# If you're buying a used car **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [November 24, 2024, 9:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/if-youre-buying-a-used-car/198139 "2024-11-24T21:13:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2024, 9:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/if-youre-buying-a-used-car/198139/1 "2024-11-24T21:13:09Z")
… even if it’s not an antique, this chart will help you to interpret the present owner’s statements, or his ad: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/a/5/a512a259f69d1d2c6f5e705609b5012ae0581cc9.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2024, 10:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/if-youre-buying-a-used-car/198139/2 "2024-11-24T22:02:32Z")
I think we here could add a few… It ran when we parked it…Won’t run without a complete rebuild Just needs a starter…Doesn’t start, no clue what’s wrong ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2024, 10:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/if-youre-buying-a-used-car/198139/3 "2024-11-24T22:34:08Z")
Needs freon…Needs complete AC rebuild ---
**Author:** ![bcohen2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bcohen2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bcohen2010)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 1:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/if-youre-buying-a-used-car/198139/4 "2024-11-25T13:48:02Z")
If I’m buying a used car, I worry a _lot_ less about the mechanical condition of the vehicle itself than I do about the risk of hidden liens on the title. Mechanical problems are almost always fixable. Title problems, not so much. And I have found, on numerous occasions, that a prospective vehicle purchase had hidden lien(s) on the title, for things like online title loans, child support arrearages, parking violations, criminal fines/restitution, etc. And each time, when I brought this to the seller’s attention, _they acted like they had no idea what I was talking about_, because they had a paper title with no liens on it. Here in Arizona, liens can be added to a vehicle title electronically, which obviously won’t show up on the seller’s paper copy. Hence, why the state offers a lien search website, which anyone thinking of buying a (private party) use vehicle should visit BEFORE handing over the money! ---
**Author:** ![Clueless33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dbc845/32.png) [@Clueless33](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Clueless33)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 8:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/if-youre-buying-a-used-car/198139/5 "2024-11-26T20:44:37Z")
> [@bcohen2010](#): > > Hence, why the state offers a lien search website, which anyone thinking of buying a (private party) use vehicle should visit BEFORE handing over the money! This does not apply to certified used cars sold at dealerships, right ? I buy mainly from dealerships. Reading your stuff has enlightened me on the subject. Thanks for sharing. ---
**Author:** ![eddo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/eddo/32/2594_2.png) [@eddo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eddo)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 9:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/if-youre-buying-a-used-car/198139/6 "2024-11-26T21:52:34Z")
“Just needs the oxygen sensor, and it’s in the trunk” - This thing will never pass emissions ---
**Author:** ![Beancounter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/59ef9b/32.png) [@Beancounter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beancounter)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 10:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/if-youre-buying-a-used-car/198139/7 "2024-11-26T22:06:26Z")
Certified by who? and exactly what is Certified? Its it “Certified to be a Car” or is it “Certified to be a Car” that will run for XXX miles without repairs"? Certification is worthless unless there’s someone willing and able to stand behind it with a warranty ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 10:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/if-youre-buying-a-used-car/198139/8 "2024-11-26T22:12:31Z")
This complicated life we all have to deal with makes knowing things for sure difficult , but I think if you buy a used car from a new car dealer, you’d be pretty safe to assume the title is ok. I’d be more concerned about verifying the title if buying from a private sale, auction, or from a used car lot. If you need a loan to buy the car the lending company is on your side as well. ---
**Author:** ![wolyrobb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wolyrobb/32/45497_2.png) [@wolyrobb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wolyrobb)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 3:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/if-youre-buying-a-used-car/198139/9 "2024-11-27T03:19:03Z")
Buying a factory certified car from a dealership should be safe, they buy leased cars from the finance arm or bank and want a clean title. Well established used car lots can be a good place. we have a few that have been around for years and would encourage buyers to do a mechanic’s inspection and take a long enough test drive to be sure they’re buying the right vehicle. Co-worker went back to the place he bought his Crown Victoria from for a newer car for his better half. Just didn’t have anything new enough for the credit union to loan on. Owner of the dealership used to run the Cadillac/Pontiac dealer when it was downtown and switched to his own lot in the mid 80’s. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 3:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/if-youre-buying-a-used-car/198139/10 "2024-11-27T03:40:09Z")
> [@Clueless33](#): > > > [@bcohen2010](#): > > > > Hence, why the state offers a lien search website, which anyone thinking of buying a (private party) use vehicle should visit BEFORE handing over the money! > > This does not apply to certified used cars sold at dealerships, right ? I buy mainly from dealerships. Car dealers are licensed and regulated by your states Department of Motor Vehicles. If there is an issue with a vehicle’s title, the DMV enforcement division will make sure the dealer handles the problem. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/8/b/8b5ae80f09e7deff182c229e40047c11b900c564.png) ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 1:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/if-youre-buying-a-used-car/198139/11 "2024-11-27T13:19:41Z")
> [@wolyrobb](#): > > Buying a factory certified car from a dealership should be safe Sometimes. Our friends bought a RAV4 from the local CarMax, got temporary plates, and drove it home. Unfortunately, the state would not approve the permanent registration. The car was parked for a couple months while the issue was sorted out. It turned out that the car was stolen in Connecticut. Once the issue was settled, CarMax traded the stolen car for a one year newer one with less mileage at no cost to our friends. IMO CarMax handled a bad situation properly but it never should have come to that. They obviously did not check the title well enormously, if at all. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 2:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/if-youre-buying-a-used-car/198139/12 "2024-11-27T14:55:03Z")
They _ **might** _ have added that to their check moving forward, That might be one of the checks that they told me about… 🤷‍♂️ Just glad they took care of your friends… From a random vehicle… ![Screenshot 2024-11-27 085149](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/9/1/9168e9f0b6ae93575253ebd3dbada04205e49eb7.png) ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 5:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/if-youre-buying-a-used-car/198139/13 "2024-11-27T17:58:16Z")
Highly doubtful a legitimate, ie not a buy here pay here, dealership will sell a car with a pending lien. If being financed, the financing institution will do a lien search. It’s possible, just unlikely. I just read the post about Carmax, so yes I guess it happens!