There are two used cars you want to avoid: cars involved in an accident, and cars neglected mechanically. These cars will give you operational problems and resale problems. How can you tell if a car has never been in an accident or if an engine has been cared for? There are two valuable tools to aid you with this matter:
Vehicle's insurance history report
Vehicle inspection and test drive
You can purchase a vehicle's insurance history report online for $20 to $40 depending on the options. A car history report will itemize all claims a vehicle may have undergone. This is an inexpensive way to find out if a car has been in a major accident that involved an insurance claim. There are exceptions, though. Not all accidents are reported to the insurance companies and therefore will not appear in these reports. This is why a live visit to the car is so important. Nothing replaces a vehicle inspection and test drive. Of course, either you hire a professional car inspector, or learn what to look for. This guide is designed to help you perform an inspection yourself and save you from making a mistake when buying your next car. Let's begin by looking a car's exterior and body.