| Buying a used car can be risky. How do
you know what you're getting?
- hidden accident damage?
- false odometer readings?
- flood damage?
- lemon?
Truth is, all you need to avoid these risks is a VIN history check.
A car's unique Vehicle Identification Number is the key to unlocking
its history. |
Curbstoners use classified ads or put the vehicles
in highly trafficked areas with "for sale" signs to attract unsuspecting
buyers. If you are meeting the seller in a parking lot, be wary. They usually
will not meet you at their homes.
Look at the seller's license and the car's title. If the names on the
two documents don't match, don't buy the car. Selling it for a friend
or family member should send up red flags.
Check the phone number. If the same phone number appears in multiple classified
advertisements, the seller is probably curbstoning.
Get a VIN Number Check and look for problem titles, odometer rollbacks,
accidents and other automotive events.
Also take the used car to a trusted mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection.
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- insurance card or policy
- vehicle title or registration card
- front driver's side dash, looking through windshield
- front driver's side door post
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A vin history check can spot lemon
cars and save you thousands in repair and legal costs
Lemon cars are talked about quite often. You may ask: What is a lemon
car? Lemon cars are generally cars that have manufacturer defects or other
problems that are not easily repaired. State and federal lemon laws provide
car owners the right to a refund or a replacement vehicle if a dealer
or manufacturer is repeatedly unable to repair it after a reasonable number
of attempts.
There are many types of problems you may experience with your new or
used car that would determine that the vehicle is a lemon car. A vin history
check is a good place to review title history before purchasing a car.
It is also recommended that you get an extensive review from a qualified
mechanic.
Here are some problems that may signal that you have a lemon or problem
car on your hands:
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transmission problems
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engine trouble
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peeling paint
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key switch not locking when key is removed
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warning light to "Check Coolant Level" coming on and the
coolant being full
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alarm not setting and other times not "unsetting"
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rough idle
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hesitation upon acceleration
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check engine light on
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vehicle surge
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door unlock/lock switch not working part of the time
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radio staying on after the car was turned off
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leather was coming apart from the side door
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stalling while driving or coming to a stop
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hard to start
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transmission clunk
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clunk when shifting
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transmission/engine leak
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windshield wipers come on intermittently for no reason
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engine knock; engine pinging
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dash information panel would light up and have no information in
it
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transmission slipping
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transmission banging into gear
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pulling to the left or right
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pulling when brakes applied
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won't hold an alignment
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oil consumption
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stuck in gear
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stuck in park
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power window failure
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power locks don't work
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phantom locks
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sliding door failure
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brake failure
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brakes pull or grind
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front end shakes when brakes applied
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abnormal tire wear
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poor gas mileage (can indicate bad computer)
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black smoke from tail pipe
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white smoke from tail pipe
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catalytic converter problems
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rotten egg smell from engine
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mold/mildew bad odor from A/C
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head lights dimming or failure
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seat belt failure
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repair shop says your gas cap isn't tight
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fuel sending problems
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gas gauge wrong
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front end problems
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leaky manifold
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drive line clunk
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coolant leaks
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engine overheating
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water leaks
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roof leaks
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air leaks
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paint defects
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tail lights not working
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continuous blown fuses
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power steering grinding, leaks, or failure
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transmission froze up
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engine froze up
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leaky roof
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tail lights did not work
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electrical problems
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steering alignment very bad
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front-end problems
- excessive wind noise from seals around the windows
Seek legal help if you suspect you have a lemon car. Attempts to resolve
it with the dealer or manufacturer can be substantially reduced if you
have the help of a competent attorney who specializes in lemon law for
your state.
A free vin history check can help you spot problems like those listed
above. Getting a vin history check online is easy! All you need is a vehicle
identification number - or VIN - to get started.
It's never fun to get stuck with a problem vehicle that never seems to
work. Make a confident used car purchase by knowing the vin history of
the car you buy.
>> Vin
History Check
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