Used Car Buying Advice: How to Avoid Car Fraud and Prior Wrecks
Before buying any used car, obtain an independent vehicle inspection, get an NMVTIS Vehicle History Report via www.vehiclehistory.gov, and consult other available vehicle information resources such as CarFax and AutoCheck.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides several used car buying tips on their web site: www.ftc.gov. A summary “checklist” of these tips from the FTC is provided below.
Did you hire a mechanic to inspect the car for mechanical soundness and safety?
YES NO
Did you test drive the car under varied road conditions—on hills, highways, and in stop-and-go traffic?
YES NO
Did you examine the car using an inspection checklist?
(You can find these on Internet sites that deal with used cars)
YES NO
Did you check a trusted database service that gathers information from state and local authorities, salvage yards, and insurance companies for an independent and efficient review of a vehicle’s history?
(For example, the Department of Justice’s National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) at www.vehiclehistory.gov is an online system that offers accurate information about a vehicle’s title, odometer data, and certain damage history. Expect to pay up to $4 per report. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) at www.nicb.org maintains a free database that includes flood damage and other information so people can investigate a car’s history by its vehicle identification number)
YES NO
Did you ask for the car’s maintenance record from the owner, dealer, or repair shop?
YES NO
Did you research the frequency of repair and maintenance costs on the models in auto-related consumer magazines? Try Consumer Reports and others.
YES NO
Did you check for open safety recalls?
(The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Vehicle Safety Hotline (1-888-327-4236) and website www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov gives information on recalls)
YES NO
Did you talk to the previous owner, especially if the present owner is unfamiliar with the car’s history?
Did you ask for the car’s maintenance record?
(If the owner doesn’t have copies, contact the dealership or repair shop where most of the work was done. They may share their files with you)
YES NO
Finally, BEWARE OF THE FOLLOWING WARNING THAT DEALERS ARE REQUIRED TO POST ON WRECKS AND CONSULT A CONSUMER LAWYER IF YOU WERE NOT GIVEN ONE WHEN YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN!
“According to a vehicle history report issued by the
National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS), this vehicle has been reported as a total-loss vehicle by an insurance company, has been reported into NMVTIS by a junk or salvage reporting entity, or has a title brand which may materially affect the value, safety, and/or condition of the vehicle. Because of its history as a junk, salvage or title-branded vehicle, the manufacturer’s warranty or
service contract on this vehicle may be affected. Ask the dealer to see a copy of the NMVTIS vehicle history report.”
You may independently obtain the report by checking
NMVTIS online at www.vehiclehistory.gov.