Mechanic's Inspection

Here we'll cover the inspection of your prospect by a mechanic, problems with certificates of title, inspecting a vehicle without a mechanic, and how to spot accident and flood damage. If you are considering a used car, don't buy it without a thorough inspection by an independent mechanic.  A hundred dollars now may save you thousands of dollars down the road.  It will cost between $50 and $150 for a comprehensive appraisal of the car's mechanical condition.  Nearly every used car needs some kind of work; often, several less serious problems start adding up.  Your mechanic can tell you about current problems and ones to anticipate, and can give you accurate estimates on repairs.  This report is handy when negotiating the price.  Don't choose a bargain-priced car that obviously needs lots of work.  Experienced car wholesalers routinely lose money on these vehicles, and I can assure you that your experience will be disastrous. 

Finding A Mechanic - If you already have a reliable mechanic, I hope you brought lunch to the shop early in your search, to ask the mechanic's opinions.  If you don't have one yet, don't wait until the last minute to find one.  Your neighborhood garage is not necessarily the best place to go.  Find a dealer or independent garage specializing in the model you want; someone working exclusively on that product is ideal.  Ask friends and people at work who they recommend.   A referral from an existing customer is a good testimonial, but evaluate the source as well as the shop.  Visit several shops to see how they treat you, and the kind of vehicle they specialize in.  Once you find your mechanic, treat him or her well.  This is the person who will evaluate (and later service) your car. 

Have Your Favorites Inspected - Take the winner(s) of your used vehicle search to your mechanic for a final professional inspection and repair estimate.  

Before you go, ask for maintenance receipts and documents.  It is impressive when an owner keeps a complete file of bills.  A mechanic or someone familiar with automotive repair can tell a lot about the car from these records.  A person who has a good set of records usually has given the car regular maintenance, and that means it's probably a better car all around.  Nevertheless, look at the receipts carefully.  See if they are for the same car and if they are all from the same area and for the years the owner claims to have had the car.  If the same item has been repaired more than once, ask questions and point out that fact to your mechanic when the car is reviewed.  Inconsistencies in maintenance records also can provide insight into the seller's dedication to the vehicle's upkeep.  It is critical to put the seller's claims about the fitness of a vehicle, repairs already done, or prospective repairs in writing.

At the garage, ask for a repair order outlining all the car's problems, and an estimate of their repair cost.  Your mechanic should do a compression test, battery and charging test, frame inspection, fluid leakage inspection, alignment and suspension check, brake inspection, and test drive for engine and transmission performance.  If you register your car in an area where emission inspections are mandatory, get that tested as well.  Be sure to ask for an opinion about future problems, not only for the selected car but for the model in general.    Come prepared with one of the automobile sales contracts readily available at most office supply stores.  If the person insists on cash or certified check, have them travel with you to your bank and complete the transaction there.  Have both of your signatures notarized on the sales agreement, and on any DMV and state sales tax forms you need to register the vehicle. 

A Brief Warning About Certificates Of Title is on the next page >

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