Purchasing advice

We have been in the automotive business for a long time and we have seen many scams. For the safety and convenience of our valued customers, we have listed some of the more popular scams and things to BEWARE of. When you’re shopping for a vehicle from a private individual have you ever encountered any of the following (click on the link below to view the full description):

1.     Illegal auto dealers – Curbers/Curbstoners/Gypsies

2.     Vehicle history reports

3.     Mileage exempt vehicles

4.     Salvaged titles

5.     Hidden liens

6.     They are selling the vehicle for someone else

7.     Lost Title


1. Illegal Auto Dealers

“Curbstoners” – This is the individual who has no license, no bond and no insurance to be in the automotive business. Here is what to look for:

When you call on an advertisement ask if their “CAR” is still for sale – if they say “which car” it is probably a sign that they are a dealer, which is okay if they are honest and tell you that. Most “Curbstoners” will lie to you and say that they are selling the car for their sister, their uncle, their neighbor, etc. The odds are 9 out of 10 times they are buying and selling cars illegally.

The reason they lie to you is because they know what they are doing is illegal and could land them in jail. Yes, it is a criminal offense to buy and sell more than 5 cars per year without a license in the state of Texas. Most of these individuals are trying to sell in excess of 100 per year!

They also lie because they are doing what is called “jumping titles”. If they sell you the car and you question them why the title is not in their name they simply tell you “remember, I said I was selling it for my sister and brother in-law. That is my sisters married name and that’s why it does not match my name”.

By the way “jumping titles” is also very illegal and dangerous to you as the consumer. What if there is a “hidden lien” on the title? What if the title the individual gave you is not the “current title” (there could be a duplicate out there)? When you purchase a vehicle from an individual make sure the name on the title matches the name of the person selling it to you! A LICENSED, BONDED AND INSURED AUTO DEALER HAS TO LEGALLY GUARANTEE YOU A LIEN FREE AND CLEAR TITLE!

HERE IS AN ARTICLE THAT I JUST RECEIVED FROM THE TEXAS INDEPENDANT AUTO DEALERS ASSOCIATION.

Top Curbstoners Run Out of Az by the OIG

 In a joint effort with Federal authorities, Tom Brice of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) was able to stop 35 of the top curbstoning offenders this month.

Our frustration with the ever increasing curbstoner issue has worsened as economic & inventory issues increase. What a breath of fresh air when I heard of the Curbstoner case; and it gets even BETTER when you know the details.

35 top volume Curbers shut off!!
Just 1 of the 35 dealers @ 1 auction purchased 1.4 MIL within the 14 months investigated; and of those vehicles, the vast majority were curbed.

But wait, there’s more: of the vehicle list of all of the top offenders, 50% also had ODOMETER ROLLBACKS that averaged 90,000 miles per vehicle.

Tom Brice said in an interview regarding the case,

“We acted on this case, not only for criminal enforcement; we also know that Arizona Dealers are unfairly having to compete with these curbers, who have less overhead & business liability.”  

AIADA would like to thank Tom Brice and the Office of the Inspector General for their diligence and hard work.

Return to the Top of the Page


2. Vehicle History Report

Make sure you run a “Vehicle History Report” on the vehicle you are interested in purchasing. This report is “mostly” accurate. It will tell you most all title histories. It will not tell you all accident history. An accident is only reported when there is a police report generated. In other words, if a vehicle was damaged, no matter how bad it was, (insurance companies DO NOT report to these companies) and there was never a police report it will not tell you.

A common practice with shady “curbstoners” is getting a vehicle history report from another vehicle and placing it in their vehicle.  We get calls all the time asking for VIN numbers so they can “run a vehicle history report”; but, what are they really doing with it?  Make sure you check the VIN number on the report with the one that is actually on the vehicle you are looking at!

Use your common sense when looking at a previously owned vehicle or have it inspected by a business that is certified.

These reports will also tell you if the person selling the car is being honest. However, DO NOT rely just on the vehicle history report to make your decision on the purchase. There are many cars out there that have had an “oops” or two and are still great cars. Just use that warm fuzzy feeling! Here are two places to go to run a “Vehicle History Report”.

1. www.autocheck.com ($99.95 for unlimited reports for 21 days) – Best value and seems most accurate.  We use and suggest this site!

2. www.carfax.com ($99.99 for 6 reports) – Most advertised but more expensive.

