Don’t get taken for a ride.

Consumers looking to buy a car are already dealing with an array of mounting pressures, from higher costs to skyrocketing interest rates — and now, plant strikes that threaten to push prices higher than ever before.

And as inventory dries up and turning a profit becomes more of a challenge for the seller, experts are warning of a rise in scammy behavior at dealerships and on car buying websites.

“There is a good chance you will get a test drive car, or maybe the car you bought has been in an accident,” warns auto TikToker @chequanxiaoqiao, who floods her popular channels with videos revealing various tips and tricks.

Shoppers are too often missing out the obvious red flags, according to the auto hack auteur, who boasts more than a million followers on Instagram and TikTok combined.

One little gesture can save years of agony dealing with a lemon, she warns her viewers.

For example: “Squat down and touch the inside of the exhaust pipe if there are a lot of black [marks] on the inner wall, it means that the engine of this car may have a serious failure,” she voiced over in a popular clip.

Checking a small symbol on a car’s tires is another critical “tell” that helps consumers quickly find out if a car has seen better days. A four digit number will appear on a majority of tires that shows its production rate.

In the clip, the TikToker uses the example of 5222, explaining that said tire was made during the 52nd week of 2022.

“The production date of the tire must be earlier than the [car’s] production date,” she adds.

“Otherwise, it means that the car may have changed tires due to an accident.”

Another tip: Use the same criteria to check the age of a car’s glass — looking commonly in a windshield’s lower corners.

She also suggests checking the color of a car’s oil, to ensure it wasn’t previously a test model as well. New oil should resemble the color red and have some transparency. If a new car’s oil is dark and contains debris, it might have seen some usage in the past.

Gregg Fidan, founder of RealCarTips, tells his users not to feel too bad — he himself was “ripped off” buying his first car.

Now, he has assembled a lengthy list of advisories that customers should keep an eye out for — such as how dealership cars often get dinged up from being moved around tight spaces.

Fidan also warns that dealers may put misleading stickers next to a car’s manufacturer’s suggested retail price.

“It will look official, but the only purpose is to fool buyers into paying more for the vehicle,” he writes of phony add-ons like fabric protection or a “special value package.”

“They’re usually worthless and some aren’t even options at all, but simply made-up charges.”

The sucker turned savvy shopper also recommends to never give a dealer any sort of deposit for holding a car — something commonly done in high demand and low supply markets.

“The only time a dealer should legitimately ask for a deposit is if they’re doing a dealer trade on your behalf.”