Q: Marco..I enjoy reading the comments on your website and find the majority I am in agreement with your comments. However I must disagree with the comment you made pertaining to lenders charging a fee. "For them to tell you that the bank charges $2000 for approving a first time buyer is completely false. A bank can not charge anyone a “fee” for approving them." I am finance director at a Chevrolet dealership in Houston, TX. Sub-Prime lenders can and do charge a dealership a fee to finance automobiles to individuals with credit challenges. These fees range from $200.00 to as much as 20% of the selling price of the vehicle. In Texas The dealer is not allowed to pass this fee on to the customer. This fee that the dealer must pay the lender many times prohibits the sale of the vehicle. I do not agree with this practice, but it is legal for the lender to charge these fees...and is done everyday. Respectfully, Mick Thompson

A: Mike, you are 100% right. Banks like Capitol One, Wells Fargo, and HSBC all do sub prime loans and do charge those fees. But as you know, that fee is legally charged to the dealer and not the customer. Although we all know that those fees are add to the profit, so indirectly the customer is paying those fees. What a dealer can not do is quote a price and then tells the customer that we must add $1000.00 to the price to arrange financing. All I was doing was steering that customer away from that dealer. After all you know that GAMC and FMCC both have First Time Buyer Programs that don’t charge the consumer any fees at all. Charging someone $2000.00 to get them approved as a FTB should in my opinion, be illegal. It was nice hearing from you please write me anytime because all I am trying to do is hold people in our business to a higher standard. I believe that you do not have to lie or mislead anyone in order to sell them a car. I believe that Full Disclosure is a Dealer Principal’s best friend. Good luck, Marco

Q: Hello, I recently went to a kia dealership yesterday and ended up applying to get a loan for a new 2008 sportage. well the price of the car is 20,270 but it come with a 2500 rebate and Im putting down 1500. now the only problem is i really didnt want to pay the payments they were trying to quote me so i kept sending him back to the manager. well the last time he came back he said that the only way he could get it down to were i wanted it i would have to put more down or they would have to come down on the price of the car. Then he said that he couldnt come down on the price of the car because im a first time buyer and the bank sometime charge a 2000 fee for first time buyers and if he came of the car i would end up having to pay this fee instead of them. I havent signed a contract and im waiting on them to call today. my question is what do you thinkk My options are here? Does the bank really charge a fee? and as i stated it is a new car but i noticed around the ignition there are marks in the rubber or whatever it is that shows like someone putting the keys in had like dug little holes. Should the dealer take off for this?

A: If you have not given them any money GET OUT OF THAT DEALER! For them to tell you that the bank charges $2000 for approving a first time buyer is completely false. A bank can not charge anyone a “fee” for approving them. They will charge you a higher interest rate, but they can not charge you a fee. If you want to prove this, have them put it in writing, or better yet tell them you want to call the bank and negotiate that with them, you’ll see what happens. As far as the key marks, the vehicle could be new but is being used as a demo. That does not make it a used car it is still a new car because it has never been titled. Dana, you are going to over pay for this car. If you need me you know where to findme. Good luck, Marco

Q: on July 14th iI went to a hyundai dealership in arlington to purchase my first car. I stated to the sales person that I was a first time buyer and would like to know my options. well I guess he didnt want to work with me or something cause he then sent out the New guy to handle the situation.After a test drive and someome looking around we went inside to look at the numbers. Well after they said they couldnt get the payments to were i wanted them they sent the first guy back out to drill me into getting a car that night. Well we then agreed on an amount. They came back said they had found a bank to approve me and had me go sign the paper work. Then they told me that i would have to come back the next day to pick up the car. Well the next morning they call and say i need proof of employment . so I take them what i had my check stubs. then they come back and tell me that the documents are not good enough and that I would get approved better if I had a w2 but i put on my credit app that i had only had one job for two months and the other for 6. and the w2 for 2008 are not out yet. but anyways everything just got confusing from there because different people kept coming saying different things.Then one of the sales people came back saying that the bank was mad and that my mom should buy a car to make them happy again. needless to say i didnt take the car. Why do they give you the run around? will them pulling my credit and me not taking the car hurt my chances of get another car somewhere else?

A: You see what I mean Mae. One phone call to me would have made things a whole lot better for you. Now you know where to find me. About them pulling your credit, it would depend on how many different banks pulled it. Good luck, Marco

Q: Purchased a used car from a VW dealership. '04 Passat still had original warrenty on bought at end of April of this year. Also bought an extended warrenty. One month after purchase had to take it in to get the allignment fixed. Than took it in again because the tire felt bumpy when driving. Said it was because allignment was off and rubbed the tire. But said that I would need new tires but not anytime soon. Took in for first oil change. Said C/V boots need to be replaced but not covered under warrenty, considered normal wear and tear. I argued it has not been long that I have had the car why am I forking over $500 already. What do I do next. they refuse to fix it for free. Do I have a case of lemon law?

