How to Spot Used Cars You Don’t Want to Buy: From a Mint Hill Toyota Dealer

Jan 3, 2013

Financially, many people will argue that buying a used car is a much better use of your money. New cars lose value rapidly starting the moment you drive them off the lot whereas used cars have already gone through the bulk of their depreciation so they maintain their value better. There are some unique challenges faced when shopping for used cars over new cars, however, and your Mint Hill Toyota dealer offers the following tips for spotting used cars you should avoid:

Used Cars with Extensive Damage Repair

If you can tell by looking at a vehicle that it has been repaired, you may want to reconsider buying it. This is not to say every car that has ever been in an accident is a bad buy, but cars that have had extensive cosmetic repairs may be hiding mechanical problems you can’t see.

If you are interested in a used car that has clearly been repaired at some point, make sure you have a mechanic check out the engine before you make a decision.

Used Cars With No Record of Routine Maintenance

Another warning sign that could signal a problem car is one that has no records available for routine maintenance, like oil changes, brakes, or tires. Maintaining a vehicle over time is the best way to ensure longevity but if you can’t see a record of maintenance it’s possible it wasn’t done properly. It’s also possible that the previous owners just didn’t keep records – so if everything else about the car seems great, bring in an experienced mechanic to inspect the car and let you know whether or not it’s a good buy.