We've all grown up hearing the stereotype of the greedy car salesman, especially used car dealers, but that image doesn't hold up in most cases. Sure, they may try a few simple tricks of persuasion, but that's true of every salesperson.
Knowing why people act a certain way and why they buy certain things can make it easier to sell to them.
Professional salesperson or not, some people will do some unethical and even illegal things to make money. Some sellers have been known to turn back speedometers so a car seems less used. Others might advertise things they don't have to get you to come in, then try to sell you what they do have.
These are just a few things that should serve as absolute deal-breakers when buying a used car. We'll talk about a few others in this article.
1. "Branded Titles"
A branded title can make all the difference in your decision of what car to buy. "Branded" titles are titles that denote certain things that have been done to the car in the past.
The many brands a car can have include lemon, junked, rebuilt, water damage, odometer rollback, and hail damage. Each of these means something different, but all are bad news.
Lemon
The "Lemon" brand means that the car was returned per the terms of the state's Lemon Laws. These laws differ from state to state, but all states have them in some form, at least for new cars. Six states have it for used cars, as well.
This means that you were unknowingly sold a car that doesn't function properly. Whatever is wrong with your car, the dealer couldn't figure out how to fix it and your mechanics couldn't either.
Junked and Rebuilt
"Junked" refers to a car that's been totaled. Totaled has become a popular term for any significantly damaged car, but there is an actual definition. In financial terms, "totaled" refers to any car that would take more to repair than it would cost to replace it.
"Rebuilt" goes hand-in-hand with "Junked". Junked means that you'd spend more repairing the car than buying another one.
"Rebuilt" means that somebody repaired it anyway. The car is once again roadworthy.
Odometer Rollback
Water and hail damage are both self-explanatory. "Odometer Rollback" means that the car's mileage can't be vouched for because a previous owner has pushed it back to sell it for a higher price.
This is an illegal practice, but it's difficult to catch. In many cases, all the sellers can do is notify the buyer that the odometer isn't right and that the car may show issues related to heavy use at any time.
Title Washing
Keep in mind that some used car dealers might try to "title wash" the car. This means that a car that falls under lemon laws or other legal conditions is transferred to a state where it doesn't meet the legal standards. Technically, the cars lose the label because they don't qualify for it in that state.
This is why it's important to conduct a thorough used car search.
2. Leaks
If a car is leaking, it means both that something is wrong with it and the seller didn't fix it. A car can leak in a few different ways, but all of them are problems.
Water Leaks
One such leak is a water leak, which can cause mildew to form inside the car and give it a telltale smell. Nobody wants to buy a car that smells weird, and there's a good reason for that.
Mildew doesn't just smell bad. It also carries serious health risks.
Most of these issues are respiratory issues, such as coughing, sneezing, and congestion. However, larger amounts of mold can trigger more serious symptoms, such as fevers and difficulty breathing.
This is assuming you don't have asthma, in which case you especially want to be careful with used car sales.
The good news is that if you don't have any existing respiratory problems, mildew won't kill you. That being said, you're still better off avoiding it if you can.
Oil Leaks
Another type of leak is an oil leak. Oil leaks are also a big issue, but for a different reason.
While mildew can pose threats to our health, oil leaks can threaten our vehicles. Oil leaks can be a sign of serious issues with the motor.
Oil leaks can be dangerous as well. Low oil can cause the engine to seize and cause you to lose control of the car. It can also be a fire hazard, which comes with its own problems.
If you notice smoke coming from the engine, see an engine light on your dashboard or smell something burning, it might be best to look at another car.
Those are just a few of the things that may leak in a poorly maintained car. As a general rule, avoid cars that have anything leaking out of them, even if you can't identify them.
3. Rust, Ill-Fitting Parts, Obvious Signs of Repair
Though they're not necessarily as serious as leaks or branded titles, don't buy any cars that are covered with rust, have loose parts, or appear to have been poorly maintained or hastily repaired.
These are signs that the previous owner didn't care for the car very much, or liked to think of themselves as a handyperson, but had little to no idea what they were doing.
Most professionals know how to perform a range of repairs while leaving no sign that the car was ever malfunctioning. You can probably get some used car parts and repair at least some of the damage, but don't commit to it if you're not sure you want to restore a car.
Purchasing a Used Car: Deal-Breakers
You shouldn't expect perfection when buying a used car, but there are certain deal-breakers that you should definitely not accept. We've talked about used car sales and defects in this article, but there's a lot more to know when purchasing a car.
If you want to know more about used cars and the process of purchasing them or are in the market for a used car, please visit our site. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
