50-Point Used Car Inspection Checklist (Printable)

Inspecting a used car properly is one of the most effective ways to avoid costly mistakes. This 50-point checklist is designed for Australian buyers and works for private sales, dealer inspections and pre-purchase assessments. It covers the areas where hidden faults, accident damage or dishonest sellers are most likely to appear. Print it, or use it on your phone.

How to use this checklist

Work through the list in daylight and tick each item off. The recommended order is:

1. Run a PPSR/REVS check first (finance owing, write-offs, stolen status).
2. Review documentation before viewing the car.
3. Inspect thoroughly in daylight.
4. Take a proper test drive of at least 15–20 minutes.
5. Run an extended AUCN Car Report for odometer, rego consistency and valuation.
6. If any major concern appears, walk away — there are always other cars.

1. Identity and documentation

• VIN on windscreen matches the VIN on the compliance plate
• VIN on chassis or body stamp matches the PPSR certificate
• Registration number matches the documents
• Seller's name matches the registration papers
• Registration expiry date confirmed
• Logbooks show consistent dates and odometer readings
• No missing pages, handwriting changes or inconsistent stamps
• Service receipts match the seller's story and location
• No recent unexplained interstate movement
• Seller can explain reason for selling and ownership duration

2. Exterior and bodywork

• No colour differences between panels
• Panel gaps even (uneven gaps suggest accident repairs)
• No overspray around doors, windows or wheel arches
• No hail damage on roof, bonnet or boot
• No rust around door sills, underbody, windscreen corners or boot seams
• Doors, bonnet and boot open and close smoothly
• Headlights and taillights free of fogging, cracks or moisture
• Tyre tread adequate; all four tyres match in brand and wear
• No curb rash, cracks or bent rims
• Tyre wear even (uneven wear points to alignment or suspension issues)

3. Engine bay

• Coolant reservoir clean, with no oil contamination
• Engine oil level correct; oil not overly dark or watery
• No oil leaks around rocker cover, timing cover or sump
• Engine bay not freshly cleaned to hide leaks
• All belts free of cracks or fraying
• No corrosion on battery terminals
• Radiator fans operate properly
• No unusual smells, including coolant or burning oil

4. Underbody and structural areas

• No leaks from engine, transmission or differential
• No structural rust or patch repairs
• Exhaust free of holes or excessive corrosion
• Suspension components intact; no leaking shock absorbers
• No evidence of off-road use or impact damage underneath

5. Interior and electronics

• No water damage, stains or mould smell
• Air-conditioning cools properly
• All power windows operate
• Central locking and remote key work
• Dashboard lights illuminate at start-up and turn off normally
• Radio, Bluetooth and infotainment work
• Seat belts extend and retract smoothly
• Seats free of tears, heavy wear or loose mounts
• All interior lights operate

6. Test-drive evaluation

• Engine starts from cold without rattles, knocks or rough idle
• No excessive exhaust smoke (blue, white or black)
• Car accelerates smoothly without hesitation
• No clunks or knocks when turning at low speed
• No vibrations at 60–100 km/h
• Transmission shifts smoothly without slipping
• Brakes stop straight with no pedal pulsation
• Engine bay rechecked for new leaks after the drive

When to walk away

Mechanical issues can be repaired, but identity problems, undisclosed write-offs and odometer fraud cannot be undone. If any of the identity or documentation checks fail — or the seller resists the PPSR check — walk away regardless of how good the price looks.

AUCN recommended sequence: PPSR check → AUCN Car Report → full inspection → test drive → review documentation → negotiate → transfer rego.