7 Red Flags For Used Car Buyers
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water damage used cars rust red flags dangerous car safety

There are a long list of warning signs to keep an eye out for if you’re in the market for a used car.

You’ve heard of the usual red flags, especially when it comes to prices, financing, and mysteriously missing paperwork; in true RVS fashion, we’ve decided to focus on more tangible, safety-related warnings–the types that you can either see or feel (and even smell).  

  • Mismatched/Recent Paint Jobs 

While it seems innocuous on the surface, a patchy paint job on a car can point to recent damage that may have just been brushed over, instead of professionally fixed. This is a red flag regarding both the seller and the vehicle. 

  • Overly Rusted Parts

We love a good deal as much as the next buyer, but if you’re accepting rust as part of the discount, you’re getting the raw end of the deal. Though replaceable (at a potentially high cost), rusted parts means the car is being eaten alive and may not even be worth salvaging by that point–especially if said rust is flaking, happening in large patches, or is on parts critical to safety.

  • Pervasive Smells 

We’re not talking a little bit of fast food or even cigarette smoke–we’re talking moldy, musty smells that won’t go away. These types of smells might be indicative of flood damage, and the smells are the least of your issues. Expensive electrical, engine, and fabric damage are the results of flood damage that are pretty much irreversible and unfixable. 

  • Out-of-Place/Mismatched Carpet 

Being another possible sign of flood damage, a seller may have replaced the car’s original carpet afterwards, as the smelly fabric would’ve been a dead giveaway (and just smelled gross). 

  • Too Many Warning Lights 

You might drive around with the “engine check” light on, but if the car you’re checking out has a dashboard that looks like the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center, be aware. This one’s obvious and you should call in a second opinion ASAP if your heart is truly set on the vehicle. 

  • Questionable Routines To Turn The Car On 

This should go without saying, but turning the key 5 times while chanting an ancient spell shouldn’t be necessary to turn the car or any other critical function on. This is a classic sign that the car was either not taken care of or taken care of by an amateur.

  • No Backup Camera System 

If the car you're looking into was made years before 2018, then it might be missing a crucial system in today's world: the backup camera. Spending a few extra bucks on a better rear view can save you money down the line and extend the life of that used car--it's the accessory that pays for itself.