How to Inspect a Used Car - Complete Guide
How to Inspect a Used Car - Complete Guide
Buying a used car can save you money, but only if you avoid hidden problems. A proper inspection can help you spot red flags early and assist you in making a confident decision.
This guide shows you how to inspect a used car before buying, starting with simple checks most people can do, moving into a more detailed DIY inspection, and finishing with the most reliable way to reduce risk - a professional pre-purchase car inspection.
Basic Checks That Everyone Can Do
Even without mechanical knowledge, there are several simple checks that can reveal obvious issues with a used car.
Check the exterior
Walk around the car and inspect the body closely. Look for dents, rust, scratches, or mismatched paint panels.
Uneven panel gaps or panels that do not line up properly can indicate past accident repairs. Ask the seller to turn on the headlights, brake lights, and indicators so you can confirm they all work.
Inspect the windscreen and windows for cracks or chips, as these can be costly to fix.
Inspect the tyres
Check that all four tyres are in reasonable condition and of similar quality. Uneven wear, such as excessive wear on one edge, can suggest alignment or suspension problems.
Very low-cost (i.e. unknown brands) or mismatched tyres, especially on an otherwise well-kept car, can indicate corners were cut on maintenance, while a consistent set of reputable mid-range or premium tyres often suggests a more careful owner. Most tyre types should have a minimum street legal depth of 1.6mm.
Look under the car for leaks
Check the ground under the car before and after a test drive. Black or brown oily patches may indicate engine or transmission oil leaks. Green, pink, or orange fluid could be coolant or power steering leaks.
A strong fuel smell is also a warning sign. Any visible oil, coolant, or fuel leaks should be checked further, either by questioning the seller and reviewing service records or by having a mechanic assess the issue before purchase.
Under the bonnet quick checks
With the engine off, ideally when the engine is cold for a more accurate reading, check the oil level using the dipstick. The oil should sit between the low and full marks. Extremely thick, gritty, or sludgy oil can indicate poor maintenance.
Look at the coolant reservoir, the fluid should appear clean and not rusty or muddy. Never open the radiator cap on a hot engine. Take a general look around the engine bay for loose components, frayed belts, or corrosion around the battery.
Interior and controls
Sit in the driver’s seat and turn the ignition to the ‘on’ position before starting the engine. All warning lights should briefly illuminate and then turn off after the engine starts.
Test all switches and features, including lights, indicators, wipers, windows, locks, air conditioning, heater, infotainment, and interior lights.
Check for water stains, damp carpets, or musty smells, which can indicate leaks or past water exposure. In Australia, flood damage is possible, so also look for signs like corrosion under seats, mud or debris in unusual places, or moisture inside lights and trim.
Verify the paperwork
Ask for the service history and logbook and check for regular servicing. Confirm the VIN on the car matches the registration documents.
Also check that the vehicle is currently registered and note the registration expiry date, because you may need to renew it shortly after purchase. In most Australian states and territories you must transfer the registration into your name within a set period.
In Australia, it is essential to run a PPSR search using the official Personal Property Securities Register to check for finance owing, write-off history, or theft.
PPSR (https://www.ppsr.gov.au/)
These basic checks help you quickly assess whether a car is worth investigating further.
A More Thorough Self-Inspection
If you are comfortable going further, a more detailed inspection can uncover additional issues.
Cold start and engine behaviour
Ideally, inspect the car when the engine is cold. Listen for how easily it starts and whether it idles smoothly. Watch the exhaust for excessive smoke.
Brief white vapour can be normal, but blue smoke typically indicates oil burning. Persistent grey smoke can also point to engine issues and should be investigated further.
After starting, listen for knocking, rattling, or hissing sounds.
Underneath the car
Look under the front and rear of the vehicle for fresh leaks or damage. Some grime is normal on older cars, but wet or dripping fluid is not.
Inspect the exhaust for rust and check wheel arches and door sills for corrosion. Excessive damage underneath may indicate heavy off-road use or poor treatment.
Brakes, suspension, and steering:
Inspect visible brake discs for heavy wear or deep grooves. During the test drive, check that the car tracks straight on a flat road and brakes smoothly without shuddering. Listen for clunks or clicks when turning or going over bumps, which may indicate worn suspension or CV joints.
Extended test drive
Drive the car for at least 20 to 30 minutes in different conditions, if possible. Acceleration should feel smooth and consistent. Automatic gear changes should not be harsh or delayed. Manual clutches should not slip under load.
After driving, restart the car while warm to ensure there are no hot-start issues.
Electronics and features
Confirm all gauges, cameras, sensors, and electronic features work correctly. Electrical faults can be expensive to repair in modern vehicles.
History and consistency checks:
Compare the odometer reading with the condition of the interior. Excessive wear on a low-kilometre car can be a red flag. While illegal, odometer tampering does occur, so checking service records and inspection dates against the recorded mileage can help identify inconsistencies.
Ask questions about gaps in service history or major repairs. Ensure the vehicle is not a repaired write-off unless you are fully aware and comfortable with that risk.
Even a careful DIY inspection has limits. Many problems require specialist knowledge or equipment to detect.
