Tips To Ensure You Are Not A Victim Of A Car Sale Scam
If you are looking to purchase a pre-owned vehicle, you very well might be thinking – Where does one start? Where do you go to find a reliable and affordable car? Check out these great tips from Imperial Auto to avoid becoming a victim of car sale scams…
The first thing most people do is search online, here you will find a lot of used cars being sold by both private sellers and car dealers.
The process of buying a vehicle requires research and guidance, as there are so many fraud and new car scams floating around on the internet.
According to an article featured in BusinessTech in January, a Sunday Times report claimed that, approximately 20,000 vehicles are illegally registered and sold in South Africa each year.
Here are a few useful tips to ensure you get the best car deal and avoid being scammed:
Avoiding scams
If a car is offered at a much cheaper price, ask yourself why? “If it looks and sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Make sure the seller has a valid address and telephone number. Never buy without seeing and driving the car first.
Payment
Never send money overseas – it’s often the preferred method of a fraudulent seller acquiring money illegally. Only pay for the car when you physically collect it from the seller. Be wary of requests for upfront payments or private information, a false sense of urgency or requests to provide unnecessary details – it could be a car export scam.
History check
It is important to make sure you have a history check on any car you’re interested in purchasing. It will tell you whether it is:
• Recorded as stolen, written-off, or scrapped
• Recorded as previously repaired by an insurer after an accident
• Has outstanding finance or has been leased
A good option is to go to a trusted car dealership, such as Imperial Auto. The great thing about using reputable Imperial Auto dealers, is you are guaranteed that the car is not stolen or rebuilt and they organise the original NATIS (registration document) and Road Worthy Certificate. They have car dealerships nationwide – so you can find one near you.
For more useful info on purchasing your first car click here and join the conversation on Facebook