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I"m in the market for a new vehicle and I've already found a lot of people are selling cars with the odometers rolled back so naturally I've become suspicious of everything. Something that I've noticed recently is the mileage won't be rolled back but there will be a large gap in the mileage history.
An example, when the owner buys the car there's no history of smog or service for 6 years. How can this be? Isn't everyone suppose to smog a vehicle every two years, at least in CA.
I"m in the market for a new vehicle and I've already found a lot of people are selling cars with the odometers rolled back so naturally I've become suspicious of everything. Something that I've noticed recently is the mileage won't be rolled back but there will be a large gap in the mileage history.
An example, when the owner buys the car there's no history of smog or service for 6 years. How can this be? Isn't everyone suppose to smog a vehicle every two years, at least in CA.
Take CARFAX for what it's worth. The first time I used it was for a late-model (at the time) Dodge Dakota that looked like it had been hit by a train but was still driveable (damage was 100% cosmetic, there was just a lot of it). CARFAX report showed absolutely nothing.
Another truck that I'm curious about on Craigslist I was able to get the mileage readings from the dealership where it was serviced. Somehow it didn't make it on the the Carfax report. So everything checks out on paper but the guy selling it doesn't want to meet at his house and objects to me taking it to a mechanic, so you never know.
Somehow it didn't make it on the the Carfax report. So everything checks out on paper but the guy selling it doesn't want to meet at his house and objects to me taking it to a mechanic, so you never know.
Both are very understandable. When I sold my Jeep, I didnt meet anyone at my house, and if they wanted a mechanic to check it out, they had to bring one with them. If you wanted a test drive I was in the passenger seat with you.
I've not read of anyone getting info from CarFax that was incorrect, but I know from my own experience that the info is NOT necessarily complete.
I was considering several cars (used and new) a while back and paid for their "unlimited number of reports" subscription. As long as additional reports didn't cost anything more, just out of curiosity I also got a report on my current (just totaled) car.
I thought it would be a great Best Case example test for the reports accuracy and completeness, since I had my own compete records for that car back to new.
* I was the first and only owner.
* It had previously been in two minor fender-benders ($2-3k) and one medium ($5k) rear-end.
* All three incidents had been several years in the past, 'the other guy's" fault, paid for by their insurance, and repaired at factory-qualified facilities approved by their insurance, my insurance, and me.
So all three should have been on the books and reportable by CarFax.
Only one of the three incidents were on the record. (That one had all the details correct).
It also listed 3 of the 5+ warranty oil changes done at my dealer. (Why not all, I don't know).
Bottom line? If CarFax shows you some problems, that's useful information (and worth the price), but there certainly could be other events not listed.
Get it inspected!
Both are very understandable. When I sold my Jeep, I didnt meet anyone at my house, and if they wanted a mechanic to check it out, they had to bring one with them. If you wanted a test drive I was in the passenger seat with you.
Agreed. No way am I letting someone take my car without me in it anywhere.
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