Learn how to protect yourself against fake car dealers
Posted March 24, 2013 12:34 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – About one-fifth of every car sale in this province is done through a fake dealer — also known as a curber.
There are ways to protect yourself if you’re in the market for some new wheels.
A curber doesn’t have any obligation to tell you the truth because they don’t follow government regulations.
Doug Longhurst with the Vehicle Sales Authority says curbers don’t have to tell you if the car they’re trying to sell has been rebuilt or was in an accident, because they don’t follow government regulations.
“A licensed dealer is obligated to tell you about the prior history of the vehicle, it has to be lien free, it has to be safe for the road. If those things aren’t met, then you can come to the VSA.”
Longhurst says if you find something on Craigslist — be careful.
“If you see the same phone number for number of vehicles, then you are definitely dealing with a curber. Dealers are required to put in those add, even in Kijiji and Criagslist, that they are a licensed dealer.”
He’s heard of incidents of people having their new car towed in front of them because there was lien on it.
Longhurst suggests getting whatever car you’re looking at inspected and get everything in writing.
