Good Advice for Car Buyers

Always take care and it is always best to proceed with caution rather than being scammed!

1. TRUE MARKET VALUE

Take care with any car priced well below market value. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is and you are getting stolen or damaged cars at best and scammed at worst.

2. INSPECT THE CAR

Schedule an inspection or an inspection service if the car is not in your area. Please note that an inspection isn't a warranty and won't guarantee a car is free from defects or that inspectors have identified all existing problems.

3. CAR HISTORY

Any documentation on the car, its history, can provide useful information, for example, who holds the title to the car and whether the car has been in an accident, whether the car was ever reported stolen, salvaged or damaged.

4. CONFIRM CONTACT INFORMATION

Before you send payment, verify the seller's street address and phone number- an email address is not enough. ZIP codes, area codes and addresses should match up. Be cautious if the seller is located overseas.

5. USE EMAIL WISELY

Avoid sending sensitive personal or financial information to a seller via email. Remember that email communications are not secure and can be easily forwarded to others.

6. GET A DETAILED RECEIPT

Ask the seller for a receipt that states if the car is being sold with a warranty or 'as seen.'

7. GET TITLE TO THE CAR

Make sure you know what's required in your country to transfer the title to the car you're buying.

Good Advice for Car Sellers

Always take care and it is always best to proceed with caution rather than being scammed!

1. CONFIRM CONTACT INFORMATION

Be particularly wary of buyers willing to purchase your car sight-unseen. Always verify the buyer's street address and phone number.

2. SECURE PAYMENT FIRST

Do not transfer the title until you have payment in hand at the agreed upon price.Do not transfer the title until you have payment in hand at the a

3. VERIFY THAT A CERTIFIED CHEQUE IS GENUINE

Before you deposit a certified cheque, verify authenticity with the issuing bank-not just your bank. Make sure the account contains sufficient funds and the issuing bank guarantees payment on the cheque. It may take a week or more for the cheque to clear. It hasn't cleared just because your bank has accepted it and credited your account.

4. BEWARE OF OVERPAYMENT OR OTHER COMPLICATED PAYMENT SCHEMES

Don't agree to any plan where the buyer asks to send a cheque for more than the sale price and requests that the seller refund the difference. And be suspicious of any buyer who proposes making payment through a friend or agent of the buyer.