Vehicles
Buying Used Car Checklist
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20 itemsDon't buy a lemon. This free buying used car checklist gives you a 20-item head start so nothing important slips through the cracks. it's been shaped by real families using it in real moments — the kind you don't get a second chance to prepare for. Use it as-is, or open it in Checkbloom to customise every item, share it with anyone by link (no account required on their end), and tick things off together in real time from any phone. When you're offline, changes queue and sync the moment you're back. Every Checkbloom template is free to preview and free to download as a PDF. Create a list from this template and share it with anyone by link — they can check items off in real time with no account or app download required.
What's on the list
- Set budget (vehicle + insurance + tax)
- Research models for reliability
- Pull insurance quotes
- Get pre-approved financing
- Check vehicle history (Carfax)
- Look for matching VINs
- Test in cold or hot start
- Test brakes hard
- Test highway speeds
- Check for warning lights
- Sniff for smoke or oil
- Inspect tire wear evenness
- Check tire date codes
- Look under car for leaks
- Pre-purchase inspection by mechanic
- Negotiate from invoice/market
- Get bill of sale
- Verify title is clean
- Title transfer at DMV
- Register and insure same day
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