How to buy a used car ?

[TurtleMan]

I am just wondering if I go on and buy a used car,
say me and the seller is not sure on the price yet,
but I am going to show up with cash and settle it down with him,

1) do I just give him all the money first ? or make a small deposite?


the seller want to change the tires and do smog before he sells it to me, so after I settle down the price
with him, I don't want him do the tires and smog and come back to me say he doesnt want to sell me the car at the price that we settled for.

2) is there any way to prevents that ?

and

3) how DO I buy a used car, like paperworks and payment issues, contract (yes/no) ..


tyvm !

 

[isekii]

He should have the title in hand and sign it over to you with your information on the title.
If he doesn't have the title in hand and the bank has a lien on it, you should go to the bank together ?

 

[ShowdOWN]

exactly what isekii said. my friend bought a used nsx a few weeks ago and we went through the same scenario. if he doesnt have the title in hand and the bank still owns the car, then you guys need to meet up to have it transferred over immediately after you make the payment.

 

[3chordcharlie]

if he wants to do tires and smog - have this written on the bill that you both sign agreeing on price (ie that HE will look after tires and smog, not you). You need to do this so he can't back out of that part of the deal if there turns out to be something wrong with the car. Verbal contracts are binding, but hard to proove.

 

[TurtleMan]

Okay, so if he has the title in hand, after he took my offer and I pay him, the essentialy the car belong to me, but that doens't leave him time to do the smog and tires tho, that's where im stucked on ...

if it is written down, i gonna have him sign it stating that he would be responsble for the tires and smog upon giving me the car ? but I will just pay him and have him transfer the title to me first ?

if he transferred the title to me, and i leave the car with him, that is not a wise decsion eh ...

 

[Wuffsunie]

I just bought a car and it was similar to what you're going through.

Don't bother bringing the cash with you, if there's still work to be done on the car then there's no point. Negotiate it down to whatever you want. Give him a deposit of a few hundred bucks (say $200) to ensure that he holds the car for you and does not try selling it to someone else. Write out a full agreement stating the selling price, what he still has to do on the car still, and that a deposit was made with the understanding that the car will be held for you and your money will be refunded if the car fails inspection and safety checks (assuming you have to do that when selling a car in your area). Explicitly state the car being purchased what each side is responsible for. Both then sign and date. Witnesses help here.

I don't know what's involved in getting ownership transferred in your part of the country, but it would be worth a trip to your local DMV or whatever handles things in your area to make sure you have all the proper documentation for when you inform them of transfer.

 

[TurtleMan]

hehe i lived in california , so I think we only need the certificate for smog and title thingy..

so no cash for him? but I won't be able to secure my deal then.. arggh..

maybe i just tell him to do the tire change and smog check ahead of the time, and bring the cash to him
and just settle it once for all ?

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: TurtleMan
hehe i lived in california , so I think we only need the certificate for smog and title thingy..

so no cash for him? but I won't be able to secure my deal then.. arggh..

maybe i just tell him to do the tire change and smog check ahead of the time, and bring the cash to him
and just settle it once for all ?

GIVE HIM A DEPOSIT~!!!!!!

 

[TurtleMan]

Originally posted by: isekii

Originally posted by: TurtleMan
hehe i lived in california , so I think we only need the certificate for smog and title thingy..

so no cash for him? but I won't be able to secure my deal then.. arggh..

maybe i just tell him to do the tire change and smog check ahead of the time, and bring the cash to him
and just settle it once for all ?

GIVE HIM A DEPOSIT~!!!!!!

it just doesn't sound right now, look

B: "Here is 6g cash for the car, you want to sell it?"
S: "hmm... im asking for 7g tho.... but 6g cash, okay fine"
B: " Cool, here is $200 for deposit, after u done smog and changed tires,
i will come back with the rest of $5800"
S: " wt#$%@(#%@)%@_% "

I just dont think that's how it should done tho.....

