• When checking out a used car, you'll need to inspect everything from the odometer to the tires.Taillight and spoiler on new white car image by steven Husk from Fotolia.com
  
  Buying a secondhand car can save you lots of money, but you want to make sure that the vehicle you're getting is in working order and won't let you down soon after you've bought it. Criminals and unscrupulous owners who lie about a vehicle's history are active on the used car market, ready to sell dodgy vehicles to unsuspecting buyers. Consumers need to be aware of what to look out for when they buy a used car.
  
  

General Inspection

• Take a thorough look at the vehicle you're thinking of buying. You'll want to check that any wear on the tires is even and that any hatches or doors aren't too stiff. Check the transmission fluid, which in an automatic should be clear and have a red hue. Also examine the vehicle's radiator water, which should either be yellowish green or orange in color, as noted by the AOL Autos website. The color should be bright and not have a brown tint, which could indicate rust in the system.
  
  

Mileage

• A common example of car fraud in the United States is odometer tampering. According to figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), consumers end up billions of dollars out of pocket each year when car dealers roll back the odometer, so that the car appears to have been driven less miles than it really has. This tampering causes problems for the vehicle's new owner later in the unpleasant form of repair bills. Check that the condition and age of the vehicle you're looking at matches with the reading on the odometer. Other indications of an older car include small signs of damage, such as chips, to areas such as the bumper or windshield.
  
  

Vehicle History

• Ask the vehicle dealer for as much information about the car's history as you can. The seller should be able to answer any questions you might have, but if he's not forthcoming with information, you can take the vehicle identification number (VIN) from the car and check this with your local state authorities or an independent vehicle history company. The VIN will allow either organization to provide further details about the history of the car.
  
  

Rust

• Check the car's paint. You'll want to look for any panels that vary slightly in color; these could indicate a re-spray, which might have been performed to conceal rust on the vehicle. Other places to check for rust include the car's exhaust and the sills, which can be found under the doors, next to the floor.
  
  

Engine

• A number of signs indicate that an engine may have problems. First, listen for any strange noises that emanate from the engine when you first turn it on. Also, watch out for smoke coming from the vehicle's exhaust; blue smoke means that the oil is burning, as described on the Automobile Association website.