Before buying online: verify the VIN, compare photos with the history report, request a video walkaround, and never pay until title, mileage, and seller identity are confirmed.

To gauge a used car’s true cost, add purchase price, taxes, insurance, fuel, financing, maintenance, repairs, and depreciation-not just the sticker price.

Inspect carefully: mismatched paint, uneven tire wear, damp carpets, warning lights, or gaps in service records can signal accident damage, leaks, poor maintenance, or costly hidden faults.

Used car checklist: verify service records, ownership history, mileage, accident signs, tire wear, fluids, electronics, road-test behavior, and arrange a trusted mechanic’s inspection.

Before buying a second-hand car, ask about service history, accident records, ownership costs, mileage accuracy, and whether an independent inspection is allowed.