Tips for buying a used car from an indivdual?

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imported_K3N

Golden Member
Dec 20, 2005
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There's this car i really want to buy from an individual seller. He doesnt have a vin for it or anything. i saw the car on craiglist and cars.com. Anyone have tips or anything when buying the car from an indvidual, i've never really bought a car from an individual before.

Im really thinking of asking him if i could do a state inspecition after i buy the car and if it isn't good, then i'll return it to him. im not sure what i should do.
 
nakedfrog

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
62,947
19,190
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He shouldn't have a problem with you having it checked out by a mechanic (you'd have to pay, of course). If he doesn't want you to, then you probably don't want to buy it.
 
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imported_Imp

Diamond Member
Dec 20, 2005
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Obviously check it over with a mechanic you trust and check the VIN with cops if you can. No VIN = stolen unless someone accidently pryed it off/scraped it down for fun.
 
Unheard

Unheard

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2003
3,774
9
81
The VIN is located multiple places on the car. This varies from car to car, so do some research then go take a look at it.
 
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imported_stev

Senior member
Oct 27, 2005
368
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But if you insist on buying it anyway, you need to not let money exchange hands until you do a VIN check on it (no VIN, no sale, period) and have a mechanic look it over. You also need the TITLE to the car before you drive away (no TITLE, no sale, period).

Good luck. If it doesn't work out, you can always take your case to the People's Court.
 
waffleironhead

waffleironhead

Diamond Member
Aug 10, 2005
7,068
572
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make sure there is no lein on the car, free and clear title is the only way to go. I bought a car once where the owner still had a loan out for the car they were selling. Big pita. sellers Bank didnt want to release the title, my bank didnt want to release the check till they had title. Seller didnt want to hand over keys till they had their check(which ended up being under $500 after the bank was paid off).

 
mugs

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
He probably didn't give you the VIN so you couldn't run a Carfax. If he won't give it to you, don't buy the car.
 
O

OdiN

Banned
Mar 1, 2000
16,430
3
0
Honda? Check.

No VIN? Check.

Stolen? Check.



But seriously...no VIN, no buy.
 
V

V00DOO

Diamond Member
Dec 2, 2000
3,817
2
81
According to the description it's first owner. He should have the title after owning the car for 10 years. Since the car has 144K miles you should ask the owner if the timing belt and water pump have been changed if not that's the first thing I would do. It looks like a nice car.
 
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imported_K3N

Golden Member
Dec 20, 2005
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0
71
Originally posted by: V00DOO
According to the description it's first owner. He should have the title after owning the car for 10 years. Since the car has 144K miles you should ask the owner if the timing belt and water pump have been changed if not that's the first thing I would do. It looks like a nice car.
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ah, thanks. this helps alot! :)
 
alkemyst

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Originally posted by: Imp
Obviously check it over with a mechanic you trust and check the VIN with cops if you can. No VIN = stolen unless someone accidently pryed it off/scraped it down for fun.
Click to expand...

You'd still have it on the title.
 
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imported_K3N

Golden Member
Dec 20, 2005
1,199
0
71
Sorry for bringing up this thread after a while.

So is inspection really a must even after looking at the car's history report? do any of you guys who bought a used car from an individual always inspect it? how much does an inspection cost though? im guessing <$100.
 
M

MegaVovaN

Diamond Member
May 20, 2005
4,131
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Originally posted by: K3N
Sorry for bringing up this thread after a while.

So is inspection really a must even after looking at the car's history report? do any of you guys who bought a used car from an individual always inspect it? how much does an inspection cost though? im guessing <$100.
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Yes it's a must. Records are not absolute truth. They may, you know, omit things. Should be like 50 bucks at your local mechanic.
 
J

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Originally posted by: K3N
Sorry for bringing up this thread after a while.

So is inspection really a must even after looking at the car's history report? do any of you guys who bought a used car from an individual always inspect it? how much does an inspection cost though? im guessing <$100.
Click to expand...

Depends on what you're buying, and your level of skill.

I do all my own work, so I inspect the car myself. I probably don't do as thorough a job as a mechanic, but basically I convince myself nothing will go seriously wrong with it, and I repair the small stuff as needed.

In your case, I'd recommend getting a mechanic to look at it. $50 or so ought to do you.

As for Carfax, it can tell you that you want to AVOID a particular car (flood damage, accidents, etc), but it does not tell you that a particular car is in good shape.
 
G

gururu2

Senior member
Oct 14, 2007
686
1
81
you can have the vin checked for like a 14 dollar fee online to make sure its not a salvage. you definitely dont want to get stuck with a salvaged vehicle. also ask to see the latest maintenance receipt on the vehicle. one trick i learned from an old mechanic friend is to test drive it on a highway and have someone (preferably a mechanic) follow you to examine how well the car body is in line with the direction driven. often times, cars with chassis repairs will point slightly off a straight line. its kind of trippy when you are actually looking at it.
 
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