5 Things to Bring When Looking at a Used Car

These basic tools can offer insight into an automobile's condition.

Benjamin Hunting | 

Dec 10, 2024 | 3 min read

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Making a list of what to check when buying a used car can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, covering the basics with a few simple and affordable tools isn't all that complicated and can give you an advantage when trying to evaluate the condition of a previously owned vehicle.

Here are five things you should consider bringing with you when looking at a used car.

Paint Meters and Magnets Can Reveal Hidden Repairs

Even in the best light, it can be hard to determine if a vehicle has had any undisclosed body work or paint work done. Given that such work could have been the result of accident repair, it's helpful to bring two simple tools with you when looking at a used car: a paint meter and a magnet.

A paint meter, also known as a paint-thickness gauge, measures how much paint is on a given panel. The exact number on the gauge isn't as important as ensuring that each major panel shows roughly the same measurement. Any differences in paint thickness between one part of a car and the next could indicate that a paint repair was done outside the computer-controlled paint booth on the assembly line.

Magnets can also help determine if a car's steel panels are really composed of steel or have been heavily repaired with body filler. Keep in mind, however, that a magnet won't work on the aluminum, composite, carbon fiber, or plastic body panels common on many modern cars.

Use a Flashlight for a Clearer Look

Engine bays, wheel wells, frames, and other nooks and crannies of a car can be difficult to see, even in the brightest sunlight. Bringing a flashlight with you that's small enough to stick in a tight spot but bright enough to illuminate any problem points is a good idea.

A Cleaning Rag (or Two) Can Uncover Clues

In a similar vein, if a part of the vehicle is obscured by gunk, it can be much harder to inspect. If you're looking at the condition of spark plug wires, for example, or trying to determine whether the windshield glass is scratched or just dirty, consider bringing a few rags with you to wipe off any potential grime.

A rag is also helpful when checking transmission fluid and engine oil levels.

Use an OBD-II Scanner to Check Engine Issues

Modern vehicles are outfitted with an onboard diagnostic system called OBD-II that scans an automobile's systems and stores trouble codes related to potential problems. If the used car you are inspecting shows a check-engine light on the dash, you can use a relatively inexpensive OBD-II scanner to read the related error code. Some scanners also allow you to run simple system tests to detect any lurking issues.

A Brake-Fluid Tester Gives a Hint About Maintenance

To verify if a car was well maintained by the owner, a clue is the state of its brake fluid. Using a brake-fluid tester — which can cost less than $10 — can tell you if the fluid has been recently replaced or whether it's been neglected. If the latter is the case, other maintenance items may also have been overlooked.

Benjamin Hunting

Nearly two decades into his career as an automotive journalist, Benjamin has had his hands greasy, his hair blown back, and his heart broken by more than one project car. In addition to his work at Capital One, he has contributed features and reviews to Motor Trend, Car and Driver, Hagerty, Driving Line, Inside Hook, Super Street, European Car, Roadkill Magazine, Motor 1, The Drive, the Toronto Star, the National Post, Business Insider, NAPA, Autoblog, Automotive News Canada, and AutoGuide. He is also cohost of the Unnamed Automotive Podcast and cocreator of the Code 45 and Dead Air graphic novels. In his spare time, he's a friend to vinyl and enjoys keeping the shiny side up during track days.