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Protect yourself. Read these important car-buying tips before you sign!
There’s a new danger riding in on a storm for used car buyers—flood-damaged vehicles. “Authorities in the US have told us they expect about half a million vehicles to be flooded as a result of Hurricane Harvey alone,” said Tom Girling, Director of Investigations for OMVIC, Ontario’s vehicle sales regulator. “And they expect many of them will end up being exported—including to Canada.”
Sending a “child” off to university or college can be traumatic – for the parents of course; the kid will be just fine. So to make it easier to keep ‘em coming home for more than just Thanksgiving and spring break, some parents will head out with their teens on an elusive hunt for a decent, but cheap, set of wheels. It’s worth noting decent and cheap can be difficult to find in peaceful coexistence in the automotive jungle.
If you’re looking to purchase a late model used car or truck, chances are you’ve checked out some of the online auto marketplaces such as Kijiji, AutoTRADER, Craigslist or others. While there are a lot of legitimate vehicles available through these sites, there are also a number of sophisticated online scams you should watch out for.
Know A Scam When You See One
Recently, OMVIC has warned Canadian online car shoppers about two notorious scams designed to separate consumers from their hard-earned money: the phony private seller; and the phantom US dealer. Both have tell-tale signs that, if spotted, will alert the potential buyer to the dangers posed by these rip-off artists.