Buying a used car is exciting, but the smartest buyers slow down before they sign. At Apex Auto Depot every vehicle passes a 172-point inspection before it reaches the floor — and you can borrow our checklist when you shop anywhere.
1. Start with the paperwork
Ask for the service history, title status and any accident records. Gaps in servicing are not an automatic dealbreaker, but they should change the price.
2. Walk the body in daylight
Look down each panel from front to back. Ripples, mismatched paint or uneven panel gaps usually mean previous bodywork. Open and close every door, the hood and the trunk.
3. Check tires and brakes
Uneven tire wear hints at alignment or suspension trouble. Ask when the brakes were last serviced and listen for grinding on the test drive.
4. Drive it like you own it
Take a route with a highway stretch, a hill and a parking lot. Test the brakes, the turning circle, the air conditioning and every electronic feature.
5. Get an independent inspection
A one-hour inspection by a mechanic you trust is the best money in car buying. We welcome third-party inspections on every car we sell — any dealer who refuses is telling you something.
