Personally examine the used car.

Before even thinking of spending on getting the car professionally checked, examine the car on your own to get the idea whether its worth spending money or not.

Check out the exterior of the car :-

• Check out the car from all sides thoroughly for scratches, dings and rust.

• Check if the doors, hood and trunk seal well and are evenly align with the surface of the car.

• Check for differences in color on the panels and paint on the rubber seals around body openings. These signs indicate that the car may have undergone body repair work or been repainted.

Take a look at the tires :-

• Check if tread wear is even on all four tires. If not, they may not have been rotated regularly.

• Make it a point that the tires have enough tread on them. (If not, you can always negotiate this point if the car needs new tires soon.).

• Make sure there isn't a mix of brands or sizes on the same axle.

Open the trunk :-

• Check for a mildew smell and look for signs of water leakage.

• Check the condition of the spare tire. Make sure the jack and other tools are there.

Look under the hood :-

• Check for signs of leaking fluids, battery corrosion damaged wires or cracked hoses.

• Check all the fluids-are they at the correct levels? The engine oil should be a smooth dark brown or black. Transmission fluid should be pinkish and smell like oil.

• If the engine is completely cool, remove the radiator cap and look at the color of the coolant. If you see a layer of oily film or what appears to be rust, there could be a problem. (Don't confuse rust with orange coolant. Many newer vehicles use orange coolant instead of green coolant.)