Used car guide · Elgin Auto Sales & Service Center · Elgin, IL

What to Look for When Buying a Used Car

A used car can be a smart buy if you check the right things before you sign. Start with the Buyers Guide on the window, then look at the vehicle's history, open recalls and mechanical condition, and finish with the numbers and paperwork. This guide follows the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) advice for buying from a dealer.

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Used cars on the lot in front of the Elgin Auto Sales building in Elgin, IL
Elgin Auto Sales & Service Center, 1200 E. Chicago St., Elgin
Buyers Guiderequired on every used car a dealer sells
As Ismeans the dealer pays for no repairs
17characters in a VIN
Freerecall repairs at a dealership, per NHTSA
90 daysthe service-contract rule on implied warranties

The short answer

Read the Buyers Guide to see whether the car comes with a warranty or is sold As Is. Run the VIN for open recalls and a title history report, have an independent mechanic inspect the car, and compare the total cost, not just the monthly payment. Get every promise in writing; the FTC notes that spoken promises are difficult to enforce.

Start with the Buyers Guide on the window

Dealers must display a Buyers Guide on every used car they sell, and you are entitled to one even when you buy online, according to the FTC. It is the first thing to read.

On the Buyers GuideWhat it means for you
Sold As IsThe dealer pays for no repairs after the sale. Any promise the dealer makes should be written on the Guide.
Dealer warrantyThe Guide shows the warranty and the percentage of repair costs the dealer will pay. Most used-car warranties are limited rather than full warranties.
Major systemsA list of a vehicle's major systems and the problems that can occur in them.
Changes you negotiateThe Buyers Guide overrides conflicting terms in the sales contract, so any change you agree on should appear on the Guide itself.

From the FTC's Buying a Used Car From a Dealer page. Implied warranties, such as the warranty that the car will run, generally apply unless a car is sold As Is, and how long they last varies by state.

Check the vehicle's history and recalls

Every check starts with the vehicle identification number (VIN), a 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield; it may also appear on your registration or insurance card. Ask the seller for it before you visit.

  • Open recalls. Enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA says owners can have a recalled part fixed for free at a local dealership. Among other exclusions, the lookup does not show recalls that were already repaired or recalls more than 15 years old, unless the manufacturer offers more coverage.
  • Title history. The Justice Department's National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) is designed to protect consumers from fraud and unsafe vehicles and to keep stolen vehicles from being resold. Its site explains how to get an NMVTIS vehicle history report.
  • Accidents and flood damage. A vehicle history report may show accidents or flood damage, the FTC says, but usually not mechanical problems. That is why the inspection below still matters.
  • Warranty left. Use the VIN to check whether any of the manufacturer's warranty still applies, as the FTC suggests, and get copies of any warranty documents.

Get an independent inspection

Use a mechanic you choose

The FTC recommends an independent mechanical inspection before you buy, even for certified cars.

Ask for it in writing

Ask the mechanic for a written report with estimates for any repairs. You can use it to negotiate the price.

Test drive it yourself

Drive the car on roads like the ones you use every day, including a highway if you commute on one, and note anything you want the mechanic to look at.

Bring questions to the seller

Ask about anything the inspection or test drive turns up, and get any promised repair written on the Buyers Guide.

The inspection and written-promise advice is from the FTC's Buying a Used Car From a Dealer page; the test-drive tips are our own general guidance.

Check the price, add-ons and paperwork

CheckWhy it matters
Total cost of ownershipBudget for registration, insurance, gas and maintenance, not just the price of the car.
Out-the-door price in writingAsk for a written out-the-door price quote, and confirm advertised discounts apply to the car you want.
Add-onsExtras such as gap insurance, VIN etching and rustproofing can be expensive and are sometimes added without your approval. You can usually decline them or buy them elsewhere.
Financing termsFinancing adds interest. Before you sign, confirm the price, the total sales price with financing, the finance charge, the APR and the payment schedule.
Return policyFederal law does not require dealers to give you a right to cancel. Get any return policy in writing and check your state attorney general's rules.
Service contractsA service contract, often called an extended warranty, is not a warranty. If you buy one from the dealer within 90 days of the sale, the dealer cannot remove implied warranties on the systems it covers.

All from the FTC's Buying a Used Car From a Dealer page, read October 26, 2026.

Used car checklist

Take this list with you when you shop.

  1. Read the Buyers Guide: warranty or As Is?
  2. Get the VIN and run it for open recalls.
  3. Get a vehicle history report.
  4. Check what manufacturer warranty is left.
  5. Test drive the car on roads you know.
  6. Have an independent mechanic inspect it and write up the findings.
  7. Get an out-the-door price and any promises in writing.
  8. Decide on add-ons and service contracts before you sit down to sign.
  9. Compare the total cost of financing, not just the monthly payment.

Shopping for a used car at Elgin Auto Sales

Browse our used inventory and ask us for the VIN of any vehicle you are interested in, so you can run your own recall and history checks before you visit. Questions about a specific vehicle? Contact us.

You can also value your trade, apply for financing and see our used vehicle specials online. After the sale, our service department works on all makes and models; request a service appointment online or see current service specials.

Elgin Auto Sales & Service Center is at 1200 E. Chicago St. in Elgin. Sales hours are Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; service hours are Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Both are closed Sunday. Get directions.

Buying a used car FAQ

What should I look for first when buying a used car from a dealer?

The Buyers Guide on the window. The FTC requires dealers to display one on every used car they sell, and it tells you whether the car comes with a warranty or is sold As Is.

What does As Is mean on a used car?

The dealer pays for no repairs after the sale. If the dealer promises anything, ask for it to be written on the Buyers Guide.

Do I need an inspection if the car has a history report?

Yes. The FTC says a history report may show accidents or flood damage but usually not mechanical problems, and it recommends an independent inspection even for certified cars.

How do I check a used car for recalls?

Enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA says recalled parts can be fixed for free at a local dealership.

Can I return a used car after I buy it?

Federal law does not require dealers to offer a right to cancel. Some states require one, and some dealers offer one; get any return policy in writing.

Is an extended warranty the same as a warranty?

No. The FTC says a service contract, often called an extended warranty, is not a warranty. Compare its cost with likely repairs, its coverage, deductibles and cancellation terms.

Sources

Buyers Guide, warranty, inspection, add-on, financing and return-policy points are from the FTC's Buying a Used Car From a Dealer page; recall points from NHTSA's Check for Recalls page; title-history points from the NMVTIS site. All read on October 26, 2026. Our address and hours are from our own website, checked the same day. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

  1. Buying a Used Car From a Dealer, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Consumer Advice
  2. Check for Recalls: Vehicle, Car Seat, Tire, Equipment, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
  3. National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS): Check the History of a Vehicle, U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance
  4. Address and sales hours, Elgin Auto Sales & Service Center
  5. Service department and hours, Elgin Auto Sales & Service Center