5 Worst Car Scams and How to Avoid Them

The worst thing that can happen when behind the wheel of a car isn’t being stuck on the side of the road due to mechanical failure (in the middle of nowhere – and in rain). Vehicle scams take the cake and can be just as devastating to your budget, time, money and stress levels. From finding out you unwittingly bought a salvaged vehicle with a bent frame to naively allowing a mechanic to tear your entire engine apart simply because you have a broken fan belt, automotive scammers are always looking for ways to fleece your wallet.

Rosemary Shahan, President of Consumers for Automotive Reliability and Safety, sees a whole range of car scam issues while working for the non-profit automotive advocacy organization that focuses primarily on California’s lemon law issues. “Nothing in life prepares you for your first car transaction,” says Shahan. “As you get older and burnt once or twice, you wise up.”

Although each state has varying legislation in place to protect consumers when sold a raw deal on wheels, some of the worst mistakes – such as being a “guinea pig” to a brand-new vehicle model or not asking for documentation from a mechanic for said car repairs – fall purely upon the consumer’s shoulders. Even laws and legal counsel can’t fix these problems.

Based on advice from trustworthy mechanics and expert car-scam sources like Shahan, we’ve narrowed dozens of dishonest car deeds to the top 5 worst car scams and offer ways to avoid them. Don’t get stuck committing, either by your own fault or from the persuasive actions of an automotive foe, one of the top vehicle traps below.

#1: Buying or Selling a Vehicle Online and Becoming a Victim of Internet Fraud
There are many online scams designed to take advantage of consumers looking to make an honest vehicle transaction. One of the more popular rackets is when a potential buyer sends a cashier’s check to the seller for a sum much higher than the actual price of the car. Claiming the extra amount is for shipping or docking fees (or that the check was written before you both settled on a price), the seller finds out later – after shipping efforts or a reimbursement has been already spent on their end – that the buyer’s check is fraudulent.

Grammatical and spelling errors in emails, claims the buyer is from another country, and third-party checks are sure signs you’re being taken for a ride on the Internet highway. As a buyer or seller, if you have been scammed, file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center and with the Federal Trade Commission. Make sure your cyber transactions also include certified letters, credit card or money order receipts, copies of driver’s licenses, telephone numbers and printed copies of any email conversations. Vehix also offers advice on scams to watch out for when it comes to buying or selling a vehicle over the Internet.