Category: Used Cars

How to Spot Odometer Tampering When Buying a Used Car

11/19/2023

In today's bustling used car market, getting value for your money is a top priority. However, amid genuine sellers are a few who might try to dupe you. One of the prevalent frauds that car buyers should be cautious about is odometer tampering. Odometer rollback, as it's often called, is the malicious act of altering a vehicle's mileage to portray it as less driven. But how can you, as a vigilant consumer, safeguard against this kind of fraud?

UNDERSTANDING ODOMETER FRAUD

Odometer tampering isn't a mere trick—it's a breach of consumer trust. Odometer readings provide potential buyers with insights into a car's history, helping gauge its wear and tear and its potential longevity. By rolling back the odometer, sellers unfairly inflate the car's market price. This act, which is both misleading and fraudulent, has led many to seek advice from a consumer fraud attorney, such as Steve Moskos.

SIGNS OF ODOMETER ROLLBACK

Inconsistencies in Vehicle Maintenance Records: A clear record should correspond with the car's odometer reading. Any discrepancy is a glaring red flag.
Wear and Tear Mismatch: Excessive wear on components like pedal rubbers or steering wheel, inconsistent with the reported mileage, warrants caution.
Tamper Evidence: Modern digital odometers are tough but not immune to tampering. Signs of forced entry or alterations are indicators.
Online Tools and Reports: Resources like Carfax are helpful in offering insights into a car's history, including past odometer readings.

How South Carolina Addresses the IssueSouth Carolina takes seriously the issue of odometer tampering. State regulations necessitate a detailed vehicle description during title applications. This includes vital information such as its make, model, year, and the all-important odometer reading. With fraudulent acts being rampant, attorneys like Steve Moskos often emphasize the importance of meticulous documentation to their clients.

Misrepresentations, especially deliberate ones, come with consequences. Knowingly offering false odometer statements is not just unethical but also illegal. In South Carolina, such actions can lead to legal repercussions, including substantial fines and even imprisonment.

EMPOWERING YOURSELF AS A CONSUMER

Staying informed is your most potent weapon against consumer fraud. If you're considering purchasing a used car:

Conduct thorough research. Knowledge about the prevalent tricks and scams will always put you a step ahead.
Use available online tools to verify a car's history.
Always seek a comprehensive vehicle report.
When in doubt, consult a professional. Experts, including attorneys who specialize in consumer fraud, can offer guidance, ensuring you make informed decisions.

While the used car market offers countless treasures, it also has its pitfalls. Odometer tampering, or rollback, is among the top deceptive practices that plague unsuspecting consumers. By staying informed, vigilant, and proactive, you can not only spot such frauds but also protect your interests, ensuring that your hard-earned money fetches you the value it deserves.

How Can I Make Sure a Used Car has been Properly Disinfected before I Test Drive It?

9/21/2020

When the corona pandemic began, many companies sent letters or emails to their customers that shared what they were doing to keep their employees and customers safe. Often, these procedures are posted on the doors as you enter a business. If you visit a dealership that has not posted their guidelines, feel free to ask what they are and be ready to visit another dealership if you aren’t comfortable with what you are told.

Every dealership has a different idea of what sanitizing a car means. For one, it may mean that the driver’s side interior has been wiped with disinfecting cloths, while another will completely sanitize the interior of the vehicle. Some dealerships insist their mechanics sanitize under the hood after they finish working on a car, while others do nothing for the engine.

The reality is, unless you actually see someone disinfect the car, you can’t be sure it has been done. For that reason, it is perfectly fine for you to ask that the vehicle be cleaned while you watch. If a dealership won’t accommodate you, then go somewhere else.

For some customers, the threat of COVID-19 is so worrisome that they take their own sanitizing wipes and clean the car themselves before they test drive it. They can be sure any area that they may touch has been cleaned to their satisfaction and they feel safer when they test drive a car. If you are looking at a car being sold outside a dealership, you should definitely clean the car yourself as a private citizen has no guidelines that they have to follow when selling a car.

When the sales person disinfects the car, make sure they wipe all of the buttons and knobs on the car, the steering wheel, gear shift and mirrors. Before you take the key or key fob from them, ask for it to be disinfected, too. Remember to wipe the door handles, seat belts, and seat adjustment buttons. For your safety, either wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before and after your test drive and keep your hands away from your face while in the car.

How is the Coronavirus Affecting Car Loan Interest Rates?

