Do Your Homework When Buying Used Car

Spring is the time of year many people are on the hunt for a new car and many are looking at used cars, only to learn costly lessons।They don't ask the right questions until it is too late and the money has been paid."(When you buy a car) everybody is laughing and talking and congratulating on your choice of cars," said Edna Beard, of Germantown.

However, Beard is not laughing. She said that after the deal was done, she found out she paid $18,000 for a car that was worth $13,000."Even though they had ripped me off, they had done it legally," Beard said.Consumer Alert hears from people like Beard all the time, through e-mails and phone calls -- people who feel they got a raw deal on a used car. But you can protect yourself.One of the biggest misconceptions is that the car dealership has to tell you everything there is to know about a car without being asked."You always want to ask every question you can think of about the car. What was its history? Where did the car come from? How did the dealership acquire the car?" said Craig Kimmel, a lawyer who specializes in lemon laws.Kimmel said that buyers should also ask if the car has ever been in an accident and if the odometer has been altered or damaged.Dealerships are required to disclose if the car has a salvage title or a flood title -- a designation given when the car has been significantly damaged, which is something to be on the lookout for since the Katrina flooding.Buyers should also try to get a vehicle history report from a service like CarFax, which provides information about what has happened to the car. The buyer can get it from the dealer, or they can get it on their own."It's not an absolute as far as information goes. It's helpful. It's a guide," Kimmel said.Buyers should also consider having a mechanic check out the car. If the dealer refuses the request, that should be a red flag.Even though it sounds like a lot of work, all these bases need to be covered before you buy."Like doing your taxes. No one likes investigating and doing your homework for buying a car. It's not fun, but it can be very rewarding," Kimmel said."But remember what the executive director of the Philadelphia Auto Dealers Association reminded me today -- the person with the power is the person with the checkbook. If you are not comfortable, if you don't get your questions asked, walk away," NBC 10's consumer reporter Tracy Davidson said.

Do Your Homework When Buying Used Car

Spring is the time of year many people are on the hunt for a new car and many are looking at used cars, only to learn costly lessons।They don't ask the right questions until it is too late and the money has been paid."(When you buy a car) everybody is laughing and talking and congratulating on your choice of cars," said Edna Beard, of Germantown.

However, Beard is not laughing. She said that after the deal was done, she found out she paid $18,000 for a car that was worth $13,000."Even though they had ripped me off, they had done it legally," Beard said.Consumer Alert hears from people like Beard all the time, through e-mails and phone calls -- people who feel they got a raw deal on a used car. But you can protect yourself.One of the biggest misconceptions is that the car dealership has to tell you everything there is to know about a car without being asked."You always want to ask every question you can think of about the car. What was its history? Where did the car come from? How did the dealership acquire the car?" said Craig Kimmel, a lawyer who specializes in lemon laws.Kimmel said that buyers should also ask if the car has ever been in an accident and if the odometer has been altered or damaged.Dealerships are required to disclose if the car has a salvage title or a flood title -- a designation given when the car has been significantly damaged, which is something to be on the lookout for since the Katrina flooding.Buyers should also try to get a vehicle history report from a service like CarFax, which provides information about what has happened to the car. The buyer can get it from the dealer, or they can get it on their own."It's not an absolute as far as information goes. It's helpful. It's a guide," Kimmel said.Buyers should also consider having a mechanic check out the car. If the dealer refuses the request, that should be a red flag.Even though it sounds like a lot of work, all these bases need to be covered before you buy."Like doing your taxes. No one likes investigating and doing your homework for buying a car. It's not fun, but it can be very rewarding," Kimmel said."But remember what the executive director of the Philadelphia Auto Dealers Association reminded me today -- the person with the power is the person with the checkbook. If you are not comfortable, if you don't get your questions asked, walk away," NBC 10's consumer reporter Tracy Davidson said.