Return to the Top of the Page


3.  Mileage Exempt Titles

In the state of Texas once a vehicle is over 10 years old, the mileage becomes exempt on the title.  If you purchase a vehicle and the word EXEMPT appears in the top right hand corner of the title, you know that the vehicle in question has been bought/sold at least once. Buying an “exempt” vehicle can be very “tricky”.  How do you really know what the “true” mileage is?  There are some things that will help:

1.  Look at the brake pedal pad.  Does it show more wear than what is “common” for a vehicle with the miles advertised?

2.  Look at the driver’s seat.  Does it show more wear than what is “common” for a vehicle with the miles advertised?

3.  Most Vehicle History Reports will give you a mileage reading EVERYTIME the car is inspected yearly.

Remember, a licensed bonded dealer is required by law to disclose ANY mileage discrepancies to you!!!!

Remember there is more to buying a car than just the price – Most great deals that seem too good to be true, usually are!

Return to the Top of the Page


4. Salvaged Titles

Here is the one that we know you have all run into – more than once I’m sure: “SALVAGED TITLES”

Where do we start with this one?

A salvaged title is a vehicle that has been involved in a serious accident and the insurance company believes that it would be cheaper to “total” the vehicle, than to repair it to meet industry standards. When someone advertises the car has a salvaged/reconditioned title and tell you it was the bumper, fender and it was minor…. THEY ARE NOT BEING TRUTHFUL!  99% of the time it was a MAJOR accident!

Here is how the process works:

Once a vehicle has been in an accident, an adjuster from the insurance company goes over the vehicle.  After this occurs usually two things happen:

1. The vehicle is given back to the insurance company and then sold at a “salvaged auction”.  Only people licensed to buy/sell salvaged titled vehicles can buy from these auctions.  The car is then either parted out or fixed.

2. The vehicle is given back to the “owner” and a check is given to the insured, less the amount agreed upon for letting the insured keep the vehicle”

For example, a settlement of $7,000 would be given to the insured driver if they “give” the car to the insurance company, or they get $5000 and get to keep the vehicle, either way the vehicle is now considered “salvaged”

3.  A salvaged or reconditioned title mean the same thing.  The title will be branded in the top right hand corner for those titled in the state of Texas

Reasons to NOT buy a salvaged titled vehicle:

1.  How do you know it was put back together properly.  Were CAPA/OEM parts used? Were the air bags deployed, and if so are you sure they will work again? Do they have receipts for the work done? Do they have pictures of the damage?

2.  99% of ALL banks will not loan on a salvaged titled vehicle.

3. Almost ALL insurance companies will not give full coverage on a salvaged titled vehicle, and many will not insure it at all or your rates will be higher.

4. The resale value of your car diminishes greatly.  A “rule of thumb” when buying a salvaged titled vehicle is to look at KBB or NADA and look at the “FAIR” condition price then subtract 25% from that value.

Return to the Top of the Page


5. Hidden Liens on Titles

When you go to look at a car from a private seller you do not know what their financial situation is.  What if they are selling a car because they need money to pay bills?  What if they are getting ready to lose their house to foreclosure?  You have to keep in mind that people who are in a desperate situation may have judgments against them and any property they own may have a “lien” against it – meaning the car you just bought (that you thought you got a great deal on) may have a hidden lien on it and YOU will now have to pay the lien in order to get a clear title.  What are you going to do?  Sue them for what it cost you to get a clear title?  People in this situation will just tell you to stand in line with all the other people they owe money to!  BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!

In today’s “economic” times, many creditors have gone to great lengths to collect their money.  A common practice is to place a lien on any vehicle owned by the person who owes them money.  This lien will not show on the title; but when you go to transfer the title into your name, it will show up and have to be paid in order to complete the transfer.

Return to the Top of the Page


6. They are selling the vehicle for someone else

The first thing you should ask for when buying a vehicle from a “private party” is identification and the title!  If someone tells you they are selling the vehicle for their mother, sister, brother or whoever, most of the time they are not being truthful.  If, on the rare occasion, it is the case, I would get the telephone number and address of the person listed ON THE TITLE, just in case there are any problems transferring the title! I would call them before giving ANY money for the vehicle.

Remember in the state of Texas two or three things are needed to transfer a title:

1.     The actual title, which needs to have the buyers and SELLERS signature on it

2.     A 130U form, which also needs to have the buyers and SELLERS signature on it.

3.     If a car has a lien on it, a notarized lien release from the creditor who placed the lien.

Return to the Top of the Page


7. Lost Title

It takes $2.00 to get a certified copy of a title by mail. Use logic and sense when trying to buy a car. The other scam running is someone will get a title loan on their car and then sell the car. You get stuck with a car you cannot transfer the title on nor insure without paying off their loan.

Check with the local police department before buying one of these cars. Have them run the vin to see if it is stolen. You can also call the local tax office to see if there are liens on the car.

Return to the Top of the Page