Dealer Fraud

There are a significant number of cases in which dealers represent to consumers that a car was not previously wrecked.  The consumer then buys it based on the representation.  Naturally, mechanical problems occur, and the consumer takes the car in for repairs.  Only then does the consumer learn of the prior wreck. To avoid this situation, you should pay attention to the following:

Carfax or Autocheck Reports - Dealers normally run reports from Carfax and/or Autocheck to determine whether either of those databases lists any prior wreck of or damage to a vehicle they intend to sell.  An honest dealer would pass on the reports if they indicate prior damage.  If he/she failed to do, a dealer fraud attorney will use this fact later in favor of his/her client. Some dealers even advertise the availability of vehicle history reports.

Certified Preowned Vehicles – Buyers feel good about buying what car dealers call “certified preowned vehicles,” because consumers believe that the vehicles have been thoroughly inspected by one or more mechanics.  If the inspections actually occurred and the car dealer passed on to the consumer all the information disclosed during the inspection, then this process is surely beneficial.  However, if the certified preowned vehicle was seriously damaged, and that was not disclosed to the consumer, it is likely that the dealer knew about the damage and simply did not disclose it.

Superior Dealer Expertise - A car dealer should know, much better than the vast majority of consumers, how to look at a vehicle and determine whether it is a  wrecked car or not.  A car dealer may usually do so without the extensive inspection underlying a certified preowned vehicle.  Therefore, if prior damage and/or shoddy repairs would be apparent to a typical car dealer, such could indicate that a car dealer knew of the damage or repairs prior to sale.

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