If you are looking for a car that fits your preferences and needs, we suggest you begin your search in the used car market. Buying a used car is a smart investment and brings you hefty savings in comparison to the cost of a new car apart from other advantages. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Buying a used car can prove to be risky at times. This is because not all sellers are trusted and a few unscrupulous ones may try to sell you a poor quality or even scrapped vehicle that is unfit for the road.
Be extremely careful to safeguard your finances. Use our comprehensive checklist to watch out for red flags when inspecting a used vehicle.
When inspecting a used car the first obvious red flag would be body damage on the vehicle. This can include scraped paint, dents on the body, dented or scraped bumpers, rust, corrosion, holes in the body, etc. Often a car may appear in perfect condition at a glance, but on closer inspection, you may observe hasty paint jobs intended to cover up damage to the body. When you move your hand across the car body you should not feel any roughness or unevenness on the surface. If you do, question the seller about it and ensure you are satisfied that the vehicle does not have any major body damage that could impair the car structurally.
Check the tires for wear and damage.
Tires do not match: Check all four tires of the vehicle to see if every tire belongs to the same brand. If they do not it indicates that the tire has been changed and you should question the seller about the reasons for this. Tire replacement should preferably be done in pairs for two-wheel drive vehicles, while for an all-wheel drive, all the tires should be replaced at the same time. Confirm all tires are of the same size and have similar speed and weight rating
Excessive tire wear: Compare the mileage displayed on the odometer to the wear on the tires of the car. If the car is relatively new and a low-mileage vehicle, the tires should not display much wear. If the tires appear to be excessively worn out, be cautious when accepting the mileage displayed on the odometer. The seller could be attempting to cheat you by rolling back the mileage displayed by the odometer to make it seem like the car is a low-mileage vehicle when in fact it is not.
Uneven wear: Uneven wear on the tires is another red flag you must watch out for. Ideally, all the tires should display around the same level of wear and tear. If some tires appear to be more worn out than others, it could point to suspension alignment problems or steering issues
Check the engine oil level using a dipstick. Look for dripping oil and stains under the vehicle. These are definite indicators of oil leaking from the engine. If a car runs for a long time on low engine oil levels, it could overheat and damage the engine. Bring this to the attention of the seller
Check the engine oil level using a dipstick. Look for dripping oil and stains under the vehicle. These are definite indicators of oil leaking from the engine. If a car runs for a long time on low engine oil levels, it could overheat and damage the engine. Bring this to the attention of the seller
When you inspect under the hood, check the coolant, power steering, transmission, and brake fluid levels and condition. The fluids should be clean and at the appropriate level. A dark or brown color coolant indicates it has been contaminated with sediments and debris and must be changed immediately. Brake fluid is generally yellowish in color, while power-steering and transmission fluids are reddish in color when clean and uncontaminated. Darker color fluids indicate the vehicle is not being maintained regularly and could have sustained internal damage that is not immediately apparent.
If the car’s instrument panel on the dashboard has flashing warning lights, the vehicle could need immediate service or repairs. This indicates that it has not been receiving regular service and care. Obtain clarifications from the seller about the warning lights.
If the car’s instrument panel on the dashboard has flashing warning lights, the vehicle could need immediate service or repairs. This indicates that it has not been receiving regular service and care. Obtain clarifications from the seller about the warning lights.
Worn-out brakes: Check for worn-out brakes By inspecting the wheels. If you see that the brake rotors have developed frayed edges, it is a sign of deterioration in the brakes. When you test drive the car, ensure it stops immediately when you firmly press down on the brake pedal.
Worn-out brake pedal: Check the brake pedal in the car cabin for wear. If the vehicle is not old and has low mileage, the pedal should be relatively new without much wear. Excessive wear on the pedal could indicate tampering with the odometer to reduce the mileage displayed.
If you observe any of these problems with the used car you intend to purchase, request the seller to fix minor issues before completing the purchase. However, if you feel the issues could cause problems for you in the future, it is best to keep away from such vehicles.
If the seller refuses to cooperate with you to get the issues fixed or solve the problem, do not take your negotiations for the car any further. Instead, look for another reliable seller and vehicle.
We are Auto Level, a top pre-owned car dealership in the UAE, specializing in the sale of cars with GCC and non-GCC specs. We have built a name for ourselves in the business and have numerous loyal customers who completely trust our vehicles.
You will not have to watch out for red flags when you shop at our showroom. We only place the best cars in perfect working conditions for sale. All the vehicles in our inventory undergo mandatory diagnostic tests and are extensively scrutinized by expert technicians from our high-tech in-house service center.
Trust us for unmatched quality and an unbeatable selection of cars. To get in touch or schedule a test drive contact 80053835 today!
