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Car buying guides and answers
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Used-car checks and scams
How to catch title, odometer, and flood problems before you pay.
- Used car checklist: what to check at the carA printable used car checklist for a dealer or private sale: the paperwork, a 10-minute walkaround, a test drive route, what to ask, and when to walk away.
- What is a washed title, and how do you check for one?Washed titles hide salvage or flood brands so damaged cars look clean. How to check by VIN, if title washing is illegal, and what to do if you bought one.
- How to spot a rolled-back odometerNHTSA estimates over 450,000 cars a year are sold with false mileage. How to spot a rolled-back odometer and check a car's mileage history by VIN.
- How to spot a flood-damaged carFlooded cars can be cleaned up and sold far from the storm. The signs to look and smell for, and how to check a car's flood history by VIN.
- Salvage and rebuilt titles: what they mean for youSalvage vs. rebuilt titles: what each means, how they affect price, insurance, and loans, and when a rebuilt car is worth buying.
- How to avoid scams when buying a used car from a private sellerFake sellers, cloned VINs, deposit scams, and curbstoners: how to spot a private-sale car scam on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist and pay safely.
- How to check if a used car has a lienIf the seller still owes money on the car, the lender may have a claim to it. How to check for a lien before you buy and get a clean title.
- Free vs. paid vehicle history reportsWhat free VIN checks, federal NMVTIS title reports (free or paid), and big-name history reports each cover, what they miss, and which one you need.
- How to check if a used car was totaled or in an accidentA VIN title check shows insurance total losses and salvage records, not everyday accidents. What each report shows, and how an inspection finds repairs.
- How to buy a car out of state and drive it homeBuying from a private seller in another state? Where you pay sales tax, how to get a trip permit to drive it home, and the title and inspection steps.
Fees, add-ons, and the deal
Know which charges are set by law, which are the dealer's, and which you can say no to.
- Which dealer fees are legit?Taxes, title, and registration are set by the government. Doc fees, prep fees, and add-ons are the dealer's. What to pay, question, or refuse.
- Doc fee limits and trade-in tax rules by stateSee which states cap dealer doc fees and whether a trade-in lowers the tax on your next car, for all 50 states and DC, with a source for each.
- How to get an out-the-door price in writingThe out-the-door price is what a car costs before financing, with every fee and tax. What it includes, a sample quote, and an email to get it in writing.
- California's CARS Act: your new car-buying rightsCalifornia's CARS Act took effect October 1, 2026: total prices up front, optional add-ons, and 3 days to return many used cars. What it means for you.
Money and paperwork after you sign
Return a car, get refunds, and fix problems with what you bought.
- Can you return a car after you buy it?No federal law gives you 3 or 30 days to return a car. A new car usually can't go back; a used car may, under state law or a dealer's written policy.
- How to cancel GAP or an extended warranty for a refundBought GAP, an extended warranty, or another add-on you don't want? How to cancel, what refund to expect, and what to do if the dealer stalls.
- Dealer hasn't paid off your trade-in or sent your title?Keep paying your old loan until the payoff is confirmed. What to do if a dealer is slow to pay off your trade-in or send your title, and where to complain.
- Bought a used car as is and it broke down?"As is" means the dealer won't pay for repairs, but it doesn't let a dealer lie. When implied warranties, used-car lemon laws, or recalls still help.
Guides by type of deal
Step-by-step plans for each way to get a car. You might need more than one, like a used car with a loan.
- Buying a new carGet an itemized price in writing, compare financing, and turn down add-ons you don't want.
- Buying a used car from a dealerCheck the title history, open recalls, and the car's condition before you agree to a price.
- Buying from a private sellerConfirm the seller owns the car and the VIN matches the title before you pay.
- Leasing a carCheck the full lease cost, the mileage limit, and end-of-lease fees before you sign.
- Bad credit or owe more than your car is worthCompare written loan offers, and see if money you still owe on your old car is being added to the new loan.
- Best time to buy a carNo date guarantees a good price. See what matters more than the calendar.
Understand what the dealer is doing
Start with what is happening now. Go deeper if you need to.
- Check a dealer claim or red flagWhat to ask, what to get in writing, and when to walk away.
- Get the exact words to sayEmails and scripts to copy, with blanks for your details.
- Spot a sales tacticHow price, payment, trade-in, and add-ons get mixed together, and how to keep them apart.
- Look up a termPlain-English meanings for the words on your paperwork.
Check the numbers
Use the numbers from your written offers.
- Check a quote for missing or surprise feesSpot missing lines, surprise charges, and changes between offers.
- Check a lease quoteSee if the monthly payment matches the lease's price, money factor, and residual value.
- Buy new, used, or lease?Compare two options side by side on cost and fit.
- All calculatorsLoan length, leasing vs. buying, what you owe on your trade-in, and trading in vs. selling it yourself.
Check the car itself
A VIN check, a recall lookup, and a mechanic's inspection each catch different problems.
- Check the car's VINSee what the car is, its open recalls, and title problems like salvage or flood.
- Get an independent inspectionTell the mechanic what to check, and write down what they find and what repairs cost.
- Plan a private-sale handoffSet the order for payment, title, loan payoff, insurance, and pickup.
Before and after you sign
Keep your final terms, papers, and deadlines in one place.
- Pick your situationStep-by-step help for buying new, used, from a private seller, or leasing.
- Buying with bad creditCheck your credit reports, time your loan applications, and know the co-signer risks.
- Pickup and first-month checklistVersions for new, used, leased, and private-sale cars.
- Problems after you buyWhat to gather, deadlines to watch, and who to contact.
Official sources
These government pages are free. Some history-report sellers charge a fee, and no report replaces an independent inspection.
Check important details against these sources and your own paperwork. See how we check our advice, or what the tools save in your browser.