Tips for Purchasing a Used Automobile
Purchasing a vehicle can be thrilling and enjoyable. It is tempting to get swept up in the excitement of purchasing a new set of wheels. Here are a few guidelines for safeguarding yourself throughout this procedure.
- If a person claims to work for a dealer and you are not at the dealer’s location, you should ask to see their dealer license. Illegal auto sellers may claim that they work for a licensed dealer. Make a phone call to confirm this, especially if you are considering making a transaction from a person you met through a newspaper or online classifieds site like Craigslist.
- Always request to examine the title before purchasing a vehicle. Vermont requires all automobiles 15 years and newer to have a valid title. It is illegal to register a vehicle without the certificate of title, and it is also prohibited to sell a vehicle without a title. Do not fall victim to a scam if you are told the title is at home or being held up at the bank. No title, no sale!
- Inquire if the car has ever been branded as salvaged, rebuilt, or totaled, and examine the vehicle’s title for corresponding notations. Vehicles branded as salvaged, rebuilt, totaled, flood car, reconstructed, etc. are valued at around 50 percent of the book value of a comparable vehicle without a branded title. Before selling a vehicle in Vermont, this information must be disclosed verbally and in writing on the bill of sale and other relevant transaction paperwork.
- Request confirmation that the odometer reading is accurate. The car must be declared “true mileage unknown” if its odometer reading is erroneous. ”Vehicles in this condition are worth around 50 percent of their book value on average. In addition, if a vehicle’s odometer is not functioning properly, it cannot be examined in Vermont.
- Request permission to have your mechanic inspect the vehicle. Prior to completing a purchase, it never hurts to have a fully experienced auto technician inspect the vehicle. This will save you time, money, and aggravation, and ensure that your car is safe and can pass Vermont’s safety inspection requirements.
- Check the inspection sticker on the car. If the vehicle displays a Vermont inspection sticker, verify that it is valid and assigned to the vehicle. By checking the make, year, and vehicle identification number on the sticker on the inside of the vehicle, you will be able to confirm that it corresponds to the vehicle you are considering purchasing.
- If you are purchasing a vehicle from a dealer, ensure that the vehicle has a “Buyer’s Guide” displayed. ”All used vehicles for sale must display a Buyer’s Guide in one of the vehicle’s windows, as mandated by federal and state law. The Buyer’s Guide will indicate whether or not the vehicle is sold with a warranty or “as is.” ”As is” means precisely what it says, and if you have a problem after the sale has been closed, you have little options.
- Enter the car identifying number to conduct an online Carfax, Autocheck, or similar investigation. While the Vermont DMV does not recommend any particular online car history provider, we believe that using one might be a useful tool when purchasing a vehicle. Typically, these investigations provide a thorough history of a car and alert prospective buyers to potential difficulties, such as branded titles, odometer problems, and prior accidents.
- Ask the seller whether the vehicle you’re contemplating has ever been involved in an accident. A vehicle’s lack of a branded title does not indicate that it has never been in an accident. A collision-involved vehicle may never have been deemed a total loss by an insurance company. In such circumstances, the title would remain devoid of any brands. If a car has been involved in an accident, it could have structural integrity issues and should be inspected by a trained auto technician to verify its safety.
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