How To Avoid Scams While Buying A Used Car?

By Author: Andrew Richardson
Total Articles: 66
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Used car scams are not a new problem and continue to plague people across the USA. Individuals and dealerships can partake in used car scams, so it's always good to be aware regardless of where you buy the car from. If you get scammed while buying a used car, you may be able to get compensation; however, it is difficult since the lemon law pertains to used cars only in a few US states.
When you start looking for a used car, always be aware of the following used car scams.
1. Title washing
Title washing is one of the biggest scams in the used car market. Before buying any used car, it's always best to check the car's title history to see if it has ever received a wrecked, salvaged or total loss title. Even if the current title is clean, it's better to check than to receive a lemon.
Cars with mechanical odometers will roll back to zero after 99,999 miles. So, you should also check if the car has a 'exceeds mechanical limits' title issued on it to determine the accuracy of the odometer.
2. Odometer rollback
Odometer rollback ...
... scams are also very common, so you should always be aware of the common signs. If the odometer is mechanical, the car is likely to be relatively older. If you notice that the odometer reading is suspiciously low, you should immediately check the car's title history. Check if the vehicle ever has a 'exceeds mechanical limits' title issued on it, as it will indicate that the odometer has rolled over after the 99,999 miles limit.
You can also get a vehicle history report for newer cars to see if previous odometer readings match up with the current reading.
3. Existing liens
If they have not finished paying off the car loan, they don't own the car, so they cannot sell it. But if a person cannot pay off their car loan, they may often sell the used car fraudulently.
If you buy a car with existing liens, you will become liable to pay off the rest of the debt. To avoid such a scam, it's always best to get a car history report to check if the vehicle still has unpaid debt on it.
To conclude
The lemon law pertains to used vehicles as long as it still has the manufacturer's warranty. You can avoid most of these used car scams if you get a vehicle history report and inspect the vehicle carefully. But if you have been scammed and received a lemon, you can file a report to the district attorney.
If the warranty period is over, you may need to file a lawsuit to receive compensation. Contact a lemon law attorney today at Allen Stewart to get started.
Andrew Richardson is the author of this Article. To know more about If my Car is under warranty do i have to pay for a service please visit our website: allenstewart.com