Many car buyers find themselves in this unfortunate circumstance, whether they are in New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut or elsewhere in the country. Whats our advice?
#1 When buying a car, run your own CarFax report; dont be penny-wise and dollar-foolish by relying on the auto dealer to do the right thing. Many dealers alter reports to make a sale, and proving liability for fraud in a case like this is virtually impossible.
#2 Show the car to a certified mechanic. Most mechanics will gladly inspect vehicles for an hours fee. Most significant problems with the car will be obvious to a trained eye; dont rely on the dealers mechanic to provide advice to you.
#3 Check the vehicles VIN with your states Registry of Motor Vehicles; many states allow consumers to search vehicle information free of charge, and many of such searches will reveal lemon law history of the vehicle.
#4 If the vehicle is a recent make and model, visit a dealer for that manufacturer and ask for a Warranty Repair History for the vehicle you are looking to purchase. Most will provide it. The history will show you what work had been done on the vehicle while it was under the...