I'm looking at buying a car from a private owner. What are some questions to ask or info to request?

Question

Obviously, I've looked at mileage, etc. But are there any red flags to avoid being swindled?

Answer 1

The most important thing is to make sure that the current owner can provide you with the title, and that it is in his/her name. Don't be afraid to check I.D. to be certain that the person selling is the person whose name is on the title. It never hurts to make sure you have a bill of sale as well; in some states, like Illinois, it may be legal to drive the vehicle for 24 hours without registration as long as you are in possession of the title and a bill of sale. Your bill of sale can be handwritten (may require notarization), and should contain vehicle specific info such as year, make, model and especially the vehicle identification number (VIN), as well as being dated and signed by all parties involved. Since some states issue titles with liens to owners instead of lienholders you may also want to make sure any debt against the vehicle has been satisfied, and that the current owner can provide proof in the form of a lien release letter, if a lien is present on the title. Make sure the current owner removes the license plates. In most states, they are tied to the registrant rather than the vehicle. You don't want to be pulled over driving on someone else's registration...especially if it is expired. Never buy a vehicle from a private individual without a title, even if they promise to provide one at a later date. Once they have the cash, there is really no reason why they should comply later and you will probably not be able to title the vehicle yourself or even register it without that title. I work for the DMV in Illinois on a customer service line and you would be surprised how many people call with that very problem every day...there are a few work-arounds, but they aren't easy and they aren't cheap either. Don't forget that there are resources out there to help you find out if a vehicle has been tagged stolen or was damaged in an accident and considered totaled by an insurance company. Carfax is good, but despite what anyone tells you, some states don't report anything to Carfax, so you should always check somewhere else to help confirm any info you get. And don't forget that the DMV in your state deals with this work on a daily basis, so you should always call them for information about title or registration issues. Bear in mind that the Federal Privacy Act forbids them from giving out personally identifying information about vehicle owners, but they can usually confirm information you are in possession of already. And lastly, if the seller bought the vehicle from "a guy", who bought it from "a guy" and that name is the one on the title, don't do it. Most states, if not all, consider this to be a third party sale and illegal. The Dept. of Revenue must get their sales tax every time a vehicle changes ownership, and if a step is skipped...well, I don't really know what they do but I would hate to be the one to find out, if you know what I mean...Stick with the old saying, "If something looks too good to be true, it probably IS too good to be true". Keep your eyes open and don't be in such a hurry that you allow yourself to be taken advantage of. Good luck!

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Dont trust the mileage, and go to car fax pay the money and find out exactly what you need to know. Sometimes a vehicle is registered as a pink slip, but it has an original salvage title.. You should really do your homework, before buying from a private owner.

Answer 4

Get the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) so you may run a CarFax report. Ask why they are selling it.

Make sure they have the title to the car. Take the car to a mechanic. If they balk, don't buy the car.

Ask if they were the original owner before you do the CarFax. You will know if they were honest with you.

Answer 5

Just ask for any maintenance records, really. Anything verbal is unenforceable for the most part. If you're buying from a dealer, ask what the warranty is and ask to see a copy. Look it over, or have an attorney look at it if it's a bunch of legal mumbo-jumbo. Run a CarFax report. And get an independant inspection by a trusted mechanic. Also check the maintenance and repair history at a dealer for that make. If eveything checks out, the only other question is, "What's the lowest you're willing to go?"

Answer 6

ASK IF ITS BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT ? WHICH COULD DAMAGE THE FRAME ETC. ASK IF THE MILEAGE IS THE ORIGINAL MILEAGE OR HAS THE ODOMETER BEEN RE-SET. YOU CAN HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC DONE ON THE VEHICLE TO CHECK EVERYTHING ( THATS THE BEST THING TO DO). IF YOU BUY JUNK YOULL END UP CONSTANTLY TAKING IT IN FOR REPAIRS. MAKE SURE THE TIRES HAVE LOTS OF TREAD ON THEM. MAKE SURE IT RUNS SMOOTHLY AND IDLES SMOOTHLY. MAKE SURE IT GETS DECENT MILEAGE OTHERWISE IT WILL PUT YOU IN DEBT.YOU MIGHT BE BEST TO GO TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TOYOTA FOR EXAMPLE AND GET SOMETHING THAT IS GUARANTEED

Answer 7

Used car information - How to buy, check, maintain, sell a used ...You can print the used car buyer's checklist and take it with you when looking for a car. ... Check our Car maintenance tips including advice on engine and ...
www.samarins.com/

New car prices, used car pricing, auto reviews by Edmunds car ...Women's Car Advice Blog · Strategies for Smart Car Buyers. Phil Reed and Edmunds' industry insiders deliver tips on buying, leasing & selling. ...
www.edmunds.com/ - 71k - Feb 6, 2007 - Cached - Similar pages

Confessions of a Car Salesmanedmunds.com - where smart car buyers start ... Buying Tips. Confessions of a Car Salesman Introduction. What really goes on in the back rooms of car ...
www.edmunds.com/advice/buying/articles/42962/article.html

Federal Trade Commission: Buying A Used CarDealers are not required by law to give used car buyers a three-day right ... used car from a dealer, a co-worker, or a neighbor, follow these tips to learn ...
www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/autos/usedcar.htm

Car Buying Tips and Advice - Car FinderCar Buying can be a difficult task. We have compiled a number of tips and ... Car Buying Tips and Advice. Top Dealerships. Hot Cars. Buy a New or Used Car? ...
www.carfinderservice.com/

Used Car Buyer's Manual I: Table of ContentsThe Used Car Buyer's Manual I:. How to find the Best Buy on a Used Car ... 95. Car Care Tips 160 Appendix A: Directory of Reliable Used Cars ...
www.consumerauto.com/table1.html

Answer 8

Here is Australia we make sure that the engine number is fine - 1. With the engine number - call your local traffic office to see if the car has been in any accident/criminal use
2. Bring a certified mechanic with you so that he/she can find out faults
3. Make sure that you have a couple of days of "grace period" so if the car isn't what you wanted - you can get your money back

Answer 9

Ask if you can take it to a mechanic. See what their reaction is. This isn't a question for them, but you could run the VIN through carfax or some other online source to find out it's accident history.

Answer 10

2 things most important, make sure it is under their name, and make sure you get it checked out by a trusted-by-you mechanic.if it aint under their name, they havent paid the registration, if they dont let you take it somewhere to get looked at first, they are hiding something. history and mileage dont matter cause if its what has hapened to the car and how far its been driven is a factor, might as well just go to a dealership