Expert reveals the ‘biggest scam’ to look out for when buying a car

A car mechanic is warning those shopping for new cars in the new year against the “biggest scam” in used car sales. Scotty Kilmer has revealed the way to get around one trick that “disreputable” car sellers use to dupe buyers into buying vehicles.

Dealerships may try and hide crucial information from possible buyers of petrol, diesel and electric cars by falsifying documents. However, there is a way to find them out.

The most common example is dealers putting false details on vehicle documents. Scotty stressed that potential buyers must always look at the registered owner of a vehicle before parting with their money.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Scotty said: “Today I’m going to show you one of the biggest scams in used car sales. Disreputable used car lots will advertise a car on Craigslist or Facebook but they’ll have a private individual pretending it’s their car,” reports the Express.

Under circumstances where the registered owner is someone different to the one selling the vehicle, Scotty stressed there was only one course of action. Car titles are common in the United States but motorists in the UK can check the registered owner by looking at their V5C certificate.

Scotty continued: “So demand to see the title like this. It shows that I’m the present owner and the previous wonder was [Mr and Mrs] Martin.

“If the present owner isn’t the same name as a person selling you the car, run away. So people might say what’s in a name? Well the name on the title, there’s a lot in that.”

Motorists took to social media to praise Scotty for the tip. Some even admitted they had almost been scammed themselves in the past.

YouTuber @tedmich said some sellers “sold multiple cars as ‘private owners’ without registering as a dealer – it’s incredibly common. ‘It’s my uncle’s car’.”

@szki272 added: “A local car lot tried doing that here in California of all places – took about 8 months to get plates for my son’s truck. Guess they had a bunch of problems with selling a truck not registered to them.”

Motorists can use several online tools to quickly check vehicle registration details, including information on whose name is listed on the vehicle documents. A quick scan before setting off could save motorists’ time and hassle if it emerged things don’t quite add up.

Meanwhile, second-hand car marketplace AutoTrader added that motorists must secure the sellers’ details after completing a purchase for peace of mind. They said: “When the deal has been done, it’s also important to get a receipt and ensure there are copies for both buyer and seller.

“The receipt should include full details of the buyer and seller such as name and address, date of purchase, the vehicle’s specifications (including its registration number and mileage, as well as the basics such as vehicle make and model), and confirmation that the seller has received the agreed amount of money for the car. This receipt should be signed by both and kept as proof of purchase and payment.”

Image Credits and Reference: https://www.devonlive.com/news/motoring/expert-reveals-biggest-scam-look-9833918

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