How to avoid car sale scams
If a car is offered at a much cheaper price, ask yourself why? If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of purchasing a car. However, do not let that excitement allow you to make rushed or bad decisions. Becoming a statistic of car sale scams can be avoided!
How to avoid car sale scams with motus.cars
Here are 6 useful tips from motus.cars, supported by Motus Nissan (previously Imperial Nissan), to ensure you get the best car deal and avoid being scammed:
- Avoiding scams
Make sure the seller has a valid address – start by searching for the address on Google Maps. Make sure the seller’s telephone number is valid – be wary of mobile phone numbers. Keep your own safety in mind while meeting with the seller and never buy without seeing and driving the car first.
TIP: motus.cars offers customers the choice of more than 300 trusted dealerships nationwide to visit!
2. Payment
Never send money overseas. It’s often the preferred method of a fraudulent seller acquiring money illegally. Only pay for the car when you physically collect it from the seller. Be wary of requests for upfront payments, private information, a false sense of urgency or requests to provide unnecessary details – these smell like a scam.
TIP: motus.cars offers customers peace of mind in the car-buying (and selling) journey, backed by over 70 years of experience.
3. History check
It is important to make sure you conduct a history check on any car you’re interested in purchasing. It will tell you whether the vehicle is:
- Recorded as stolen, written-off, or scrapped.
- Recorded as previously repaired by an insurer after an accident.
- Has outstanding finance or has been leased.
- It can also uncover mileage discrepancies and confirm registration details, the number of owners, the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) as well as other original details. This allows you to confirm details with the seller against the car’s paperwork.
- History checks are also available for bikes and vans.
The benefit of buying a car from a reputable dealer is that they can provide you with the history check as standard practice.
TIP: motus.cars offers a Dekra report on a large number of vehicles listed for sale on their site.
4. Test drive the car
It’s important that you physically check the car and see the documentation. Never buy without seeing or driving the car first, preferably in daylight when it’s easier to spot any possible damage. For your own safety, ask a friend to accompany you on the test drive and decide the test drive route beforehand.
TIP: Your dream car can be tested safely at your nearest Motus dealership, located all over South Africa.
5. Price
Always check the car’s market value by getting a valuation or comparing the price with other similar models advertised. If it’s being offered at a much cheaper price, ask yourself why.
TIP: Easily compare cars on motus.cars to find your perfect car!
6. Paperwork
Ask the seller if you can see the original NATIS (registration document) and Road Worthy Certificate. Check that the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on these forms is the same as that on the car. This number is commonly found on the chassis or on the windscreen.
Also ask to see the service history before handing over any money. You also need to ensure that all documents are the originals and not photocopies.
Visit motus.cars for more info and tips, or join the conversation on Facebook and YouTube.
