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Pat Goss' Vehicle Inspection Tips

Inspect A Car's Safety Record Before Buying

Just as certain types of cars and vehicles are better for certain lifestyles, you should consider all the uses of a car to ensure it is completely safe for your planned driving habits.

The first thing you should do is search for a particular car's safety ratings, crash test results and other similar data. This can be done online by using these search words: car safety tests and car crash ratings.

The second thing you should to is determine if a car you plan to buy has any recalled safety defects. Web searches can also lead you to this information. Two good sites to visit are the National Highway Safety Administration at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ and safercar.gov.

Next, you should inspect a car for critical safety features, such as proper restraints for every passenger, front and side airbags, anti-lock brakes and proper visibility. Remember that newer safety features may not be installed in an older car you see on a used lot.

When you perform a car safety inspection, think about all the uses you have planned for that vehicle. Also keep in mind that heavier vehicles fare better in crashes than lighter ones, even if they feature the same safety equipment and design.

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