Used car checks, Part 1: Check the car's symmetry

Before anything else, check whether the car sits straight. It is the easiest test anyone can do, and it tells you whether the suspension has been bent or damaged.

When you are interested in a used car, it is hard to know what it has been through. If it belongs to someone you know, you may know whether it was in a major accident, a flood or had big repairs. But if you found it online, how can you tell? This article covers a basic check: the symmetry of the car.

Why symmetry matters

Anything that moves fast and needs control must be balanced front to back and left to right. A car is no different. When it moves or turns, balance keeps it stable and planted. A car that has lost its balance can slide, roll over in a corner or lose control at high speed, which nobody wants.

How to check symmetry yourself

1. Park on flat, open ground and ask all passengers to get out
2. Stand 15–20 metres in front of the car and see whether it leans to one side
3. If it is hard to judge by eye, measure from the ground to the wheel arch with a long ruler and compare left and right
4. Walk to the side and compare the front height with the rear
5. Walk around the car once more and look for any corner that sits oddly

If both sides measure the same, the shocks, springs, ball joints and control arms are probably not bent or deformed. It is still not a 100% guarantee.

What a sagging rear tells you

An older car with an LPG or CNG tank may sag at the back because of the tank's weight. But if the car is fairly new, has no gas tank and still sags at the rear, suspect worn springs or shock absorbers.

Not sure? Don't take the risk

This is an easy check you can do yourself. But if you don't know cars or don't have the tools, don't take the risk. Bring an expert. It costs a little, but you won't regret your used car later.

With best wishes from Scan2Car. When it comes to checking used cars, leave it to us.