Always check for these red flags before buying a used car

Demand for used vehicles in South Africa is at an all-time high, outpacing the appetite for new cars by more than two to one, according to finance house WesBank.
For the first six months of 2024, WesBank received 337,061 applications for vehicle finance linked to new cars, while a staggering 688,316 applications were submitted for pre-owned models over the same period.
The main driver behind this trend is affordability. New cars are incredibly expensive today with mainly budget-focused crossovers and hatchbacks being within the reach of the average consumer.
Cash-strapped individuals have therefore turned to the used market en masse in search of a good deal on a better set of wheels that will satisfy their particular needs.
However, while there are many opportunities to score a bargain in the pre-owned sector, it can also be a veritable minefield for the uninitiated.
Malcolm Cavie, founder of View4You, recently brought to light the alarming statistic that as much as 90% of the cars on the used market are not what they appear to be.
View4You is in the business of inspecting pre-loved cars on behalf of buyers who may not have the expertise to spot warning signs, or who may be looking through rose-tinted glasses at their next potential purchase.
Out of the 100 examples the company checks in an average week, Cavie said roughly 10 are given the green light while the rest are fraught with defects ranging anywhere from manipulated service records to written-off cars that were cheaply repaired and resold.
The expert also noted that there is no such thing as a reputable car dealer in South Africa. Whether it’s a shady back-alley retailer in Hillbrow or a shiny showroom in Sandton, “it’s all the same,” said Cavie.
With this in mind, it’s essential to take heed of major red flags that dealers regularly try to mask.
7 red flags
While there are many obvious warning signs that a car may not be all purports to be – like questionable paintwork, sagging panels, and funny engine noises – there are many that do not immediately jump out at you that could indicate whether more serious issues are afoot.
One of the biggest culprits is a failing battery.
Many dealers swap batteries between cars depending on which ones are in high demand or scheduled for test drives so as to avoid any battery-related issues showing face during a viewing and potentially compromising a sale.
Most of them will also charge the module beforehand if they know you are on your way as an extra precaution.
As such, it’s essential to pop the bonnet and peruse the battery for any unwanted symptoms like swelling, corrosion around the terminals, a sluggish starting procedure, and glitchy electronics.
A car battery can run you anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of rands to replace.
Related to the battery, it’s important to ensure that all the vehicle’s electronics are still working.
While you probe the car, be sure to press all the buttons and fiddle with all the controls to check for any features that may be broken or dysfunctional.
Apart from being an annoyance if something doesn’t work, depending on the function, it can be dangerous not to have and pricey to fix.
Next up is to test the all-important handbrake.
A worn handbrake may not perform to its fullest potential which could put you, your passengers, and your vehicle in dangerous situations.
It could also place unnecessary strain on the gearbox as it will now be more responsible for keeping your car in one place while it’s parked.
You can test the effectiveness of a handbrake by checking how far the handle pulls up before the brakes bite. Alternatively, stop on an incline or decline during a test drive to see if the vehicle moves while the handbrake is activated.
While a handbrake is not a component that is prone to failure, it shouldn’t be ignored during your pre-purchase inspections.
Ensuring that the brake lights work is another box to check.
The last thing you’d want when driving around in your flashy new ride is to have someone send it back to the body shop because they couldn’t see that you were stepping on the brakes.
While halogen bulbs are usually an inexpensive fix, if you’re after a modern car with Xenons or LEDs it will be much pricier.
In any case, it’s recommended to have a broken taillight repaired by the seller before you take the car home.
Moving around to the tyres, these should have enough tread depth and as little wear and tear as possible as they affect a vehicle’s handling, safety, and efficiency.
Most tyres come with a tread-depth indicator which is a small bump between the grooves that shows you how much life it still has left. Also, inspect the rubber for cuts, tears, bubbles, and patches that could compromise traction.
Since tyres are not cheap, you might be able to get a couple thousand rand knocked off the asking price by bringing up this point or get the dealer to flip the bill on a new set of shoes.
Staying close to the wheels, an often-forgotten element of shopping for a used car is checking the health of its shock absorbers.
If in poor shape, they can result in a rough ride, poor handling, reduced safety, and accelerated tyre wear – which you should be able to notice during a routine test drive.
These components start showing noticeable degradation around the 80,000km mark, hence, they are vital to scrutinize for leaks or excessive play if you’re considering a car with higher mileage.
Last but not least, abundant exhaust smoke is a telltale sign of engine issues, especially if it is dark gray or black.
To check for this, start the engine while stationary and wait at the rear of the car for a few minutes to see if any smoke appears. Pay attention for this in the rear-view mirrors when performing a test drive, too.
If one or more of these issues are present on a vehicle you are considering, it might be worth giving it a skip as it could very well turn into a money pit soon after taking delivery.