When you’re buying a used car, you should ask about the car’s mileage, its maintenance history, and most importantly, the seller’s reason for parting ways with their vehicle.
While these are some of the best questions you can ask, there are plenty of other inquiries that might shed light on the car’s hidden defects (or confirm that it’s the home-run you always hoped it would be!). Whether you’re buying from a friend or parked in front of the dealership right now, you’ll want to be prepared with a pocket full of good questions.
Jerry
, our car insurance
shopping super app, is here to help you feel ready. We’ve put together this list of the eight most important questions for any seller so that you know what to ask when buying a used car.RECOMMENDEDNo spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
Why are you selling the car?
Lead with this question when you are buying a car from a private seller
, then listen closely to the seller’s story. Not only is it a good conversation starter, but it also gives you a chance to learn why they’re giving up their car. Most likely, they won’t respond by listing the car’s problems (if they do go on a rant about the screeching brakes or smoking engine, that’s definitely a red flag!). Instead, they’ll probably explain changed circumstances—for example, they just had another kid and need to upgrade their sedan to a mini-van.
However they respond, pay close attention! Worst case scenario, they break out in a cold sweat, and you know there’s something fishy going on with their car. Best case, you have a great conversation and learn a little more about the seller and their beloved vehicle.
Key Takeaway Start by asking the seller why they’re giving up their car, then listen carefully to their answer. Use a friendly tone to get off on the right foot!
What’s the car’s mileage?
Once you’ve gotten the ice-breakers out of the way (and hopefully gotten past any glaring red flags), it’s time to gather some data about the car. When it comes to the car’s mileage, it’s crucial to know not only how high the mileage is, but also how old the car is.
The average person drives about 12,000 miles per year. So, if you’re buying a car that’s 10 years old, you should expect it to have about 120,000 miles. If it’s got significantly more than that (say, 160,000), that means the car has been driven pretty hard and might be a bit closer to falling apart.
On the other hand, if it’s only got 90,000 miles, that’s an encouraging sign—you might walk away from the sale with a gently-used car in excellent condition.
MORE: How to make your car last longer
How has the car been maintained?
Routine car maintenance
is a crucial part of owning a car. If the seller’s vehicle has been properly maintained, it’ll drive smoother, get better fuel efficiency, and last thousands of miles longer.Here’s a good question to pair this with: “How many owners has the car had?”. If the seller is the only owner of the car, and they’ve reliably serviced their car, it should be shipshape for a while longer. However, if there’s been a laundry list of different owners, it’s likely that one of them didn’t keep up with the car’s maintenance.
Has the vehicle been in any accidents?
Accidents can make a big dent in the sale price, so you should double-check the accident history of the car you’re considering. It’s a great idea to be prepared with a CARFAX report
, which will show you the accident history, active recalls, prior damage, and even the buying/selling history of the vehicle. CARFAX reports aren’t foolproof, though—they won’t show minor accidents or specific repairs that were done on a car. So, asking the owner about past accidents and repairs is key when buying a used car.
Is there any interior or exterior damage?
It’s the seller’s responsibility to let you know about any damage to the car, so asking them if they know of any problems—either inside or out—is a smart move when you’re familiarizing yourself with the car.
Of course, you’ll want to inspect the car yourself, for any dings, scrapes, or bruises. Test driving the car
is another good way to become acquainted with it—you might notice that the A/C doesn’t blow cold, or the steering wheel pulls left, and you can bring these issues up with the seller. MORE: Signs of a flood damaged car
Are there any mechanical problems?
Nothing’s worse than hearing a rattling noise under your hood, just weeks after you hop into your car—so you should confirm that there aren’t any mechanical issues with the car. Here’s another bonus question that you should consider asking: “Can I take the car to a mechanic for an inspection?”.
Most people won’t mind. If the seller pushes back against you and reassures you that they’ve checked it themselves, that might be a warning sign.
Key Takeaway If you want to be certain that there are no mechanical problems with the car, ask the seller if you can take it to a mechanic for an inspection.
Do you have the car title in hand?
If the seller doesn’t have the car title
or the car has a lien on it
, this could add some extra hassle to the buying process. It’s up to you to decide whether it’s worth it—but it’s best to know upfront about any issues with the car title. Would you feel comfortable driving this car across the country today?
Since it’s a bit more open-ended, this question can be a strong conversation starter or a nice way to end your meeting with the seller. You’ll get a good sense of their level of faith in the car—and, when you’re about to make a major investment in your new ride, a vote of unshakeable confidence from the seller can go a long way.
Get cheap, customized insurance with Jerry
New or used, buying a car is an exciting experience—and nothing beats the feeling of rolling off the lot in your dream car. When most people think of insuring their car, though, their minds fill with horror stories of complex forms and pushy salesmen.
Jerry
, our trustworthy insurance comparison super app
, is here to save you from the insurance shopping nightmare and show you the path to insurance savings. Sign up in just 45 seconds, then Jerry will find you the best rates from over 50 top insurers, including Allstate
, Nationwide
, and Progressive
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