When you buy a car, you want it to look as good as its owner. After all, the driver dictates the wheels to a point.

Of course, you can’t turn a horse and carriage into a Ferrari. If you don’t have the basics, to begin with, then your vehicle is never going to be up to the standards you set. And, while looks are important, they aren’t everything in the grand scheme of things.

Often, judging a car by its jazzy interior and exterior is going to lead you to purchase the wrong make. This is particularly true if money is tight and you’re in the market for a used model. Thankfully, it’s not too hard to tell when a car’s appearance doesn’t match what’s under the hood.

Here is a selection of things to keep in mind the next time you’re in the market for a new vehicle and want substance as well as style.

IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW ITS HISTORY BY LOOKING AT IT

Motorists often see a car and think, “I want that one!” It’s the instant urge you get when you see something that stands out and looks pretty. However, it doesn’t take into account the mechanics of the vehicle. There is no way to understand the history of the make and model in front of you with a single glance of your peepers.

To do that, you must use a commercial vehicle-history report service you can trust. Carfax is popular in the US because the company provides all the info it has whether it’s the American or the Dutch Carfax. And, considering it claims it has billions of records, there’s not much that can go under the radar!

Doing your research is essential if you don’t want to a con artist to pull the wool over your eyes.

THEY AREN’T CREATED EQUAL

It’s incredible how many people buy cars because their friend or a family member has one and it’s still running. Sadly, vehicles aren’t created equal because anything can go wrong during the manufacturing process. As a result, it doesn’t matter if your parents or siblings have one and like it – yours could be entirely different.

Again, it comes back to doing research. Reading reviews from previous customers should give you an insight into whether the vehicle will run smoothly or break down in a heap by the side of the road. For extra protection, it’s smart to haggle for an extended warranty in case unexpected problems pop-up.

Mental Floss has fantastic advice if you need tips on how to haggle at your local dealership.

BAD CREDIT IS REAL

Do you have a low credit score? It’s a question you must answer before heading to a dealership. The reason is simple: sales reps don’t care about the specifics. As long as they get a chunk of the commission and you can pay the interest, they’ll sanction a finance loan.

Buyers who don’t know their rating might end up with a contract that is tough to pay off each month, which isn’t rare when you think with your eyes instead of your head. A bad deal will only impact your credit score even more and make things such as getting a loan challenging.

Therefore, it’s imperative to perform a credit check. That way, you’ll be able to understand what you can and can’t afford.

A TEST DRIVE REVEALS ALL

There’s no way to tell how a car drives without getting behind the wheel. Even if the vehicle report is blank, it doesn’t mean you should ditch your due diligence. After all, there might be an issue that the dealer hasn’t noticed. Turning the engine on and listening for weird sounds might be the difference between finding a diamond in the rough and dodging a bullet.

How do you get them to give you a test drive? Easy – ask for one! It’s not a request that’s out of order, and if they like as if it is, they probably have something to hide. The rep might come with you, or they could ask for an asset to hold as collateral until you get back, but these shouldn’t stop you from taking it out for a spin.

Aside from potential problems, it would help if you analyzed whether the car is to your liking during a test drive. That means gauging whether it’s comfy and easy to drive, among other things. Use this NPR post as a reference if you aren’t sure.

With this advice, you should find a car that looks and feels the part, and that’s as much as you deserve!