Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist: What to Look For Before You Buy

Before you buy, walk through this checklist

A little time spent inspecting a used car before you buy can save you real money down the road. Whether you’re shopping at Open Lot or anywhere else, here’s a practical walkthrough you can do yourself — plus when it’s worth bringing in a professional.

Exterior

Body panels and paint: Look for mismatched paint color or texture between panels, which can indicate prior collision repair. Check panel gaps for unevenness.
Rust: Check wheel wells, rocker panels, and the underside of doors, especially on vehicles from colder or coastal climates.
Tires: Check tread depth and wear pattern. Uneven wear (more on one edge, or “cupping”) can point to alignment or suspension issues. Also check that all four tires match in brand and wear — mismatched tires can be a minor red flag.
Glass and lights: Look for cracks, pitting, or fogging in headlights and taillights.

Under the hood

Fluid levels and color: Check oil (should be amber to brown, not black or milky), coolant, transmission fluid, and brake fluid.
Leaks: Look for puddles or residue under the vehicle after it’s been parked a while.
Belts and hoses: Look for cracking, fraying, or soft spots.
Battery: Check for corrosion around terminals.

Underneath the vehicle

Rust and damage on the frame and undercarriage: Structural rust is a bigger concern than surface rust on body panels.
Exhaust system: Check for rust-through or obvious repairs (like tape or clamps holding sections together).
Signs of leaks: Oil, transmission fluid, or coolant pooling under the engine or transmission.

Interior

Electronics: Test power windows, locks, seats, infotainment system, backup camera, and all warning lights on the dashboard at startup.
AC and heat: Run both and confirm they reach full temperature within a reasonable time.
Upholstery and odors: Check for water stains (a sign of past flooding or leaks) and musty smells.
Odometer and pedals: Wear on pedals and the steering wheel that doesn’t match the odometer reading can be worth asking about.

The test drive

Drive on both surface streets and, if possible, the highway to test acceleration, braking, and highway stability.
Listen for unusual noises: clunks over bumps, grinding when braking, or whining from the transmission.
Test the brakes fully, including a firm stop, to check for pulling to one side or a soft/spongy pedal.
Check that the steering doesn’t drift and the car tracks straight on a flat road.
Cycle through all gears if it’s an automatic, and confirm smooth shifting.

How Open Lot Used Car Sales handles inspections

Every vehicle on our lot is inspected before it’s offered for sale, and we’re glad to have you bring your own mechanic to look it over before you buy. A dealership that welcomes an independent inspection is a dealership confident in what it’s selling — and that’s exactly the kind of dealership we aim to be.