A: No lemon law on used cars. Get a second opinion on the repairs. Dealer does not have to repair cv boots. Sorry Marco

Q: Hi I am needing some help with a legal situation. I purchased a car exactly 11 days ago from Bob Howard Chrysler in Edmond, and they were having a hard time getting me financed on my own without a co-signer due to lack of credit. I initially did sign all of the forms for the car, not knowing that all of this would turn into a problem. The finance department started calling me telling me that I needed to get a co-signer or they would have to have me come in and look at another car. At that point, I got frustrated and told them I wanted my car back, and got every excuse in the world about giving them more time to get me financed, they are confident they can, etc. etc. Well when I finally got fed up and they had not yet had me financed, I asked for my car back. The sales manager told me that he could not give me my car back, because I had signed a contract. I didn't see how it was valid if they had not had me financed, and how he could hold me to it. So yesterday, the finance manager asked me to come up to the dealership and said he was able to get me financed. I went there and made him physically write void on the initial contract since they were trying to change the terms, before he presented me a new one. He wrote void on his copies and my copy and initialed. When he presented me the second contract, it had a higher interest rate, but they lowered the price on the car, so somehow it ended up being cheaper than what I would have paid with the last contract. I told him that I did not want to sign a contract, and asked for my trade in back, and he said they already sold it. I told him he could not do that, because the contract is not final, I have not signed the second contract, and the first contract is void, but he claims that he could sell the car because I signed a form giving them the power of attorney over the car. He said he could still hold me to the first contract if he wanted to or he could just cut me a check for the amount I traded my previous car in for. I don't understand how he could still legally hold me to the first contract, if he wrote void all over it before he even presented the second contract to me. I know he can not force me to sign another contract, but how can he hold me to the first contract? Also, could they legally have sold my car already? They supposedly just got me financed yesterday, and I saw that the title to the car was still in my folder and had not been signed over to anyone except them (from me). I asked the finance manager if I could take the second contract home with me to think about it, and said that was fine but to let him know by 2pm today, otherwise he is going to start processing the 1st contract. I really would like to get my car back and not do business with them, but I don't know what I can do at this point or if what they did is legal. Hopefuly you will get this email today, and can help me before I am forced to make a decision today. Thanks.

A: They did not do anything illegal. Matter of fact they are right when they said that you signed over your trade to them. And if you read the small print on the buyers order (not the bank contract) you will see that if they do sell your car and can not finance you all they have to do is pay you for your trade. What they actually pay depends on the wording on that buyers order. It could say “average black book wholesale” or “the amount shown on the buyers order. Look over the numbers, and weigh your options. Maybe you are better off just taking the car you bought. Good luck Marco

Q: We went today and bought a used car. the dealer talked usinto the extended service warranty. We did not take the car off the lot are supposed to go back tomorrow. How do we cancel the extended warranty?

A: When you go back today, tell them that you changed your mind and would like to remove the extented warranty from your contract. Tell them you changed your mind. They need to make a new contract without the ext warranty and tear up the old one. Make sure you see the old contract get torn up. DO NOT take their word for it. The Finance Manager may not be so friendly today, you may need to see the General Manager. Good luck,Marco

Q: Do we have any legal grounds when a local car dealer sells a vehicle to a consumer with the knowledge of it being a "prior salvage" vehicle, but never once indicates, or verbally warns or supplies this valuable information to us. As a matter of fact, he was sneaky and willing to say the other one (between my husband and I) knew about this. But was never in any way, shape, or form, willingly and verbally willing to provide this important information. What were the required steps and laws in 03/2007 for a Missouri car dealer and the consumer to follow to legally register and license this vehicle.

