Walk around the car first, in good light

Do not look at a car at night or in the rain. Low light hides almost every flaw. And do not look at a car that has just been washed and is still wet, because the water covers up marks.

• Look along the side of the car from front to back, and see whether the reflection on the body is one straight, continuous line. If it ripples or breaks anywhere, that spot has been repainted.
• Check the gaps between panels: hood, doors, trunk lid. The gaps should be equal on both sides. If one side is clearly wider, the car has often been in a crash.
• Compare the color between panels. Stand at an angle and look. If one door is a slightly different shade from the others, that door has been repainted.
• Open the hood and look at the bolts holding the fenders and bumper. If the bolts have wrench marks with chipped paint, they have been removed before.

Tires and brakes tell you more than you think

• Check the tire production date. It is the four-digit number on the sidewall: the first two digits are the week and the last two are the year. Tires older than five years should be replaced, even if the tread still looks deep.
• Check whether all four tires wear evenly. If a tire is worn only on the inside or only on the outside, it usually means the wheel alignment is off or the suspension has a problem.
• Four tires of different brands is not wrong, but it tells you the car was maintained as cheaply as possible.

Turn the key and watch the dashboard lights

When you turn the key to the position before starting, every warning light should come on first, then go off once the engine is running.

If any light never comes on at all, be suspicious. There are ways to remove warning light bulbs so buyers do not see a problem, especially the engine light and the airbag light.

Test drive, and listen more than you look

• Drive somewhere quiet with the air conditioning and music off, and listen to the suspension as you go over uneven surfaces.
• Briefly let go of the steering wheel on a straight, empty road, and see whether the car drifts to one side.
• Brake hard once in a safe place, and see whether there is shaking or pulling to one side.
• With an automatic transmission, gear changes must be smooth, with no jerking and no revs flaring up.

If the car passes everything above and you still want to buy it, pay for an inspection at an independent garage as well. An inspection costs a few thousand baht, many times cheaper than the repairs that would follow, and it is the best-value money you will spend buying a used car. This website does not inspect cars, and nobody can check on your behalf.