Look For These Green Flags When Buying a Used Truck

Green Flags for Buying a Used Truck
One of the many reasons people love pickup trucks is because they routinely have one of the highest resale values on the secondary vehicle market. That’s good news for people looking to buy a pre-owned truck because they can have confidence their purchase will be worth the investment. Our team of automotive experts put together a guide with some green flags you should look for when buying a used pickup truck. Let’s see what they came up with.
READ MORE: Check Out Our Used Truck Inventory
Clean Title and Accident History
Fairley & Stevens Ford offers a free vehicle history report with every pre-owned vehicle on our property. When you’re looking at the CarFax report, you know a truck is a good value if it has:
- No salvage or flood history
- Two or fewer owners
- Consistent service records
- No major accidents
- Mileage records match
Reliable Powertrain Components
A well-functioning engine and transmission are essential for any used truck. Start by performing a cold start check, as a healthy engine should start quickly without excessive smoke or strange noises. There should be no visible fluid leaks, such as oil, coolant, or transmission fluid when inspecting under the truck. A quick checklist includes:
- Cold Start Check – The engine starts easily with no signs of problems.
- No Fluid Leaks – Check under the truck for oil, coolant, or transmission leaks.
- Smooth Transmission Shifts – Whether manual or automatic, shifting should be smooth.
- No Overheating Signs – The temperature gauge stays in the normal range.
Few Signs of Rust
The cargo bed is likely to take a lot of abuse. Check for signs of rust from excessive damage. Unchecked rust damage can cause a truck to literally fall apart. Additionally, if the truck comes with a trailer hitch and wire harness for lights, make sure the components are in good working order.
If you need help picking out your next pre-owned pickup truck, make an appointment with a Fairley & Stevens Ford product expert today.