15 questions to ask when buying a used car

The right questions surface problems before they become your problems. Ask these before you view the car, on the test drive, and before you pay. Good sellers answer them easily; evasive answers tell you what you need to know.

History and ownership

Start with the basics — how the seller answers matters as much as the answer.

• Why are you selling it?
• How long have you owned it, and are you the first owner?
• Do you have service and maintenance records?
• Has it ever been in an accident or had an insurance claim?

Title and legal

Never skip these — a title problem can make the car nearly impossible to resell.

• Is the title clean, in your name, and free of any liens?
• Has the car ever had a salvage, rebuilt, flood or lemon-law buyback brand?
• Can I see the title and registration before we agree on anything?

Mechanical condition

Pair these with a test drive and, ideally, an independent inspection.

• Are there any warning lights currently on?
• Any known mechanical issues, leaks, or work needed now or soon?
• When were the brakes, tires, battery and timing belt/chain last done?
• Are you okay with a pre-purchase inspection by my own mechanic?

Recalls and known problems

This is where a quick free check gives you the upper hand.

• Have all open safety recalls been completed?
• Is this model year known for any specific problems?
• Would you take [your offer] given what we've discussed?

Do your homework first

Before you message the seller, run the car through our free tool — you'll walk in already knowing its recalls, the complaint patterns for that year, and the crash-test ratings. That turns vague questions into specific ones the seller can't easily dodge, and it's the difference between hoping a car is good and knowing what to look for. Our tool even generates a tailored question list based on that car's real complaint history.