The five most common scams used by car dealers

The supply of cars on the used market is unlimited, but once you start looking for a car that meets your expectations, the search for a future purchase can become a major headache.

One of the main problems of the used car market is that buyers run the risk of falling into the traps of unreliable sellers trying to get rid of used cars. At first glance they seem tempting, but in reality they hide a number of serious flaws. When used car buyers ignore various recommendations, they then find themselves faced with unexpected problems and scary costs.

carVertical, the largest verification platform in the history of the car, to facilitate the share of buyers in 2021. has launched a study to uncover the most common scams by unscrupulous sellers. This study analyzed more than one million vehicle history reports generated in more than 20 European countries. From this careful analysis it emerged that there are five types of scams most commonly encountered by used car buyers:

1. Hidden signs of an accident

The growing population in large cities automatically increases the probability of getting into even a minor road accident. CarVertical’s research found that almost a third (31%) of cars analyzed on the car history checker platform had hidden effects of accidents, so it is advisable to consider whether all gaps between different body parts are the same when choosing a future car.

If some gaps are larger than others, it may mean that the structural parts of the car were damaged during an unpleasant event or that the car was carelessly repaired at the lowest price.

Since unscrupulous car sellers try to mask these defects by various means, when buying a used car, it is recommended to inspect the purchase of interest, paying close attention to the car body.

2. Falsified mileage

Analysis of data collected throughout the year allowed carVertical to reveal that the mileage of one in six vehicles (16.7%) was falsified.

Car mileage falsification is very common among car dealers who import used cars from surrounding countries or continents and try to sell them with fake odometer readings. It is worth noting that the mileage of cars with a diesel engine is returned much more often.

A one-time odometer fix is ​​a relatively inexpensive procedure, but can increase the cars value by up to 25%. or even more, especially if the model is popular in the aftermarket.

Despite numerous cases of mileage falsification, every buyer of a used car can easily spot an example with possibly “reversed” mileage. The car’s seats, steering wheel or gear lever usually show more signs of wear than usual, and the mileage on the dashboard is low. This could be a signal to the buyer that they should turn around and start looking for another car.

3. Stolen car

One of the worst experiences when buying a used car is later finding out that it was stolen. Usually, the cars of the unfortunate victims of the scammers are seized, and when they then want to recover the money for the confiscated goods, the defrauded buyers find themselves facing obstacles that are difficult to overcome.

Over the past 12 months carVertical has detected several hundred stolen cars, saving many buyers precious time, money and nerve cells.

4. The car was used as a taxi or was rented

Some drivers are unaware that their car previously provided taxi services or belonged to a car rental office. Taxi drivers travel thousands of kilometers every month on congested city streets, so taxi service cars or rental cars wear out faster and receive much less attention to maintenance.

In the last year carVertical was able to see that around two thousand cars were used as taxis or for rental.

Car buyers should be aware that occasionally this type of vehicle may be identified. One of the best-known distinctive characteristics is the specific color of the bodywork of the cars that provide taxi services. However, fake dealers looking for automotive history occasionally take serious measures and simply repaint a former taxi.

5. The price of the car is too low

When looking for a used car, it’s always a good idea to avoid suspiciously cheap vehicles, no matter how tempting they may seem.

If the price of the car you are interested in seems surprisingly attractive, first find out how much the same model costs in other used car markets or compare the price of the model you are interested in with other examples for sale.

Occasionally, these overpriced examples come from the United States or other regions, have fake mileage, or have hidden damage that manages to create the illusion of a great price. Finally, the best solution in such a situation is to start looking at other offers. However, the low price of the car does not always mean that the seller will deceive the buyer. Occasionally, a car sells quickly for personal or other reasons, but in many cases a low price can be a good reason to check the history of the vehicle of interest, as it can then reveal why the price of the car for sale is so low.

Conclusion

Buying a used car can be a long and complicated process. However, using a car history check report allows used vehicle buyers to know the real condition of the vehicle they are interested in and avoid the possibility of being scammed and avoid unexpected expenses.