Heading to Craigslist to shop for a car? Before you do, make sure you’re not about to make a big (and costly) mistake. YouTube mechanic Scotty Kilmer has seen a lot of mistakes in his day, and he wants to help you protect yourself.
What’s #savagescotty got to say about what never to do when buying a car on Craigslist?
- Buy without verifying the seller’s the owner
- Meet in the wrong place
- Buy without a mechanic
- Not checking for cleared codes
- Failing to take a road test
Scotty Kilmer walks you through the steps to take to avoid getting scammed on Craigslist in this video.
Remember, you can get a great deal on a used car on Craigslist, and you can also get scammed. Protect yourself!
This article will dig a little deeper into the tips in the video. In a readable format, you can discover what you need to do to buy cars safely. If you want more great car-buying tips, subscribe to Scotty’s channel.
What Scotty Kilmer Says to Never Do When Buying a Used Car on Craigslist
According to Scotty, you can get a car for just a fraction of its value shopping on Craigslist. In fact, the website has far more discounts than a dealership. But, make sure you do these things to protect yourself.
1. Not Verifying the Seller is the Owner
Sometimes dealerships will do this tricky bait-and-switch. They’ll list a car on Craigslist and send someone from the dealership to try to sell it as a private seller.
What’s the catch? The “seller” isn’t the car’s owner.
Sometimes these cars don’t even have clear titles. They may have salvage or refurbished titles. Scotty says to avoid these at all costs.
The easiest way to verify this is to ask to see the title and the seller’s ID. Make sure they match.
2. Choosing the Wrong Meeting Place
You probably already know you shouldn’t meet a car seller in a dark alley, but what about the local store parking lot? Sounds safe, right? Scotty says maybe not. Sure, you’re not going to be in danger, but you have to wonder what the seller’s trying to hide?
Meeting a seller at their house for the inspection and test drive makes sense. It gives you the chance to verify that they are who they say they are. Another option is to meet the seller at your mechanic, not theirs. This can be a neutral option if the seller wants it, and also lets you tackle the next tip.
At the end of the video, Scotty recommends not meeting at the seller’s home for the actual purchase. You don’t want to be carrying loads of cash just anywhere. Instead, arrange to make the purchase at your bank. You can use a more secure payment method and swap title and payment in a secure, monitored location.
3. Buying Without a Mechanic Check
Do you have a mechanic you trust? Never buy a used car off Craigslist withouthaving your mechanic check it out. The mechanic can find a lot that the average person can’t.
4. Not Checking Codes
You probably already know to look out for “service engine” warning lights. But you may not know that some sellers will clear the codes right before you come to see it, without fixing the problem.
How can you detect this? Scotty recommends picking up a plugin diagnostic scan tool. For around $25 you can get one that plugs into the car.
When you plug it in, you’ll see zero codes, but that’s not what’s important. Look for “Readiness Incomplete.” If the car has no recently cleared codes, it will show 0.
5. Failing to Take a Road Test
Finally, never buy a Craigslist car without test driving it first. That test drive should be more than just a drive around the block.
Take it through several types of driving conditions. Make sure you go on the freeway at least 60 mph.
Back it up. Check different gears.
Drive for at least 10 minutes, and longer if possible. Get a real feel for the car and how it handles.
While you’re driving, make sure the AC runs cold and watch the gauges for signs of problems.
Your #1 Tool for Buying a Used Car? Its Vehicle History Report!
If you’re going to buy a car off Craigslist, make sure you avoid these mistakes. Also, never buy without checking the Vehicle History first. This will give you the nitty-gritty details to help you make an informed decision.
