Buying For Sale By Owner Cars

Dear Miss Mota Mouth,

I need a car and I see used ones in classified ads that look affordable. I can ask but it doesn’t mean the owner will tell me the truth! How do I know if the car has ever been in an accident? And if so, how can a person tell?

Paul D., Ontario, CA

Dear Curious in California,

Education! Education! Education, eh! (Oh wait! You must be in Ontario, California! If you are Canadian, see the bottom of the answer.)

There are a couple of key ways to find out if a car has ever been in an accident and doing both is a good investment for your peace of mind and safety.

When looking at used cars and buying from an individual seller it is always a good idea to get a third party report such as Experian AutoCheck. By analyzing the Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN, these reports can reveal the number of owners, potential odometer roll back, salvage title, collision history and even if it was registered as a taxi or rental car.

Additionally, getting a third party inspection performed by a service such as http://www.inspectmyride.com/ or a mechanic that you trust can reveal a lot about a vehicle. Qualified mechanics and inspectors can tell you if the frame is straight and whether the car has had any bodywork done on it as well as verify that it is in good running shape.

Without these to protect you it is possible that you could end up with a lemon so Buyer Beware and get these important checks done!

BTW- If you were in Ontario, Canada you should use Carfax for any VIN reports.

Prudently,

M

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