About to buy a used car? Look for these 12 things in the interior.
The interior tells you how a car was really treated. This takes about 10 minutes on the test drive. Anything on this list can be a reason to negotiate or walk away.
The smell
Look for: Open the door and breathe in before anything else. Musty, sour or heavy air-freshener smells.
What it can mean: Water leaks, smoke or something hidden. Smoke and mildew odors are the hardest to remove completely.
The headliner
Look for: Sagging, bubbling, stains or water marks on the ceiling, especially around a sunroof and the pillars.
What it can mean: Past leaks, or a failing foam backing that will keep getting worse.
Carpet and under the mats
Look for: Lift the mats. Feel for dampness. Look for stains, silt, or rust on seat bolts and floor edges.
What it can mean: A leak, spills that were hidden, or even flood damage.
Seat bolsters
Look for: The side edges of the driver seat, where you slide in and out. Compare the wear to the mileage on the dash.
What it can mean: Heavy wear on low miles can mean the mileage or the story is off.
Seams and stitching
Look for: Split seams, pulled threads, tears, patches, or panels that do not quite match.
What it can mean: A small split is cheap to fix now and gets worse quickly. Patches can hide bigger damage.
Seat foam
Look for: Sit down. Does the cushion feel flat, uneven or sunken? Does the seat still support you?
What it can mean: Compressed foam makes a seat uncomfortable and speeds up cover wear. It is a bigger repair than a surface fix.
The dash
Look for: Cracks, sticky or melting surfaces, sun fade. Check whether a dash cover is hiding something.
What it can mean: Sun damage that is expensive to repair properly. A cover may be hiding it.
Steering wheel, shifter and pedals
Look for: Shiny, worn or peeling leather and worn pedal rubber.
What it can mean: These wear with use, so they are a quick honest check on real mileage.
Door panels and trim
Look for: Loose or warped panels, missing clips, broken handles, rattles.
What it can mean: Past repairs, abuse, or parts that will keep coming loose.
Signs of a fresh cleaning
Look for: Carpet that is much cleaner than the rest of the car, damp spots, strong fragrance.
What it can mean: Someone may be covering a stain or smell for the sale.
Seat belts and warning lights
Look for: Belts pull out and retract smoothly, with no fraying. Airbag and seat-sensor lights come on at start-up, then go off.
What it can mean: Safety systems that need attention before you drive it.
The trunk and spare-tire well
Look for: Lift the floor liner. Look for water, rust, mildew or missing tools.
What it can mean: Leaks that do not always show up inside the cabin.
Find the problem in All problems and see whether it is a DIY fix, a cover-it-for-now, or a shop job, and what it should cost. Or Email a Pro.