Most car buyers do not know what the differences are in leasing a car or a traditional car loan. Car dealers know this and will try to get you into leasing. However, you should know that this is just another car buying scam commonly used by new car sales dealers. If you intend to lease a car, there are several factors you should consider first.

It’s a good idea to compare buying and leasing. Compare the total dollar amount of a car lease over the life of the lease to the total dollar amount spent over the life of a standard car loan. Also look at the terms of the lease. Pay attention to any additional contract fees or mileage fees to pay at the end of the lease contract.
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A potential car buyer got more than he bargained for Monday afternoon when he was attacked, beaten and robbed by the presumed seller, police said. The victim, 26, drove to meet with the seller, whom he had met through Craigslist. He met the seller in a grocery store parking lot. The victim asked to take the car on a test drive and the seller agreed, so long as the victim handed over his driver’s license.
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Car thieves use “chop shops” to dismantle vehicles and sell the parts. But these days, another kind of theft appears to be growing in popularity as owners who need the money are getting rid of their vehicles illegally to collect the insurance. As the recession has deepened, more high-end autos are turning up torched.

The insurance industry calls them “owner give-ups.” Cars that are reported stolen by their owners, then dumped or destroyed with the hope of cutting losses and landing an insurance payout.
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Police arrested a man who they say robbed prospective car buyers at knifepoint after luring them with advertisements on Craigslist.

The arrest of David V. La, 35, came after a five-mile chase that ended when La lost control of his car and collided with a tree. La was booked into jail in connection with two robberies and two attempted robberies.

BE CAREFUL! Always bring another person with you, make sure someone knows your whereabouts, meet and stay in a public place, never allow a stranger to take you to an isolated area. Times are only getting tougher and people are getting desperate.

Anyone could become an unwitting victim of this particular scam. It could happen to anyone.

The FBI announced that it has broken up one of the largest auto theft cases in the U.S. Capping “Operation Dual Identity,” arrest warrants for 17 people were executed in Tampa and Miami, Florida; Chicago, Illinois; and in Mexico City and Guadalajara, Mexico. The suspects were accused of “cloning” vehicles, which is making stolen cars look like legal ones.
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If you have bad credit and want to buy a new car, you haven’t got a lot of financing options. For that reason you are likely to look for a car dealer that can provide the money required for the new car.

1.) Previously Wrecked Car Sold As Is
Some car dealers do not know that the car is a wreck however some know and try to cheat. The real problem with buying a wrecked car is that you will be asked to signs papers that will state the car condition and that you agree to buy it “As Is”. In this case you have no warranty. If something happens to the car the dealer will step back and there is practically nothing you can do. Always check the hisotry by doing a Carfax. Always.
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It’s a scam that is easy to spot when you know what to look for.

A popular scam that has victimized thousands of used-car sellers is one in which the proposed buyer usually claims to be from Africa, or another country, and is eager to buy the advertised car, sight unseen, for the full asking price – no haggling. After some complicated email exchanges with the “buyer,” the victim ends up with a worthless cashiers check or money order, a depleted bank account, and is still stuck with the car.
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Before you commit your business to a shop, check the local Better Business Bureau and government consumer-affairs offices for complaints against it. Better safe than sorry!

1. That minor fender bender will be a major expense.
A survey of repair shops in the Washington, D.C., area by Consumers’ Checkbook, a consumer-information group, shows that replacing a fender on a 1998 Buick LeSabre can cost as much as $982. A new front bumper on a 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class can go as high as $1,350.
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Buyers of second-hand cars have to follow two pointers to ensure that they do not purchase carnapped vehicles. The buyers should know the original duplicate invoice and the original owner of the vehicle they are buying.

The original duplicate invoice is an official document given by the dealer, who sold the brand new car, to the original owner. The original duplicate invoice contains all information including the name of the selling dealer, name of the original owner, owner’s address, serial and engine numbers and the original amount the first owner paid to buy the vehicle.
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The 1995 Honda Civic has been the most stolen vehicle the last two years. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) released its Hot Wheels 2008 auto theft report for vehicles on Wednesday, identifying the 1995 Honda Civic as No. 1.

In 2006 and 2007, individually, the 1995 Honda Civic has topped the list each year, followed by the 1991 Honda Accord, 1989 Toyota Camry and the 1997 Ford F-150 Series Pickup. All four car models have been in exact order the last two years. For 2007, the remaining cars on the list are the 1994 Chevrolet C/K 1500 Pickup, 1994 Acura Integra, 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup, 1994 Nissan Sentra, 1988 Toyota Pickup and 2007 Toyota Corolla.
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Even if you have checked out some confessions of a car salesman and carefully studied the evil “four-square” technique, there are still some things you could say that tell a salesman you are a soft target.

1. I love, love, love this car
Even if you fall in love with a car, maintain your composure and don’t let the salesman realize it. It is easy for salesmen to manipulate you when they know that you will do almost anything to own the car.
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Find Out What You Need Before Buying A Car

An investigation into the sales taxes paid on used car purchases has uncovered a host of crimes going on in the used car business. From stolen cars, to fake car titles, to identity theft, authorities are seeing a lot of the problems at the tag office. Authorities at the tax office have seen dozens of cases of people trying to get around the taxes owed on the sale of a used car. When investigators took a closer look at the issue, they found more than tax evasion.
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