12 Questions to Ask a Seller Before You Drive Out to See the Car
The phone call that saves you a wasted afternoon: exactly what to ask a private seller or dealer before you commit to a viewing.
Why the phone call matters
Most bad used-car purchases start with a long drive. Once you've spent two hours in traffic, you're emotionally invested — and sellers know it. Ten minutes on the phone eliminates the majority of cars that were never worth seeing.
The twelve questions
1. Are you the registered owner, and is the title in your name? 2. Is the title clean, or has it been salvaged or rebuilt? 3. Is there a lien on the car? 4. How long have you owned it, and why are you selling? 5. Has it ever been in an accident — any panel repainted or replaced? 6. Do you have service records? 7. When were the timing belt, brakes, and tires last done? 8. Are any warning lights on right now? 9. Does the A/C blow cold? 10. How many keys are there? 11. Is anything not working that I should know about? 12. Are you okay with an independent pre-purchase inspection?
The answer that matters most
Question twelve is the tell. An honest seller with a good car says yes immediately. Hesitation, excuses, or a flat refusal is your cue to move on — and it costs you nothing to find out.
What to do next
If the answers hold up, don't rely on your own walkaround. Book an inspection and let a trained technician put the car on a lift, scan it, and road test it before money changes hands.