Used Car Checklist
by: Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA) Before You Get in the Car
Fluid levels:
Transmission fluid should be pink, and should not have a burnt smell.
Coolant should not be rusty and there should be no green stains on the radiator. If there is, this could mean there is a leak somewhere.
There should not be any oil spots around the engine or under the car. If there is, this could mean a leaky gasket, or worse.
Body of the car:
Look for rust in the trunk, wheel wells, and under the doors.
If you find any of the following, the car may have been in an accident:
New welds
Discolored surfaces
Ripply body work
Different colors of paint on the car
Doors that don't fit properly
Fresh paint job or fresh undercoating
Tires:
If the car has less than 25,000 miles on its odometer, it should have its original tires with some useful tread left. If its tires are bald (or brand new), this could mean that the odometer has been turned back.
If the tires have uneven wear, this could mean that the vehicle was in an accident, or that it has poor alignment.
The car should come equipped with a usable jack and a tire wrench.
Suspension:
Pull on the top of each front tire. Any play or clunks could mean bad bearings or suspension joints.
Push down and quickly release each corner of the car. More than one or two bounces could mean shot shocks or struts.
Look at the car from the rear and side. A lopsided stance could mean sagging springs.
Car interior:
Seats shouldn't be sagging, ripped, or musty smelling.
Pedal wear should jibe with the odometer's mileage.
Seat belts and controls should work.
Check under carpets for mildew or moisture.
The Test Drive
To properly assess a car you should take it for a ½-hour test drive. During this time you should check the following.
Steering:
With the ignition off, there should be no more than two inches of play when you turn the steering wheel.
Steering should be smooth and precise, with a minimum of vibration.
A car that pulls to one side may need a simple alignment or tire inflation, or it may have been in an accident.
"Crabbing," or a sideways tilt as the car moves forward, can indicate a serious problem.
Engine:
Look for smooth acceleration and ample power on hills and when passing.
Warning signs include pinging, knocking, or blue or white smoke from the tailpipe, which could indicate oil guzzling. A bit of puffy white smoke on a cold day is okay, but a lot could mean bad head gaskets. Black smoke may signal only a minor fuel adjustment.
Transmission:
Shifting should be smooth. Signs of wear:
Automatic: A hesitation between the engine's acceleration and the car's acceleration.
Manual: A clutch that won't engage until the pedal is far up.
Brakes:
On a traffic-free road, try a series of stops from about 45 mph. Warning signs:
Strong pulling to one side
Pedal vibration (except with anti-lock brakes)
Abnormally long stopping distance
Need for increasing pressure on the pedal
With the engine idling, step on the pedal for 30 seconds. If it feels spongy or it starts to sink, the brake system may have a leak.
Exhaust:
Sputtering or rumbling could mean a leak that's expensive to fix.
Comfort and Quiet:
Drive at 30 to 40 mph over a bumpy road. Excessive bouncing could point to suspension problems. Make sure you can live with any rattles and squeaks because they're notoriously hard to trace.
Mechanic's Evaluation
You should have a mechanic thoroughly inspect the car you have chosen. This could cost you some money, but it is money well spent. Mention any flaws that you've found, and make sure the mechanic performs a compression test on all cylinders. Remember to get a written estimate of all needed repairs.
Portions of the information contained in this fact sheet were taken from the article "How to Buy a Used Car" in Consumer Reports, April 1994.
Revised 3/02
Call the MLSA HelpLine for legal assistance: (800) 666-6899
Montana Legal Services Association 616 Helena Avenue, Suite 100 Helena, Montana 59601 (406) 442-9830 (800) 666-6124
Last Reviewed On: 01/03/06
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