Used Cars Auction | How To Avoid Scams When Buying Used Cars At Auction

How To Avoid Scams When Buying Used Cars At Auction

1. Get a CarFax History Report, trust me. Their reports will tell you:

  • Whether the car has been in any accidents
  • Whether it was damaged in those accidents
  • Vehicles Past and Current Title
  • How many Owners the Vehicles has had and the date and mileage ownership changed
  • What each owner used the vehicle for (personal, business, etc.)
  • Reported Service and Maintenance visits

The report gives you all the information you need to really keep the seller honest. For 40 dollars you get unlimited access for around 60 days, plenty of time to find a good used car.

2. Deal With Local Sellers Only

I cannot stress this enough. Do not purchase a car unless you can inspect it before paying for it. Pictures can lie. Even with a CarFax report, you cannot be completely sure you are getting a good deal unless you inspect the car before purchase. For good measure, make sure you verify that the VIN number the seller gave you to use with CarFax is the same one on the body of the car.

3. Offers To Ship Cars Are SCAMS!

See Above.

4. Do Not Pay By Cashier’s Check or Money Order

If the seller specifically request either of these forms of payment then it is probably a scam. I recommend using PayPal where possible because they offer excellent consumer protection services. Check out they’re buyer protection program.