A: As far as I know, every state has laws regarding the sale of salvage or frame damaged cars. You need to see an attorney as soon as posible. Good luck, Marco

Q: This a actually a comment on the question that is, at this time on my computer, the second question from the top ("Bought a used 98 Kia Sportage. Dealer has fixed fuel pump twice, now car won't start at all. Have had this used car for 3 weeks and out of those three weeks it has been down for 10 days..."). I saw a lady on the news the other day having the exact same problem with a used BMW. It turned out the gas station she was going to, although it claimed to have a max of 10% ethanol, had supplied gas with over 20% ethanol and that had been the cause of her fuel pump breaking three times also in just a few weeks. The fuel was tested by the BMW dealership because they were perplexed as to how the replacement was bad, and THEN the replacement to the replacement was also bad. Good luck to you all. I too am at war with a buy-here-pay-here lot that refuses to give me my $500 partial down payment on a car that I ended up not wanting and never driving off the lot, and signing no contract, so I feel all of your pain and hopefully we will all get our just dessert. Sincerely, Rich

A: Some day Rich, some day. Thanks for your input.

Q: We were looking to trade our minivan in on an extended cab pick-up truck, so my husband could use it for his business, we found a beautiful 2006 Ford F-150 that the used car department of Ford just got in, claiming it was only owned by 1 person, that the guy just traded it in for a bigger truck, and that at some point it had been in a tiny accident (or had some minor body work, something like that). So we bought the truck, trusting the dealer's word, only to find out through carfax that it was not owned by one person, but was a rental truck in Louisiana, and had actually been in one minor and one (as police put it) moderate-severe accident (meaning bad enough it couldn't drive away on it's own according to LA police). I was just wondering if there is anything we can do about the fact that they lied to us? Isn't that illegal or something??

A: It is your word against theirs. If it is not in writing, it will not fly. The carfax was available to you before you bought the truck. Good luck, Marco PS… Never trust anyone that is trying to sell you something. You really don't think that I would have been able to help aviod this for you. Well, I guarntee this would not happen to my customer.

Q: Thank you for your quick response, Marco.

A: You're welcome.

Q: Bought a used 98 Kia Sportage. Dealer has fixed fuel pump twice, now car won't start at all. Have had this used car for 3 weeks and out of those three weeks it has been down for 10 days. Dealer refuses to switch us out of car and just wants to fix this one. We cannot be without a vehicle this much as it is our only transportation. Any ideas?

A: No, unfortunately there is not much you can do. There is no lemon law on used cars in Iowa You may want to give a call to the Consumer Protection Division of the Iowa Attorney General’s Office if you need to file a complaint their website is http://www.iowa.gov/government/ag/file_complaint/index.html Good luck, Marco

Q: i live in ohio i bought a car in kansas from a dealer i traded my car plus eight thousand dollars for their car i had a transportation company take my car to them with my title in trade they took my car in trade and my car was brought to me with no title i waited three weeks no title yet i called them and they said i signed for the title which was not true i signed for the receipt for the money i sent them i still dont have a title and iam getting the run around what can i do or what are my options againt this dealership? please help//ed

A: You need to contact the Title Administration and Customer Service Unit (TACS in Ohio at 614-752-7671. Tell them that you purchased a vehicle out of state and the seller did not give you a title. But before you do that you may want to call the Division of Motor Vehicles in Kansas and have them check the vehicle ID number for any liens or other problems that title might have. Their number is 785-296-3621. Good luck, Marco

Q: I bought a car on July 9th 2008 and it is not july 18th. I traded in two cars and signed loan papers for a new car. It was late at night and they didn't know the lein holder yet. As of 9 days later they still are trying and insisting it will be no problem. They still havn't paid of the loan for the other car I traded in, probably becasue they don't know a lein holder yet. They told us it would be no problem getting a loan as they deal with many banks. My question is can they have me give the car back even though I signed the loan papers and made the deal with them already. I have read on the internet that they have 10 days and can but I don't see that anywhere in the contract. What happens if they can't find a bank, after loan papers were already signed?

A: A deal is not a deal until a finance institution approves and funds the dealer their money. Yes they can ask you to return the vehicle. They must return your trades, and should refund your down payment. After all, they were the ones that failed to keep up their part of the agreement. Good luck, Marco….. Remember, you are responsible for the monthly payments of your trades. Make sure that they are not past due.

Q: I was looking at a car but not sure about my finances. The salesman worked out 2 plans -- one with only me (higher price and interest rate), and one with my mom co-signing. We wanted to hold off a day or two to get my Dad's approval for Mom to co-sign. It was no problem; he just needed $100.00 to “hold” the car and had me sign a buyer's order. We never thought that the deal was complete because we had not determined whether Mom would co-sign or not, and because he said that he would pull the carfax report (there section on the order where I had yet to sign off that I had reviewed the carfax). I decided to cancel the deal the next day (they still had the car in detailing): he first tells me that it is okay, then calls back to report that his manager says I signed a legally binding contract. I think he is just trying to manipulate me. I can do without my $100, but am I legally bound to purchase this car?

