I previously told you about the potential for cars damaged by Hurricane Katrina to end up in California. Yes, it is happening now. Insurance Commissioner Garamendi has already found seven, and is willing to be next month’s salary that there are more coming.
It is sad, but true. Unscrupulous people are trying to take advantage of a state full of people looking to buy cars. This is a situation of buyer beware. If you are going to buy a used car, follow these steps:
- Buy from a dealer who has inspected the vehicle
- Run a Carfax report and if the car was previously owned in one of the effected states, think twice
- Have the car inspected by an independent mechanic
- Try to get a copy of the original title of the vehicle
These steps will not protect you completely, but they will go a long way to making sure you are not a victim of this deceit.