| Surprise! That used car you just paid for might not be | | | | 3. LOW SALE PRICE: If the car seller is asking a |
| legally yours. If you have never heard of "car cloning", | | | | ridiculously low price for the vehicle, inquire why. Smart |
| the latest scam on the market, this article might save | | | | buyers usually research car prices online before |
| you from making a big mistake the next time you buy | | | | purchasing. To check current car values simply search |
| a used car. | | | | for a similar vehicle on a popular car classified website. |
| Did you know that one in three used cars has | | | | If the vehicles asking price is significantly lower, be |
| something to hide? In many cases it is something as | | | | suspicious the car could be stolen. |
| innocuous as an owner was a little lazy and failed to | | | | 4. MAINTENANCE RECORDS: You should inspect all |
| get maintenance done as frequently as he should | | | | maintenance records, which are not only a good way |
| have. Nothing new there, right? In other cases, it could | | | | to see if the car was stolen, but also will give you a |
| be that the car has been in a serious accident, flood | | | | hint of how well the car has been taken care of. |
| damaged, or in fact stolen. | | | | Checking the mileage over time on the maintenance |
| The latest trend is vehicle cloning. Thieves take the | | | | records is one good step to ensure that the seller did |
| vehicle identification number or VIN from a legitimate | | | | not tamper with the odometer. |
| vehicle and slap it onto a stolen car. Because each | | | | 5. REGISTRATION PAPERS: The registration papers |
| VIN is unique, the stolen vehicle becomes a clone of | | | | will also give you some clues about the vehicle. Make |
| the legitimate one. Add some fake papers and a | | | | sure the license plate on the car matches the numbers |
| warm smile, and the thieves are ready to sell you a | | | | on the registration papers. Make sure the owner's |
| vehicle that looks perfectly legal and obviously comes | | | | name matches the sellers - and ask for picture ID. |
| from a very friendly, honest-looking person. | | | | Preferably meet the seller at the address listed on the |
| Here are five tips to protect yourself from becoming a | | | | papers; a thief might have a problem with that. |
| used car clone victim: | | | | One of the smartest steps you can take to protect |
| 1. INTUITION: Trust your instincts. If it sounds too good | | | | yourself against buying a stolen vehicle is to buy your |
| to be true, it probably is. If you feel suspicious about a | | | | used car from a reputable dealer. Not only will the |
| vehicle or the seller, walk away. Even if the vehicle | | | | chance of buying a problem vehicle be much smaller, |
| was not stolen, reconstructed after flood damage or | | | | resolving any issue will be much simpler if the need |
| older than it appears, it's not worth taking the risk. | | | | arises. |
| There are plenty of other used cars available. | | | | Remember that if it looks like it's too good to be true |
| 2. VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: Check the | | | | and it sounds like it's too good to be true, and it feels |
| VIN - Every vehicle sold has a VIN. This number should | | | | like it's too good to be true...it is probably a "steal", just |
| match the number on the title and registration. The VIN | | | | not in the sense you wish. Leave the gambling at the |
| is located on the driver's side above the dashboard, | | | | Blackjack table and make sure the used car you are |
| inside the driver door and under the hood. Look for any | | | | buying is a legitimate vehicle that you can truly own. |
| signs that these numbers could have been tampered | | | | ABOUT THE WRITERS |
| with. If the windshield contains slight damages, such as | | | | This article was prepared by David Leonhardt and |
| scratch marks around the area, there is a strong | | | | Corey Rozon for Monster Auto, a top Canadian used |
| possibility that the VIN has been replaced. If so, the car | | | | car portal, where you can find used Chevys for sale |
| is probably stolen. | | | | and also used Honda cars are listed. |