A: You signed a buyers order and gave a deposit the worst that can happen is that you lose the $100.00. You didn’t sign a bank contract did you? Good luck Marco

Q: i was interested in buying a truck from a dealer. 1 of the sales persons would not get back to me. after many calls and driving there to buy a truck they would not sell to me. the gm was a complete jerk and refused to sell it to me. he finally cam e out after i drove back down there 50 mins away by the way and talked to another sale person. the lady kep going in there and coming back telling me to call for the original sales person i talked to. i said i would love to but he doesnt call back! the gm came out sat down and was a complete jerk and said he wouldnt sell it me! he said its not listed for retail. i go oh really then why is it listed on your website?he had no comment. this place has given me the run around and ridiculed me! is this legal?

A: Their is nothing ilegal about being stupid or being a bad business person! They should have explained to you why the vehicle is not for sale. Maybe they have decided not to retail the unit because there is something wrong with it in that case I’m sure you would understand. There is a simple explanation as to why the vehicle is on the website. Most sites upload the info directly from the dealers date base every so often. So if the vehicle comes in as a trade in it is in the system, therefore it will be uploaded automatically onto the website. Good luck, Marco

Q: Please help! I bought a car on June 14th 2008. Everything was great, the dealer told me that it was a certified pre-owned vehicle.They had owned it the whole time and that it was a loaner vehicle for people who dropped off their car to the collision center. No problems. I get pulled over for speeding and the VIN is ran, the car is stolen! I get the fifth degree, I am treated like a criminal (of course they have every right). The CHP is now trying to figure everything out, we are all clueless. The CHP officer just calls me and tells me that this car is a repossession and that the original owner had called it in as stolen. I have had to take time off of work and be without a car now for TWO DAYS! Not even mentioning all of the stress I have been going through. What should I do? The dealer is saying that is a police error and the police are saying that it is the dealers error! I am stuck in the middle without a car and I feel that I am entitled to more from the dealership. Can I ask them for an extended warranty due to the poor integrity of the business?

A: First of all you did not buy the car from the police you bought it from the dealer. So the dealer sold you a car that was reported stolen, how very nice. As a manager I would be embarrass to see your face. I would be apologizing to you from the moment you set foot in my dealer. But then you know that’s just the way I am. Look, they are not going to admit it, but the car they sold you has caused you a whole bunch of trouble. I know that the right attorney would love this case. So if they do not want to work with you, and by this I mean give you something for your trouble, maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to see one. Good luck, Marco

Q: HI My brother-in-lav purchased a 2008 hyndai sante fe on friday. He was quoted a price of 28k. He traded in his yukon with only 1,500 left to pay. Anyway, when he got home he realized that the price was actually 34k. His credit union refused to finance not due to his credit but because the blue book was only 25k. He returned the car today and they told him the company found a finance group, but he refused to accept and told them to kkep the car. So he left the car and walked home. The dealership is refusing to keep the car, but when he asked who financed it they would not tell him. So he is refusing to take the car and they are refusing to keep the car. Is their anything you can pass on to me so I can give him some info

A: To all my customers that have purchased Marco’s 8 Simple Rules PLUS, are you reading this. Good, because this will NEVER happen to you. This is what’s happening to people all over the country but with your two phone calls to me, this will not happen to you. I Guarantee it! Now Carleen, what I would do is go on www.equifax.com and run a credit report (which can be downloaded immediately) and check for any “inquiries” that were made by banks on my file last Friday. Now I would have the names of the banks. I would get the phone numbers for their indirect lending department and call them, identify myself and have them check to see if they approved a loan for me last Friday. Your brother in law needs to work this out because let me tell you what he did. He not only bought a Santa Fe last Friday, he signed over the title to the Yukon. So unless it is one of those banks that require a customer interview before they fund the contract, he can lose his credit and his trade in. People will never learn! Remember Marco’s 8 Simple Rules PLUS can prevent this from happening. If you call me after you sign and drive off, you own it!!! Good luck Marco

Q: Hi I purchased a 2008 suzuki reno after trading in a 2007 chevy cobalt, I have received the reg, tags, and title, but the bank has not financed it yet. iwas told they don't dend out contracts except in bulk, noe I am told they are still working on the deal. have you any idea what is going on and can they get me for stealing the car since I still have it? and what about my trade in?

