5 Questions to Ask While Looking at a Used Car From a Dealer

Shopping for a used car? These five questions may help you save time and money.

Steven Lang | 

Feb 2, 2024 | 3 min read

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For nearly 20 years, I bought and sold thousands of cars as a dealer. Based on my experience, there are five standard questions I believe it's wise to ask before driving anywhere to look at a used car at a dealership.

Can I Take the Car to an Independent Mechanic for an Inspection?

This is a simple yes or no question. If the selling dealer does not want to commit to an inspection from an experienced mechanic outside their own dealership, then it may not be worth your time. I have seen front bumpers held up with duct tape and bungee cords, and engines that were given straight 50-weight motor oil to temporarily hide severe oil-pressure issues.

What Have You Done to Prepare the Car for Sale?

A dealership will often do more than simply wash and detail a car before putting it on a lot with a big "for sale" sign on its window. You may be surprised at just how much maintenance or how many repairs were done. Sometimes these repairs might hint at the car's condition when it was turned in, while in other cases they may show an unexpected degree of diligence on the dealer's part.

Is the Title Clean and Available Immediately?

Dealerships can sell cars with salvage titles, so it's important to confirm that this critical document is clean. It might seem like too obvious a question, but asking this can save you from a lot of heartache.

Even if the title is clean, it's still a good idea to take a look at it to confirm that the Vehicle Identification Number matches the car you're considering.

Would It Be Okay If I Drove It for Half an Hour?

A long test drive is an ideal way to figure out if you should go any further with the sale. A lot of issues on a used car don't become apparent until you drive it while in a variety of traffic situations. Oil leaks, transmissions that shift improperly, air-conditioning issues, and brake wear are a few possibilities. Test-drive the car in slow and fast driving situations, and take extra care to find a place where you can experience stop-and-go driving.

Some dealers may even let you borrow a car overnight.

Does It Have a Current Emissions or Inspection Sticker?

In many states and metropolitan areas you need a current emissions or state safety inspection before you register the vehicle. Even some metro areas draw what can seem like an arbitrary line between zones where emissions tests may and may not be required for registration.

If you buy a vehicle and it fails emissions or safety-inspection requirements, the repair issues that are required for it to pass may be your responsibility.

Steven Lang

Steven Lang is a special contributor to Capital One with nearly two decades of experience as an auto auctioneer, car dealer, and part owner of an auto auction. Some of the best-known auto publications turn to him for his expert insight. He is also the co-developer of the Long-Term Quality Index, a survey of vehicle reliability featuring over two million vehicles that have been inspected by professional mechanics.