You need a reliable car so you can commute to your job, pick up the kids, run errands and have some fun without breaking down on the side of the road. But, how do you know if you are buying a reliable car? It can be difficult to trust the salesman, and you don’t want to just rely on your intuition. So, here are a few things to check out before signing the papers on a used car:

Find a Reputable Dealership

Before deciding on what kind of car to buy, what accessories you want or anything else, find a dealership you can trust. You don’t want to deal with slimy salespeople, and you don’t want to question everything they are telling you. To avoid this, research used car dealerships and see what people are saying about them. For example, check out DriveTime’s Facebook page to see their tips, reviews and interaction with their customers.

Get Car Financing

Be sure to go online and secure your financing before stepping foot into the dealership. Many online lenders offer a car loan decision in a matter of minutes and will give you a “blank check” to then go into the dealership and buy the vehicle as a cash buyer. The process is hassle free and could save you thousands of dollars over the life of your loan.

Check the Oil

Don’t just ask about the oil, check it yourself. If there is gas in the oil, the car might have bad valve seals, valve guides or bad rings. If you can’t tell just by looking at the oil, you’ll be able to heavily smell gas when you’re driving. Water in the oil also is a problem. If there is pure white foam, that means it has been sitting and might have a condensation problem. Tan foam is usually from the coolant for your air conditioning, and you will smell gas with this, too. Overall, if there is anything but oil, it’s not a safe or reliable vehicle, and will probably cost a lot to fix.

Test the Brakes

Your used car needs great—not just good—brakes. This is paramount for your safety. When you take the car for a test drive, you don’t want the brakes to squeal or need to be pumped to stop. You also don’t want the car to shake or pull to the side. Any one or all of these symptoms can mean bad brakes, which you will want replaced before buying the car.

Inspect the Tires

Get down and check each tire on the vehicle. Look for any bubbles or cracks on the sides. Check to see if anything is stuck anywhere in the tread. Then, check if the tread is thick enough. If you aren’t sure how thick the tread needs to be, take a penny and insert it head down into the tire grooves. If you see the top of Lincoln’s head, then the treads are too shallow and you need new tires. If you can see just a part of his head, then the tire is fine.

Make Sure the Lights Work

Always check the brake lights, headlights, high beams, turn signals and interior lights before buying a car. The lights are important to your safety while driving because they let other drivers know where you are and where you are going. Also, make sure they don’t overheat or cause electrical problems.

On the dash, there also are warning lights such as the check engine light, service engine light and several others. If these are lit up, walk away from the sale because the car will need some work.

Check the Odometer

If the odometer says 45,000 miles and it’s a 1990 model, there may be some odometer fraud going on. If someone has taken the time to roll back the miles, you most certainly will be looking at expensive repairs down the line. To avoid this, start by comparing the car’s mileage to its title. Look for any smudged writing or typing, and check the odometer’s numbers to see if they are misaligned in any way. Digital odometers can be hacked, so you have to check those, as well. If any of these red flags occur, don’t buy any car from that dealership.

Visit a Mechanic

The way to make sure that everything is in working order on the used vehicle is to take it to a reliable mechanic. If the dealer doesn’t want you to do that, walk away. Also, have a CARFAX check done online. This report will tell you if and when the car was in an accident and what the loss was. It also verifies the title and registration.