When buying a new or used car, it is important to get all promises and representations in writing. Consumers should never buy a car on impulse or in response to high pressure sales.
Do your homework:
- Ask the dealer for a title history, Carfax®, or e-autohistory.com.
- If you learn the name of a prior owner call and inquire about the car.
- Have the vehicle inspected.
- Ask about and check for prior damage or mechanical problems.
- Ask friends and family when selecting a reputable dealership.
- Carefully examine the vehicle for prior damage.
- Carefully examine extended warranties and the costs associated with them. Remember they are optional, not mandatory.
- Inspect the vehicle to determine actual mileage.
Special tips for buying a used car:
- Check out the car’s repair record, maintenance costs, and safety and mileage ratings in consumer magazines or online. Look up the “book” value, and be prepared to negotiate the price.
- Buying from a dealer? Look for the Buyers Guide. It’s required by a federal regulation called the Used Car Rule.
- Make sure all oral promises are written into the Buyers Guide.
- Ask for the car’s maintenance record from the owner, dealer, or repair shop.
- Test drive the car on hills, highways, and in stop-and-go traffic.
- Have the car inspected by a mechanic you hire.
- In Kansas, “as is” sales of vehicles to a consumer are prohibited by law absent an agreement showing the vehicle was sold to the consumer with their knowledge of a defect or defects which became part of the basis of the bargain between the parties. (This is a limited exception to ‘as is’ sales under K.S.A. 50-639(c).)