Questions to Ask a Used Car Dealer Before You Buy

The most useful questions to ask a used car dealer are about the full price, the car's past, the warranty status, and whether you can have it inspected by your own mechanic.

Why the Questions Matter

A used car is sold one at a time. Two cars of the same year and model can be in very different shape. The dealer knows more about the car than you do. Good questions close that gap.

Pay attention to how the answers come, not only what they say. A good salesperson who does not know will say so and find out. A vague answer, or a push to sign before you get one, tells you a lot. Before you visit, you can see how past buyers rated the dealer in our dealer directory.

Questions About the Price

• What is the out the door price? This is the total you will pay, with tax, title, registration and every fee.
• Can I have that price in writing?
• What fees are on top of the listed price, and what is each one for?
• Are any add ons already installed, and can they be removed from the price?
• Does the listed price depend on financing with you?

That last one catches people. Some online prices only apply if you take the dealer's loan. Ask plainly. Our guide to car dealer fees explains which charges are set by the government and which are not.

Questions About the Car's Past

• Can I see the vehicle history report?
• Do you have service records for this car?
• How did you get the car? Was it a trade in or bought at auction?
• Has it been in any accidents that you know of?
• Is the title clean, and do you have it on hand?
• Are there any open safety recalls?

A history report only shows what was reported to it. It is a good start, not the whole story. You can also check open recalls yourself for free on the NHTSA recall site using the VIN.

If a car came from an auction, the dealer may know little about it. That is not a reason to pass. It is a reason to get it checked.

Questions About the Warranty

Federal rules require dealers to post a Buyers Guide on the window of each used car they sell. It says whether the car is sold as is or with a warranty. Ask about it directly.

• Is this car sold as is, or does it come with a dealer warranty?
• If there is a warranty, what does it cover and for how long?
• Is any of the factory warranty left?
• Is the car manufacturer certified, or only certified by you?

The Buyers Guide is part of your deal, and it overrides anything in the contract that says otherwise. Keep a copy. Our guide on as is used car sales covers what that sticker means for you.

Questions About the Inspection and the Test Drive

• Can I take the car to my own mechanic, or can an inspector come to the lot?
• Can I drive it on the highway, not only around the block?
• Can I see the car before it is started for the day?
• What reconditioning did you do on this car?

Most reputable dealers allow an outside inspection. If a dealer refuses, that is a strong reason to walk away. There is little reason to hide a good car.

Ask about reconditioning too. Many dealers replace tires, brakes or fluids before a car goes on the lot. A list of that work tells you what is fresh and what is not. If the answer is that nothing was done, plan for some of that work yourself.

Questions About the Paperwork

• Is there a return policy? If so, get it in writing.
• How many keys come with the car?
• Will you hold the car while I get an inspection?
• What am I signing, line by line?

Do not count on a right to return the car. In most states there is no general cooling off period for car purchases. A few states have limited options. If a dealer offers a return policy, it only counts if it is written into the deal.

Get the Car Checked Before You Sign

Good answers are a great sign, but they are still words. An independent used car inspection checks the car itself. We run a 122 point inspection with a full OBD-II scan, a road test, and tire and brake measurements, with photos of anything we find. We go to the dealer lot, you do not need to be there, and the report comes the same day.

Common Questions

Get the Car Inspected