Buying from a private seller

[SCRunner12]

Ok so I called a guy about a 3rd gen today that is a good price. He has an Indian accent and doesn't know much about the car. It has a clean carfax and looks in great shape. He said he is selling it for a friend of his and has the title signed by the friend.

What do you think? I'm a little iffy about not having the service record and it not being the owner, but could this work out? I would have a Toyota dealership look at it before I make a purchase. I plan on going up tomorrow to check it out.

 

[DocMT]

Ok so I called a guy about a 3rd gen today that is a good price. He has an Indian accent and doesn't know much about the car. It has a clean carfax and looks in great shape. He said he is selling it for a friend of his and has the title signed by the friend.

What do you think? I'm a little iffy about not having the service record and it not being the owner, but could this work out? I would have a Toyota dealership look at it before I make a purchase. I plan on going up tomorrow to check it out.

I'd be cautious. Did he tell you the reason why he is selling it instead of his friend (the owner)?

If everything seems legit and you have the vehicle checked out, you'll probably be fine. Just make sure you're not somehow getting scammed.

 

[philsey]

Yeah, cautious. Find out who the friend is ... ask to meet him.

I'd want some assurance that the person who signed the title is the real owner. There'd be no legitimate reason for him to balk at this.

 

[SCRunner12]

Yeah I know what you mean. I am going to call the police office just to make sure it isn't stolen. I have the vin and license plate number. I'm also going to check with the DMV. The owner is out of the country and that is why the friend is selling it. He said I could take it to the Toyota Dealership to have it checked out. I checked the Carfax and everything came up clean and the car is registered in the city where it is being shown.

 

[Ross]

Ok so I called a guy about a 3rd gen today that is a good price. He has an Indian accent and doesn't know much about the car. It has a clean carfax and looks in great shape. He said he is selling it for a friend of his and has the title signed by the friend.
What do you think? I'm a little iffy about not having the service record and it not being the owner, but could this work out? I would have a Toyota dealership look at it before I make a purchase. I plan on going up tomorrow to check it out.

Only buy from the person who is on the title, no one else. Sounds like he shouldn’t be selling it. If it is his to sell he hasn’t registered it. If this is the case he is trying to avoid paying taxes and registration fees. This man is not the registered owner of this vehicle. Who knows who signature that really is? No matter what the deal is it is shaddy at best.

 

[Ross]

Yeah I know what you mean. I am going to call the police office just to make sure it isn't stolen. I have the vin and license plate number. I'm also going to check with the DMV. The owner is out of the country and that is why the friend is selling it. He said I could take it to the Toyota Dealership to have it checked out. I checked the Carfax and everything came up clean and the car is registered in the city where it is being shown.

Do not trust Car fax. Only thing a clean car fax report means is nobody has reported anything that has happened.

 

[PaulB-2006 T4R]

Ok so I called a guy about a 3rd gen today that is a good price. He has an Indian accent and doesn't know much about the car. It has a clean carfax and looks in great shape. He said he is selling it for a friend of his and has the title signed by the friend.

What do you think? I'm a little iffy about not having the service record and it not being the owner, but could this work out? I would have a Toyota dealership look at it before I make a purchase. I plan on going up tomorrow to check it out.

I would be very leery of "He said he is selling it for a friend of his and has the title signed by the friend." If it is a "friend" then make sure you go to the DMV together to get the title transferred.

I bought my 4R from a small dealer/broker, I made the deal contingent on passing a used car inspection from a Toyota dealership (basically what they do when they place a car on their used lot). The cost was $125 but it was worth my peace of mind. The dealer said my 4R would have been certified used if they sold it.

Good luck.

 

[SCRunner12]

Yeah I plan on getting it checked out today and I'm going to call the DMV to see what they suggest. I'm definitely not going to give the guy any money till the title is transferred.

 

[Ross]

Yeah I plan on getting it checked out today and I'm going to call the DMV to see what they suggest. I'm definitely not going to give the guy any money till the title is transferred.

If nothing is reported to the DMV it will show clean. That doesn't mean that it can't be reported or missing or stolen 10 minutes after you have done your check. It is in your best interest to only deal with the person who is on the title.

 

[Will733]

No great deal is worth that potential problem....

The real owner could always come back into the country and claim that he didn't sell it. Not sure if he would even have to give you the money back to reposses it, but I wouldn't want to deal with that. Maybe this is the new "African bank account scheme:" Retirement plan?

 

[OrdnanceMarine]

It's a DYODD kind of situation. I bought my 4Runner used from a guy who had recently moved to Costa Rica as an expatriate, decided he wanted to stay down there and had his son sell it. You can always use an escrow service if you're concerned.

 

[SCRunner12]

Yeah I might just wait till this weekend to check it out. I called the DMV and they said I should be fine registering it and transfering the title if it is signed. It isn't stolen and the registration is up to date.

 

[brownshoes]

I did the very same kind of thing for a friend. He had his car up for sale and then got deployed (during the 1st Gulf war). He really wanted the car sold so he signed the required paperwork and I handled the deal from there. Everything was on the up and up. I am not saying your deal is clean, just saying there are honest folks still out there (although they are getting few and far between these days). Proceed with caution and you should be fine. Just my $.02

 

[MTDewX8]

got any pics so we can share the excitement and see it if there are pics.

after getting it checked out and its a good deal. I would consider buying it if t hat is what you want. I just bought one from an Army couple that bought it over seas. they were up grading and after I got it checked out I was ok with buying it.

just make sure all your ducks are in a row to be covered in all aspects.
once its registered to you it should be yours with no issues.

curious how the owner singed it with out a buyer in mind.
Montana has a new thing where you have to have a notoriy sign with the buyers name in the purchasing part filled it.

good luck