Four Red Flags To Look For In Used Vehicles

Used vehicle shopping is a mixed bag full of surprises both good and horrible. From the cars that seem too good to be true to the cars that don’t look anything like their Facebook Marketplace photo, it’s important to not get caught in the weeds.

Having a plan when searching for a used vehicle is crucial and a major part of that plan is knowing what not to look for. In today’s post, Thompson Sales will look at four red flags to be wary of when buying a used vehicle. 

• Lack of Service Records

For a used vehicle, this is a no-brainer. With any car that isn’t brand new, it is all too likely that there will be some kind of service history. That is what comes with buying a used car. However, you still want to look for a car that has managed to stay out of the shop for the most part. To do this, you have to have service records. Arguably the biggest red flag that you can find in your search for a used vehicle is a lack of service records. 

Without a service record, it will be impossible for you to know if the car was maintained properly by the previous owner. Another easy way to see service records without seeing the actual record is to check the windshield sticker for the last oil change.  

• A Lot Of Warning Lights

This one might also seem like a no-brainer, but there are several reasons why this red flag can be more difficult to detect. First, you have to take the car for a test drive to know if the warning lights come on. While this might go without saying, just remember how important it is to take a used vehicle for a test drive before buying it. 

Secondly, warning lights aren’t all-revealing. We have all had cars whose warning lights would just never turn off. And with the car you are looking at, that might be true. But if there are several warning lights on, that’s enough to at least take a deeper look at the service records. 

• A Long Accident History

This is one that can be forgotten about because, well, the car isn’t wrecked anymore, right? While that might be true and there might not be any dents or damage on the surface, a long accident history still indicates an even longer service history. While there might not be any damage on the surface, you need to know what areas of the car needed repairs due to a crash. 

• A Problem Title 

The title can be a very telling part of a used vehicle. At times, a title can tell you what the service records will eventually tell you. For example, if the car has a flood title, you know that there has been extensive water damage. 

If it has a salvage title, you know that there have been extensive repairs done. And lastly, if there is a junk title, the vehicle has been deemed unsafe to drive in its state. You can save a lot of time in your used car search by asking if the car has a problem title before even looking at buying it. 

Come Visit Thompson Sales For Your Used Vehicle Search

All of these red flags have one thing in common: they are prevalent with unreliable dealers and sellers. At Thompson Sales, we make sure that our fleet of used vehicles is the best in the area. Contact us today at (417) 763-6811 or visit our store today.