Cars and Motorcycles

Buying a used car can be stressful, but you shouldn’t fret about it. There are plenty of ways to avoid getting taken advantage of, and plenty of laws protecting you. You should always test drive the car and check out all the possible problem areas such as the engine, brakes, accelerator, and transmission. Unless you are a mechanic, you might not know if something is wrong. The best, but most expensive way to check out a car’s quality is to take it to a mechanic before buying it.

The easiest and most cost-efficient way to double check the quality of a used car is to order a Vehicle History Report from a company such as CARFAX. There are a few different companies that will provide this service to you, but CARFAX has the most reputable reputation, as well as the most to lose if they were to get it wrong.

The first thing to do when purchasing a used vehicle is to obtain the VIN or vehicle identification number. This number is located on a metal placard on the driver’s side of the dashboard, closest to the windshield. Any legitimate dealer will be happy to allow you access to this number, and it is always best to get it yourself, rather than over the phone, email, or other media source.

Next, you can visit CARFAX.com to order reports about all the different cars you may be interested in. There are a few different options on their site. The first is a free, simple, single car report. This is not as inclusive as the others, but better than nothing. It’s recommended to use this one only if you already trust the seller.

CARFAX also offers a single complete report for $29.99, and you can get up to ten of these reports for $34.99. Additionally, for those of you looking into more than ten different cars for purchase, you can order an unlimited number of CARFAX reports for $39.99. They gather information from nine different reporting topics: accident reports, vehicle specifications, ownership details, report summary, mileage accuracy, lemon law classification, recall news, warranty items, and vehicle history details.

If you are still unsure of your purchase, just know that lemon law protects you in the event that you purchase a used vehicle that is in fact a lemon. There are plenty of lemon law attorneys in California who can help you understand your rights.