Buying a new or used car is the dream of many people and families in Colombia, and although there are reliable sites, crime is always on the lookout for victims, particularly in used businesses.
Scammers know that it is a large and growing market, but in which there is also a lot of informality, a fertile scenario for scams. Despite the efforts of the authorities to counteract these frauds, the truth is that naivety, ignorance and lack of information are taken advantage of by criminals.
There are many sites to search for a used car. There are dealerships and virtual Internet sites, which today are preferred, among other reasons, because the vehicles from well-known used showcases are advertised there.
If you are going to buy used
Once you’re clear on your budget and what car you want and need, take it easy and don’t ‘fall in love’ at first sight or act on impulse. The first recommendation is to look for it among trusted friends, relatives or neighbors, that is, a car that you have already seen and also know its origin and how they have treated it.
If it is not possible or you cannot find it this way, look for recognized dealers in your city. Do a search in the specialized portals, compare the prices of the same brand and model. Thus you can establish a means of value in the market.
Be wary of cars that will offer you a much lower price than the market, and if the seller goes around a lot to give you information. Vehicles in these conditions can be stolen or have damage that can be very expensive to repair.
Ask the seller for a copy of the original purchase invoice for the vehicle, the bill of sale; the transit license and a copy of the vehicle’s tradition, the owners who have had the vehicle appear there.
Do not settle for physical documents, be aware that they can be forged. The tax payment can be verified on the internet pages of the treasury secretariats of the city where the car is registered.
You can also verify the history of the car yourself through the website of the Single National Traffic Registry, Runt. Just by typing the plate, you will be able to know in detail the history of the vehicle such as registered accidents, type of accidents, embargoes or registered garments, history of owners; Validity of the mechanical technical review and the SOAT. If the vehicle has judicial limitations; and the characteristics of the vehicle (engine number, chassis, cylinder capacity, brand).
If you are interested in knowing, in addition, the information of owners and their identification, you must select the YES option, in the statement that appears in the request. Making that confirmation has a value of a little more than 32,000 pesos.
It can also appear at the automotive division of the National Police or Dijin. There they trace the vehicle and verify that the car does not have a judicial record, that it has been used in an illegal act, that it is stolen or required by a judicial authority for embargoes. And something very important, verify that the engine and chassis serial numbers have not been altered.
Be wary of dealerships that ‘open’ in a sector of the city from one day to the next. Sometimes they are ‘ghost’ companies that vanish just as they appear. Never give money in advance until you verify all the information. These companies often present documents that at first glance are very convincing, but in the end they keep your money.
If possible, seek advice from a person who knows something about cars and business. Sometimes scammers not only seek to keep your money, there are other scams such as used car mechanics:
tampering, makeup and camouflage that hide damage, poorly done repairs and extreme exposure inside and outside the vehicle.
If you are going to sell
In this case, it is also advisable to try to sell your car among friends or relatives; o Publish the ad only on specialized and recognized portals in the sector.
Do not offer the vehicle at fairs or public places that do not have guarantees or support.
If you are offered a purchase price that is excessively higher than the market value, be careful, it may be a scam, or the buyer is looking for a car with special features to commit a crime.
Be very careful when showing your vehicle, try to be accompanied and, if possible, take it to a parking lot in a well-known shopping center. Never at home or on the street.
You must follow the same procedure on the day of delivery, once you have verified the transactions and that the documentation is in order. For no reason firm open transfers.
Make sure that the negotiation and the transfer of the vehicle are processed directly with the new owner.
If you are interested in this or more topics related to vehicles, write to me at carcam@eltiempo.com.
