Gregory J. Gallo
Now is a buyer’s market for many used vehicles. Yet, without due diligence, any used vehicle purchase can become a costly mistake. While Connecticut has consumer protection laws guarding against unfair trade and deceptive practices, often legal remedies are worthless after a dealer disappears into the night. So, you need to protect yourself.
What To Do
“Private Seller” Call the seller and ask about the “car for sale.” If the seller asks “which one,” then you are likely dealing with an unregistered dealer. Don’t be fooled by stories that they are selling the car for a friend. If the seller is legit, determine if there is an existing warranty and whether it is transferable from the seller to you.
Dealer Check online business filings with the CT Secretary of State & for complaints with the CT Better Business Bureau. You will discover how long the dealer has been around and how many complaints they have accrued during that time. Speak to people near the dealer to hear if they have an opinion. Type the dealer’s name in an online search engine to see what pops up.
Vehicle Online services provide a vehicle history quickly and cheaply. Bad damage (an insurance total), auto theft, change of ownership and mileage verification are checked. Also, have your mechanic inspect the vehicle. If the dealer balks, you walk.
Warranty Many bad car purchases center around lousy warranties. Horror stories abound. Research the warranty company just as you did the dealer.
Ask your mechanic if they accept that type of warranty. Know the terms of the warranty. Does the warranty company pay the repairer or do they reimburse you? Do they need to see the defective part before they will approve payment? Do they pay a low-ball labor rate and leave you blowing in the wind for the balance? A good warranty allows you to minimize—for a fee—certain risks inherent in buying a used vehicle. A bad one does not. Once you buy the vehicle, call the warranty company to verify the dealer submitted payment for the warranty.
Gregory J. Gallo, is an attorney with Pellegrino Law Firm in New Haven.
