When you buy a used car, you automatically assume that the information printed on the title is accurate and true. But that may not always be the case. The majority of car titles contain accurate information, but some may have been washed, so to speak. There could be information left off that would influence whether or not you would consider buying that used car. So what kind of facts can be washed off a car title? Keep reading and we’ll tell you.
According to this article, even researching a car title may not dig up any dirt on the title.
The most common damages that get erased from a car title include being in a flood and being in a wreck and classified as totaled by an insurance company.
So how does this happen? Some dealers and mechanics can purchase salvaged cars and trucks for a fraction of the cost of a non-damaged used vehicle. According to the article, after refurbishing they can then transfer the identification serial number tags of a non-damaged vehicle to the repaired one, register it to a new owner or in a different state and it will no longer have the damage history on the title.
Another way is to transfer the title to an owner in another state, repeat the transfer process a couple of times and you get a washed or clean title.
To be fair, there are damaged cars that have been rebuilt safely and make a good purchase. But the point is that a buyer should be able to know the vehicle’s true history and make the decision whether or not to purchase that vehicle based on that accurate information.
Until a uniform national law is passed requiring insurance companies to register cars they classify as damaged, buyers will have to just do as much research as possible on the title and a close visual inspection as well. Check for an unusual amount of rust under the vehicle or a musty smell, which may indicate flood damage. Look for welded parts on the frame, shiny parts that don’t match the wear of the other original parts or paint that doesn’t match. Those could be indicators of a previous wreck.
Sometimes not only are used cars not only thoroughly washed inside and out, but their titles are too. Follow the tips listed above and be aware that while most dealers show clean car titles, there will always be some who don’t.
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