Question: A car dealership sold me a late model used truck that I have since found out was severely wrecked. What can I do?

October 20, 2005

Hello Tony

We purchased a used truck that had a clean title (Using Carfax and another title check) from a car dealership. One of the salesman that worked at this dealership at the time of my purchase was the original owner of this truck and purchased the truck new just 6 months prior to me buying it.

Turns out the vehicle has been totaled sometime in between the sales. I can not pin point if the original owner or the dealership wrecked the truck, but it was filed with Allstate as a totaled vehicle; however the title was never changed to show it to be salvaged.

The problem I am having is if the dealership knew the vehicle had been wrecked why did they sell it as a clean title? Where can I go to find out the date the vehicle was wrecked and who wrecked it so I know what direction to go from there?

Is there any way to get records of the work done to the truck for repairs? This would help to prove if the car dealership knew the truck was wrecked...and/or if the dates showed the salesman/owner fixed the vehicle while employed at this dealership. It seems they could still be liable. Any help or guidance in some direction would be greatly appreciated.

I can not find the correct rock to turn over to find the proof I need to be able to talk about this yet.

Thank You,

Lisa

Answer:

Hi Lisa,

First of all, if you ran a full CARFAX report before you purchased the truck, and the report came back clean then you should contact CARFAX, because they have a "Buy Back Guarantee."

Also keep in mind that title laws vary from state to state, and your state may not require a salvaged title for a vehicle that has been declared a total loss by an insurance company.

Perhaps you should contact Allstate. If they were the insurer they will have all the records of the damage. Maybe they can tell you more about the damage and where it was repaired. It sounds like the salesman you mention who was the original owner should know some details as well.

You should also contact the General Manager or the owner of the dealership where you got the truck and tell them you know the truck had been damaged, and for them to tell you the truth about what they know. Tell them you will go to the your state's Attorney General and file a complaint if need be.

This could be a potentially very damaging situation for the car dealer if they try to cover up. In most states it's against the law for a car dealership to not disclose the fact that a vehicle has been wrecked if they in fact know about it. Tell them you'll be reasonable as long as they help you.

Tell the car dealership you want them to buy the truck back for every penny you have invested in this deal. If they don't it could end up costing them a whole lot more.

All my very best...

Tony Iorio