Tips For Buying A Used Car
Tips For Buying A Used Car
I have represented a number of clients who have been swindled by used car dealers. Most of the complaints are that the car failed to meet the buyer’s expectations, or live up to the seller’s representations.
Some client’s, however, have been victims of serious criminal activity such as odometer tampering, resale of lemon buy-backs, and forged DMV records. On one occasion a young woman purchased a car with an odometer showing less than 10,000 miles. The salesmen informed her that the car had no previous owners beside the dealership, which used it as a demo. After experiencing a variety of mechanical problems, that the dealer denied existed, she took the vehicle for an instant oil change and discovered from the oil change shop, to which the vehicle had previously visited, that the car actually had over 45,000 miles on it and two previous owners. My client contacted the most recent owner of the vehicle and was informed that the car had so many mechanical problems that the dealer took it back from her as a lemon. After taking the defective vehicle back, the dealership replaced the odometer or rolled back the mileage, and then resold it to my client.
For most people, buying a car represents a major investment. The process is very intimidating and requires that you sign a variety of documents - most of which have printing too small to read with a microscope. As a car buyer you should not feel as if you need a team of lawyers to pour over the purchase contract, financing agreement, warranty information and DMV records.
Ideally, you should ask the dealer to permit you to take the documentation home so that have time to read and understand them. But most sale representatives hate to have a customer leave the lot without buying a car. Car buyers are typically encouraged by the dealer to sign now.
Things to be wary of include:
1. That the sales contract is completed in full before you sign it. It is unlawful for the dealer to present it to you for your signature unless the mileage of the vehicle appears on the contract;
2. After you have signed a hand-written purchase contract you are typically asked to sign a typewritten purchase contact on the date of delivery. Be certain that the typewritten contact is identical to the hand-written contract that you originally signed;
3. Before the dealer can register the vehicle for you, he or she will need you to sign a Retail Certificate of Sale - also known as the DMV Form MV-50. This is an important document which discloses to you, among other things, the name of the vehicle’s previous owner and the vehicle’s true mileage. If the mileage of the vehicle is unknown, that fact must be disclosed to you on the MV-50.
4. Keep copies of everything.
If you believe you have been the victim of an illegal or fraudulent used car sale, contact the Department of Motor Vehicles. DMV has investigators who can look into your transaction. You might also consider the consumer complaints division of the New York State Attorney General’s Office and your family lawyer.
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