KINGMAN - As Mike Taflan advises his customers, if you're looking to buy a used car, unless you know the owner personally, take it to a professional to be checked out.
It may cost up to $200 for a thorough inspection, including an engine compression check, but it's better than coughing up thousands of dollars for a lemon that's going to require expensive repairs a few miles down the road.
"I'll tell you the truth. This is what it's going to take," said Taflan, 15-year owner of Taflan's Quality Automotive at 3030 E. Andy Devine Ave. "Some things might slip by me. I can't tell you the transmission life."
Buying a used car can turn into a fantastic deal or a chronic headache, depending on how much due diligence is done on the transaction.
It's a risky process for both the buyer and seller if proper steps are not taken.
Arizona's "Lemon" law has limited consumer protection regarding vehicle purchases made through a licensed dealer and almost no protection for vehicles bought from a private party.
Buyers can protect themselves by doing a little research before they buy a car, and the same goes for sellers.
The best investment you can make is getting a report from Carfax, said Mike Hill, owner of 66 Auto Sales in Kingman. All used cars on his lot come with the report. It tells you about ownership history, salvaged titles, accidents and mileage.
"So it's pretty hard to scam someone now with all the stuff out there on social media," Hill said.
Buyer beware
Be especially careful when buying a car from a private party. Fraud is rampant.
Unscrupulous sellers may try to unload a stolen vehicle or one with a rolled-back odometer. They may provide a forged or fraudulent title of ownership, or try to sell a vehicle with extensive rust or collision damage that can't be seen. It may have received a cosmetic fix instead of a complete repai r.
Another common scheme involves someone who buys a used car without a loan, so there's no financial lien on the title. The person then obtains a duplicate title on the vehicle and secures a title loan. The seller defaults on the loan, which could be thousands of dollars, and immediately sells the vehicle using the duplicate title that does not show the lien.
The buyer can't transfer title and register the vehicle until the lien is paid. The lien holder may repossess the vehicle, leaving the buyer out his car and money.
Buyers should take these precautions:
• Conduct the transaction in a safe location.
• Don't trust what the seller says. Confirm information on documents.
• Request valid photo identification to verify the seller is the legal owner shown on the current title.
• Read the title carefully and look for any alterations on both sides of the document.
• Look at the front of the title for any text identifying the vehi cle as salvage or nonrepairable.
• Check the odometer reading on the vehicle instrument cluster and compare it to what is listed on the back of the title from the seller and any odometer information contained in vehicle history reports or repair invoices.
• Confirm the vehicle identification number (VIN) on the dashboard and driver's door jamb sticker match, and compare that VIN to what is shown on the title.
• Complete the transaction at a financial institution.
A reputable seller should offer identification and valid ownership documents at the very beginning of the transaction process. The seller should be able to answer clearly any questions from the buyer. The seller is required to endorse and transfer the certificate of title at the time the vehicle is delivered to the buyer.
"Make sure the title is in the name of the seller, that it's not an open title with no reassignment from the previous owner," auto dealer Hill added.
Seller beware
Sellers are also vulnerable to various fraud schemes.
Scam buyers may pay with counterfeit money or write a check from an invalid or closed account. They may ask for a test drive without the owner in the vehicle and never return, or forcibly take the vehicle from the owner during a test drive.
Sellers shouldn't take any chances on payment, Hill said. Some sellers will take $500 down payment and finance the sale. That's also risky. Accept only a certified money order, cashier's check or cash, he said.
Tips for vehicle sellers:
• Conduct the transaction in a safe location.
• Confirm information on documents. Don't trust verbal statements.
• Be cautious of cash payments with possibly counterfeit money and bogus checking or credit card accounts. Exchange funds at a financial institution.
• Watch out for buyers who ask few questions, and appear anxious to hurry up and make a deal with no negotiations.
Buyers and sellers can v erify documents, VIN and title liens at www.servicearizona.com, the official Motor Vehicle Division website.
The VIN can also be used to obtain the vehicle history. A fee may be charged for this service, which may uncover salvage or nonrepairable status, maintenance problems, past collision involvement, insurance claims and any title issuance in other states.
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