Used cars for sale by owner

Buying a used car is a great way to score a deal, but it can
also be a high risk of getting stuck with a lemon. If you’re
planning to save money and purchase a used vehicle, keep reading
for key 4 pitfalls to avoid when venturing onto your auto
search.

1. Stay Away from Curbsiders

Curbsiders are cars that are stolen and then re-sold to
unsuspecting private buyers with fake documentation and
fraudulent Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN).

If a seller refuses to meet you at their home, is not conducting
the sale in their own name, the VIN looks as though it’s been
tampered with, or the car has been freshly painted, you may be
dealing with a curbsider sale. If you purchase a stolen car, the
vehicle can be repossessed and you will have no course of
action, other than a civil lawsuit, over your lost funds.

2. Avoid Anything that’s Too Good to Be True

If it’s too good to be true, well, you know the rest. No one,
even the most motivated seller, is going to take a huge loss on
a used car sale. Keep your eyes open for good deals, but avoid
any sales that seem too heavenly.

If you suspect tampering with the vehicle, check the odometer
reading from past sales. Remember, the typical car owner drives
their vehicle about 12,000 to 18,000 miles per year.

3. Car without a Full Title Search Done Before you Pay

Before you hand over money for your purchase, have a full title
search and vehicle history report done on the auto. You can have
the title checked through government files and then a vehicle
history report completed through a service like CARFAX.

If the seller presents a title search to you but you don’t feel
comfortable or suspect it may be fraudulent, do your own
independent title search on the VIN.

4. An “As Is” Vehicle

If you plan to purchase an “as is” vehicle as part of a fixer
upper project, that’s fine. But, if you buy an “as is” vehicle
for driving, understand that you’ll need to have the car safety
certified and brought up to standard before you can get it on
the road.

Before you buy any used vehicle, have it inspected by a
certified, independent mechanic who can provide you an objective
third-party opinion about the value of the car and how much it
will cost to bring the car up to drivable standard.