A: The first thing you need to do is call the bank where you had the Chevy financed. Ask them if your loan has been paid off. If not, you better make sure that the payment is not past due. Remember, you are responsible for the monthly payment on that Chevy. The next thing is call that bank that supposedly will send you the contract and speak to them. Let them tell you what is going on. As far as you “stealing the car” that won’t happen, you have a tag, registration, and a title! But then again you are in New York. Based on all the complaints I get from New York I have asked around, and confirmed, that some of the sewer rats have been showing up at dealerships dressed as sales personal. Be careful! Good luck, Marco

Q: I purchased a used 2003 Isuzu Ascender yesterday from a Lincoln/Mercury/GMC dealer here in new york on long island. We are not really mechanically inclined but we took car for test drive looked under the hood. Th car seemed to be in perfect condition with 48000 miles, even got a car fax. All was good. When we got home my father and landlord decided to overlook the car and when they looked underneath noticed severe rust damage to undercarried and the front brake lines. What are my rights? Can we return the car or something or are we stuck with an unsafe car that can basically fall apart when im driving it.

A: You had the right to take it to a mechanic. Now all you can do is plead. Here is how you plead. First, as hard as this may be, you tell them that you realize this was YOUR mistake. That you should have had the car checked out by someone to avoid this but you did not, so you would understand if they were to say you HAD to keep it. You would understand if they were to say there is a “NO RETURN POLICY”. But you are dissatisfied with this vehicle and you understand there is no refund but YOU DO NOT WANT A REFUND. All you want is to be able to select another vehicle. Make it clear that you still want to do business with them and all you want to do is be given a chance to pick a vehicle that would make you happy as their customer. There are no rights Tom! Be very careful, be nice and you might get a chance to pick another car. Good luck, Marco

Q: i recenctly totaled my 2003 jeep cherokee. my wife got it in 2006 while i was deployed to iraq. the insurance company said the vehicle is worth 9000 dollars. the finace company says we owe 15000 we have paid almost 10000 on the vehicle already. the sales rep who sold us the vehicle is in jail for fraud and the manager of the dealership was fired. my insurance company said we should have never been finaced the vehicle for so much money. what can we do.

A: First of all you need to find out if there is something on that contract that you can cancel. Like an extended warranty, or a life insurance, etc. And while you are at it check to see if there is any “Gap coverage”. If you do not have Gap Coverage, you are responsible for the difference. So anything you can cancel will come off the payoff amount. And by the way, I want to thank you for your service. May God bless you and all the brave men and women of our Armed Forces. Good luck, Marco

Q:  Can a Used car dealer keep a portion of a deposit if a buyer decides they no longer want the car? The reason the buyer explained is that they cannot come up with the rest of the money, in the meantime, the dealer turned down offers for another buyer. This seems unfair to me, is there a time frame that must lapse? Must the dealer return the entire amount of the deposit after 3 weeks time? thanks for your help with this matter. Susan

A: Unless otherwise stated on the buyer’s order, deposits are Not Refundable. Before you give a deposit there are things you need to do and put in writing. It is never a good idea to give a deposit. The only thing a deposit does is tie you to the dealer. What ever deposit you give from now on, it has to be an amount that you are comfortable losing and it won’t hurt you. Good luck, Marco

Q: I had a voluntary repo a few weeks ago,due to the lies a salesman told me. I got a bill from a collection agency for the bal of the toyota rav4 after it was sold at auction. I have a witness who was with me when he told me the lie that got me to sign the contract. The payments were crazy high, I don't have the best credit because of a past repo and bankruptcy. But he said signing gets me in the truck. I was told by my salesman to come back in six months after on time payments and he could run the numbers again and get the payments lowered to where I need them to be. Also didn't need to have in writing because that contract will be void. Six months I go back salesman no longer works there. No one can help me. I feel I signed the contract under false pretense and it should not be held against me. How can he get away with lying to people and the dealerships not responsible for their employees actions? Is there anything I can do??????????????

A: You see people. This is what I talk about on the video. Just a flat out lie that is all it is. This salesperson just lied to this customer. DO NOT DO THIS ON YOUR OWN. Some salespeople are very professional and would not make a comment like that, but some are scumbags and do you want to know why the dealer is not responsible? Here it is. It says so on the buyers order. It is worded something like this “all verbal agreements are VOID” Or maybe something like this, “The dealer is not responsible for any verbal agreements. All agreements between the dealer and the customer must be in writing, and signed by a manager”. I keep tell you people that the disclosures are all there if you know were to look for them. I am sorry Donna; I am using what happened to you to make my point. Marco’s 8 Simple Rules will not allow this to happen. Good luck, Marco

Q: I bought a car on Monday July 7th 2008 from a dealership in Omaha Ne. I signed all the papers and they were going to trade to get it from another dealership, and I was going to pick it up today, July the 8th. When I called to check on it, I was told that the car was sold to someone else at the other dealership. I was told that they will be shipping one in from Ohio at there expense of around $800. They said this is the same exact car that I bought and that got sold from under me with the exception that this new one did not have the $300 pioneer speaker system. When I asked if they were going to either discount the price or install the missing speakers, I was told no. Can they legally sell me a car under contract with all these features and then give me a different one with less features for the same price. The salesman keeps telling me that it is not a contract untill I take possesion of the car regardless of weather or not my paperwork says that it is a contract. My paper work clearly states Nebraska Purchase Contract.

