Tips for buying a vehicle

Ask questions

Here are some helpful questions to ask when buying a car, motorcycle, or other vehicle from a private party or dealership:

Are you the owner of the vehicle? How long have you owned it?
What is the vehicle’s mileage?
How has the vehicle been driven? (Around town vs. long trips)
What major work have you done on the vehicle? Do you have receipts?
Did you buy the vehicle new?
Has the vehicle ever had rust problems?
Has it ever been wrecked, had body repairs, or been repainted?
Do you have the title?
Are you a licensed vehicle dealer?

Have your mechanic take a look

Make sure everything works, including the radio, heater, windshield wipers, lights, etc.
Check the brakes — make sure there is enough brake fluid and there is no pulling.
Check the tires — look for good tread and matching sizes.
Check under the hood — look at the battery for leaks, check for dirty oil, check the hoses, etc.

Find out about the Clean Car Law

Starting with 2009 models, new cars, light-duty trucks, SUVs, and passenger vans must meet strict clean air standards. New vehicles that don't meet these clean car standards cannot be registered, licensed, rented, or sold for use in Washington. Visit the Department of Ecology website for more Washington clean car information.

Check for liens against the vehicle

Even though the seller may present a title to you, you should still verify that the title is valid and clear of any lien holders. You can do this by contacting us at (360) 902-3770, Option 5. Please note that we can only verify whether the title is valid and clear — we cannot give you any details about the vehicle.

Beware of curbstoners

A curbstoner is a person who makes money from buying used vehicles and reselling them. They are unlicensed dealers that do not comply with state or federal laws. You have no legal protection when dealing with them. You may be dealing with a curbstoner if:

the vehicle is parked along the street or in a vacant lot.
the person asks you to meet them at a location other than their home.
the seller wants a cash transaction and will not accept checks or money orders.
the Certificate of Ownership (title) to the vehicle is not in the name of the seller.

Check the vehicle’s history

If you have the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), you can go to several websites to learn the vehicle’s ownership history and find out about any past title problems, accidents, or repairs. For example, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) VINCheck℠ allows you to check if the vehicle has been reported stolen and not recovered, or has been declared a total loss by another NICB member.

Watch for odometer fraud

Even though it is illegal, each year the odometers on 3 million used vehicles are rolled back an average of 30,000 miles each. To protect yourself from odometer fraud, check the odometer carefully:

Check to see if the numbers line up. Rolled back odometers often have misaligned numbers.
Have a mechanic check your vehicle for signs of high use that seem inconsistent with the number of miles.
Check the wear on the pedals. If the odometer reads very low miles, the pedals shouldn’t show signs of excessive wear.

Keep a written record of your purchase

Keep all paperwork, purchase orders, canceled checks, warranty agreements, and timelines for completion.
Keep the names of all points of contact, such as the people you do business with at the dealership. Keep their names, phone numbers, titles, and business cards.
It is difficult to prove oral promises. Get all commitments for services, improvements, or changes to the product in writing.
Get the name of the company that is providing all warranty work and a copy of the underwriter’s warranty agreement.

Find out about the Lemon Law

The Washington State Motor Vehicle Lemon Law is designed to help new vehicle owners who have ongoing problems with warranty repairs on their vehicle. Visit the Office of the Attorney General’s website for information about the Lemon Law.

Be sure to transfer the title

For information on how to transfer a title when you buy a vehicle, see Transferring ownership into your name.

Report any complaints

Let us know if you feel a dealer or manufacturer treated you unfairly by completing a Dealer Complaint Form and sending it to the dealer services office in your area. Be sure to follow the instructions on the form and include all supporting documentation.