The used-car buying checklist

1. Before you view, check the VIN

• Confirm the VIN in the listing matches the car and the title.
• Run the VIN for title brands (salvage, junk, flood, rebuilt), theft and total-loss records.
• Check the odometer history for any reading lower than an earlier one, a sign of rollback.
• Look up open safety recalls and ask if they've been fixed.

2. The paperwork

• Title in the seller's name, matching their ID.
• No lien shown, or proof it's been paid off.
• Service records that line up with the odometer readings.

3. In person

• Cold-start the engine, listen for knocks and watch for smoke.
• Check panel gaps and paint mismatch (signs of past accident repair).
• Look for water lines or musty smells (flood damage).
• Test every electrical item, and take it on a real test drive.

4. The number that decides it

A cheap car with high running costs isn't cheap. Before you commit, look at the true cost to own: fuel, insurance, maintenance, repairs and depreciation over five years. It often changes which car is actually the better buy.

Start with the VIN

Every check above starts here, decode the car and preview its history free.