Buyer checklist

Before you buy the car, verify the costs that can wreck the deal

Use this checklist after a listing looks affordable in the calculator. The payment is only one line — insurance, repairs, tires, financing, taxes, and condition decide whether the car is actually sane.

Run the calculator

Price and payment

  • Confirm the out-the-door price, not just the listing price.
  • Enter your real down payment, APR, loan term, tax rate, registration, and dealer fees in the calculator.
  • Watch for long terms that make the payment look calm while total interest and depreciation risk grow.

Insurance and local costs

  • Quote insurance for the exact year, trim, driver, ZIP code, and coverage before deciding it is cheap.
  • Check local taxes, registration, inspection fees, and EV/hybrid fees if they apply.
  • If insurance surprises you, compare another vehicle before negotiating harder on price.

Condition and repair risk

  • Get a pre-purchase inspection before the deal feels urgent.
  • Check tires, brakes, fluids, leaks, warning lights, rust, accident history, recalls, and service records.
  • Raise the repair reserve if inspection findings, mileage, modifications, or missing maintenance records make the car less boring.

Running cost and resale

  • Use your real annual miles and fuel or charging price.
  • Price a full set of tires for the exact wheel size, especially on AWD, trucks, luxury cars, and EVs.
  • Compare five-year cost and likely resale, not just today’s payment.

Final sanity check

  • Compare at least one alternative under the same assumptions.
  • If the seller rushes you, slow the math down.
  • The deal is not real until insurance, financing, inspection, and total monthly cost agree.

Before you buy

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