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: TurtleMan

Originally posted by: isekii

Originally posted by: TurtleMan
hehe i lived in california , so I think we only need the certificate for smog and title thingy..

so no cash for him? but I won't be able to secure my deal then.. arggh..

maybe i just tell him to do the tire change and smog check ahead of the time, and bring the cash to him
and just settle it once for all ?

GIVE HIM A DEPOSIT~!!!!!!

it just doesn't sound right now, look

B: "Here is 6g cash for the car, you want to sell it?"
S: "hmm... im asking for 7g tho.... but 6g cash, okay fine"
B: " Cool, here is $200 for deposit, after u done smog and changed tires,
i will come back with the rest of $5800"
S: " wt#$%@(#%@)%@_% "

I just dont think that's how it should done tho.....

You make a deposit of a small amount so that he won't sell to anyone else.
it also shows that you are committed to the purhcase of the car.

 

[Wuffsunie]

Originally posted by: isekii
You make a deposit of a small amount so that he won't sell to anyone else.
it also shows that you are committed to the purhcase of the car.

Exactly. The seller wants to do business, plain and simple. He's admitted he needs to do some work on it already. If you don't want to risk getting screwed out of the money no matter what happens, the best course is to wait until he has all the repairs and cirtificates done. (The latter really should have been done before the car went up anyway, but that's life.) The deposit is only if you want to finalize the deal now, and it acknowledges that he still has work to do on the car. If the guy's decent you shouldn't have a problem. Also, try and bargin a little first, to ensure you have some wiggle room in case he declines the deposit and another buyer comes along.

I would still check your DMV, though, and see exactly what kind of documentation they'll want to see for the transfer of ownership. Here in Ontario, they had changed some of the rules on me since the last time I bought, so that shows it's good to be sure.

 

[TurtleMan]

Originally posted by: Wuffsunie

Originally posted by: isekii
You make a deposit of a small amount so that he won't sell to anyone else.
it also shows that you are committed to the purhcase of the car.

Exactly. The seller wants to do business, plain and simple. He's admitted he needs to do some work on it already. If you don't want to risk getting screwed out of the money no matter what happens, the best course is to wait until he has all the repairs and cirtificates done. (The latter really should have been done before the car went up anyway, but that's life.) The deposit is only if you want to finalize the deal now, and it acknowledges that he still has work to do on the car. If the guy's decent you shouldn't have a problem. Also, try and bargin a little first, to ensure you have some wiggle room in case he declines the deposit and another buyer comes along.

I would still check your DMV, though, and see exactly what kind of documentation they'll want to see for the transfer of ownership. Here in Ontario, they had changed some of the rules on me since the last time I bought, so that shows it's good to be sure.

Hmm thanks, but u see i try to lower the price to from 7g to 6g, which the seller is not so willing, that's the problem im facing right now. if i would come back later for tires and smog , then he may back down, that's wat im worry about... but maybe i will just ask him to do the those first

 

[MikePanic]

write a detailed contract, or find one online... only give a $100 deposit and specify that nothing be changed to the car (other then what is outlined in the contract) and that no excessive milage be put on the car between the time the deposit is made and the time you take ownership of the car. also specify that if any modifications or damage to the car will void the contract and you are entitled to your deposit back.

have the seller sign it, you sign it and take someone w/ you as a witness

 

[TurtleMan]

roger that, i will try that tomorrow

 

[Chaotic42]

1. Run a Carfax check on it.
2. Make sure the guy has a clear title (no lien).
3. Make sure there is a witness.
4. Go to a notary public.
5. Have him write two bills of sale with the VIN, date, and purchase price. All three of you need to sign and date this.
6. All of you need to sign and date the title.
7. Have the bill of sale and title notarized.

 

[Kelemvor]

1) You pay in full when you take posession of the car. If he wants a small deposit to hold it for you that'd probably be understandable. Assuming you havae alreayd test drove it and such that's normal procedure.

2) Unless you want to get lawyers involved to draw up an official contract, I doubt there's much you can do. Just make sure you are specifying that the price you are agreeing on are for AFTER the parts are replaced.

3) You give him cash, he gives you title after signing it and recording the mileage and price, you sign it and take it to the DMV. It's pretty simple.

Good Luck.