Buying a used car is often a good choice if you don’t have a very big budget. As long as you buy it from a reputable dealer and you make sure to take a test drive and check the vehicle history before you agree to anything, you should be able to get a good car for a reasonable price. However, there is always the chance of problems with any used car, so it’s important that you give it the once over before you drive it for the first time. You don’t want to miss any problems that could be dangerous when you drive the car, so make sure that you do these checks before you get behind the wheel for the first time.
Give It A Good Clean
The dealer will have cleaned the car up but if it’s used, it’s worth giving it another going over before you drive, just to make it a bit more comfortable. If you clean and detail the car inside and out, then put a few custom air fresheners in there, it will be as good as new. Cleaning the car out will also give you the opportunity to spot things like stains on the upholstery. Consider getting the car fitted with new dash mats, floor mats, and liners to ensure everything’s clean and fresh. If there are any stains, you can just put some seat covers on so it looks brand new again. You also need to check for any scratches or dents in the windows while you’re cleaning as well because they will need to be fixed before you drive, otherwise, you might get a large crack on the windscreen and that will be far more expensive to fix than a small chip.
Check Doors And Windows
You don’t want your car getting stolen the first time you take it out so you need to check all of the doors and windows. If it’s got central locking, check that it’s working properly and try all of the doors. Then you need to wind all of the windows up and down fully to make sure that all of the mechanisms are working properly. Broken doors and windows offer an easy access point for car thieves so always make sure to check them over properly.
Check The Brakes
Checking the brakes is one of the most important things to do before you drive your used car for the first time. It goes without saying that it’s not safe to drive the car if the brakes aren’t in good shape and in a used car, there is a chance that the brake pads have been worn down. You need to test your brakes and make sure that they are safe. If they aren’t, get down to the mechanic and have the brake pads replaced or do it yourself as long as you are confident that you know how to do it properly.
Check The Tires
Bald tires or tires that are out of line can be dangerous when you’re driving so you need to check those as well. Make sure that they’re pumped up properly and look for any worn patches. If the tread has worn away too much, it’s best to be safe and replace the tires right away.
As long as you do these simple checks before you drive your used car, you will be safe.
