Every used vehicle purchased at The Auto Connection comes with a free Auto Check report and a 48-hour no-hassle return policy because we’re the car buyer’s best friend. However, there are other used car dealers and online sellers who don’t have your best interest in mind. Here are a few common used car scams to be aware of.
1) Odometer Fraud
Odometer fraud also referred to as “clocking,” is the illegal practice of rolling back odometers to make it appear as though vehicles have lower mileage than they actually do. This is a classic scam to oversell an older car. There are two ways to discover this: first, you can pay close attention to the tires, the brake pedals, and the steering wheel and trust your gut if it looks like the car has more miles than is being advertised. The second way is to check the vehicle’s AutoCheck or CarFax report for an accurate mileage history.
2. Title washing
A salvage title lets a buyer know that they’ve purchased a used car that has been through some pretty extensive damage and repairs. However, some scammers try to hide the true history of the vehicle by registering it in a different state where the DMV can give it a regular title. In effect, they “wash” it. You can stop this scam in its tracks by researching the car’s VIN.
3. “Just needs”
This scam defrauds buyers through ads that offer a car for sale that’s in perfect working condition, but “just needs” something that’s fairly easy, like oil or freon or wiper blades. Thinking it’s a quick fix, the buyer purchased the used car only to later find out that the stated problem is just one of many costly repairs needed.
Are you in the market for a reliable used vehicle? As a premier buy here, pay here dealership in Hampton Roads, The Auto Connection helps people in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Richmond, Eastern Shore, Smithfield, Chesapeake and Newport News, VA get the financing they need to drive away in a quality used car, truck, SUV or van. Find out how easy it is to get a quality pre-owned vehicle of your own with buy here, pay here financing from The Auto Connection. Get the approval process started from home with our easy online application.
