Avoiding Used Car Clones : used car review

Avoiding Used Car Clones
by David Leonhardt and Corey Rozon

How many people have something to hide? More to the point, how many cars have something to hide? It is reported that one in three used cars has something to hide. It might just be a poor maintenance record from a lazy owner (and aren’t we all lazy sometimes?) Or it could be something more serious, such as damage from an accident or flood. Or it could be a stolen car.
Yes, thanks to the increasingly common practice of “used car cloning”, you might by a stolen car without even knowing it. Thieves take the vehicle identification number or VIN from a legitimate vehicle and slap it on a stolen car. Because each VIN is unique, the stolen vehicle becomes a clone of the legitimate one. Add some fake papers, and the thieves are ready to sell you a vehicle that looks perfectly legal.
Here are five tips to protect yourself from becoming a car clone victim:
1. MAINTENANCE RECORDS: You should also inspect all maintenance records, which are not only a good way to see if the car was stolen, but also will give you a hint of how well the car has been taken care of. Checking the mileage over time on the maintenance records is one good step to ensure that the seller did not tamper with the odometer.
2. LOW SALE PRICE: If the car seller is asking a ridiculously low price for the vehicle, inquire why. Smart buyers usually research car prices online before purchasing. To check current car values simply search for a similar vehicle on a popular car classified website. If the vehicles asking price is significantly lower, be suspicious the car could be stolen.
3. INTUITION: Trust your instincts. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you feel suspicious about a vehicle or the seller, walk away. Even if the vehicle was not stolen, reconstructed after flood damage or older than it appears, it’s not worth taking the risk. There are plenty of other used cars available.
4. VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: Check the VIN. Every vehicle sold has a VIN. This number should match the number on the title and registration. The VIN is located on the driver's side above the dashboard, inside the driver door and under the hood. Look for any signs that these numbers could have been tampered with. If the windshield contains slight damages, such as scratch marks around the area, there is a strong possibility that the VIN has been replaced. If so, the car is probably stolen.
5. REGISTRATION PAPERS: The registration papers will give you some clues about the vehicle. Make sure the license plate on the car matches the numbers on the registration papers. Make sure the owner’s name matches the sellers ��" and ask for picture ID.
The best way to ensure you don’t end up with a stolen vehicle is to buy your used car from a reputable dealer. Not only will the chance of buying a problem vehicle be much smaller, resolving any issue will be much simpler if the need arises.
And remember, if it looks too good to be true, if it sounds too good to be true, if it feels too good to be true … it probably is.