The Auto Pool - USA - Buyer Beware

The following is a list of precautions you can take to protect yourself when buying a used car. If any of them cause you concern - walk away from the sale:

Make sure that the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the dashboard identification plate matches that on the "Vehicle Registration" form and that it has not been tampered with. If it has been tampered with, it may be a stolen vehicle.

Some signs to watch for:

loose rivets,
scratched numbers,
mis-matched rivets,
screws in place of rivets,
tape, glue or paint over the VIN plate.
It is also a good idea to have a licensed mechanic check the VIN numbers on the doorpost and engine firewall.

Since 1981, the Vehicle Identification Number is 17 characters and uniquely identifies the type of vehicle, manufacturer and origin. It also provides the specific production number and options codes for that vehicle. This legal identifier also frequently has a bar code representation under the 17 characters, which makes instant electronic identification possible. Insist on seeing the original "Vehicle Registration" form, not a photocopy (a recent change by ICBC now requires that you need the original computer generated registration form to transfer ownership). Ask the seller to provide you with photo identification and check that the name on the registration form is the same as the person standing in front of you. Make sure you have a valid home address, home number, and work number.

Ask to see the service records for the vehicle. Stolen vehicles don't usually come with maintenance records. Don't be afraid to call the shop to verify that the work was done.
Check that the license plate on the vehicle matches that on the "Vehicle Registration" form.
If you're in the Lower Mainland, ask to see an AirCare certificate. This will help determine whether the vehicle is in good mechanical condition.
Check that the vehicle make, model and color match the description on the "Vehicle Registration" form.

Insist on seeing the original "Vehicle Registration" form, not a photocopy. You will need the original computer generated registration form to transfer ownership).

If you are satisfied that it is not a stolen vehicle, it is advisable to do a lien search. A lien may have been placed on the vehicle by a person, a bank or other entity as collateral to ensure that the owner of the vehicle honored a debt. A lien is attached to the vehicle, not to the owner of the vehicle. So, if you buy a car that has a lien on it and the previous owner does not pay his or her debt, the car can be repossessed from you.

Caveat Emptor

The bottom line is most of us have to work pretty hard for our money. It's easy to buy things, but often, it's hard to sell them. If you are about to invest $5,000 in a car in the hope that it will eventually be worth $10,000, or you think you can restore it to be worth $10,000 without spending $15,000 on it, do your homework. Just because a book tells you that your car is worth $10,000, that doesn't mean you can sell it for that. The best offer you receive may be $6,000 which means you will probably lose money in the deal. Use your head and never spend what you can't afford. It's a buyer beware world and if you get stuck with a Ford Taurus disguised as a 1929 Mercedes Gazelle roadster, and then you would have no one to blame but yourself.