Before you pay for a used car, five checks catch almost every expensive surprise: open recalls, service history, real mileage, the VIN, and how it drives.
1. Check for open recalls
A recall is a free, manufacturer-funded repair for a safety defect. An open recall means the fix has not been done yet. Look the model up first — on MotorHangar each model-year page lists the recall campaigns on record, with the component and the source.
Then confirm with the car's VIN at the manufacturer or the safety authority (NHTSA in the US), because a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every unit.
2. Read the history, not the promise
Ask for service records and match them to the mileage. Gaps, a jump in odometer readings between services, or a title marked salvage or rebuilt are reasons to walk away or renegotiate.
3. Sanity-check the mileage and price
Compare the asking price with what the same model-year sells for. MotorHangar shows the lowest, median and highest asking price from real listings in your market, in each currency — a price far below the median usually hides something.
4. Inspect and test drive
Cold-start the engine, watch for warning lights, check tyre wear is even, and drive it on a road fast enough to feel the gearbox and brakes. If you can, have an independent mechanic inspect it before money changes hands.