Attorney General Mayes Provides Tips to Arizonans When Making Vehicle Purchases

PHOENIX — Purchasing a vehicle can be a stressful experience and navigating the car buying process can be a challenge. There are plenty of car sellers and scammers who attempt to take advantage of Arizonans through false advertising, undisclosed fees, deceptive financing and much more. Ahead of Labor Day auto sales events, Attorney General Kris Mayes encourages consumers to protect their hard-earned money while purchasing vehicles by doing research ahead of time.

"When making a major purchase like a new or used car, its important to do your research ahead of time,” said Attorney General Mayes. “My office will not tolerate car dealerships—whether online or traditional brick-and-mortar—deceiving Arizona consumers when they buy a car.”

AG Mayes Offers the Following Tips when Purchasing a Used or Online-Purchased Vehicle:

• Get a mechanical inspection before you agree to purchase. Even certified or inspected vehicles can have undisclosed or pre-existing damage. A dealer certification or inspection may not be thorough—some may not inspect oil and fluid levels, brake pads, or battery life—and the inspection results might not be as good as a consumer would expect. Independent inspections help uncover mechanical conditions, accidents, or repairs that may not have been included in a vehicle history report.
• If you are considering an on-line purchase, be aware that you will be unable to obtain a mechanical inspection before purchase. In this situation, your expectations for a dealer described multi-point inspection may not meet your expectations and you may have to decide to return the vehicle or live with a disappointment prone to unexpected issues from the outset. If there is a return period, you should get an independent mechanical inspection prior to its expiration.
• If there is a return period, keep track of the expiration date to make sure that you raise any issues or reject the vehicle in time. Some online dealers may keep shipping fees or other costs if you refuse to accept a vehicle, so cautiously review the terms of sale before purchasing a car online.  
• If you finance your online vehicle purchase and decide to return the vehicle upon delivery or within the return period, know that you will not receive a return of any loan down payment for one to several weeks post the termination of the sale. Reimbursement for trade-in value may also take extra time and effort. To be safe, in the event you decline delivery or elect to return the vehicle, make sure you have sufficient funds to pay for any unexpected costs and alternative transportation to avoid unnecessary hardship and inconveniences.
• Consider purchasing a warranty or extended service contract when buying a used vehicle. Mechanical issues that aren’t immediately visible often appear after purchase, and warranty coverage can help protect you from unexpected repair costs.
• Review warranty terms carefully, use in‑network repair facilities, and notify the warranty company immediately when issues arise. Most warranties on used vehicles do not include coverage for cosmetic damage and require a higher deductible for out-of-network repair facilities.
• Request a free vehicle history report from the seller. You can also check the vehicle history using services such as CarFax or AutoCheck.
• Match the VIN across the dashboard, door frame, and title to verify they all match as this can help to avoid purchasing a stolen vehicle. 
• A car dealer is required to sell only cars with clear title. If a used car dealership cannot show you the physical title with the dealership’s name on it or evidence on the back side of the title showing that the vehicle has been re-assigned to the dealership, you should not purchase the vehicle. 
• If you have any issues with obtaining title of your newly purchased used vehicle, file a complaint with the Arizona Department of Motor Vehicles, as directed below, and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.
• Verify that condition and features match the listing. Save screenshots of online listings, including all photos and listed features. When initially inspecting the vehicle, or upon delivery for online-purchased vehicles, consumers should immediately verify that all features, equipment, and condition details match what was advertised.
• Arizona’s Used Car Lemon Law applies to every used car sale (although a specific defect may not be covered if it is spelled out in writing) for the first 15 days or 500 miles, whichever comes first. The law requires dealers to fix any defects occurring during that time that make cars unsafe or hard to drive. The dealer must be given two opportunities to repair the car and you will still have to pay up to $25 for each repair.  If the vehicle cannot be repaired, you would get the purchase amount paid for the car.

AG Mayes Also Provides These Tips When Purchasing Any Vehicle:

• There is no three-day right of rescission when purchasing a vehicle in Arizona. 
• Do your homework. Seek reliable recommendations and reviews for sellers. Look at a seller’s BBB profile.  Know your desired vehicle’s typical pricing before stepping on the lot.  
• Determine your budget before making a deal to ensure you don’t overspend. 
• Consider getting pre-approved.  Secure financing from a bank or credit union before shopping so you can compare sellers’ offers.
• Take control. You decide when to buy a vehicle. Don’t be afraid to walk away or take time to think things over. Bring a friend to alleviate seller pressure.
• Ask questions. Verify that you are paying the advertised price. Request a used vehicle’s history report.
• Read the fine print. Make sure all of a seller’s promises and agreements are in writing. If a document has blank space, don’t sign it.  If you are unsure about some part of the transaction, have a trusted, knowledgeable friend look over the details with you. If purchasing a service contract or warranty, make sure you understand the coverage, repair, and cancellation details.
• Remember, any debt owed on a trade-in will be added to your new loan.
• Be careful of hidden fees. Always check advertisements and price listings for “additional” fees related to reconditioning, recertification, document-prep, and more. Take copies of ads with you to the dealership to make sure charges are consistent.
• Watch out for unwanted add-ons. Don’t let a salesperson pressure you into purchasing unwanted add-ons, like window etching or tinting, nitrogen-filled tires, clear coat or other paint protection, door edge protectors, door cups, or rust-proofing. Unless the add-ons are included in the advertised price, the dealer can’t require you to purchase add-ons. Dealerships have faced multi-million dollar enforcement actions for adding deceptive, hidden add-ons.
• Beware “spot-deliveries.” A dealer may let you take a car home before financing is approved. If the dealer cannot get the financing approved on previously agreed upon terms, they may ask you to re-sign a contract for a higher rate or longer term. You may reject the change in terms and the dealership must return your trade-in to you. It may be unclear why a dealer needs you to “re-sign” documents; pay close attention to any changes.
• If you have issues receiving title to your vehicle and suspect fraud, contact ADOT by phone at 877‑712‑2370, email at [email protected] or file a report at azdot.gov/incident-report.

Get more car-buying tips.

If you believe you have been the victim of consumer fraud, you can file a consumer complaint by visiting the Attorney General’s website.  If you need a complaint form sent to you, you can contact the Attorney General’s Office in Phoenix at (602) 542-5763, in Tucson at (520) 628-6648, or outside the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas at (800) 352-8431.