Buying a car may be a thrilling experience. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of getting a new set of wheels. Here are some tips to help you stay safe during this process.
- If a person claims to work for a dealer and you are not at their location, ask to see their dealer license. Illegal vehicle dealers may claim to work for a reputable dealership. Make a phone contact to confirm this, especially if you are considering a purchase from someone you met through a newspaper or online advertisement site, such as Craigslist.
- Always request a copy of the car title. In the state of Vermont, all automobiles 15 years or newer must be titled. A vehicle cannot be registered without a certificate of title, and selling a vehicle without a title is prohibited. Don’t be duped if someone claims you the title is at home or being held up at the bank. No sale, no title!
- Inquire whether the car has ever been labeled as salvaged, rebuilt, or totaled, and determine if the title reflects this. Vehicles labeled as salvaged, rebuilt, totaled, flood car, reconstructed, and so on are worth around half the book value of the same vehicle without a branded title. It is prohibited in Vermont to sell a vehicle without revealing this verbally and in writing on the bill of sale and other relevant selling paperwork prior to the transaction.
- Inquire about the accuracy of the vehicle’s odometer reading. If an odometer reading is incorrect, the vehicle must be declared “true mileage unknown.” “ Vehicles in this condition are usually valued about half of their book value. Furthermore, if the odometer does not function properly, the car cannot be examined in Vermont.
- Inquire if you may have your mechanic inspect the vehicle. It never hurts to have a fully skilled auto technician inspect a vehicle before you buy it. This will save you time, money, and aggravation while also ensuring that the vehicle is safe and meets all Vermont safety inspection criteria.
- Examine the vehicle’s inspection sticker. Check to see if the vehicle has a valid Vermont inspection sticker that has been issued to the vehicle it is connected to. By comparing the make, year, and vehicle identification number on the sticker on the inside of the car, you can confirm it corresponds to the automobile you want to buy.
- When purchasing a vehicle from a dealer, ensure that the vehicle displays a “Buyer’s Guide. “ Under federal and Vermont law, all used vehicles must display a Buyer’s Guide in one of its windows when being offered for sale. The Buyer’s Guide will tell you whether the vehicle is covered by a warranty or is being sold “as is.” “As is,” means exactly that, and if you have a problem after the deal is completed, you have little options.
- Enter the vehicle’s identification number into a Carfax, Autocheck, or equivalent online vehicle enquiry. Although the Vermont DMV does not recommend any specific online car history seller, we believe it can be a useful tool when evaluating the purchase of a vehicle. These studies will typically provide a thorough history of a car and alert a prospective buyer to potential difficulties such as branded titles, odometer issues, and prior crashes.
- Inquire with the seller if the car under consideration has ever been in an accident. Just because a vehicle title isn’t branded doesn’t imply it’s never been in an accident. A vehicle involved in a collision may never have been considered a total loss by an insurance company. In these circumstances, the title will remain brand-free. If a car has been in a collision, it may have structural integrity issues and should be inspected by a trained automotive technician to verify its safety.
TYR Vehicle Sales is a multi-award winning premium BMW and Mercedes used car dealership. The dealership is an AA and FCA approved dealership, as well as a RAC recognized workshop. We simplify the car-buying process by providing online Virtual Reality interior and exterior as well as video views of our vehicles. At TYR Car Sales, we go to great pains to acquire vehicles with exceptional maintenance histories in order to provide our clients with a problem-free and worry-free driving experience. We provide high-quality, well-maintained private used cars for sale in Cornwall. CALL RIGHT NOW: 01288 358120