With cars getting more and more expensive, many of us are turning to used cars to get an affordable deal. The second hand car market has never been bigger and if you’re lucky, you can purchase a car that has only been on the road for a handful of years.
However, buying second hand motors comes with its fair share of risks. If you’re not careful, you could cross paths with scammers who are trying to sell faulty cars. However, if you know what red flags to look for, you’ll be in a far stronger position.
Curbstoning
Curbstoning refers to unregistered dealers posing as a private dealer to get around a few laws. For anyone who wants to buy and sell cars as a business, they need to have a dealer licence, therefore protecting customers from dealers who sell defective vehicles.
One way to spot whether a dealer is just posing as a private seller is when they meet you at the curb in front of their private residence or in an empty parking lot. Hence the name!
Title washing
If a vehicle has been really damaged or has any issues, it should be clearly stated in the title. However, in order to sell their car quicker, scammers will often remove negative information by editing the title or moving the vehicle into a state where a certain brand isn’t well known.
Make absolutely sure by getting the vehicle history report or contacting your insurance company with the vehicle registration. These measures should reveal all issues that were not previously stated.
Odometer rollbacks
Odometers might not be commonplace anymore, but that doesn’t stop scammers selling close to half a million false odometer readings each year. Scammers will often roll back the odometer reading to advertise the vehicle as less used that it actually is, and therefore attach a higher price tag.
Hire a mechanic to look over the car and look out for signs of odometer rollback. The vehicle history report might also reveal the vehicle’s mileage at certain points, like at a sale or service appointment.
How to safely buy a used car
It might feel overwhelming buying a used car when there are so many potential scams out there, but it always helps to ask for a vehicle history report whenever you’re unsure. This will confirm or deny any details you were given for the car. If the seller is reluctant to give it to you, that’s a big red flag.
It also always helps to get a professional opinion, so hire a mechanic to look over a potential car. It might be an expense, but it will save you money in the long run if you’re being sold something faulty.
