Sunday, July 21, 2013

What are good questions to ask when buying a used car not from a dealer?

car ownership info on Fractional Ownership | Shared Ownership | Fractional Property | from ...
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Jorge V


I dont know much about cars and I am going to go look at a car this weekend and i want to know what i should ask before buying the car. What things should i look out for? It's not from a dealer.


Answer
Do Not Buy That Used Car If...
These are the top mistakes made by used car buyers. Don't let this happen to you!
â¢The 17 digit VIN#'s on the door, hood, engine, dashboard do not all match exactly
â¢You failed to have a mechanic check out the car on a lift
â¢You did not run the Experian AutoCheck Vehicle History Reports on the car's VIN# prior to purchasing
â¢The title still shows a lien holder with no "Lien Satisfied" stamp on it. It means they still owe the bank
â¢The AutoCheck report shows evidence of odometer rollback or title branded as junk, flooded, stolen, etc
â¢There is no VIN# on the dashboard, or it has been filed down or altered in any way
â¢The seller does not let you drive the car first
â¢The seller does not back up every verbal promise IN WRITING!
â¢The seller is NOT the owner of the car. It means they are a dealer's agent
â¢The seller has no written bill of sale identifying the car, VIN#, and stating the title has not been rebuilt, etc.
â¢The seller does not give you copies of anything you ask for
â¢It's parked along the side of the road with a For sale sign, unless you can verify they are the owner
â¢The seller has no drivers license, title, and registration for the car. Assume the car is stolen
â¢You have not verified the seller's name on their drivers license is the same person on the car title
â¢The seller refuses to let you take the car to a trusted mechanic for inspection
â¢The seller's asking price is suspiciously far below market value
â¢The seller makes you sign a power of attorney, or only wants cash
â¢The seller tells you to pay now, and he'll get you the title tomorrow, it's locked up at the bank


General Info And Features
What is the year, model, and color of the car? ________________
How many miles are on the car? ________________________________
Is the car manual or automatic transmission? __________________
What options are on the car? __________________________________
Are the seats vinyl, cloth, or leather? _______________________
If the seats are electric, are they working normally? _________
Does the car have an alarm and does it work? __________________
Does the car alarm ever false trigger? How often? _____________
________________________________________

Ownership And History
Why is the owner selling the car? ____________________________
How many owners has this car had? __________________________
Was the car driven by a person who smokes? __________________
Has the odometer ever been rolled back? _____________________
What is the 17 digit VIN# of this car? _______________________________
(Get this info and obtain a AutoCheck Vehicle History Report)
Does the car have an extended warranty? _________
If so, is the Extended Warranty transferable to a new owner? _________
(This can only be verified in writing from the existing policy. Word of honor is not good enough).
Has the title been branded by an insurance company as junked, flooded, totaled, etc.? ______
(In some states they are required by law to disclose this in the ad).
Has the car ever been in an accident, and if so, was there frame damage, and how much was the repair? __________
Has the car ever been repainted? _______________
How often was the car waxed? __________________
Has the car been used for hire as a taxi or limousine? ________
Does the seller have the title in their posession for inspection?_____________
Is the seller acting on behalf of a dealer?_____________
________________________________________

Maintenance And Condition
Do they have all maintenance records, proof of tune ups, and oil change receipts? ________
What are all the major problems with the car? ____________________________________________
____________________________________________________
What is the condition of the paint on the car? _________________
Are there any major scratches, dents or dimples in the paint?________
Is there any rust on the car? __________________
How is the condition of the interior, seats, the dash, roof? __________________________
Are there any transmission problems such as slipping, not changing gear, etc.? ______
If manual transmission, when was the clutch last replaced? ________
Does the A/C blow cold and does the heater blow warm? ____
Is the battery, alternator, and starter in good condition? ______________
What electrical problems are there with the car? ____________________
Does the Radio work? __________________________________________
Does the car have an oil leak, transmission leak or radiator leak? ______
When was the last time the radiator was flushed? ___________________
When was the last time the A/C system was worked on? _______
Does the car burn oil or have white exhaust? ____________________
What EXACT month was the last oil change? ____________________
When was the last tune up or fuel injector cleaning? ______________
How old are the tires and when were they last replaced? __________
If the car has headlight motors do they work properly? _____
Do the power doors and power windows work? _________________
Is the dashboard cracked? _____________
Is there a CD changer or tape player and is it working? ______
Any skipping problems with the CD player? ___________________
Are all speakers working and are any of them cracked? __________
Does the water pump make any strange rattles or noises? __________
When was the battery or alternator replaced last? ________________
Batteries last only about 2 years on average.
________________________________________

Drivability Issues
Does the car drive straight or does it pull to the right or left? __________
When was the last time the tires were aligned? ______________________
Any problems with excessive wear and balding on the tires? ________
________________________________________

Logistics
How low in price is the seller willing to go? _____________________
When can the car be picked up by the buyer? ___________________
Can the car be brought to a mechanic for an inspection? ________
Does the seller have the title to the car? ________________________
Does the seller have proof that the car is theirs to sell? _____
Does the seller have a valid driver's license to prove ownership? ______
Is any money still owed to a bank for a loan on the car? ___________
How many people have looked at the car? What are the offers? _______

How do I sell a Calfornia registered car in Texas?




DeadmanWal


So the car is new, and paid off. I am the titleholder and there is no lien. I appreciate any information!


Answer
The title has to be signed off according to California law. Then the car would be re-registered in Texas by the new owner.
This is from the California state site:
When selling a California registered vehicle, the registered owner of record must:
⢠Release ownership by signing on line one of the title.
If the vehicle is, or was financed, the lienholderâs name appears in the legal owner section and their release with counter signature is required on line two.
⢠Provide the purchaser with evidence of a valid smog certification, if applicable.
Smog certificates are good for 90 days from the date of inspection. The smog certification is not required if the owner or buyer signs a statement that smog certification was submitted with renewal fees within 90 days prior to the transfer date (a vehicle inspection report may be required for proof of certification).

Recent legislation changed the requirements for vehicle transfers occurring on or after January 1, 2005. When you transfer a vehicle that is four or less model years old a smog certification will not be required. The four or less model years old rule does not apply to diesel powered vehicles. A smog transfer fee will be collected from the new owner. When a vehicle is more than four model years old, evidence of a current smog certification must be provided by a seller except when the following occurs: ⦠The transfer occurs between a spouse, domestic partner, sibling, child, parent, grandparent, or grandchild.
⦠A biennial smog certification was submitted to DMV within 90 days prior to the vehicle transfer date (a vehicle inspection report may be required for proof of certification).

⢠Provide the odometer mileage if the vehicle is less than 10 years old (Vehicle/Vessel Transfer and Reassignment Form, REG 262). If the title does not have a designated space for this information, a REG 262 reporting the odometer mileage must be signed by both the seller and buyer. The REG 262 cannot be copied. An original must be submitted. To obtain a form by mail, call DMV's automated phone service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-777-0133. To speak to an operator call between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday - Friday, Pacific Standard Time, or pick one up from your local DMV.
â¢Protect Your Liability. Complete a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability. The seller is responsible for reporting the change of ownership to DMV within 5 days from the date of sale. After DMV updates the information from the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability, you will be cleared from future liability on the vehicle. The purchaser is responsible for reporting the change of ownership to DMV within 10 days from the date of purchase.
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/vr_info.htm#BM2520




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