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By: Sarah E. Sanuth, is an insider in the automotive industry  with many years of experience in the car dealership and repair business, is guest contributing an article sharing insightful tips on buying a good used car and what to look for in test driving a used car.

Taking a vehicle on a test-drive before buying it is a must. However, many of us don’t always know what we’re looking for; all we know is that we are supposed to. The following checklist / tips will help you make the most out of that test drive and buy a good used car.

1. Bring this checklist and a friend with you. The person doesn’t have to be a car guru but would be helpful in providing an extra set of eyes and ears. Have your friend write down the answers to the below questions and anything that you might hear, see or experience.

2. Make sure the vehicle is on a level, clean surface and start it. Allow it to warm up. Does it crank over right away? If it doesn’t, this indicates a starter or charging system failure.

3. After it is warm, while the vehicle is still running, check the transmission fluid. Does it read full and are there excessive bubbles on the dipstick? Bubbles could indicate excessive air or a breakdown inside the transmission.

4. Turn the vehicle off and check the oil. Is the level just right and does it look relatively clean with no lumps or debris? Oil changes are vital, it’s the vehicles blood; if it is dirty, oil changes weren’t done properly. If it appears milky, coolant is mixing with the oil in which case do not drive it; it means the head gasket or the engine is or about to go.

5. Start the vehicle again and take a walk around. Is there any overspray in the door jambs and do the hinges line-up properly? If you see these, this indicates that the vehicle has been in an accident and repaired; and should be priced accordingly.

6. Check underneath the vehicle. Look for any excessive rust or rot. Is there any fluid on the ground? If so, there is a leak somewhere that needs to be fixed.

7. Check all electrical components and accessories such as the HVAC system, interior and exterior lights, radio, power locks, windows, and seats. Does everything work properly?

8. Never use the radio while on a test-drive so you can pay full attention to the car and driving experience.

9. Drive a minimum of 30 minutes. You have to get the engine up to temperature in order for certain problems to expose themselves.

10. Drive off and on the highway. Do you like how the vehicle handles and steers?

11. Are all the gauges on the instrument panel working properly? Pay close attention to the temperature gauge. If it appears that it is not working properly, it could have either been disconnected to hide an overheating issue or the instrument panel needs to be replaced, which is costly. This could also mean the mileage is not correct.

12. Take plenty of turns, sharp and wide. On turns, listen for any whining and clicking sounds. These sounds will let you know there is a steering or axle issue. How does the vehicle hug the road?

13. Drive uphill and downhill. Does the vehicle lag or downshift properly? If it lags, the transmission may be on its way out.

14. Accelerate fast without flooring it. Does the transmission slam into gear or hesitate? This would also indicate a transmission problem.

15. Test the braking system in all scenarios. Slam on the brakes in a safe place. The vehicle should stop with no issues. Check the emergency brake. Does it hold the vehicle on a hill and stop the vehicle?

16. When you are done, while still in the vehicle take a look around, reach in the backseat. Is the vehicle comfortable? How was the ride itself? Was it too bumpy? Did you have a good view? Do you have enough head, leg and hip room? Sit in the back seat. Is there enough room back there as well? Check the trunk. Is there enough room to put what you need?

17. Make sure you write everything down. This will be your biggest comparing tool. If you’re going to check out another vehicle, do it right away while your thoughts are still fresh.

18. Don’t buy it right away. Wait until the next day and take it for another drive. This time, take it to an independent mechanic. Have them check out the vehicle and give them your list. This will aid them in either confirming your suspicions or putting them to rest.

Take the time to check every area of the vehicle. This will ensure that you make the right decision in buying a used car and leave nothing to surprise.

Buy a used car instead of a new one and you could unearth a real gem of a deal.  But there’s also the possibility that the brightest, shiniest gems you find turn out to be nothing more than camouflaged lemons.

How do you sort out the duds from the studs in your search for used cars? A professional mechanic you trust should perform an inspection on any used car you’re thinking of buying. This applies not only to used cars for sale by owner, but to vehicles from used car dealerships as well.

