What to know when buying a used car online

(Federal Trade Commission) – Buying a used car instead of a new one might save you some money. But finding, researching, and negotiating to get a used car can be challenging. Online sellers might claim to make buying a used car cheaper and easier, but some sellers use tactics that might end up costing the buyer time and money. The FTC stated online seller Vroom.com broke the law when it failed to give people required Buyers Guides, misrepresented vehicle inspections, didn’t post copies of its warranties, and failed to give customers the option to cancel and get a refund when the company didn’t deliver many cars on time. The law says dealers must put a Buyers Guide on every used car. The Buyers Guide tells if the car has a warranty or is being sold “as is.” And, for online sales, dealers must give people the option to cancel their order and get a prompt refund when their car doesn’t ship on time. Those shopping for a used car should follow these steps: Get a vehicle history report. Start at vehiclehistory.gov to get free information about a vehicle’s title, the most recent odometer reading, and condition. For a fee, shoppers...