😱 The Top 10 Scams to avoid when Buying a Car

1. 🚗🛳️ Concealed Imported Status: CarJam provides comprehensive vehicle history reports, including information on a vehicle's import status and history overseas in Japan, Australia, and the USA. This helps buyers identify if a car has been imported cleanly and ensures transparency in the transaction. Many vehicles written off in Australia end up being imported to New Zealand in an attempt to hide their history.

2. ⚠️📱 Caution on Facebook Marketplace: While CarJam doesn't directly address Facebook Marketplace transactions, its vehicle history reports can provide crucial information about a car's background, helping buyers make informed decisions regardless of where they find the vehicle listed for sale. CarJam's vehicle history reports can reveal ownership history, vehicle details and whether the seller has recently acquired the vehicle. This information can help buyers verify the legitimacy of the seller and reduce the risk of falling victim to advance payment scams and enabling buyers to verify the credibility of the seller, e.g. whether it's a legitimate dealership or not.

3. 💰🔍 Hidden Money Owing: CarJam reports check for money owing on vehicle plate, VIN, and chassis number, and all past plates automatically. There are many examples of attempts to hide money owing on past plates, and it's critical to check the full history and identifiers for a vehicle with a CarJam report.

4. 📉🔧 Odometer Fraud Risks: CarJam reports include odometer readings from previous inspections and registrations, allowing buyers to verify the accuracy of the current odometer reading provided by the seller and detect potential odometer fraud, especially for imported vehicles.

5. 🛠️🚗 Hidden Damage History: CarJam provides information on any reported damage or write-offs in an imported vehicle's history, helping buyers uncover hidden damage that sellers may not disclose, especially amidst frequent and illegal changes of ownership. If a car is re-registered in New Zealand, the original reason for de-registration cannot be disclosed, and you will need to rely on the seller to explain why the vehicle was de-registered. Special care should be taken when this happens.

6. 📜❌ Falsified Vehicle History Reports: By purchasing and relying on CarJam's reputable and comprehensive vehicle history reports, buyers can avoid falling victim to sellers who provide falsified or incomplete vehicle history reports to conceal flaws in the car they're selling. Do not, for example, trust printed CarJam reports which may have been doctored.

7. 🚖🏢 Former Rental Cars and Taxis: CarJam reports include ownership history, allowing buyers to identify if a vehicle was previously used as a rental car or taxi. This information helps buyers make informed decisions about the condition and potential wear and tear of the vehicle.

8. 🚨🚓 Stolen Vehicle Alerts: CarJam reports include information on stolen vehicle status, enabling buyers to check if a vehicle has been reported stolen before completing a purchase. This helps buyers avoid inadvertently purchasing a stolen vehicle and facing legal complications.

9. 💳🔎 Beware of Suspicious Payment Methods: While CarJam doesn't directly address payment methods, its vehicle history reports provide critical information for buyers to assess the legitimacy of the seller and the vehicle itself, reducing the risk of falling victim to scams regardless of the payment method used.

10. 📜🔍 Illegal Change of Ownership: CarJam ownership history reports can reveal any frequent or suspicious changes in ownership, alerting buyers to potential issues with the vehicle's title and ownership status. This helps buyers identify irregularities and avoid purchasing vehicles with questionable ownership histories.

Are there other scams you know about not in this list? Let us know in the comments! Contact Us