What are the biggest warning signs when buying used?

salvage title

 

high mileage

 

low mpg's

 

erratic battery indicator

 

1. very few service records
2. many owners
3. warning lights still on
4. seller had if for a short period of time
5. if your gut feeling tells you so
6. and whatever bisco is going to add

 

Bisco... my prius had all of thoes other than a salvaged title. The battery acted poorly from sitting for a while. Now I consistently get in the low 50's mpg. 234,555 miles. Just throwing that out there. I would say, try to find a 1 owner like min was.

 

sure, they're just warning signs, not written in stone.

 

From my used car buying experiences long time ago (non-hybrid):
1. Seller didn't want me to show at his place. He showed up in my place instead. The price was a steal and car drove great. The thing was I could not start it again when it was cold next day.
2. Seller (dealership) insisted on appointment to test drive it and washed the car before showing. It was still wet when I saw it. When I took it home and it dried, paint was all scratched up.
3. There was some mild noise in front end. The seller said it was front bearing and harmless to drive for many thousands of miles. It took the advice literally and the bearings failed on the highway in the middle of night and nowhere soon after.
4. A mechanic sold me an used car with low miles with salvage title very cheap. What can go wrong? Had a failed tranny a few months later.

I learned there must be a reason why ones sells an used car. No more used cars for me after those.

 

I also want to add, if the car is really cheap (deal of a lifetime) and the car is not in the seller's name......RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN.

Showing the car at a public location is OK, picking up and paying for the car at a public location is NOT OK. If you are buying private party, you should always know how to find the seller if you need to find them.

 

If you’re not in US some of advices that have to do with titles and previous owners will be different. I would just add that many times condition of outside and interior will be related to mechanical condition. And just lot of oil changes isn’t good service record.