Before buying a used car, it is recommended to have a mechanic inspect the vehicle for any problems.

EXTERIOR: Check each body panel and the roof, looking for scratches, dents, and rust. Examine the lines of the fenders and doors. Misaligned panels or large gaps can indicate either sloppy assembly at the factory or shoddy repair. The paint color and finish should be the same on every body panel.

Glass: Look carefully at the windshield and windows to make sure there are no cracks or large pocked areas.

 Suspension: Walk around the car to see if it's standing level. Bounce each corner up and down. If the shock absorbers are in good shape, the car should rebound just once; it shouldn't keep moving up and down.

Tires: Tires must have at least 1/16 inch of tread to be legal. Check the tread depth either with a tread-depth tool (available at auto-parts stores) or a quarter.

Sound system: Check radio reception on AM and FM. If there is a CD or tape player, try loading and ejecting a compact disc or tape.

Hoses and belts: Squeeze the various rubber hoses running to the radiator, air conditioner, and other parts. The rubber should be firm and supple, not rock-hard, cracked, or mushy. Feel the drive belts to determine whether they are frayed.

Battery : A green indicator usually means the battery is in good shape; yellow or black usually means it is dying or dead. These indicators reveal the condition of just one cell and may not give an accurate reading on how healthy the whole battery is.

Instruments and controls: Turn the ignition switch, but without starting the engine. All the warning lights—including the "Check engine" light—should illuminate for a few moments. They should then go off when you start the engine. Note if the engine is hard to start when cold and if it idles smoothly. Then try out every switch, button, and lever.