Buying a used car seems very simple at first, but once you start really getting into the process then you will see that it can be a little more complicated. Of course you can run into a dealership slap down a stack of cash and drive right out. It would be a dream to make things that simple, but you have to make sure that you are not going to end up with one of the notorious lemons that people will sometimes end up with when purchasing a used vehicle.

There are a few main steps that you can take to avoid this and one of them is going to be to make sure that you get your used car inspected very carefully. Now this will usually come after you have already found your vehicle and have applied for a bad credit used car loan if you need one. It will be extremely beneficial and while it may cost you a little more than you wanted to spend overall it will be much better than purchasing a vehicle and then it breaking down or costing hundreds or thousands in repairs only months after buying it.

Things to Look out For

Now there are easily going to be a few things that you need to keep an eye out for and it will all start by checking the VIN on the title against the VIN plate on the vehicle. This is typically going to be located on the lower driver side corner of the windshield. Also it would be smart to check for things such as: reconditioned, salvaged, flood damage, theft recovery, stolen, miles unknown, or odometer miles exceed limitations.

The next step is to have an outside mechanic come in and check out the vehicle. It should be a certified mechanic that will be able to inspect these different criteria:

• Engine
• Transmission
• Drive Train
• Suspension and Steering
• Brakes
• Electrical and Electronics
• Heating and Air Conditioning
• Engine Performance

Also if the dealer is not okay with letting you bring someone in to conduct this search, then you typically should not go through with this deal and walk away from it immediately.

The Bottom Line

At the end of the day if the vehicle ends up passing all of the different details listed or only minor problems are found then you can consider the purchase. It is possible to negotiate with the dealer and try to get them fixed for free or at a discount at this point. You will also be able to walk away if you do not see things fit. Hopefully everything works out and that you have found some help here today.