's worth inquiring about.

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