If someone’s buying a new car but shudders at the car dealer’s low offer for their trade-in vehicle, one option is to sell their old hoopty privately. But what if it’s a lemon on four tires? Here are 16 signs a private seller is trying to unload a money pit of a car at your expense.
They Post Very Few Pictures
If looking for a used car online, you’ll find many ads from private sellers. Some of them will post few, if any, pictures. And the images they post might only show sections of the vehicle. How difficult is it to include photos that show the entire vehicle at various angles? Easy. But someone looking to unload a hoopty that needs a ton of work might not be forthcoming with good pics.
They Don’t Have the Title Handy
Never buy a used car if the private seller can’t produce the vehicle title. That’s a red flag. You must see the vehicle title, look it over, and ensure everything’s kosher before proceeding. Run for the hills if the private seller tells some story about misplacing it. You can’t be sure they own the vehicle they wish to sell if you don’t see the car title.
They Won’t Let You Take It for a Test Drive
Another trick some private sellers pull is insisting the car can’t be test-driven. There may be legitimate reasons — like if there’s no insurance on the vehicle. But it’s still a red flag. If you can’t test drive a car and put it through its paces, you can’t make an informed decision.
They Pull the Old Bait-and-Switch Trick
Another thing some private sellers do is pull a bait and switch. They might post an ad with pictures of a car for sale. But if you go to see it, you might realize that the photos in the ad don’t reflect the vehicle you now see up close and personal. That’s straight-up dishonest. It’s not worth continuing. Get out of dodge.
They Get Angry When You Ask Questions
Yet another sign that something’s amiss is if the private seller gets agitated when you ask questions. Some private sellers believe that offering a used vehicle at a low price spares them from answering questions. If a private seller gets upset when you pose questions, look elsewhere.
They Won’t Provide a Carfax
Getting a Carfax for a used vehicle is essential since you can see the car’s history. A Carfax isn’t perfect since it’ll only disclose issues reported to an insurance company, but you can still learn about the accident history, safety recalls, and insurance claims.
They Provide Unsatisfactory Answers
Before buying a used car, you’ll have questions. If you don’t get good answers, that’s something to be concerned about. You can’t make an intelligent buying decision if you have more questions than answers. Cut your losses and scoot if the private seller isn’t helpful.
They Have the Car Running When You Get There
If you arrive at a location to test drive a used car and find that the private seller has the car running, be careful. It might be a kind gesture, but it might also be a ploy to cover up problems. For instance, starting up a car cold might reveal odd engine sounds, colored smoke coming out of the exhaust, or other strange things. If the car is running, you might miss those things.
They Try to Convince You the Dashboard Lights Mean Nothing
You should never ignore dashboard warning lights. If you start a used car and see the dashboard light up like a Christmas tree, be wary. You’ll want to ask about them. Better yet, bring an OBDII scanner to perform a scan. You might be surprised at what you see.
They Won’t Let You Use an OBDII Scanner
If the private seller won’t let you plug in your OBDII scanner to check out dashboard lights, that’s the time to walk. They’re likely hiding something if they won’t allow you to perform a check.
They Won’t Let You Inspect the Vehicle Properly
It’s always best to give the vehicle a good once-over, open the hood, look underneath, use an OBDII scanner, and ask plenty of questions. Bring someone more car-savvy if you’re all thumbs with vehicles. Cut your losses and leave if the private seller won’t let you check it out thoroughly.
They Only Allow for a (Very) Short Test Drive
A private seller might allow a test drive. But if the test drive is limited, it won’t do much good. You should spend time on the road and highway driving at various speeds, stopping, and observing how the vehicle handles different driving situations. You can’t do that if your test drive is limited to a side street or cul-de-sac.
They Misrepresent the Vehicle
Another dealbreaker is finding that the used car isn’t as advertised. If the advertisement says the vehicle is in good condition and you find that that’s not the case, walk. It’s not worth negotiating with a private seller who is loosey-goosey with the truth.
They Pressure You
Have you ever contacted someone about a used car you want to buy and had them pressure you? They might say others are interested and that you need to buy it today or else…poof! That’s a pressure tactic that could lead you to buy a used car without doing due diligence.
They Won’t Let You Take It to a Mechanic First
You shouldn’t buy a used vehicle before having a mechanic assess it. If a private seller forbids it, that’s a red flag. Some people make the mistake of getting a used vehicle looked at after they buy it. And that can lead to unexpected expensive fixes later.
They Want to Switch Up the Terms at the Last Minute
Another sign you should bail on a deal is if a too-good-to-be-true offer ends up being just that. If you agree to one price but the private seller tries to jack up the price at the last minute, run. First off, anything too good to be true often is. But trying to siphon more money out of the buyer is unconscionable. Don’t be a sucker. Walk.
Don’t Let a Private Seller Get You Hook, Line, and Sinker
While nothing’s wrong with buying a used car, you must be more careful when going that route. There are honest private sellers out there, but some private sellers want to unload their headaches onto someone else. Don’t be that someone else.
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