Stop and go: Buying a used car in 7 steps

THE DEALER ROUTE

STOP 4: A famous trick is to detail the heck out of a car to make it look new, without fixing big problems.

“A steam-cleaned motor and a lot of Armor All don’t fix a blown gasket,” warns Edmunds.com’s Reed.

That said, most reputable dealers won’t sell cars that have major issues, because they’ll often be bound to fix them later. Test drive a car you’re interested in; if it doesn’t “make horrible noises or feel terrible, then odds are it’s just fine,” says Dean Cafiero, owner of a used-car lot in Norristown, Pa. “Most dealers don’t want junkers on their property.”

Still, it’s a good idea to have a mechanic look at the car. If the dealer says its own technicians OKd the car, ask to see their inspection sheets. If they don’t have them, insist on taking the car to an outside mechanic for a look-over.

Also, check to see that the vehicle’s title is clear and that it’s never been in a serious accident. Ask the dealer to look up the car on Carfax or AutoCheck. Both charge a fee to trace the car’s 17-digit vehicle identification number for accidents, service and odometer registrations. Most dealers will check cars on their lot free -- in fact, have them run a VIN check before you go to the lot.

PRIVATE SELLER WAY

STOP 4: Before traveling to see a vehicle you’ve found in classifieds or online, ask the owner for the vehicle identification number and pay to check it on Carfax or AutoCheck, services that charge to look up a car’s accident and service history. A report can reveal serious problems that can’t be seen.

“Buy a one-month Carfax subscription and Carfax everything,” says Edmunds.com’s Reed. A clean VIN report isn’t foolproof, but if hiccups turn up, don’t bother making the trip.

Test drive the car and give it a thorough visual inspection for any signs of flooding or accidents. If it looks good, ask the seller if you can take it to a mechanic for a checkup -- at your expense -- because there could be problems you can’t spot. If the seller won’t agree, walk away. Typically mechanics will charge $50 to $150 to inspect a car, a price well worth paying.

Ask the owner for any service records. If the car has had regular maintenance, such as oil changes, chances are it’s been well cared for. If he or she doesn’t have records, call a new-car dealer of the same brand; using the VIN, its service department can look up any maintenance or repair work on the car done by a dealership. And though it’s nice to find a car that’s only had one owner, a documented chain of service is the most important detail.

If the car you want is far away, perhaps on EBay, don’t despair. A growing number of mobile mechanics make house calls; for as little as $100, they can travel to the car and check it out for you. The pricing of used cars is highly regionalized, and sometimes it’s cheaper to buy a car in a distant area and have it shipped. Four-wheel-drive trucks tend to retain more value in snowy northern states, and gas-saving sedans are more expensive in urban areas and the South.