9/14/2020

In March, the Federal Reserve made several moves to reduce interest rates and help support the economy. While this should help keep your car loan interest rate down, you should be aware that interest rates are slowly going back up. However, many car manufacturers are offering huge incentives to lure consumers back to car shopping.

No interest loans, if financed through their corporation, are plentiful right now on new cars. Manufacturers are even offering longer loan periods and offering options to not make your first payment for several months. Most often, these incentives are only available to those with excellent credit and who are looking to purchase a new vehicle.

If you are looking to purchase a used vehicle, or your credit is less than perfect, the best way to get lower interest on your loan is to shop around different financial institutions. Changes in interest rates are happening daily and to find the best rate for you, you will have to put in time and effort to compare several financial institutions. Remember, you will likely have to do most of your shopping on the phone as many places are still closed or only open for limited hours.

Different financial institutions lower their rates at different times so a few phone calls could save you thousands in interest on your loan. Because the economy is still shaky, some banks don’t want to take on any loans that may be a risk to them, so they are pricing their interest rates very high to drive people to seek other options. Other lenders are making their interest rates very low to offer as many loans as they can.

This is why you need to carefully compare several places. Your credit score will drastically affect what interest rate you are offered. Once you have a pre-approved amount, take it to the dealership and see if they will offer any incentives to convince you to get your loan through them.

Most experts agree that there is no way to know exactly what will happen to interest rates in the next several months. Many factors are unknown. Right now, interest rates are still low, but slowly rising, so if your job is secure, it may be a good time to search for a new vehicle.

Is it Better to Trade my Car to a Dealership or Sell it on my Own?

5/18/2020

When it’s time for a new vehicle, it can be a tough choice deciding whether to trade your car in on the new one or try to sell it on your own. The choice really comes down to whether you are willing to put forth the effort in selling it on your own or if you need the trade in for your down payment.

Pros and Cons to Selling your Car on your Own

If you are willing to spend a little time and effort, selling your car on your own can offer some big benefits, but many people don’t want to deal with it.

Most of the time, selling your car on your own will get you more money for your vehicle. Dealerships will often not offer much more than wholesale value for your vehicle, but selling it yourself lets you put the price on it.
It may be easier to negotiate with your potential buyers as they probably don’t have the experience at haggling like a car sales person would. You may be able to keep the price closer to what you want.
It does take a lot of time to sell your car. You need to get it ready to sell, advertise, deal with strangers, and give test drives.
If you are counting on the money for your old car to make the down payment on the new, you may not be able to get your new car as soon as you would like. Or, if you still owe on the old car, you may have to make two vehicle payments a month until you do sell it.
The longer you try to sell it, the harder it may be. If you don’t trade it in, you may be stuck with taking much less than you wanted if you can’t afford to make two payments a month.
You will have to pay more sales tax on the new car, but if you make enough on the old one, you may still come out ahead.

Pros and Cons to Trading your Car to a Dealership

Many people think that trading their car to the dealership is the best way to get rid of an old car. There are many advantages to doing that, but one big disadvantage.

The biggest reason to not trade your vehicle is the price. Dealerships will simply not give you as much for your car as if you sold it yourself. They need to think of resale value and will want to make money on your old car when they resell it to someone else.
A huge advantage to trading in your car is how simple it is. You just drop it off at the dealer and from then on, it is their problem. You don’t have to advertise it and try to find someone willing to pay your price.
The amount the dealership gives you can be used as part, if not all, of your down payment for the new vehicle.
You will have to negotiate with very experienced sales people over the price.
Many states only charge sales tax on the difference between your trade-ins value and the price of the new car so you may save some money in taxes.

Making the decision of whether to trade in your old vehicle or sell can be difficult. If you don’t have the time to deal with advertising and with people looking at your car, trading it in may be the better option. However, you may get more money for it if you sell it yourself. The choice becomes whether you have the time and need the extra money or whether you just want the car gone.

What You Need to Know About Salvage Titles

9/25/2019

Shopping for a used car is often more difficult than buying a car that is new. While odds are good a new car isn’t going to have been wrecked or have damages you can’t see, sometimes, used cars do. Some of those cars have salvage titles, and they are some of the most dangerous vehicles on the lot. That’s why it’s important to know what you’re buying before you sign the contract.

