Buying a car with no title
Did the VIN come back clean? Did he even verify VIN on different points from the car? Dash vin can be cut and welded, door vins can be picked up at junkyards, but there should be a dozen spots to check.
Last I checked the dealer requirements the place must have an office and a sign. Without those two I wouldn't even stop in.
Last I checked the dealer requirements the place must have an office and a sign. Without those two I wouldn't even stop in.
First thing to do when interested in a car from a private party is ask for the vin # so you can run a carfax. If car is far away I would do this before even going to look at it. If its close I would go look at it and if Im still interested then I would run carfax. Current owner may not have known of any accidents, not that they would lie but make sure for yourself. If its far away always ask for a pic of the title. Simply say " Im really interested but I need to make sure title is in hand before making the drive", seller will understand if its a legit sell. Next inspect the car from front to back inside and out, remember you are the one buying it and nothing is worse than acouple of days later finding a huge scratch, something broken or a dent that you missed.
The test drive.... this is very important.
When I do a test drive I make sure the radio is off, the windows are down and ac is off. Listen very close to any little noises, squeaks, thumps, etc, you are listening for anything that doesnt sound right. Watch the guages, make sure car is not staying really hot, oil pressure, speedo is not way off.
This is just some of the things I do, and every situation is different. If something doesnt feel right then just walk away.
Hope this helps someone that is going to make their first purchase on an older vechicle and didnt know exactly what to do.
The test drive.... this is very important.
When I do a test drive I make sure the radio is off, the windows are down and ac is off. Listen very close to any little noises, squeaks, thumps, etc, you are listening for anything that doesnt sound right. Watch the guages, make sure car is not staying really hot, oil pressure, speedo is not way off.
This is just some of the things I do, and every situation is different. If something doesnt feel right then just walk away.
Hope this helps someone that is going to make their first purchase on an older vechicle and didnt know exactly what to do.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
My brother-in-law just bought a vehicle last night from a guy and the whole thing seemed a little shady. First the seller claimed to be a used car dealer but had him in a warehouse or something along those lines. I asked him if there was any other cars there he told me two. Seem a little odd to me but he continued with his story, he paid the guy ( and was also charged tt&l) and was told after the fact that he would have to get the title himself, the seller didn't have, but had a picture of it on his phone. Naturally I called him an idiot, just wondering others thought on this.
If you buy from a legit dealer, you won't see the title, he will transfer it for you. Some dealers buy cars on credit, so all they have is a picture of the title since a loan company has the title.
Now, if this dealer said that you had to get the title yourself and charged you TT&L, that is a big fat NO NO. If he was a legit dealer, you should have signed an As Is paper, a piece of paper stating which county the title would be transferred in, then gotten a receipt, and finally gotten temporary tags.
IF he is a legit dealer, I know what happened. It's an out of state car, so in order to transfer the title, you have to get it inspected first and get the green sheet. If the check engine is on and he can't fix it, then he is fucked and instead of sending it back to auction, he pawned it off on a customer. You can file against his bond and report him to the state and believe me when I tell you that they don't screw around.
Odds are, this guy is a crook and your bro in law is fucked.
Teching In
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Pampa, TX
something like this ocurred to me a couple of weeks back...guys shows up at my door asking me about my camaro and if i would be willing to trade...he said he had a kia optima or something along those lines. he dangled the keys infront of me and then he messed up... and i quote "MY KIA HAS A CORVETTE ENGINE, ITS SUPER FAST" i told him to have a good day and shut the door.
something like this ocurred to me a couple of weeks back...guys shows up at my door asking me about my camaro and if i would be willing to trade...he said he had a kia optima or something along those lines. he dangled the keys infront of me and then he messed up... and i quote "MY KIA HAS A CORVETTE ENGINE, ITS SUPER FAST" i told him to have a good day and shut the door.
As a legit used car dealer I can give some insight on this. With Texas, you can use a warehouse as a lot, if you meet the requirements of space and signage. A lot of dealers do it to get the license and then illegally curbstone their vehicles from their house or parking lots.
If you buy from a legit dealer, you won't see the title, he will transfer it for you. Some dealers buy cars on credit, so all they have is a picture of the title since a loan company has the title.
Now, if this dealer said that you had to get the title yourself and charged you TT&L, that is a big fat NO NO. If he was a legit dealer, you should have signed an As Is paper, a piece of paper stating which county the title would be transferred in, then gotten a receipt, and finally gotten temporary tags.
IF he is a legit dealer, I know what happened. It's an out of state car, so in order to transfer the title, you have to get it inspected first and get the green sheet. If the check engine is on and he can't fix it, then he is fucked and instead of sending it back to auction, he pawned it off on a customer. You can file against his bond and report him to the state and believe me when I tell you that they don't screw around.
Odds are, this guy is a crook and your bro in law is fucked.
If you buy from a legit dealer, you won't see the title, he will transfer it for you. Some dealers buy cars on credit, so all they have is a picture of the title since a loan company has the title.
Now, if this dealer said that you had to get the title yourself and charged you TT&L, that is a big fat NO NO. If he was a legit dealer, you should have signed an As Is paper, a piece of paper stating which county the title would be transferred in, then gotten a receipt, and finally gotten temporary tags.
IF he is a legit dealer, I know what happened. It's an out of state car, so in order to transfer the title, you have to get it inspected first and get the green sheet. If the check engine is on and he can't fix it, then he is fucked and instead of sending it back to auction, he pawned it off on a customer. You can file against his bond and report him to the state and believe me when I tell you that they don't screw around.
Odds are, this guy is a crook and your bro in law is fucked.
