| Exterior |
 | Body |
 | Are seams where doors and fenders meet even and
straight? |
| | Are seams where the hood and trunk meet the fenders even
and straight? |
| | Does a magnet cling to all steel body panels? (Be sure to
test fenders, the lower corners of doors, and rocker panels-the
areas below doors. If a magnet doesn't cling, suspect body filler
was used to repair rust or accident damage.) |
| | Are all body panels the same color? |
| | Has the car been recently repainted? (Look for signs of
spray paint on moldings; also check the edges of the doors, hood,
and trunk to be sure they are all the same color. Fresh paint may
cover rust that will continue to progress.) |
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| | Tires |
| | Do all tires have the same amount of tread? |
| | Are all tires the same size? (Check tire size markings on
tire sidewalls.) |
| | Are all tires the same brand? |
| | Is there a spare tire, jack, and lug wrench? If the
vehicle has locking hubcaps, is there a key for removing
them? |
| | Is the spare tire inflated (Press hard against the side
with your thumb; the tire should be firm.) |
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| | Suspension |
| | Does the vehicle sit level? |
| | Bounce each corner of the vehicle. Do all corners respond
the same? (Corners should only bounce once or twice before
stopping.) |
| | Do you hear a creaking noise when bouncing the vehicle's
corners? |
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| | Frame |
| | Examine inside trunk, wheel wells, and under hood. Do you
see areas that look like they have been crumpled and
straightened? |
| | Look underneath each side of the vehicle for a row of
holes in the frame just inside the vehicle's outer edge. Do holes
appear scratched or recently cleaned? (If so, suspect the frame has
been straightened after a crash.) |
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| | Gas Cap and Filler Neck |
| | Is there a gas cap? Does it fit correctly? (If the cap
locks, is there a key?) |
| | Remove the gas cap and check inside the filler neck. Is
there a fuel-nozzle restrictor to prevent adding leaded fuel? (Most
states require them.) |
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| | Interior |
| | Is upholstery in good condition? (Look for tears, stains,
and burns.) |
| | Are the dashboard and headliner in good condition? |
| | Do seats adjust easily? |
| | Are any window cranks, door locks, handles, dash controls
or similar items missing? |
| | Do all interior lights and dash bulbs work? |
| | Does carpet condition match the age of the vehicle?
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| | Does carpeting smell of mildew or stale water, suggesting
moisture underneath (or worse, flood damage)? |
| | Check under the dash at the top of the carpet. Are there
stains suggesting heater core or air conditioner leakage? |
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| | Accessories |
| | Do all accessories, such as the heater, air conditioner,
audio system, and alarm system, operate fully? Test all functions
of each. |
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| | Engine Compartment |
| | Are there signs of oil or fluid leaks? |
| | Run the engine at full operating temperature. Are there
abnormal smells that might be due to leaking fluids on hot engine
parts? |
| | Are there unusual noises, such as clattering or metallic
sounds, or sharp hissing, in the engine compartment when the engine
is running? (Normal sound is smooth whirring of belts and
fan.) |
| | Does anything appear to be missing? (Look for shiny or
clean areas where parts may have been removed.) |
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| | Under the Vehicle |
| | Are there fluid leaks on the underside of the engine and
transmission, at axle ends, at brake line connections, or on the
ground beneath the vehicle? Green fluid is usually antifreeze;
reddish fluid is usually power steering or transmission fluid; dark
brown or black fluid is usually oil or brake fluid. |
| | Are any parts loose, with the exception of exhaust parts
slung from flexible rubber "donuts"? |
| | Does anything appear missing, such as bolts, clamps,
brackets or cables? |
| | Are exhaust system parts rusty? |
| | Are there marks from scrapes, indicating the car has
bottomed out on rocks or pavement? |
| | Examine exhaust when the car is operating at normal
temperature. Do you see white or blue smoke? (Both can indicate an
engine problem, especially if the smoke burns your eyes. A small
amount of steam is normal, especially in cold weather.) |
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| Performance |
| | Engine |
| | Does the engine start easily? |
| | Does the engine stall at any time? |
| | Does the engine idle smoothly? |
| | Does the idle speed seem too slow or fast? |
| | Does the engine hesitate or stumble on
acceleration? |
| | Does the engine run smoothly during operation? |
| | Does the engine seem to lack power? |
| | If the vehicle has cruise control, do all features work
correctly? |
| | Do engine or other system warning lights appear? |
| | Does the engine diesel (continue running) when shut
off? |
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| | Transmission and Clutch |
| | Is automatic shifting smooth? |
| | On a manual-shift vehicle, is take-off smooth, without
grabbing or jerking? |
| | On a manual-shift vehicle, accelerate hard in a higher
gear (third or fourth) or while going uphill. If engine rpms rise
without a corresponding increase in vehicle speed, the clutch could
be slipping. It may need to be adjusted or replaced. |
| | On a manual-shift vehicle, try shifting to a lower gear
when going slowly. Does the transmission shift easily, without
grinding? |
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| | 4-Wheel Drive |
| | Engage 4-wheel drive only on soft surfaces unless the
owner's manual specifically says the feature can be used on
hard-surfaced roads. On a suitable surface, test-drive the vehicle
in forward and reverse with 4-wheel drive engaged. Does the vehicle
shift smoothly in both directions? |
| | Turn tight corners to the right and left. Are there
clunking sounds or other noises? |
| | Do the wheels bind or pull, whether turning or going
straight? |
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| | Brakes |
| | Apply the brakes several times at different speeds. Also
try a sudden stop. Does the vehicle pull to one side when brakes
are applied? |
| | Do brakes stop the vehicle adequately? |
| | If the vehicle has antilock brakes (ABS), try stopping
suddenly. Do wheels lock? (A pulsing brake pedal is normal.)
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| | Does the parking brake hold firmly and release
completely? |
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| | Steering |
| | Does the vehicle pull to one side during normal
operation? |
| | Is steering difficult at any speed? |
| | Turn sharply in both directions. Do you hear clunking or
other noises, or feel rubbing or binding? |
| | Does the vehicle shake or vibrate while moving? (Take the
vehicle up to freeway speed for this test.) |
| | Is the steering wheel centered when the vehicle is
traveling straight ahead? |
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Other Concerns
- Is there evidence
of flood damage? By law, this information should be on the title.
Signs are upholstery and carpet stains, odor, rust in normally dry
areas such as beneath the dashboard and inside the glove
compartment, powdery green or white residue inside lowest
electrical connectors.
- Is the owners'
manual in the vehicle? How about the operating instructions for any
accessories, and any warranty information that still applies to
items like tires and exhaust?
- Are previous repair
and service records available? (Complete records are a sign that he
owner has taken good care of the vehicle.)
- Does seller have
clear title to vehicle?
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