Vehicle Identification Number stands for "VIN".
This vin number is a universal serial number provided to every car by the
vehicle manufacturer. Within the 17-digit number are different codes that
indicate the car's make and model, a serial number, where the vehicle was
manufactured, and even information about optional add-ons such as a sun
roof.
VIN Check Warnings
When buying a previously owned car, there are many ways for you to get
a bad deal from both a dealer and a private seller.
Odometers may be rolled back thousands of miles. It is against the law
in most states, but it is easy to do. It is still a major problem in used
cars today.
Be wary if the previous owner will not or cannot show you the past repair
records or identity of any former owners. If the title seems suspicious,
go somewhere else.
If an auto is shipped from out-of-state or received in trade from another
dealer.
A Used Car Extended Warranty
offers. An extended car warranty from a auto warranty company can
be a lifesaver when your vehicle breaks down unexpectantly. A car
warranty is much like insurance for auto repairs. It's a well known
fact that used cars do not come with warranties - and many of them
break down the first month of ownership!
Service to the client:They Make House invites to see it used cars
Date: Jan 25, 2005
Contributor: Clayton Mckillop
From The Small Business Connection
Customer Service: They Make House Calls on Used Cars Buying a used car has always been fraught with tension and uncertainty. But today its worse than ever, if only because cars are so expensive. With new car prices rocketing into the stratosphere, even used cars send buyers into sticker shock. Unless you're a mechanic or know one who will look over the car, you're pretty much at the mercy of the seller - unless you live within driving distance of Miami; specifically, Dade and Broward counties.
For a flat rate of $75.00, Rafael Acosta will travel within Dade and Broward Counties to perform an on-site inspection of the car you plan to buy. "We'll drive to the dealer, a body shop, someone's house, wherever the car is," he says. "If we have to travel farther, to the upper Keys, say, we charge a small travel fee."
While the concept of a pre-purchase inspection service did not originate with Acosta, the company he started last fall puts a new spin on the idea. Rather than catering to owners of classic autos or luxury models, Acosta's company, Auto Check, in Coral Gables, offers a Blue Plate Special.
"We do no repairs," says Acosta, who shares inspection duty with Louis Gonzales, his senior inspector. "We perform an inspection, test-drive the car, and then tell the prospective buyer what the car is worth." Acosta claims his service is superior to that of a mechanic because Auto Check does a structural analysis of the car as well.
And what qualifies Acosta and Gonzalez to perform such work? "We're insurance adjusters," he says, referring to his primary business: Associated Appraisal Services Inc. "I've been in business for eight years. We represent insurance companies, government agencies, lending institutions, and the public."
Many of the banks and insurers that hire Acosta for appraisal work also turn to him to look over used cars. "They want to protect their investment," he says. "If a bank has to repossess a car, it can lose $10,000."
Since Acosta has access to an international computer data bank of 13 million vehicle identification numbers (VINs), he can track a VIN and tell you whether the person trying to sell you the car is really the sole owner of a vehicle with 20,000 miles, or the fifth of five owners of a car with 100,000 miles.
And he can tell you all that for just $100 ($75 for an initial inspection, plus $25 for the title search).
