Used Car Buying Safety Checklist

Buying a used car is the second-largest purchase most people make, yet many buyers skip basic safety checks that take minutes and cost nothing. This 10-point checklist is built around real NHTSA recall and complaint data. Follow every step and you will walk into negotiations informed, not hopeful.

If you want to compare two vehicles side-by-side before committing, use the AutoTruth comparison tool to see which one has the cleaner record.

The 10-Point Safety Checklist

01 Check for Open Recalls

Before anything else, look up the vehicle on NHTSA or AutoTruth. Open recalls mean the manufacturer identified a safety defect but the car has not been repaired yet. Some recalls are minor. Others — like faulty airbag inflators or brake line corrosion — are genuinely dangerous. A recall check takes 30 seconds and could save your life.

02 Review Complaint History

Recalls only cover defects the manufacturer acknowledges. Owner complaints capture everything else: problems that have not triggered a recall yet, recurring quality issues, and real-world failure patterns. A car with 50 complaints about transmission failure is a different proposition than one with two complaints about a squeaky seat.

03 Decode the VIN

The Vehicle Identification Number tells you the exact configuration of the car: where it was built, engine type, trim level, and model year. More importantly, a VIN decode can reveal whether the listing description matches reality. If the ad says "EX-L trim" but the VIN says "LX," someone is either confused or dishonest.

04 Take a Thorough Test Drive

Drive for at least 20 minutes and include highway speeds, city stops, and parking manoeuvres. Listen for unusual noises during acceleration and braking. Test the air conditioning, all windows, lights, and turn signals. Pay attention to how the transmission shifts — hesitation or jerking during gear changes is a red flag.

05 Get an Independent Mechanic Inspection

Never skip this step. A pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic you trust (not the seller's mechanic) typically costs $100-200 and can reveal thousands of dollars in hidden problems. They will check the frame for accident damage, the engine for leaks, the brakes for wear, and the suspension for play.

06 Run a Title Check

A clean title means the car has not been declared a total loss, salvaged, or flooded. Services like Carfax and AutoCheck provide title history reports. Look specifically for salvage titles, flood damage titles, odometer rollbacks, and multiple owners in a short period. A salvage title alone can cut a car's value by 20-40%.

07 Get an Insurance Quote Before You Buy

Insurance costs vary dramatically by vehicle. A sports car or a model with a high theft rate will cost more to insure. Get a quote before you commit so the total cost of ownership does not surprise you. Some vehicles with extensive recall histories may also affect your premiums.

08 Research Warranty Options

Check whether any factory warranty remains. For newer used cars, certified pre-owned (CPO) programmes from dealers include extended warranties backed by the manufacturer. For older vehicles, third-party warranties exist but vary widely in quality. Read the fine print — especially the exclusions list.

09 Negotiate Using Recall and Complaint Data

If AutoTruth shows a low trust score, use that as leverage. A car with multiple unresolved recalls or a pattern of complaints in a critical category (brakes, engine, transmission) is worth less than a clean example of the same model. Print the AutoTruth report and bring it to the negotiation.

10 Set Up Post-Purchase Recall Monitoring

New recalls are issued throughout the year. After you buy, register your vehicle with NHTSA at nhtsa.gov so you receive email alerts if a new recall is issued for your car. Bookmark your vehicle's AutoTruth page to check back periodically as our data updates weekly.

Before You Visit the Dealer

Steps 1 through 3 can all be done from your phone before you leave the house. Look up the vehicle on AutoTruth, note the trust score and any red flags, and check the VIN if the listing provides one. This takes five minutes and gives you a factual foundation for the rest of the process.

For example, the 2015 Honda Civic has a detailed breakdown of every recall and complaint filed with NHTSA. If you are looking at a Civic from that year, you already know what to watch for before you turn the key.

After the Purchase

The checklist does not end when you sign the paperwork. Step 10 — recall monitoring — is ongoing. Manufacturers issue new recalls throughout the year as defects surface. Register your VIN with NHTSA for email alerts, and check your vehicle's AutoTruth page periodically. Our database updates weekly with the latest NHTSA filings.

Quick Reference

Save this list and tick each item off when shopping for your next car:

  1. Check for Open Recalls
  2. Review Complaint History
  3. Decode the VIN
  4. Take a Thorough Test Drive
  5. Get an Independent Mechanic Inspection
  6. Run a Title Check
  7. Get an Insurance Quote Before You Buy
  8. Research Warranty Options
  9. Negotiate Using Recall and Complaint Data
  10. Set Up Post-Purchase Recall Monitoring

Start With Step One

Look up any vehicle's recall and complaint history — free and instant.

Check a Vehicle on AutoTruth