HOUSTON – Buying a used car can be a tricky process, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself as a buyer.
According to experts like attorney Ashley Thomson of Thomson Dunkel Law, consumers shouldn’t have to carry the full burden of ensuring the cars they buy are in good condition.
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“We live in this great state. We have great laws that are there to support our consumers,” Thomson said. “If you’re holding yourself out as a professional car dealer, consumers should be able to trust that. It shouldn’t require an extensive amount of research on the buyer’s part.”
But, despite the laws in place, Thomson said it’s important to remain cautious.
“In my client’s position, they were sold a Porsche as being a good and usable car,” she explained. “After discovering all of these hidden defects that we only discovered after getting it to the manufacturer, it was found out that the panels had been painted, therefore the car had clearly been involved in a collision of some sort, and that the wiring harnesses have been spliced and changed, therefore affecting the safety mechanisms of these vehicles that that in and of itself, that is deceptive.”
When buying a used car, it’s essential to read reviews and inspect the dealer’s reputation.
We know this does not always happen because last week, KPRC 2 reporter Gage Goulding reported that a single mom was duped out of $1,500 when she tried to buy a used car from Strawberry Road Auto Sales in Pasadena.
When Gage went to visit the same dealership, he and a KPRC 2 photojournalist were attacked by management.
KPRC 2 reporter, photojournalist assaulted while doing story on used car lot in Pasadena
Now, we are working endlessly to provide our viewers with the resources and tools they need to prepare them to buy a used vehicle:
How to get help if you are having car issues
- If you ever have an issue with a dealership, you can file a Texas DMV complaint
- Find a summary of closed TX DMV cases
READ MORE: Car buying, contracts and your rights
Questions to ask a car dealer
- Has this vehicle been in an accident?
- What kind of accident?
- Ask if the vehicle was a trade-in or if they got the vehicle at auction.
- Ask what kind of condition was the vehicle in when they got it.
5 things car dealerships don’t want you to know about saving money on financing
- Get pre-approved for a loan
- Negotiate the financing AFTER you’ve already negotiated everything else
- Read the fine print of any offer
- Buying new might actually be cheaper
- Check with the car manufacturer
How to find the best-used car deals
- Get the warranty
- Check the history... closely
- Expand your search
- Get a second opinion
5 simple ways you can save money on your car insurance
- Always look for better car insurance options
- Besides brokers, check directly with companies
- Consider lifestyle changes you have made when shopping for car insurance
- Keep tabs on your credit score
- Consider letting car insurance companies monitor your driving
