“Sole owner, never taxi”: know the most common lies in used car sales

In Chile, cases of scams when buying a used car are known, so this is a problem to which special attention should be paid. From doctored mileage to hidden defects, it’s important to be aware of the potential lies sellers may tell you.

To find out the most common stories that arise when trying to sell a used car, we spoke with dealership salespeople who have encountered unusual situations from customers trying to leave the car as payment partial, omitting real conditions, as well as with owners of used vehicles who have encountered the “worm” of some unscrupulous people. Here are the most commonly used lies and what to take into account to detect this type of anomaly.

“Sole owner, never a taxi. » This is one of the most common lies and the objective is to make you believe that the vehicle is little worn. For this reason, falsified mileage accounts for the largest number of scam attempts by customers trying to increase the trade-in value of their car so as not to be punished. However, in recent years, the technical inspection records that the car company obtains through a history report are generally accompanied by the mileage recorded for each of the years, making it the simplest way to detect this type of cases. Another way is to check manuals, service logs, and even oil change stickers that include mileage as a reminder.

“It’s always been run by a woman.” This is one of the lies that betrays, in addition to sexism, the attempt to imply that the vehicle has always been maintained, since belonging to a woman adds bonuses since they tend to be more careful and respectful to the flying. Be careful with this. A faulty suspension system is also usually one of the most common scam attempts, which is why it is insisted that every car be checked on the shock absorbers for possible leaks. This is one of the most common causes of vehicle wear and tear, especially if the previous driver was not paying attention while driving. If not examined, it may result in heavy expenses after purchase.

When trying to sell a car we will always seek to make the most of the potential that could interest the buyer, for this reason a classic is to try to pass off the car as a vehicle with low fuel consumption. “In town, it gives almost 20 km/l if you drive it slowly” is a common expression, but you only need to check the vehicle’s approval on the consumervehicular.cl website to see which approval it has. If it exceeds this value, it is clearly a lie.

Whether it’s oil, coolant or brake fluid, fluid leaks in the engine compartment give a real idea of ​​how long the car will last before it hits the used market. . This is why you need to check the engine compartment thoroughly for stains, drips, or any indication that something is wrong. An engine that is too clean can also raise suspicion, so leaving it running while other checks are carried out can also help avoid a bad patch for the future owner.

Since the idea is to sell the car as quickly as possible and for the best price, another bait that sellers usually use is maintenance. “It has always been maintained at official dealers” is usually the lie. And the problem is not that the vehicle has been inspected in an unbranded workshop – it can be of excellent quality – but that we are trying to improve the price by still being under the official inspection of the brand. To do this, simply ask for the maintenance history and check if it is real. If by chance you have lost the history, it is better to doubt this sentence.

Many people tend to repair necessary and necessary damage to their car before selling it, trying to ensure that other components that also require changing are assumed by the new owner. This is why certain items such as tires, clutch and brakes should be checked during a test drive before deciding to buy the car.

“He had a few bumps, but nothing serious.” Another very common lie among dealers, for the same reason, you should always inspect key points of the car, such as the door frames, the engine compartment or the area where the spare wheel passes to detect if the vehicle has been involved in a road accident, because in these areas we can see the consequences of the accident or the paint used for its repair.

There are many unscrupulous people who try to hide the faults that the car announces through the dashboard lights, so it is always good to pay attention to one important detail: that the car turns on all the lights when switching on , because this is the way to show that the lights are working. So if when you turn on the ignition, a light such as the Check Engine does not come on, it is because it has been deactivated and if the car has a fault, it will not come on.

Cloned cars can be a huge headache. This is perhaps the last, but perhaps the most important point of the check: checking that the chassis and engine numbers declared in the documentation are the same as those of the vehicle in question. This seems logical to many, but it is one of the most serious causes of scam attempts and if they do not realize this, they might even have a bad time, since they might consider that by purchasing it, they are part of the crime.