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What to Look for When Buying a Used Car in 2025: Complete Guide
Sep 14, 2025
Planning to buy a used car in 2025? This complete guide walks you through everything you need to check before making your purchase. From inspecting the engine, transmission, and brakes to checking for accident history and verifying maintenance records, we cover the key steps to ensure you get a reliable vehicle. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or seasoned shopper, understanding these important factors will help you avoid costly mistakes and drive away with confidence. Stay up-to-date with the latest tips for vehicle inspections and market trends in 2025.
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0:00
All right. So, you're standing there
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staring at a used car that looks like a
0:03
great deal, but something in your gut
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says, "Should I trust this thing?" Yeah,
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I get it. I'm Tom from Car Justify. Been
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working on cars longer than I care to
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admit. And today, we're talking about
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exactly what to look for when buying a
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used car in 2025 so you don't end up
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with a money pit on wheels. All right,
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let's start with the outside because
0:25
first impressions matter, but not in the
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way most folks think. A shiny paint job
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might catch your eye, but that could be
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hiding body filler or worse, rust
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repair. Run your hand along the lower
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panels, down by the doors and wheel
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arches, and feel for any rough spots or
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uneven surfaces. If it feels lumpy or
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wavy, that's a red flag. Pop the hood
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next. You don't have to be a mechanic to
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do a few smart checks here. Look at the
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engine oil, pull the dipstick, wipe it,
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then check it again. The oil should be a
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golden brown, not milky or pitch black.
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Milky oil can mean coolants mixing in,
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which might mean a blown head gasket.
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I've seen that mistake cost people
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thousands. No joke. While you're under
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the hood, take a peek at the belts and
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hoses. Cracks or fraying. That tells you
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it's been a while since someone gave
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this thing real maintenance. Same with
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the battery terminals. If there's a
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bunch of crusty white stuff on them,
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that's corrosion. Not a dealbreaker, but
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definitely a bargaining chip. All right,
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now let's hop inside. Turn the key or
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hit the start button and listen close.
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Any weird rattling or knocking noises,
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that's your cue to walk away or at least
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dig deeper. Let it idle for a few
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minutes. Check for warning lights on the
1:35
dash. And I mean all of them. Make sure
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they come on and go off properly. Some
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folks get sneaky and unplug bulbs to
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hide problems. Yep, that actually
1:43
happened to a buddy of mine last month.
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Dude bought a car with no check engine
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light. Turns out someone pulled the
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bulb. While it's running, turn on
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everything. AC, heat, radio, windows.
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Make sure all the gadgets work. You'd be
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surprised how many sellers hope you
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don't notice a busted fan or a window
1:59
that won't roll up. Trust me, those
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little things add up fast. Now, here's a
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tip a lot of people skip. Check the
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tires. Don't just look at tread depth.
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Look how the tires are wearing. Uneven
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wear, like bald on the inside edges, but
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fine on the outside. That could mean
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alignment issues or worn suspension
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parts. Either way, it's going to cost
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you. Take it for a test drive and don't
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rush it. Feel for how it shifts, how the
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brakes respond, how the steering feels.
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If it pulls to one side, or the brakes
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feel spongy, those are things you'll
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want fixed or factored into your offer.
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Also, if it sounds like you're driving a
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blender full of bolts, just hand the
2:34
keys back and walk away. Before you get
2:37
too excited, grab an OBD scanner. You
2:39
can buy a cheap one online or borrow
2:41
one. And check for any hidden codes.
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Even if there's no check engine light,
2:45
stored codes can tell you if something's
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been recently cleared. Sneaky, I know,
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but super helpful. And if the car passes
2:52
your checks and still feels right, take
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a look at the VIN. That's the vehicle
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identification number. Run it through a
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service like Carfax or Autocheck. You
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want to know if it's been in a major
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accident, had flood damage, or was a
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rental car that's been beat to death.
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It's a few bucks, but it can save you a
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major headache. All right, quick recap.
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Check the body for signs of damage.
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Inspect the engine oil and belts. Listen
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for weird noises. Test every button and
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switch. Look at the tires and definitely
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scan for codes. If something feels off,
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don't talk yourself into it. There's
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always another car. Hope this helps you
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feel a little more confident walking
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onto that lot or scrolling through
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listings. If this saved you from buying
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a lemon, do me a favor, hit that like
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button and subscribe to Car Justify.
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We've got more nononsense car advice
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coming every week. Stay sharp out there
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and I'll catch you in the next