Salvage Vehicles and Prior Accidents
The dealer must disclose whether the car was in a wreck, or is a salvage vehicle. If not, you have a claim for fraud and can cancel the transaction. Significant mechanical problems with the car, bent frames, indications of body damage, unusually high repair bills, or tires wearing out early may indicate a consumer was sold a rebuilt wreck. To be sure about your vehicle, give us a call and we will give you a free consultation.
Carfax reports are useful, but they are not a guarantee that there were no prior wrecks. In some cases, a Carfax report will show a clean history, when in fact the vehicle has been in a wreck or even salvaged.
Prior Rental Cars
The dealer must also disclose whether your vehicle used to be owned by a rental car company. If not, give us a call for some guidance on how to cancel the transaction.
When The Dealer Cancels Because They Could Not Get Financing
The standard California automobile contract requires the dealer to cancel within 10 days of the sale, if it failed to obtain financing. If you do get the call within ten days, you should give the vehicle back and get all your money (and trade-in, if any) back. If the dealer cancels after ten days, you have a right to keep the vehicle, and can legally make your payments to the dealer’s address on the contract. BUT: even after cancelling too late, many dealers will illegally repossess a car, ignoring the contract which says they only have ten days to cancel. Give us a call if this happens.