Advice: Used Car Buyer's Checklist

What should I check outside the car?

Look for obvious signs of wear and tear, accident damage or rust, but be realistic - a 10-year-old car is quite likely to have a few minor rust spots. Do all the panels match? Are there any odd rippling or orange-peel effects? Are there signs of overspray, ie on window seals? Are the gaps between panels more or less equal, and do all the doors hang and open and shut correctly? Look around the wheel-arches for signs of botched filler repair or corrosion. Often this will be hidden by a new plastic wheel-trim.