•Buyers of any used vehicle have the responsibility of detecting scams before they end up being scammed.
• Stock to the age-old saying, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” In the case of a used car, if the price seems too good for what you are getting, you could be facing scammed.
• You better check that the name on the driver license of the seller is consistent and corresponds with that of the title of the car. In case you are purchasing a car on the internet, the seller should provide clear scanned images of both documents. If the names do not match, do NOT buy the car!
• The inspection of the car should be done by the trusted mechanic. A good car mechanic is like a house inspector. He can site problems with the product that people in general would normally not detect.
• Pay attention to vehicle history reports. There are services all over the web that you can run a vehicle history report. These reports will identify any vehicles that have been salvaged, been in major accidents, rolled-back odometers, etc. Title transfers are also very important. If you see there have been more than 1 or 2 title transfers in the past couple years, avoid this car.
• A car from a reputable car dealer is a must. Detecting a reputable car dealer can be troublesome, but they do exist. Experienced Dealers who have certified used car programs are a good bet. They are a lot better bet than purchasing from a swindler seller whom you will not be able to contact when the deal goes bad.
• You better avoid buying a car on the internet. It is better to test drive the car in person before you make the decision to buy instead of reading up on the seller’s good points about the car. If you DO make the decision to buy a car online, try to pick it up on person and request that the seller allow you to nullify the deal if you are dissatisfied with the car’s condition when you see it in actuality.
