Buying used from a private owner
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Hawaii
Buying used from a private owner
For those that have done it, how did you do it?
Did you require a Bill of Sale from the owner?
Did you have the owner warranty things like no accidents?
Did you have a mechanic inspect the car?
I've never purchased a used car before and my state does now require a Bill of Sale, only that the ownership papers be transferred from old owner to new owner at DMV.
I don't know what it'd be worth to have a private owner warranty no accidents because most are going to say so if that is how they advertise the car.
Did you require a Bill of Sale from the owner?
Did you have the owner warranty things like no accidents?
Did you have a mechanic inspect the car?
I've never purchased a used car before and my state does now require a Bill of Sale, only that the ownership papers be transferred from old owner to new owner at DMV.
I don't know what it'd be worth to have a private owner warranty no accidents because most are going to say so if that is how they advertise the car.
Lead Lap
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 571
Likes: 6
From: California
For those that have done it, how did you do it?
Did you require a Bill of Sale from the owner?
Did you have the owner warranty things like no accidents?
Did you have a mechanic inspect the car?
I've never purchased a used car before and my state does now require a Bill of Sale, only that the ownership papers be transferred from old owner to new owner at DMV.
I don't know what it'd be worth to have a private owner warranty no accidents because most are going to say so if that is how they advertise the car.
Did you require a Bill of Sale from the owner?
Did you have the owner warranty things like no accidents?
Did you have a mechanic inspect the car?
I've never purchased a used car before and my state does now require a Bill of Sale, only that the ownership papers be transferred from old owner to new owner at DMV.
I don't know what it'd be worth to have a private owner warranty no accidents because most are going to say so if that is how they advertise the car.
Lead Lap
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 609
Likes: 21
From: Colorado Western Slope
For those that have done it, how did you do it?
Did you require a Bill of Sale from the owner?
Did you have the owner warranty things like no accidents?
Did you have a mechanic inspect the car?
I've never purchased a used car before and my state does now require a Bill of Sale, only that the ownership papers be transferred from old owner to new owner at DMV.
I don't know what it'd be worth to have a private owner warranty no accidents because most are going to say so if that is how they advertise the car.
Did you require a Bill of Sale from the owner?
Did you have the owner warranty things like no accidents?
Did you have a mechanic inspect the car?
I've never purchased a used car before and my state does now require a Bill of Sale, only that the ownership papers be transferred from old owner to new owner at DMV.
I don't know what it'd be worth to have a private owner warranty no accidents because most are going to say so if that is how they advertise the car.
Did you have the owner warranty things like no accidents? Virtually impossible to do. This is why you have a mechanic and a body shop inspect it for you. Before you buy, get the VIN and do a CARFAX report online yourself. Not foolproof, but helpful.
Did you have a mechanic inspect the car? ABSOLUTELY! Unless you have the ability to do it yourself.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Hawaii
My biggest fear is paying for a car that may have been involved in a major accident and I am unable to detect it. I've never used Carfax but I'm guessing services like this are supposed to gather data from a database that requires all body shops to report repairs based on VIN. Is it law that all body shops MUST report or is it voluntary?
Lead Lap
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 571
Likes: 6
From: California
My biggest fear is paying for a car that may have been involved in a major accident and I am unable to detect it. I've never used Carfax but I'm guessing services like this are supposed to gather data from a database that requires all body shops to report repairs based on VIN. Is it law that all body shops MUST report or is it voluntary?
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Lead Lap
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 609
Likes: 21
From: Colorado Western Slope
My biggest fear is paying for a car that may have been involved in a major accident and I am unable to detect it. I've never used Carfax but I'm guessing services like this are supposed to gather data from a database that requires all body shops to report repairs based on VIN. Is it law that all body shops MUST report or is it voluntary?
Body shops are NOT required by law to report repairs to anyone, which--of course--is a glaring hole in what CARFAX is able to report. People who are involved in a fender-bender and handle all repairs with cash are never on the CARFAX radar screen.
OTOH, most serious accidents involve the police, who generate a report. CARFAX isn't perfect, but it is better than nothing.
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Lead Lap
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 502
Likes: 11
From: New Brunswick (NB)
Do you have a dealer handy ?
Get an appointment & have them look at it. $$ for the visit but may save you some grief.
They may also have something on the lot they can persuade you to consider.
Get an appointment & have them look at it. $$ for the visit but may save you some grief.
They may also have something on the lot they can persuade you to consider.
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