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Yes forged titles can be possible. I'm pretty sure now all titles have water markings.
Make sure the title matches the vin on the car. Make sure the vin on the car has special star shaped rivets that hold it on. If the rivets look like they came from Lowes/Home Depot, it means there's been a vin tag swap. In this case RUN, don't walk away.
Make sure the seller has his name on the title. Ask to see his drivers license. Or make sure the person selling you the car, if not the owner, has a notarized power of attorney.
The only way I can tell you to check for if it was in a wreck is hire a body shop. Sometimes you can tell if say for example the gaps on a door/hood/trunk lid is larger on one side and not the other and if the paint looks newer than the rest of the car. It takes a trained eye to look for these things.
Thanks for all your responses. The reason I ask all of this is that I have been looking for a pre-owned vehicle and haven't ruled out buying one from a private seller. There seem to be many deals on Craigslist. Many are obvious scams eg when a seller advertises a vehicle at 70% off its Blue Book value but there are some where desperate sellers are trying to unload cars they haven't paid for, are stolen or have been rebuilt. I'm pretty sure I can spot stolen or rebuilt cars but it's the one you buy only to have it repo'ed, which worries me.
I also want to know how people pay here. Let's assume that it's a $20k auto. Do I pay by check, transfer the funds etc? what do the sellers generally expect?
I also want to know how people pay here. Let's assume that it's a $20k auto. Do I pay by check, transfer the funds etc? what do the sellers generally expect?
that really varies. a lot of sellers try to insist on cash only, but that seems a bit unreasonable when you're talking about a $20K car. i understand why they do it, though. you hear about so many scams on BOTH sides of the deal using every form of payment imagineable that it's hard to trust anything but the green stuff.
my credit union does something i think is pretty cool. instead of having to go find the car, then fill in the paperwork, then wait for them to cut a check for that particular car, etc, they just cut me a blank check. i tell them how much i want the loan for (maximum), and they approve me within 24 hours. i pick up the check and just go shopping. when i find what i want, i fill in some extra spots on the check with things like the VIN and the seller's info, and when the check is cashed my loan is started. it's stupid simple. i have run into a few sellers who are leary of this since it isn't all that common, but i usually offer to let them hold the vehicle until the check clears and that makes everything OK.
if you can find a financial institution that does this, i HIGHLY recommend it!! of course, that assumes you're looking to finance it.
Mike
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