How not to be cheated when you purchase a car

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When selling used cars, it is not uncommon for buyers to be deceived. In some cases, sellers simply conceal certain information in order to sell the car with the greatest profit for themselves. In this situation, the buyer risks getting a car in a worse condition than he or she wanted and incurring monetary losses (for repairs, maintenance). In other cases, it is a matter of fraud and manipulation of documents, which can be a real problem for the buyer, as we are talking about the illegality of the transaction and serious losses. How not to be cheated when buying a car? In this article we will tell you what ways of deception can be used by sellers of used cars, and how to avoid them.

The most common types of auto sales fraud

Different countries use different methods to cheat on the sale of used cars. We will cite a few types of fraud that are the most common and relevant to almost every country:

• mileage tampering – the most common manipulation, the purpose of which is to hide from the buyer the real wear and tear of mechanisms and the condition of the car;
• falsification of documents (selling a car on a duplicate) – used in the sale of cars that are listed as stolen, if there are encumbrances that prevent the sale – seizure, pledge and others;
• cosmetic repairs for the purpose of more profitable sale of the car after road accidents, insurance cases.

Mileage manipulation

Mileage fraud is one of the biggest problems in the used car market worldwide. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that no tools are available to identify the perpetrator of mileage cheating, leaving the hands of crooked sellers free.

For many used car sellers, deliberately reducing the odometer reading is a common practice. This practice is often used if the kilometerage of the car reaches 200-400 thousand and expensive maintenance is to be performed. Mileage can be reduced and in the case of damage to the dashboard after an accident. This type of deception is also used when importing a car from a country where taxes depend on the mileage.

Twin cars

The term “twin cars” is used to describe a fraudulent scheme in which a car with serious problems or defects is sold under the guise of a similar but more attractive vehicle. Before buying a car, it should be checked to avoid the risk of fraud, including making sure that the car is not a  “twin cars”.

Twin cars are also called clones. As a rule, these are illegally imported or stolen cars, cars with serious damage from an accident, which are sold under the documents of another real car with a clean history. To create a clone, fraudsters make duplicate documents and forge the vehicle’s VIN code. As a result, two different vehicles are operated on the same documents.

It is very difficult to identify “twin cars”, but if it happens, the buyer becomes the only person affected, as the police seize such a car.

In order to calculate the twin car, the buyer should pay attention to these points:

• usually “lookalikes” are sold by proxy;
• prices for such cars are much lower than the average market price;
• most often “clones” are fresh models (not older than 5 years).

It is possible to protect yourself. For this purpose, it is recommended to carry out a visual inspection to compare the actual condition with the characteristics described by the seller, as well as to check the VIN code in https://checkcar.vin/.

Salvage cars after cosmetic repairs

One of the most common types of fraud is selling a used car after repairs. The seller disguises the damage, defects of the car with cosmetic repairs to make it look attractive to potential buyers. Modern scammers can easily hide even serious defects of a used car, including engine damage after an accident or a worn transmission.

For example, if a car has been in a serious accident and suffered a lot of damage, fraudsters may leave only small defects visible – chips, small dents or scratches – and reduce the price a little. Meanwhile, serious defects may be hidden under a new bumper, repainted hood, etc. Such dishonest sellers make the buyer think that he has saved money, but in fact they are selling a car, which in the future, after the purchase, will have to invest significant funds for repairs.

In some cases, fraudsters set the price much lower than the market price in order to hide the wear and tear of parts and body deformations that can be corrected. But they still have a negative impact on the condition, comfort and safety of the car’s operation.

How to avoid being scammed when buying a used car

No matter where and from whom you buy a car, you cannot be absolutely sure that the transaction is safe. Therefore, you need to take care of your own interests before buying a used car.

Here are a few factors a buyer needs to look at:

1. When buying a car from a private individual, you should never give a deposit before inspecting the car.
2. Before buying a car, ask the seller for the vehicle’s VIN number and conduct a comprehensive check of its history and equipment. Also check the number on the documents with the number on the car body.
3. Check the documents and make sure that you are provided with the original technical passport. If the seller gives you a duplicate, there is a risk of fraud (the car may be in pledge, under arrest or has been restored after a serious accident).
4. If possible, conduct a visual inspection. Particular attention should be paid to assessing the thickness and condition of paintwork, checking welds, gaps between the doors and the body, inspection of the interior. Visual inspection will help to determine the real mileage, body condition, quality of car maintenance by previous owners.
5. Ideally, if there is an opportunity to check the car before purchase at a service station, where an experienced master will make computer diagnostics and assess the actual technical condition of the car.