What to Look For When Buying a Used Car in Kansas City

Purchasing a used car on the Miracle Mile in Kansas City is a fantastic way to save on your next purchase. While buying a new car gets you that new car smell, it also comes with an instant depreciation and a feeling that you could have saved a bucket if you'd chosen a used car for sale in Kansas City or Gladstone instead.

Pre-owned cars and trucks in Kansas City can be as good as new with only a small number of miles on the clock.

Inspecting the Car's Interior and Exterior

Take your time going over every inch of the vehicle. On the exterior, look for dents and scratches. In particular, look for rust, which could be an indication of a bigger problem about to rear its ugly head.

If you're buying your car privately as opposed to buying from a respected dealership in Missouri or Kansas, then you'll need to take extra precautions. See that the body panels line up properly - if they don't then it can indicate a poor repair job on accident damage. See if the doors, trunk, and windows open and close easily. Check whether there's any paint inside the hood. If you notice any overspray or mismatched color then this could indicate a botched repair job in the past.

Inside, check all of the seats for unusual wear and tear. Is there a musty smell or has the owner taken pains to try and cover an odor? There may be water damage or leak.

Checking for Leaks

Leaks are a red flag on a used car though they come in all colors. Check for fluids under the car. A red leak could indicate a problem in the power steering or transmission. Black fluid leaking is a problem with oil, and any other color like green or pink tends to point to an issue with antifreeze.

Considering Mileage

Mileage is obviously a factor in whether to buy a used car or not, but it's not as much of a factor as it used to be. Cars last much longer than they used to without mechanical issues, so it's more important to see how the vehicle has been treated and whether it's been getting ongoing maintenance from an authorized service center.

Consider also that how a used car has been driven makes a big difference to its condition. A car that has been driven mainly on the highway will be in better shape than a similar car that's mainly been driven in the city, as city driving is on a vehicle.

Very infrequent use of an older vehicle can cause rubber and plastic parts to become brittle, and a drivetrain benefits from consistent use. So, paradoxically, a car with suspiciously low mileage can end up needing unexpected repairs.

Get a Professional to Check the Vehicle

Unless you're a gearhead yourself, it's worth getting a mechanic to check over a used vehicle if you have any suspicions. Auto service centers often offer a pre-purchase check service that may be annoying to pay for but they could save you a fortune on buying a lemon.

If you buy from a dealership, they may perform a multipoint check and offer a limited warranty on used cars so you can have complete peace of mind.

A certified pre-owned vehicle has an even stronger warranty as it is backed by the manufacturer. Every manufacturer offers different terms for their certified pre-owned warranty, but they typically offer a 5-year powertrain warranty and a 12-month bumper-to-bumper warranty on all certified pre-owned vehicles.

Documentation

There are two pieces of documentation you should certainly review before buying a pre-owned vehicle. The first is the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). From the VIN you can ascertain details such as the country of origin and manufacturer down to the year of manufacture and manufacturing plant. Check that the VIN matches the details the seller has given you. You can also see if this particular model is subject to recall due to a safety issue.

The other piece of information is the Vehicle History Report that you can get online by using the VIN or license plate number. The Vehicle History Report will generally show whether the vehicle has been in a crash in the past, but the reports are not full proof as not all accidents and repairs are reported.

If you are buying a pre-owned vehicle from a dealership, they will probably offer you a Vehicle History Report as part of the service. When buying privately, you can get a report from AutoCheck or Carfax.

Go for a Test Drive

To get a good idea of how the vehicle feels you'll need to take it for a test drive. If you're buying privately and the seller doesn't want you to take an extended test drive, consider why that might be.

Apart from how the car feels to you, what else should you be looking out for? Clicking or tapping sounds when you start the engine can indicate a problem. Try driving the car up to full speed to see if the transmission is shifting smoothly and as expected. Check the brakes - are they working correctly and not pulling the vehicle to one side? Check to see if all of the electronics inside the car is working, too.

Many of these issues can be minimized if you choose a respected, long-serving dealership that performs a multi-point check on all vehicles before they're put on sale.

Landmark Dodge Chrysler Jeep Missouri is the perfect place to find a used car. With a massive selection of pre-owned cars and trucks for sale and a dedicated team of sales experts, you're sure to find what you're looking for at the right price. Lock in your warehouse price today by using our form online, or come on down to the dealership to see the types of deals we can offer you on used vehicles and financing.