But before you make an appointment to take that used Honda, used BMW, or whatever kind of used car for sale that has piqued your interest to your trusted mechanic, you could perform a basic inspection yourself.  If you spot a lemon early enough, you can skip the professional inspection, saving you time and money.

So make sure you bring along a flashlight, some paper towels, a hand-held mirror, and a small magnet. It’s a good idea to bring a notebook and writing utensil as well to record your results and some hand sanitizer to clean up. If the car has a stereo, you might want to bring a CD or cassette, too, to test to see if the system still works. With all of this on hand, here is used car inspection checklist for the eleven points you should inspect before deciding to buy the used car.  It could also help you in your negotiations depending on the issues you find.

1. Check the car history report

Ask for the used vehicle’s VIN number. The seller should have the number available on his or her insurance card or the vehicle title.  But you should still confirm the number yourself.  The number is typically located beneath the vehicle’s windshield. Use this VIN number to order a car history report.  You can visit an online service like Carfax or AutoCheck to get a full history report on the car.  This step is crucial; accident and repair history are essential in determining if that shiny coat of paint is hiding something!

2. Check the condition of the used vehicle’s body

Walk around the entire length of the car and bend down and use the flashlight and mirror to look at some out-of-sight seams. Are the gaps around the doors even? Are there signs of rust, particularly above the tires? (This is likely due to salt on the roads in the winter, but it could be signs of a previous accident.) Is the color mismatched in any place? Use the magnet to see if the body is actual metal or Bondo, which is often used in vehicle restoration.

3.  Check the tires

What’s the brand of the tires? Are they worn? Are there any cracks? What about the condition of the rims?

4.  Check the engine

Make sure the engine is off (and has been for a time) and pop the hood. Bring along your paper towels. Is the engine relatively clean? Are there any signs of rust? Pop off the oil filler cap. Are there any thick black deposits? (This isn’t a good sign.)

5.  Check the engine’s oil

Make sure the car is still off.  Pull out the dipstick, wipe it as clean as you can with the paper towel, insert the dipstick back into the engine, and pull it out again. There should be “full” and “low” indicators. How high is the current level of oil? Is it a pale amber color (good) or a dark, sludgy color (bad)?

6.  Check the automatic transmission fluid

Make sure the car is level, the transmission is in park, and the parking break is on. Turn on the car’s engine. After it idles for a time, pull out the transmission dipstick and wipe it with a paper towel. Place it back and pull it out again. If the car had just been turned on, the fluid should be in between the “cold” indicators. (If it had been driven for a time directly prior to this check, expect it to be within the “hot” indicators.) It should also be a clear reddish color. A brown, sludgy color means it has not been maintained.

If the transmission is manual, you can skip this step. However, when you take the used car for a test drive, make sure that all gear shifts are smooth and that, when driving in second or third gear, a sudden acceleration doesn’t make the clutch slip.

7.  Check the brake fluid level

If it’s low, it could be leaking and/or the brake pads could be wearing.

8.  Check the engine coolant

Make sure it’s relatively full and a yellowish-green color.

9.  Do a final under-hood check with the flashlight and mirror

Does the fan belt look worn? Is anything rusty or leaking? (The air conditioning condenser may be leaking slightly if it has just been used, but this is normal.)

10.   Check the interior of the car

Are the seats worn or stained? How about the flooring? Do the visors and cupholders stick? What’s the condition of the seatbelts?

11.  Test the electrical features

Make sure to try the car’s indoor lights and the power window controls. Turn on the car to test both the air conditioning and the heat. Here’s also when you can test the music system with the CD or cassette and rock out while you decide if you’ve got a real gem or lemon on your hands!

For more information on used cars, visit blog.iseecars.com which provides tips, advice, and commentary on searching and buying used cars.  The blog is written by the team at iSeeCars.com, a search engine for used cars for sale, created by guys who think buying used cars are better than buying new and who are passionate about building a better tool for users to search for used cars.