Why do cars get salvage titles?
In South Carolina, a salvage title is issued on a car when the cost of fixing the vehicle is 75% more than the value of the car. When this happens, the insurance company tells the DMV that the damage has met the 75% mark, and the DMV issues a salvage title for the car. Some of the reasons for a car being a “total loss” are flooding, electrical fires, and collisions.

How can you be sure not to buy a car with a salvage title?
Research is the best thing you can do to ensure that you don’t buy a car with a salvage title. Start by asking the seller if the car has been previously wrecked? You can also use the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN number) to look it up with Carfax or the National Insurance Crime Bureau. You can also check if the vehicle has been reported stolen by calling a police department. It may be in your best interest to get the car inspected by a reputable mechanic and/or body shop as well.

Is it illegal to sell a damaged car?
Although it may seem illegal to sell a car that may be unsafe, it is legal if the car has a salvage title. However, a car salesperson must disclose that the car has a salvage title. A dealer cannot and should not hide the fact that a car has been deemed a total loss in the fine print of the contract. Dealerships have the expertise and resources to know when a car has been totaled so there is no excuse not to disclose the fact. Unfortunately, disclosure doesn’t always happen, and you can end up with a car that is too dangerous to be driven.

To avoid the costly mistake of buying a car with a salvage title, do the research. Learning the history of a car before you buy it can save you a lot of money and heartache down the road. If you do discover you’ve unknowingly purchased a car with a salvage title, you should contact a reputable attorney immediately so you’re not stuck with a car you don’t feel safe to drive.

What to Watch out for When Purchasing a Car over the Internet

9/17/2019

It is becoming very common for people to turn to the internet for a car purchase. If you are considering it, be careful and follow these tips to get the best deal.

Do your Research

Before you begin your search for your car, do plenty of research about the type of car you want. Discover what the car usually sells for and any problems other people have had with the car, including any recalls.

Beware of Low Prices

Cars posted for sale with ridiculously low prices that are well below market value should send up a red flag. Sellers tend to always have a reason for such prices. They are being deployed or someone is sick or has died, and they need the money right away. On the other hand, the seller may want to get rid of the car because he wrecked it or the car has had lots of mechanical problems.

The pictures that are posted may be stock photos and not that of the actual car. Always, always be careful when the price is too low. Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Research the Seller’s Information

If you are buying from an individual, you can search for that person on the internet, too. You can also check dealer ratings. Research delivery options. Another big red flag is someone who refuses to communicate with you in person.

Make sure you see a Title

Ask the seller to send you a photo of the title and a photo of the VIN plate on the dash. When you look at the pictures, make sure the person who is selling the vehicle is the person on the title and that the title’s VIN matches the one on the dash.

Obtain an Outside Inspection

If you are unable to view the car yourself, have a reliable inspection done by someone other than the seller or dealer. Ask for photos of any damage that the inspector may see and for a check of the odometer reading to make sure the seller has given you an accurate number. If the seller won’t allow an inspection, walk away.

Ask for a History Report

Dealers will have access to histories of their vehicles if it has been serviced. Ask for copies of maintenance records to prove that the car has been regularly serviced such as oil change. If the seller refuses to give you a copy of any of these records or gives you excuses why they can’t be produced, don’t buy the car.

If A Car I Buy is defective, can i return it within 72 hours?

5/29/2018

In another post, I wrote that you do not have 72 hours to return a car. If nothing is wrong with the car, that is generally true; however, if the car is nonconforming, which means it is not operating as it should be, you may be able to return it. The legal concept is called revocation of acceptance. To return the car, the problem with the car must substantially impair the value of the car to you if 1) you accepted the car knowing about the problem but were assured by the dealer that the problem would be fixed, and it was not or 2) you accepted the car without knowing about the problem because it was too hard to discover the problem, or the seller assured you nothing was wrong with it.

If the car is nonconforming, you must tell the dealer about it within a reasonable time. A “reasonable time” is not defined. It will depend on your circumstances so don’t wait. Tell the dealer you want your money back as soon as you can because the Court does not stop the clock, “time”, until you tell the dealer there is a problem with the car. Putting it in writing is even better. Keep a copy for your records. You must also tell the dealer about the problem before there is a “substantial change” in the car. There are plenty of things that could be a “substantial change” in a car. Think of it this way. You may not be able to return the car if you wreck it so don’t wait.

Remember this is not legal advice. There are lots of scenarios that can change how to approach this situation. Sit down with an attorney to discuss your options and how your situation fits with the law.