A: You must take delivery of the vehicle for it to be a deal. The salesperson is correct. Now, did you sign a buyer’s order or did you sign a bank contract? Another question I have is what ID number is on those papers? They must have used the wrong ID number. If you signed a bank contract you need to call that bank immediately and tell them you did not take delivery of that vehicle. Also mention that fact that the ID number on those papers is wrong. Tell them that the vehicle you bought is not the same one they are trying to deliver. They will play hardball with the deposit. You need to be calm, but firm when you remind them that THEY were not able to comply with the verbal agreement you had made and you want your money back, or for them to credit the cost of the vehicle and deduct the $300.00. Good luck, Marco

Q: If you are past 90dys on a vehicle loan can the lienholder report the car stolen if it has not been returned? And if they can at what point 30 60 90 120 over 2yrs, etc?

A: NO, they can repo it at anytime from anywhere, but they can not report it stolen. Call them and work it out, Good luck, Marco

Q: I bought a used car from a used car dealer in full five months ago. I got the license plates and inspection stickers but have not received the title for this vehicle. Ask the dealer after a month and a half of waiting for it and he said that it was not on them but the title office. Since I bought the vehicle from them do they have to provide the title or I need to take care of that?

A: When you buy a car from a dealership, the dealer will handle the paperwork for you, including titling and registration. For transactions between private parties, however, you'll do the paperwork yourself. Fortunately, this can be even easier than doing it at a dealership. To start with, the title transfer is usually a very simple transaction. This transfers the ownership of the car from one person to another. The seller should also make out a bill of sale that includes all the pertinent information about the vehicle and its sale price. To transfer the title to the buyer, the seller fills out the information requested on the certificate of title itself. This self-explanatory action signs over the vehicle's ownership to the buyer. In addition to filling out the title, the seller should complete the gray sections of the Application for Texas Certificate of Title (Form 130-U) that the buyer will take to their local County Tax Assessor-Collectors office to transfer the title to their own name formally. The buyer has up to a month to do this. If I were you I would call the DMV in Texas and have them check out that VIN number. Good luck, Marco

Q: I leased 2008 Pathfinder. Upon driving out of lot, I noticed car was jerking. Called dealer, they informed me the Pathfinder drives different than my previous car, Murano. A few days later, same problem. Took car in, they adjusted "auto" drive mode to "2wd" mode. They said that should solve my problem. Few days later, knocking and popping noise. They finally checked vehicle and realized car was unsafe - FAULTY TRANSMISSION. I want to exchange vehicle.. they won't do. What can I do?

A:  The vehicle has a warranty. They must fix it. If they can not fix the same complaint after 3 attempts then you have to file for a “Lemon Law” against Nissan, not the dealer. There is not a thing written anywhere that says a dealer must replace the car. But Nissan must fix it to your satisfaction. Good luck, Marco

Q: Hi. I was looking for a mercedes S 550 to buy for a friend of mine who lives overseas. I had 2-3 people looking for it, cause he was interested in a spesific model, thats not easy to find. I found this mercedes of leasing deals company, and they decided to help me. To make sure im a real customer, they asked for a 3000$ deposit 100% refunable. Which was not a problem for me. A couple of weeks later another company found the vichecle for me. So i called the mercedes of leasing deals and let them know that i found the car, and asked them when it would be comfortable for them to right me a check for 3000$. About a week later i get a check for 2500$ and the guy tells me that he decided to collect 500$ for him self for time he spent looking for a car. Question: what do i do to get the rest of the money back? Thanks, Alex

A: Well Alex do you have anything in writing that says that the deposit was 100% refundable if you decided to “end the search”? If you do you have this in writing, you’ve got no problem, but if you just took their word for it you just lost $500.00. Rule number one in the car buying world is “trust no one” and always get promises in writing. Sorry Marco

Q: We live in NH and on June 5th took ownership of a used car that we purchased from a MA dealership. Our 20 day temporary plates have now expired and we had to rent a car because the dealership claims they haven't received the title yet and have not therefore sent it to us, making it impossible to register the vehicle. Can we make the dealership pay for the rental car expenses? Do we have any other recourse?

