20 - Friday, August 5, 1994 - North Shore News AUTOMOTIVE Protect yourself when buying a used vehicle Private sellers are car dealers known as ‘curbsiders’ BUYING A used car can pre- sent some nasty surprises if it turns out there is a hidden mechanical fault or an out- standing lien on the vehicle. You can protect yourself by tak- ing some simple precautions: Lien and title search If you buy a car with an outstand- ing lien (from a previous owner's bank loan, for example), you might beconie liable for repayment of the loan, or the car could be repossessed. To avoid this unpleasant situa- tion, go in person to a Motor Vehicle Branch office, and provide them with the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number or serial number) of the car you are considering purchasing. The VIN can usually be found on the dri- ver- side dashboard close to the windshield. -The MVB will perform a lien search and identify any outstanding liens. There is a small fee for this service, but it’s worth it. Deal with the registered owner If you're buying from a private seller, make sure you deal with the actual owner of the vehicle. Some private sellers are really car deafers known as “‘curbsiders.”” These individuals sell many vehicles without holding a dealer's license, and they may prompt you to misrep- resent information on the tvansfer Greg Wilson AUTOMOTION form, such as any provincial sales taxes due. To be sure you're dealing with the registered owner, ask to see the seller's driver's license and match the name to the vehicle's reg- istration pupers. Determining the value To get a reasonably good idea of what a car is worth, check out the vehicle's value in the Sanford Evans Gold Book of Used Car Prices, available at your local library. If you're taking out a loan to buy the car, your bank manager might even let you look at the Black Book, the most authoritative guide to used vehicle prices. The BCAA also MORE offers used car values to their mem- bers by phoning 298-2122. Purchasing costs It's a good idea to add up all the costs of buying a used car before falling head over heels for that expensive red convertible, Over and above the actual pur- chase price, there's 7% sales tax. 7% GST (if buying from a dealer), insur- ance, registration fee, interest pay- ments on a loan, mechanical inspec- tion fees and possibly extended war- ies and dealer documentation s a good idea to keep some money in reserve for unexpected repairs, too. Sales agreement When you purchase a car through adeater, you wil! have to sign a “Conditional Sales Agreement,” 4 legal document which states the con- ditions of the sale, including the full purchase price, description of the vehicle, terms of payment, trade-in allowance if applicable, any warran- ty agreed upon, and repairs agreed to by both parties. Read the agreement in its entire- ty, cross out any blank spaces, and get a copy for yourself. When buying trom a private sell- er, it’s a good idea to complete a simple sales agreement after check- ing the title and liens, A sample sales agreement is in the BCAA’s Guide See Legal page 24 SELECTION BETTER PRICES NOBODY CAN COMPETE WITH CARTER USED CARS DOMESTIC 94 Gr Prix 4dr 94 Olds Cutless 4dr 94 Sunbird 4de 94 Gr Am SE 2dr 94 Gr Am SE 4dr 94 Bonneville SE 4dr 93 Olds Delta 88 4dr 93 Buick Park Ave Ultra 93 Roadmaster Stn/Wgn 93 Pontiac Asuna 4dr 93 Century Ltd 4dr 93 Regal Ltd 4dr 93 Sunbird SE 2dr 93 Sunbird SE 4dr 93 Sunbird SE conv 93 Grand Prix LE 4dr 93 Grand Am SE 4dr 92 Cut'ass Supreme 4dr 92 Buick LeSabre 4dr 92 Corsica Ecyl ddr 4 * te iMPORT 87 Nissan Pulsar NX 2dr, 4 cyl, 5 speed 88 ‘Toyota Corolla 4 dr 4 cyl, 5 speed 88 Suzuki Swift GT 2dr 4 cyl, autamatic 89 Honda Accord 4 dr 4 cyl S speed 90 Mazda 323 2 dr 5 speed cassette 92 Toyota Tercel DX 4 de, 4 cyl, 5 speed 92 Geo Metro 2 dr automatic cassette THIS IS ONLY A SMALL SAMPLE OF QUR OUTSTANDING SELECTION, CALL TODAY —— NERAL MOTORS EAC eA CANA 299-01 23 4880 LOUGHEED Hwy, at Wi. eecreren: 1984 SATURN SW1 Fully oquipped family wagon al a fraction of the cost of the nearest compattor, 207. * | ae | SERVICE » PARTS Wiltingdon & Loughesd, Burnaby 1994 SATURN SL Now internationally recognized as the world's value feacer. 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