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(502) 203-0454 for Bashford Ave or (502) 230-4279 for the Preston Hwy location | 3435 Bashford Ave Ct Louisville, KY 40218

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Before You Buy that Used Vehicle (Having a Used Car Inspected Before Buying)

Posted March 2, 2025 3:17 AM

Let's face it.  New vehicles are expensive, so finding a good used one can save drivers a lot of money.  It's tempting to look through ads, find a private seller who has what you're looking for and pay a price you think is a great deal.  But when you go over to look at a used car, do you really know what to look for to uncover potential problems with it?

The answer is probably no.  Used cars can look great on the outside, maybe even have lustrous paint and a super clean interior. But is it possible that vehicle's been in an accident? Does it have electrical problems you can't detect easily? Is any fluid leaking that you don't know about?

Think about it.  You are about to spend thousands of dollars for a complex machine and you're considering judging its condition without much expertise.  That's why it makes sense to have a qualified technician inspect any used vehicle you're considering buying.

Many vehicle repair facilities will do it for around $100-$200.  They'll check to see what's working right and what's not working.  They'll check for leaks and how strong the battery is; they'll look for signs it's been in an accident or has been painted. They'll look in places you'd find inaccessible, and they'll take it for a test drive to see what noises, vibrations and smells might give clues to any major problems.  An inspection usually takes about an hour.

You should have an inspection done by a technician you know and trust.  They'll have your best interests in mind.  And the inspection should be done before you start negotiating a price with the seller.  It's money well spent to either give you peace of mind that you're getting a good vehicle or steer you away from a lemon. 

One sign a used vehicle isn't a good deal? If the buyer refuses to let you have it inspected.  That says just about everything that needs to be said.    

American Brake Centers Inc.
3435 Bashford Ave Ct.
Louisville, KY 40218
502-459-0355
http://www.americanbrakecenters.biz



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What Our Customers Are Saying

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Just want to give a shoutout to American Brake Centers Inc - Preston Hwy. I needed new brakes and rotors, and took my car to a different company for an estimate — they were going to charge me over $1200 for new front brakes, rotors, and left front caliper. I called American Brake Center for a quote, they would charge half of that - but wanted to make sure I actually needed a new caliper instead of taking the other shop’s word for it. Scott at American Brake Center got me in and out super fast, and also ordered some new front tires for me after pointing out how bad my tread was looking (I had been tire shopping) - even with the new front tires, I was still paying $400 less than what I would have paid for brakes/rotors/caliper at the other place. Highly recommend this place! You can also stop at Sichuan House for lunch or dinner on your way home 😉

, 01/24/2025

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They fixed my old-school truck emergency brakes! Nice people. I'll confine to return.

, 01/07/2025

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Our family has been using American for several years and Bill plus his team have always taken excellent care of our cars. Their service is done expediently and with precision while only factoring in the best cost for us. Having to mechanically maintain six different cars for all of us would be impossible without them. If a pretty daunting out there to find such a place when your vehicle needs work so we would like to recommend you go see them.

, 12/13/2024

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Excellent experience! First time customer. Went in for brakes. Job was completed as agreed on and was a fair price. Would recommend!

, 10/23/2024

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Got excellent service yesterday on my '17 Ford Escape. Could not ask for friendlier or more professional help with an ABS problem. Diagnosed and repaired same day. Highly recommend.

, 10/17/2024

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Amazing service both for my fleet and personal vehicles

, 10/15/2024

  • ASE (Automotive Service Excellence)
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