Munday Chevrolet Member Source Credit Union Failed to disclose COLLISION of 2 year-old used car. Internet

    What most people don't realize when buying a used car is that it is up to them to verify that the car is in acceptable condition BEFORE they buy it.  There is a required paper that everyone gets to sign or initial that says the car is being bought "as is" with no warranty implied by the seller.   That's a very important piece of paper because it basically lets the seller off the hook if anything goes wrong with the car after you drive away.

   With that in mind, there are some steps you need to take to protect yourself before buying.  No one else (not even the friendly salesman) is going to be looking out for your interests, so it's up to you.

   First, have the prospective purchase examined by a trusted mechanic before you buy.   Obvious things like a previous crash damage will be easy to spot.   It also wouldn't hurt to get a Carfax report.  Don't get one from the dealer, go online and buy your own.  Dealers have been known to show either altered reports, or a report for some car other than the one you're buying.  Lastly, don't sign anything until you've read and understood exactly what it means.  The signatures on the contracts will prevail over anything that you were told. 

  If all that sounds like a lot of trouble to go through, well I agree, but the consequenses of not doing your homework can affect you for years afterward. 

  By the way, paying thousands for a third party warranty in lieu of having the car checked out is also a game for suckers.   Third party warranty contracts are usually not worth the paper they're printed on.  Just visit this site's catagory under "auto warranty" to see how that usually works out.