Why You Need an Inspection Checklist
Are you planning to buy a second-hand car anytime soon? Then you have to be thorough in checking the car first. One of the mistakes that many people make when buying a used car is that they just hand in the money. After that, they simply ride the used car off to the sunset. As a result, hidden car problems come to the surface in a matter of weeks. The problems will get more and more serious after that.
To prevent this, a car inspection should be done. And to make it a lot easier for you, here's a car inspection checklist that you can follow.
Car Inspection Checklist 1: Data
The very first set of information you should gather is the general data of the car. It could be for the one car or the many cars you’re looking at. General information includes the car's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), mileage, type of engines, and size. And of course, you shouldn't forget the make, year, and model of the car.
Car Inspection Checklist 2: Body
This is the time you have to give the car a physical checkup and your assessment. It's always crucial to have a personal look and feel of the car before buying it. To do this, start with the body. Check around the exterior body of the car and look for rust, dents, and scratches. You need to check the exterior and look for misaligned panels and mismatched paints. These are signs that the panel was replaced for prior reasons. After the surface, check the doors, the hood, and the trunk and see if they open and close easily. Lastly, you have to look under. Check the wheel wells if they're rusty. If you see bubbles at the paint, it means there's rust underneath it.
Car Inspection Checklist 3: Interiors
After checking the exterior, it's time to get inside. Check the chairs and the upholstery. Are they spot-free? Are you able to sit correctly and comfortably? When there are stains in a used car, there's a big chance that these stains are hard to get rid of. And if the seating doesn't feel right at all, it might have dents underneath or it has been replaced.
Car Inspection Checklist 4: Test Drive
Last but not least of this car inspection checklist is to take the car for a spin around the neighborhood. Get behind the wheel and make sure to drive the vehicle above 60mph. When driving, check every component of the used car. These are the steering-wheel alignment, windshield and wipers, brakes, power windows, AC and heating, lights and even the radio and entertainment system. When you assessed everything, turn off the radio and check if there are any weird sounds. List it down your checklist if you do as the sound may signify a car problem.
And that's our easy car inspection checklist. It's a no brainer, when it comes to buying a used car, you have to follow your instincts. And to further help you out, a pre-purchase inspection company can help you purchase a used car much easier. If you're looking for a pre-purchase inspection company in Utah, we're here just for you.