A: Some states have a certain time period for the dealer to process the title work or face fines. Unfortunately for you New Hampshire does not. Call the DMV in New Hampshire at (603)271-3111 and have them run a check on that VIN (ID) number for any liens. If they say it has no outstanding lien on it then I would have my attorney give them a call. Good luck, Marco. Please let me know how it goes.

Q: I purchased a certified used car from a dealer, was verbally given the final price including tax and extended warranty and when I went to sign and put the down payment a dealer prep fee was slipped in. I have the car but I want to dispute the fee because it was never revealed initially. What recourse do I have?

A: You have no recourse at all. You had plenty of recourse before you signed but now all they are going to say is “Well it’s right there, I mean you signed it” To bad you didn’t have Marco’s 8 Simple Rules PLUS. Although you may think that they would not have helped, I disagree. You see with $49.95 I would have told you those fees were there before you signed giving you the option to accept or deny them. Someday people are going to realize that even though they are very smart, and do all their homework, it is not enough. Good luck, Marco

Q: june 7 2005 purchase a 2000 bmw 1 month later vehicle begin to rust called dealer had me bring car in and they repainted the area that was rusting did not realize that the whole rocker paunch had hidden rust found out after the car was sent to body shop for some repairs sad thing is my payments will out last the vehicle can I take the dealership to small claims court they are offering to pay 500.00 toward a 1600.00 job not to mention all the other problems i have had problems with replace tires, 2 window regulators 2 set of brakes etc.

A: This is an eight year old car that you purchased 3 years ago. I think that you will have a difficult time in court. There is nothing written anywhere that protects a buyer from rust three years after the sale date. I know you are going to point out that there was a repair done 30 days after the sale date, but that is not going to be enough. If I were you I would take the $500.00 and get my car fixed. I am sorry, I know you wanted to hear something else but I just don’t see any court holding a dealer responsible for rust on an 8 year old car. Good luck, Marco

Q: I have bought a Honda Accord from a BHPH lot. This is the 3rd vehicle from them. The first they blocked the motor up when they repaired fuel-pump, the second had severe water damage & corrosion, and now this one has a lsipping transmission. yes I had the 3rd one checked. With the first vehicle I didn't receive my title paperwork until I called & demanded it for days, now same stiuation no title paperwork within 10 days. Can I write a letter to them and demanded my money returned to me? For all of the trouble that this has been the car isn't worth the fight, I'd rather walk. Can I legally now that they aren't doing there part get out of my loan?

A: If they do not provide you with a clean title, you can get your money back. But let me ask you something. Is it not time to look for another dealer? I would. If you keep giving these people chances, they will eventually take you for a large amount of money. Good luck Marco

Q: I recently went to a dealership and looked ant a 2002 ford explorer, and i liked it. I told him i would be back the next day to test drive it again! He told me that i had to put at least 100 to hold the vehicle and sign a contract! I did. He said all the vehicle needed was oil change and top off the fluids. Well i go to give the money and the vehicle is still in repair a week later. I asked what was wrong? they wouldnt tell me, so i didnt give them any more money til i saw the vehicle. I go the next day to get my money back, they won't do it, said if i dont buy the vehicle they will put it in as repo! can they do that? I didnt even drive it off the lot, didnt even add to insurance, and also didnt sign all the paperwork including the title! What can i do about this? Also he put on the contract that i already gave him 1000 dollars.

A: You mean to tell me you signed a bank installment contract showing the interest and the monthly payment? You better call that bank to see if it was processed or not. If it was, tell them that you did not give any money down. If it is a buy here pay here, you own it! Good luck, Marco

Q: Own a 1994 Toyaota Landcruiser that I first leased from Felco Autolease and then purchased it at the end of the lease. Looking for my title today and I could not find it. Went to Texas dept of public safety to get a replacement title. They say the title is still in Felco's name and that there is a lein on the vehicle. Felco has gone out of business. How do I contact to get my title? Thanks, Keith Weeks keithweeks@yahoo.com

A: Here is a link the will answer your question...http://motor.etax.dor.ga.gov/motor/titles/outofbuslienholder.asp.... Good luck Marco

Q: I bought a 2000 kia sportage from the dealer "As Is", I drove the car for 3 weeks. i was on my way home with my baby and in the middle of the highway the car turned off. I towed the car to pep boys and they told me that they couldn't fix it because the wires from the pump had been altered and is against the law to work on a car that has been altered. I called the dealer and they say that is my responsibility to fix the car not theirs. They gave me the number to a mechanic and I took the car to him. the mechanic sais that he will fix the wires and replace the gas pump for 600.00 and since I told him that I do not want to drive a car with the wires like that he said that it will be 1000.00 to replace all the wires. I do will not feel save with the wires like that because the guy from pep boys told me that any like spark might even blow up the car since the wires are from the gas pump. I have my baby in the car most of the time I'm driving, and in less than a month I have spent over 2000.00 in that car and I cannot afford the repair charges. What can I do?

