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Some cars come with manufacturer’s warranties that may be transferred by the car’s previous owner. Check with the dealer or previous owner to see if there is a warranty that can be transferred to you when you buy the car.


The dealer is not required to give you any warranty apart from the manufacturer’s, and he or she may ask you to sign a paper excluding any “implied” warranties that you might otherwise have under state law. However, if the car and the price are otherwise acceptable, negotiate the best deal you can: try to get at least a 30-90 day warranty on all of the major systems of the car, and get it in writing.


The Car’s Safety


The safety of any car depends on how much use it has gotten and how well it has been maintained. Ask the dealer and the previous owner to see all available maintenance and repair records.


Older cars with high mileage are likely to have more safety problems than newer cars with low mileage. Safety problems can be caused by rusted- out frame and body parts or worn-out mechanical parts.


Always ask to take the car for a ride and have it examined by your mechanic. It is better to rely on an independent evaluation than on the advice of a person who has a financial interest in selling you the car.


In Vermont, a dealer does not have to display a certificate of inspection on the day of sale or transfer of a vehicle. However, if you are satisfied with the information you got from the previous owner and your mechanic—and you have decided to buy the car—insist that the dealer inspect the car and attach a current state inspection sticker to the windshield.


Passing inspection means that the regular and parking brakes, the horn, all lights, the wipers, the suspension, the exhaust system, and the steering work. In addition, the car must have seat belts, a rear view mirror, tires with sufficient tread, proper alignment, no rust holes in the body, reflectors, fenders, and windows that you can see through in both directions. If the car is a 1983 model or newer, it must have a catalytic converter and a filler neck restriction on the gas tank.


The car’s appearance can tell you a lot. Check to see if the car has been repainted by looking for paint spray around the locks, along the edge of rubber moldings, and under the hood, trunk, and fender-well areas. If the


8 On Your Own, 2008 Edition


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