Car Buyer's Checklist

 

What Kind of engine, body, safety features and options do you want in a vehicle?  Use this checklist to help think these through.  Jot down extra notes for yourself in the margins.

 

What are you going to use the car or truck for?
(Check as many as apply.)
_____ Going to and from work
_____ Transporting kids
_____ Hauling equipment
_____ Long-distance travel
_____ Going to and from activities (biking,  skiing, etc.)

 
Based on that, what type of car makes sense?
(Check one or more to research.)
_____ Sporty two-door coupe
_____ Four-door sedan
_____ Hatchback
_____ Wagon
_____ Minivan
_____ Full-sized van
_____ Truck (small, medium, or full-sized pickup)
_____ Sport utility vehicles (four-wheel drive*)
_____ Two-wheel or four-wheel drive car
_____ Luxury car

      *Four-wheel drive vehicles get better traction on snow and ice than two-wheel drive cars, but they cost more.

 

Complete the chart provided below:

YEAR

REPAIR HISTORY

MODEL

MILEAGE

OPTIONS

 

 

SELLER

PHONE NUMBER

 

EXTERIOR
Check body for signs of new paint, scratches, rust, dings or evidence of accidents

RATING:
1- excellent
2- good
3- minor problems
4- major problems

COMMENTS

1

2

3

4

front bumper

.

. . . .

grill

.

.

.

.

.

lights

.

.

.

.

.

hood

.

.

.

.

.

front left fender

.

.

.

.

.

front left tire

.

.

.

.

.

front left door

.

.

.

.

.

rear left door

.

.

.

.

.

rear left fender

.

.

.

.

.

rear left tire

..

.

.

.

.

trunk lid

.

.

.

.

.

rear lights & panel

.

.

.

.

.

rear bumper

.

.

.

.

.

muffler

.

.

.

.

.

rear right fender

.

.

.

.

.

rear right tire

.

.

.

.

.

rear right door

.

.

.

.

.

front right door

.

.

.

..

.

front right fender

.

.

.

.

.

front right tire

.

.

.

.

.

roof

.

.

.

.

.

windshield

.

.

.

.

.

windshield frame

.

.

.

.

.

 

TRUNK COMPARTMENT

musty smell?

.

.

.

.

.

inner fender

.

.

.

.

.

under carpet

.

.

.

.

.

spare tire

.

.

.

.

.

 

ENGINE COMPARTMENT

shock towers

.

.

.

.

.

inner fenders

.

.

.

.

.

radiator

.

.

.

.

.

hoses

.

.

.

..

.

wires

.

.

.

.

.

engine cover gasket

.

.

.

.

.

engine head gasket

.

.

.

.

.

belts

.

.

.

.

.

water pump

.

.

.

.

.

coolant

.

.

.

.

.

dipstick oil

.

.

.

.

.

under engine check

.

.

.

.

.

 

INTERIOR

driver's seat

.

.

.

.

.

brake pedal

.

.

.

.

.

gas pedal

.

.

.

.

.

driver floor mat

.

.

.

..

.

driver floor

.

.

.

.

.

steering wheel

.

.

.

.

.

electrical

.

.

.

.

.

air conditioning

.

.

.

.

.

sound system

.

.

.

.

.

dashboard warning lights

.

.

.

.

.

overall condition

.

.

.

.

.

 

UNDERBODY CHECK

centre velocity joints

.

.

.

.

.

exhaust leaks

.

.

.

.

.

catalytic converter

.

.

.

.

.

sings of accident repair

.

.

.

.

.

signs of fluid leaks

.

.

.

.

.

rust

.

.

.

.

.

shocks & struts

.

.

.

.

.

 

TEST DRIVE

starting

.

.

.

.

.

exhaust

.

.

.

.

.

engine idle

.

.

.

.

.

acceleration

.

.

.

.

.

brakes

.

.

.

.

.

ABS

.

.

.

.

.

straight tracking

.

.

.

.

.

suspension

.

.

.

.

.

rattles

.

.

.

.

.

engine noise

.

.

.

.

.

steering

.

.

.

.

.

cornering

.

.

.

.

.