This Guide will show you some of the things you will need to inspect after you start the car.

Once the decision to purchase has been made, it's time to close the deal. If buying from a private seller, bring along two 'Bill of Sale' papers. One is for you and the other is for the seller. At this point, the seller should give you the title to the vehicle. When you have the title, compare the V.I.N. on it to the number on the car. This number should match EXACTLY. If there are any differences, blemishes, or erasure marks, then you should not proceed to purchase the vehicle. Any differences would mean that the title is not for that vehicle, and any blemishes or erasure marks will most often be rejected by the D.M.V., which means that you will not be able to title nor plate the car. If there is more than one name listed under 'Owner(s)', then BOTH names must sign the title, not just one! In most cases, if the seller has an out of state title, then you will have to have a police officer verify the VIN before you can get your registration.

If the seller still has a lien, it is crucial that you know that their finance company will not release the title to you unless the entire balance is paid in full! There are different ways to go about this, which will be subject to your individual situation. If you are taking out a loan for the vehicle, then talk to your loan officer and explain to him or her that there is an existing lien on the vehicle you want to purchase and how you should go about proceeding with the sale. Most will want the buyer to come to the bank and sign a power of attorney and they will make the check payable to the sellers finance company, instead of the actual seller.

If you are paying cash and the seller has a lien, then contact the company the seller has their lien with and explain to them the sales price and who you should write to the check out to as well as where to mail it. (Do NOT write a check directly to the seller) These are very touchy subjects that require a different approach depending on the lenders rules, so be sure that if you want the vehicle, always get a signed bill of sale in addition to any paperwork the companies give you. If the balance is higher than the sales price, then the seller must pay the difference in order for the lender to close the account and release the title.

Buying a car can sometimes be a very stressful if you are not familiar with how to proceed with the transaction. After spending about 45 minuates looking over the vehicle, you want to make sure all that time was well worth it. The only variable that will change depending on your location is the smog/emission testing. In many cases, it is the buyers responsibility to have the vehicle inspected, however you should contact your DMV to be certain. Below we have a link to each DMV for every state in the US. Please bookmark us as we continue to update this site.

We are not affiliated with any other automotive website, company, or lending institution. We give our customers the tools they need to make an educated purchasing decision for themselves. We offer no opinions in regards to which manufacturer, make, or model a customer should purchase. This system has been designed around actual car buyers who experienced problems, some severe, and is beneficial to use whether you are going by yourself, or bringing someone to help you look at the vehicle. The program is 'dealership friendly' and has been developed with cooperation from Auto Mechanics, Sales Consultants, and Sales Managers. The Auto Evaluator is a guide, not a guarantee and always consult a qualified mechanic. The Auto Evaluator and all it contains is a TradeMark of Mistar Enterprises, LLC.