Protect Yourself from These Junk Car Buyer Scams!

If you have a particularly old vehicle and are looking to make an upgrade, you’ll likely find that the amount of money you can get on a trade-in at the dealership will be negligible. Fortunately, there are other options—for example, you may find you can get more money for your vehicle as salvage from a junk car buyer.

Unfortunately, however, the reality is that this is an industry that has a not-unearned reputation for scams. If you do go the route of selling your vehicle to a junker, it is important you do your research so you only work with the best junk car buyers in Fort Lauderdale.

Here are just a few examples of some of the most common junk car buyer scams you should be aware of.

Improper vehicle ownership transfer

Part of the process of selling your vehicle to a junk car buyer is transferring the title or registration to the junkyard. A failure to do this properly could result in you still being liable for issues such as parking violations or other such fines, even if the vehicle is not in your possession. The best way to avoid this issue is simply to work with a reputable junker with a good reputation and who understands the title transfer process.

If you are purchasing a junk car, this is also an important note. Never purchase a vehicle from a junk car dealer without a title; one common scam is a “lost title” claim by sellers who would like to make some quick and easy cash off of salvage vehicles that had not properly been disclosed.

The “bait and switch”

The old-fashioned “bait and switch” is still perhaps the most common scam in the world of junk car purchasing and dealership. Here’s how it typically works. You call up the junkyard, which gives you an estimate for what it will pay for your vehicle based on the provided information about its condition. This should be a firm estimate—the company should be willing to pay you what you were quoted when it arrives to pick up your vehicle. Then, when the junk car removal team arrives at your home to tow away the vehicle, it suddenly decides to offer you less than your quoted amount, hoping you will take it just to avoid the inconvenience.

If you work with a company that uses this tactic, you should look elsewhere. They’re just attempting to put the pressure on you to sell your vehicle for less than what you should be able to get.

Paying with checks

While paying with a check isn’t necessarily a red flag in itself, one common scam is for the buyer to offer to write the check for more than the value of the vehicle, and then asking you to refund the difference. You can expect this check will not actually clear the bank, and then you’ll have a hard time getting the money refunded.

Ultimately, you should trust your instincts when it comes to working with junkyards and junkers. For more information about how to find the best junk car buyers in Fort Lauderdale, contact Junk Car Dog today.