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Buying A Used Car? A St. Joseph, MO Auto Accident Lawyer Offers 12 Tips To Help You Make Sure Your New Used Vehicle Is Safe To Drive.

Looking for a new car? You may be looking into a used vehicle. Late-model used cars can be excellent deals and the lower price may allow you to get a nice car than you could buy new. But, used cars don't come with guarantees. You want to be sure your car is safe to drive before you commit to buy.

The St. Joseph, MO auto accident lawyers at Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys have compiled a list of used-car buying tips that can help you make sure your vehicle is safe and will protect you in a Missouri car crash..

1. Use the Consumer Guide Used Car Rating Guide to learn about the pros and cons of buying a used car. You can check for safety ratings on the Insurance Institute for Highway safety Website. You can use Recalls.gov to check for recalls of a particular model.

2. Once you have chosen a car, get a Carfax report on the vehicle. The report costs $34.99 (or you can get five for $44.99). The report will tell you if the car has been in accidents, if the airbags have been deployed, if the car was a rental car or demonstrator, if it has had odometer problems or been in a flood.

3. Look for evidence the car has been tampered with. Evidence may include: marks on the odometer, odometer numbers that don't line up, and fewer miles than are written on inspection stickers, oil stickers or tire warranty cards.

4. If the odometer reads less than 25,000 miles, the car should have its original tires. They should all be the same brand.

5. Make sure the tires are in good condition and show even signs of wear.

6. Check the undercarriage, engine and body for rust or damage.

7. Look for any evidence that the car has been in an accident.

8. Go for a test drive.

9. Check the horn, lights, heat, air-conditioning, brakes, seat belts, steering, and seats to make sure they work properly.

10. Ask for the car's maintenance record.

11. Take the car to your mechanic. The mechanic will make sure it in in good working condition and alert you to potential problems. The cost may save you hundreds of dollars in car repairs.

12. Make sure the car has working airbags. Airbags are a high-theft item, so you will want to have a mechanic check out the airbag to make sure it's still in place. You can learn about more about airbags in our article: "Missouri Airbag Scams: do They Impact Your Safety in a Kansas City Car Crash?"

These twelve steps can help you get a used car that is both safe and reliable.

Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys represents victims of car accidents throughout Kansas and Missouri. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Missouri traffic accident, contact Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys and ask to schedule a free consultation with a St. Joseph, MO auto accident lawyer.

Protect your right to insurance compensation after a Missouri car crash; download a free copy of our book: "10 Essential Steps You Must Take To Protect Your Injury Claim."

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