15 Secrets to Buying a Used Car

3. Always Ask for an Inspection

Since a car history report can only ever tell a partial story, it’s always a good idea to have a vehicle inspected by a reputable third party mechanic. You’ll be paying for this inspection, so you’ll want to save this step for a vehicle that you’re serious about, but a quick inspection can be very illuminating.

First, simply asking the seller if you can take the vehicle in for an inspection will be informative. A seller who hesitates is probably hiding something. That should always be a red flag.

Assuming your seller is fine with the inspection, bring the car to a mechanic you trust. The mechanic should look for signs of completed repairs that would suggest the vehicle had been in an accident. He should also inspect the overall mechanical health of the vehicle. Problems here don’t necessarily mean that the car is a dud, but they always mean that you can negotiate a better price.

For example, an older standard-transmission vehicle will often need a new clutch, a repair that could cost around $900. If the vehicle is in otherwise great shape, a new clutch isn’t a deal-breaker, but you should negotiate the $900 off the sticker price to compensate. Ask your mechanic for an honest opinion on whether the vehicle would be worth buying, and be prepared to walk away from the purchase if he says, “No.”