Next, turn the key to power the electrics in the car. The dashboard should immediately light up and give you information regarding the engine and car systems. The lights should all flash off. Check out any that stay on permanently or longer than normal.
This is is a good opportunity to check the mileage on the car. It is a criminal offense to falsify mileage records. Yet famously it is a common trick amongst shady car sellers. Many reputable car retailers will certify the odometers in the card they sell which can provide you will the ultimate peace of mind.
These are some of the most basic yet most important checks that you can make on a used car. However, you can save time by purchasing a used car from a retailer with a good reputation rather than an individual seller. Many will offer multi-point check guarantees on the cars that they sell