Hundreds of car buyers fall victim to scammers every year. How to avoid it?

Last year in all branches of “Regitras” 325 vehicles were refused registration after their wanted character was established, and in 294 cases it was suspected that the vehicle identification number, engine number or documents had been falsified. in 2012, 194,534 M1 class cars were registered in Lithuania.

Information on vehicles that have been refused registration on suspicion of counterfeiting is passed on to the police. They carry out an investigation into the purchase of a vehicle and present a conclusion of the investigation. If the suspicions are not confirmed, the vehicle can be entered in the Register.

Every month “Regitra” sends on average 80-120 requests abroad regarding the status of vehicles and clarification of data. While these procedures are being performed, which can take several months, the vehicle cannot be used.

Traps for scammers: stolen, counterfeit cars and financial machinations

Any driver who bought a stolen car from an unreliable seller or which was “glued” from assembled parts can find himself in such an unpleasant situation.

According to Mamerts Kulakauskas, head of the vehicle identification department of “Registra”, those who choose a car on classifieds pages, Internet portals or used car markets run the risk of falling into the traps of scammers.

“Many illegal and uncontrolled car resale operations are carried out in Lithuania. Buyers, often tempted by a lower price of several hundred litas, risk losing both the car and money or, in the best case, losing a lot of time and nerves during registration,” warns buyers M. Kulakauskas. “This can happen to those who buy a car from an unknown “German”, “Italian” or “French”, whom they have never seen and who will never be able to claim responsibility for the product sold. Such a situation is especially favorable for the real seller: he avoids paying taxes to the state and does not assume any responsibility, because the sales contract is not concluded with him,” says M. Kulakauskas.

There have been cases when the buyer is offered a fraudulent car: that is, the one that the owner sold, and after the car has already been taken abroad and the buyer has registered it in another country (for example, Lithuania), the former owner goes to the police and falsely reports that his car was stolen. In this way, the former owner of the allegedly stolen car fraudulently tries to also receive insurance payments.

How to recognize an unreliable seller and product?

What should you do in order not to fall into the clutches of scammers when buying a used car and avoid the unpleasant procedure of car seizure and its investigation in the future?

“Never buy a vehicle from a so-called dealer. A car should be purchased only from a natural or legal person who has the right to sell it. And a vehicle can only be sold by its owner or a company engaged in this business activity. They take full responsibility for the vehicle sold,” advises M.Kulakauskas.

Before purchasing a car imported from abroad and never registered in Lithuania, you should make sure that the seller has an original registration certificate issued in a foreign country. Without this document, the car cannot be registered in Lithuania.

“The exception applies only to vehicles imported from the USA and registered on the basis of ownership documents,” notes M. Kulakauskas.

When purchasing a used car, you must ensure that the vehicle has an identification number marked in at least two places (on the body or chassis and on the manufacturer’s identification plate). This number must be entered in the registration certificate.

When purchasing a vehicle imported from abroad, you should pay attention to whether it has been written off. “Other countries usually do not export unregistered vehicles, because unregistered vehicles can be used in public traffic. In this case, all responsibility for road accidents and various violations lies with the person registered in the registration document. This provision does not apply when the manager, in whose name the vehicle is registered, drives it in the country of sale,” notes M. Kulakauskas.

“Regitras” specialists remind those who purchase a non-new car that the information if the vehicle is not searched for is checked in various “Regitras” databases only at the time of registration. If at the time of registration in the Lithuanian and international information systems the search for the car, its documents or license plates is not announced, and during the identification check at the “Registra” it is established that the identification data of the car and its documents are in order, such a car can be registered.

Before buying a “used” car, it is recommended to take advantage of the advice of specialists and other useful information that can be found on the “Regitras” website.