Significantly Reduce Risk With a Professional Pre-Purchase Inspection
A professional pre-purchase inspection provides the most reliable assessment of a used car’s condition. A qualified mechanic can identify issues that are easy to miss and provide an independent, detailed report.
Comprehensive mechanical assessment
Carinspect arranges inspections carried out by qualified mechanics who assess the engine, transmission, cooling system, brakes, suspension, and steering.
They use their experience and on-vehicle tools to identify warning signs, fault indicators, and mechanical issues that may not be obvious during a casual inspection.
Inspectors look for signs of previous repairs, repainting, rust, and structural damage that may affect safety or value. This includes checking body alignment, seals, mounting points, and underbody areas.
Brake wear, tyre condition, suspension components, and steering systems are checked thoroughly. Issues such as worn bushes or bearings are often only detectable during a professional inspection.
All interior features and electronics are tested, including air conditioning, warning lights, safety systems, and onboard diagnostics. The overall condition of the interior is also assessed.
The mechanic performs a road test to assess engine performance, gear changes, braking, suspension behaviour, and steering feel. After the inspection, the mechanic typically calls you to explain the findings and answer questions.
Detailed report and background insights
You receive a clear digital report with photos and notes on issues found. Carinspect inspections can also include an Insights report covering official PPSR checks and vehicle history, helping confirm there are no hidden financial or legal issues attached to the car.
A professional inspection takes away the guesswork. If the car checks out, you can buy with confidence. If issues are found, you can renegotiate or walk away.
Conclusion
Inspecting a used car thoroughly is essential. Start with basic checks to rule out obvious problems. If the car passes those, a careful DIY inspection and test drive can uncover more detail.
For the highest level of confidence, a professional pre-purchase inspection provides an independent assessment and reduces the risk of costly surprises. Following this process gives you the best chance of buying a used car you can trust.
References and useful links:
Personal Property Securities Register PPSR (https://www.ppsr.gov.au/)
Consumer Affairs Victoria used car advice (https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/consumers-and-businesses/cars/buying-a-used-car)
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We understand that the used car market can move extremely quickly. Seller’s can be difficult for our team to organise an inspection with or worse, they may sell the vehicle to another buyer before allowing our Carinspect mechanic to inspect the vehicle. For this reason, we offer an outstanding refund policy for customers using our service. Carinspect offers a full refund (minus a 3% credit card fee) for inspection bookings that for any reason cannot go ahead. The following two exceptions apply:
- If the purchaser requires the inspection to be cancelled for any reason and the inspection time and date has already been set with the seller, Carinspect will retain a $60 administration fee whilst refunding you the balance of the booking.
- On the occasion that the Carinspect mechanic has already travelled to the seller’s location to complete the inspection and is unable to fulfil the service, Carinspect will retain a $150 cancellation fee whilst refunding you the balance of the booking.
We’re here to change the game for used car purchasers and bring full transparency to the buying process. Whether you’re looking for the convenience of a mobile inspection or the security of a hoisted workshop inspection, our network of fully qualified mechanics spans Australia-wide so that you can buy with confidence. With our own proprietary inspection software, we’ve partnered with GumtreeGroup so you’ll find our service readily available on over 20,000 new vehicle listings across Australia every week. We’re a service you can trust to ensure you are empowered to make the right used car purchasing decision.
We make this process as easy as it can be. Forget finding out when the seller may be free, only to find that you can’t find a mechanic that’s available in the right area at the right time. Scheduling can be a nightmare, that’s why we do it for you! Our online booking system will check the live availability of the area at time of booking. Just provide us with the details of your booking, process the payment, and then leave the rest to us. Our team will contact the seller of the vehicle and arrange the inspection with them directly. Depending on the vehicle location, we are almost always able to deliver you the report within 48 hours of your booking.
Workshop Inspections are completed at our fixed site partner workshops across the country. Here you’ll receive the benefit of a hoisted inspection in a workshop environment - perfect for a meticulous buyer. For these bookings, the seller of the vehicle must bring the vehicle to our local workshop service partner. The booking process is simple, once you have confirmed with the seller that they can bring the vehicle to our local partner workshop, just process your booking with us and we’ll handle the entire process with the seller. You’ll receive your report immediately after the inspection is completed together with a phone call from the mechanic.
Our mobile team will travel to where the vehicle is being sold. Whether it's a home, workplace, dealership or auction house, our mechanics will inspect the vehicle at the location most convenient to the seller. This service is great for busy sellers or vehicles that cannot meet us at one of our workshop locations across Australia. These inspections are subject to environmental constraints. Bad weather, steep driveways or undulating surfaces or poor lighting can affect inspection results. You’ll receive your report immediately after the inspection is completed together with a phone call from the mechanic.
Carinspect reports are clear and easy to read, to see a sample report, just click here. Car buyers use our reports to identify potential problems with a vehicle which in turn allows them the opportunity to either walk away from the purchase entirely or use our findings to negotiate a more competitive price. Either way, it’s a win for our customers.
We cannot guarantee inspections to take place on the weekend as this time is usually assigned to completing overflow work. Although there are some sellers who only have very specific times that a car can be available for inspection, please be aware that our team deals with this everyday and almost always finds a time that works for all parties - even if it means the seller not being with the vehicle whilst we inspect it.
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