questions to ask before buying a used car from an owner

There are some questions a buyer has to ask when purchasing a car from a private seller. Some of them may be asked in advance via e-mail, or over the phone, but some of them should be asked in person when looking at a car. Failing to ask them could potentially lead to costly problems later.

Questions to ask in Advance

Some questions can - and should be - asked before even going to look at a car, because their answers will help to determine the value of the car and decide whether it is worth the trip to have a closer look. These questions - and a few favorable answers to look for - are listed individually to give a better idea of what to expect and what do with owner’s answers.

Make, Model, Year and Mileage

One of the questions to ask in advance is concerned with the exact make, model and year of the car, as well as the current mileage. This information can be used to determine the car's actual current value through sites like Edmunds, for instance. Getting the car's registration number may also be helpful, as it is often possible to find out about a car's history through various websites offering this kind of service.

Why is the Vehicle being Sold?

There are too many reasons for selling cars to list them all. Good answers indicating that the owner is trying to sell quickly and may drop the price include, for example: 'I have bought a new car.', 'It was Dad's/ Mom's car.', 'It guzzles gas.' (This is a good sign that the owner is honest, if nothing else.) or 'I can't afford to keep two cars.' (another honest answer showing they want to shift the vehicle quickly.). If the answer feels dubious in any way, caution is advised.

Condition of the Car

Asking the owner to describe the car's condition is a good starting point. If the answer is a clear 'excellent' or 'good' without any hesitation, it could mean two things: either it really is in excellent/ good condition, or the owner is trying to hide potential faults. It is best to take a look and decide which is the case in person. 'Fair' is usually used by people who are incredibly honest, unsure of their car's value or willing to bargain over the price.

Questions to ask in Person

The first question to ask while looking at a car is who and where the car came from. This is not only about previous owners, but also about states. There different laws from state to state about salvage titles, moving between states, etc, and climate may also affect the car's condition. Owners should be able to provide documentation - registration document, maintenance reports, log book, etc. It also pays to get a CarFax report.

Oil Changes/ Inspection

Asking about oil changes seems odd, but will give an indication of how well the car was looked after. If the answer is immediate, without hesitation or having to be looked up, chances are it is well maintained. Hesitation, or lack of knowledge altogether should cause the buyer to insist that the vehicle is checked thoroughly by a trained mechanic before agreeing to buy it.

The only acceptable answer to the question if the owner is willing to let the car be inspected independently is a yes. If they refuse or try to get around it, chances are something is wrong. An honest seller will also readily agree to the buyer taking a test drive. Asking about the price will open the way for negotiations.