A car damage estimator told me that part of my car had prior damage already to it and asked if I new about it and I said it was not told to me by the dealer (I had the car only 2 months). He told me they might just deny knowing about it. If I'd known I would have asked for a lower price on the car,especially since it's value is depreciated by prior damage, or a different car all together. I was given a carfax history on the car but it said no problems were found. I want to know who I contact about this and what are my rights in renegotiating a price or being given a car with no prior damage. Even if the dealer didn't know, isn't ignorance not an excuse especially if I payed for a thorough inspection right before I was given the car from the dealer...and the estimator noticed the prior repair work right away?
2007-02-13 09:55:39 · 10 answers · asked by Shannon W. M 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Buying & Selling
If Carfax did not report it, then the dealer can claim no knowledge of any prior repairs, and you would be hard pressed to prove that the dealer willfully defrauded you.
Carfax, to be honest, sucks. Even as a dealer, I never trust it, and rarely does it show anything.
If you took your car to a small body shop and had something repaired without reporting it to your insurance company, then Carfax would have no record of it.
Body damage has to be of a certain dollar amount before a dealer, or individual, has to disclose it to a purchaser.
Who did you pay for an inspection of the vehicle, and what did they inspect? Was it mechanical inspeciton?
Legally, you probably don't have much to stand on, but if you calmly notify the General Manager of the dealership of what was discovered, then they may work something out with you. Probably not, but you never know.
Once again, it is always best to take any vehcile you may purchase off site to your own mechanic, and have every inch of the car inspected before you purchase. Once you sign, it is yours.
2007-02-13 10:41:32 · answer #1 · answered by Robert S 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
im a dealer, and ive never heard of using bogus carfax reports and never even imagined it. carfax helps us more than it hurts us. dealers often use them religiously to reassure customers of their purchase. most dealers when they get a car in run them through their service bay to check mechanical aspects of the cars, to make sure they are in good running order before they sell them. these guys are mechanics, not body shop guys. often they dont know the specifics to look for when it comes to damage. there is also a big difference between a minor wreck/accident, and body work compared to major work that has been done to a car. ive sold many a cars that someone has said after the fact that it had damage to it. if we know its had serious damage we have no problem disclosing it, but if a fender was repaired no dealer has to dislose minor repairs nore should it be a big deal even w/ resale if it was repaired correctly. if it was not repaired correctly then everyone should have noticed up front.
over all, you bought the car, the dealer gave you carfax report. and if they say they didnt know it had damage they probably didnt. but there's not much you can do about it now. if there is frame damage or something that causes the vehicle to be unsafe thats a different story. carfax is not responsible for minor repair reports, only major accident reports. they get the information from insurance agencies, police reports etc....if a car is fixed and not repaired there is no way for them to know either.
im not sticking up for carfax mind you. we've switched from carfax to autocheck. we've found it gave a little better coverage and information.
2007-02-13 14:36:38 · answer #2 · answered by ridgwayaz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Contact CAR FAX Car dealers relie on car fax to give them the low down on whats up with the vehicle. It is guite possible that the dealer didn't know. Car fax has deep pockets and a guarantee. But first get a second opinion on the damage. Get it in writing. Contact the dealer with your evidence. Be pleasent. If the dealer has any integrity they will help.
2007-02-13 10:31:37 · answer #3 · answered by Boston Mark 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Deal with it. The dealer probably didn't even know the car had prior repairs and Carfax should be called Cardung -- it is worthless. If ignorance isn't an excuse then why did YOU buy it?
2007-02-13 11:34:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Shannon darlin'... you're pretty much stuck with the thing if you've already paid and signed everything and have taken delivery of the vehicle.
Short of hiring a lawyer, or reporting them to the BBB you really don't have that many options. It does suck but putting a vehicle through an inspection isn't all its cracked up to be and it doesn't cover everything.
Sorry 'bout the mess!
2007-02-13 10:01:25 · answer #5 · answered by rob1963man 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
CONTACT CARFAX, they are the ones who GUARANTY their reports ( read the fine print in the report) and the report said no damage!
You may have to fill out some forms and have the estimator give a report (you should already have a report from his stating the previous damage) to file with CARFAX.
2007-02-13 10:06:31 · answer #6 · answered by Hammerhead 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
On a used car a dealer does not have to disclose it to you unless it had frame dammage. It could be possible that the dealer didnt know it was in an accident.
2007-02-13 10:15:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
don't trust dealers on the car fax reports as they sometimes use bogus ones to sell the car, always do your own car fax and report this dealer to the BBB as using bogus car fax reports.
2007-02-13 12:12:38 · answer #8 · answered by mister ss 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you are SOL here if it drives well you are going to have to go with it Good luck
2007-02-13 10:10:04 · answer #9 · answered by L J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Caveat emptor.
2007-02-13 10:03:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