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Protect Yourself When Buying a Car Tom T  |
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 Buying a used car can be risky business these days. How do you know the car is what the owner says it is? Cars that have been stolen, damaged in floods, had the odometer rolled back, rebuilt from accidents, manufacturer buybacks (recycled lemons), and salvage or junk titles find their way back into the main stream through car lots or they are sold privately. How do these cars with shady histories get back into circulation? Very simply, through a technique called "title laundering." Say, for instance, a car has been issued a salvage, flood damage, rebuilt, damage disclosure, or manufacturer buyback title. To "launder" the title, the car is taken across state lines to obtain a clean title. The old "odometer rollback trick" is alive and well!
Here are some helpful hints to help you spot possible problems with the car you're considering buying.
* Always have a pre-purchase inspection done on the car by a professional. A trained eye can pick out such things as paint overspray, frame damage, water damage, and major repairs. The few dollars it costs for the inspection could save you a ton down the road, steering you away from a trouble car.
* Look at the odometer closely for smudging or misalignment. This could be an indication of odometer rollback.
* Look for any conflicts with model -Vs- equipment. For example, if the vehicle is a luxury model and is supposed to have a certain engine or equipment and does not, you need to know why. This could be an indication of a rebuilt vehicle. Make sure you're educated on the model you're looking at. They say that "ignorance is bliss." Yes, that may be true, but it can also be extremely expensive!
* Check the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) closely for any discrepancies between the title, ID tag at the base of the windshield, and the tag on the driver's door. Any differences could be an indication that the vehicle was stolen and given a new VIN.
Here's an interesting story. A couple in Indianapolis, Indiana had their Honda Accord stolen. Two weeks later the insurance company issued a check for the stolen vehicle and the couple went out car shopping to replace their beloved Honda. They came across an Accord on a car lot that looked hauntingly like their old car, the only difference was that their car was blue and this car was green and the VIN was different. Upon closer inspection of the paint, they could see messy overspray of green paint over the original color ?blue! The authorities were called. The car lot owner was interrogated and confessed to buying the car from a wholesaler of questionable integrity just the week before. Following the lead, the authorities traced the sale to a "chop shop." A chop shop specializes in re-identifying stolen cars for resale or dismantling cars to sell the parts. The sales of sixty such cars were tagged to this shop; they were stealing cars, painting and assigning new VINs to each of the stolen vehicles, then wholesaling them to car lots.
How do you guard against hidden problems with a vehicle's past? A company called Carfax located in Fairfax VA provides a unique service. Carfax compiles information from insurance companies, DMVs, state and provincial agencies, and vehicle auctions (both used and salvage) in both the U.S. and Canada. This huge database has over 750 million vehicle records in it. Reputable car dealerships across the country are offering Carfax reports on the vehicles they sell (which, incidentally, they find to be a great sales tool). To obtain a Carfax report on a vehicle, call 1-800-FIND-VIN or access their website at www.carfax.com. The cost for a report over the phone is $29.50, and on the Internet the cost is $19.50. Buying a car should be fun and exciting. Do your homework before buying and, as the elderly gentleman with the dog for Nissan says, "Enjoy the ride!"
'Til next time?keep rollin'
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 With over 27 years in the automotive industry and nearly a decade in automotive talk radio, Tom Torbjornsen makes learning about cars easy with his personal manner, his expert advice, and his high energy and entertaining style. Tom has the unique gift of simplifying the complex and tearing down the technical, meeting you at your level of understanding. You will be encouraged as you gain the confidence to deal with problems related to the second most expensive purchase you will make in a lifetime your automobile.
Email Tom
Click here to visit the America's Car Show website
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