How to Review Vehicles at a Used Dealership
- 1). Take a general note of the outward appearance of the car. Does it have any dents, nicks or scrapes? Does it look like it has been in a major accident or has had any major body work? Pay special attention to doors and bumpers, as those are often areas where body damage occurs. Also note the condition/wear on the tires, the state of the upholstery and any other outward characteristics.
- 2). Review the warranty information on the car. Some used cars are sold as-is, but others may have partial warranties or other guarantees under a certified, pre-owned plan.
- 3). Consult a trusted mechanic or Internet resource to learn what the common problems are with the make and model of car that you are considering at the dealership. For example, if the model you are considering is known to often require a new transmission after 150,000 miles and the particular car at the dealership has 140,000 miles on its original transmission, you may want to reconsider your purchase.
- 4). Take note of the car's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and verify that the VIN on the car matches the VIN records. Unscrupulous dealers have been known to swap or alter VIN numbers to make a car seem more appealing.
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