When you buy a used vehicle in Utah, you need to pay special attention as Utah is a ‘buyer beware’ state, which means it is your job to check if the vehicle was ever in a crash.
The car may have a clean title, it may have a clean Carfax, and no accidents reported on the usual vehicle websites, but that does not mean it has a clean and undamaged past. The reason is that if the vehicle has been in an accident, but the cost of repair is less than the value of the vehicle, then the title of the car remains clean and the seller does not have to say anything about its past history.
If the repairs to the vehicle cost more than the car is worth, but it can be safely repaired, then the title is changed to say “rebuilt/restored”.
So, what can you do to ensure you do not buy a wreck which has been put together? Firstly you should take the car for a test drive, and take it to a mechanic to have it thoroughly inspected for frame damage.
The Utah Department of Motor Vehicles says buyers should also check for things like improper door gaps, mismatched paint, and chips in the dashboard. It also says to always run a vehicle history report through the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System, a national database that currently stores the history of 87 percent of all vehicles in the country.
If you have a concern about a vehicle you have just purchased, you can file a case with the Utah Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division and they will launch an investigation.
If you, or someone you know, have been injured in a serious accident, please call the attorneys at Hirschi Steele & Baer, PLLC at 801-990-0500 or contact us online today. We have the experience and expertise needed to help you get the compensation you deserve.
