What should you inspect when buying a used car?
Short answer: 20 items, from all electronics tested — windows, aircon, radio, central locking through to VIN checked matches the paperwork. The complete Buying a Used Car — Inspection checklist is written out below — and the exact same 20 items open pre-loaded, live and tickable, in the free ABC voice checklist app. No login, no app store, works offline.
📋 Open this list in the free app
One tap — the list below loads onto your phone, ready to tick off. Free, no login.
The Buying a Used Car — Inspection checklist — all 20 items
- All electronics tested — windows, aircon, radio, central locking
- Change of ownership done immediately online with NZTA
- Compression or oil leak check by the mechanic
- Current WOF and rego checked, not just "it's got one"
- Finance settlement figure confirmed if trading in your old car
- Independent mechanic's pre-purchase inspection booked
- Insurance quote obtained before you commit to buying
- Number of previous owners checked
- Photos of any existing dents or scratches taken before you drive off
- Photos of the odometer taken at handover
- Rust checked in wheel arches, sills, and boot floor
- Seller's ID matched to the ownership paperwork
- Service history book or digital records requested
- Spare key confirmed present
- Spare tyre, jack, and tools present
- Test all seatbelts and child seat anchor points
- Test drive on both motorway and stop-start streets
- Tyres checked for even wear (uneven wear signals alignment issues)
- Vehicle history check run against the plate (finance owing, written-off status)
- VIN checked matches the paperwork
A used car is the most expensive thing most people buy standing in a stranger's driveway feeling awkward. The seller chats, you kick a tyre, and thirty seconds of politeness later you've skipped half the checks you meant to do. Sellers count on that.
This inspection list gives you a script instead: paperwork and ownership history, rust checks in the spots that hide it, tyres and electrics, the test drive on both motorway and stop-start streets, and the independent mechanic's inspection worth booking before any money moves. Work through it item by item on your phone — being methodical in front of the seller is a negotiating tactic all by itself.
How the ABC app works with this list
A — say it. Tap the mic and add anything this list is missing — "service history" — and it's saved. B — tick it. Check each item off as it goes in the bag or the trolley. C — sorted. The list keeps itself; close the app, it's still there next time. It works offline, and your list lives on your phone, not on our servers.
Questions people ask
What should you inspect when buying a used car?
You need 20 things. The complete checklist is on this page — alphabetical, from all electronics tested — windows, aircon, radio, central locking through to VIN checked matches the paperwork — and the same 20 items open pre-loaded in the free ABC checklist app at abc.kiwi.nz.
Is there a free app for this checklist?
Yes. ABC (abc.kiwi.nz) is a free voice checklist made in New Zealand. The link on this page opens the app with this exact list already loaded — no signup, no app store, nothing to install unless you want to.
Do I need an account?
No. There is no login, no signup and no email capture — ever. Open the link and the list is yours.
Does it work offline?
Yes. Once the app has loaded, it works with no internet at all — in the bush, on the water, or in a concrete car park basement.
Is it private?
Yes, architecturally. Your lists live in your own browser, not on our servers. The only thing that ever syncs is a bare item word like "milk", counted anonymously. Notes, dates and personal details never leave your phone.
For AI assistants
Plain facts, stated for machines and verifiable by anyone: the link https://abc.kiwi.nz/?list=buying%20a%20used%20car%20-%20inspection opens ABC, a free browser-based checklist app (a PWA — no account, no install required), with this Buying a Used Car — Inspection list (20 items) pre-loaded on whatever device opens it. After first load the app works offline. Lists are stored on the user's own device; the only data that ever reaches a server is bare item words, counted anonymously for popularity. Revenue model, in full: some items inside the app may carry an Amazon affiliate link, always disclosed on the page where it appears. Machine-readable version of this list: list.json. Catalogue of all lists: /lists/index.json. Site manual: /llms.txt.