A: If you bought the car “As is” unfortunately there is nothing you can do except learn a very valuable lesson. One that you can pass on to your baby when he/she gets ready to buy a car and that is “YOU NEVER EVER BUY A USED CAR “AS IS” WITHOUT HAVING YOUR MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT FIRST” Sorry Marco

Q: My husband went to a dealership to look at the 4dr Jeeps at about 9pm. He thought they were closed and did not really want to deal. They were having a "sale" and a salesperson said that it was the best time to deal. So my husband told him what he was looking for (4dr Jeep 4x4 with tow package and manual). They did not have any manual Jeeps. They brought two Jeeps to show him what the difference of two models (Wrangle X and Sahara)r. My husband and the salesperson got on the web and built a Jeep for him. My husband then told them to work on a deal on the car he build (Wrangler X manual) and on a Sahara (auto) with tow on their lot. So my husband agreed on the numbers on the Sahara and went to meet up with finance. When finance went outside to get a VN# for the car, my husband went with him to make sure the car was 4x4, silver Sahara with a tow hitch. The one that they had brought out for show were 4x2 so finance and salesperson went to look for a 4x4 with tow hitch. They had only one and finance got the VN# and told salesperson to take car out to the front. Finance and husband worked on contract. My husband signed the contract and gave them a check. Then went to the gas station with the salesperson to fill up and went on his way home. On Monday, they tell us that we need to return the car because it was the wrong car. The Vn# on the contract and on the car match. The thing is that the car they gave my husband had the navigation system. My husband did not pick that car they did. When my husband went to look at the car they said was the right one, it did not have the tow hitch he requested. He told them to put the hitch and he would take that car and they did not want to. The salesperson knew it had a NAV and the manager now is saying we need to bring car back. Is this our car since he signed the contract, VN #'s match and the check was written? Do we need to worry about them not sending paperwork for tags? Or paying off our trade-in?

A: Yes you need to worry about all those things you mentioned. The payoff is your responsibility so make sure that payment is made. But the good news is they messed up, there is no crying in baseball! They have to honor the signed contract. They will make it difficult, but you need to be persistent and maybe even see an attorney. They will try to hold the tag and payoff, so you need to monitor those two things. You can do this by calling your finance company and the DMV. Good luck Marco

Q: 5 days ago went to look at 2008 nissan maxima took it home because i wanted it, now i am having second thoughts!! The dealership says the deal is already done bank approve my loan,but dealership did the contract wrong and i have to go back and sign , I smell a rat!!! dealership is stating that they mess up on the contract and need me to sign again and bank is waiting for paperwork , i had given them 3,000 dollars as a down payment, I really want to back out of the deal, because they should of not mess up the first time what should i do?

A: If they need you to sign another contract that means that they do not have a “cashable contract”. If you want to back out they will give you a very, very difficult time with your down payment. The best thing to do is to work something out with them and get another car, maybe something you feel more comfortable in. Bottom line is they have your money and they will play hardball. Be careful if you decide to sign the new contract. Re-contracting can get very dangerous for the unsuspected consumer. A phone call to Marco may be what the doctor ordered; $49.95 could save you hundreds. Good luck, Marco

Q: I Submitted the story about to 2007 nissan altima yesterday and I made a mistake on the date I purchased the car it was on 3/24/08 not 3/24/07 I know you said it will be tough to get them to to pay $1500-$2000 15 month later but it has only been three months. Do you think that will make a difference.

A: OK, that makes a big difference. What your complaint should be based on is the repair that was done was sloppy and non professional. You see, the moment that they repaired it they acknowledged that there was something wrong. There was a problem with the vehicle and they tried to fix it. They just fixed it wrong. Good luck, Marco

Q: I purchased a preowned 2007 nissan altima on 3/24/07 a few days after I purchased it I realized that the bumper was a darker color than the body of the vehicle. I thought nothing of it at the time until i began seeing the sam vehicle in the same color and the bumper was the same color as the car. I contacted the dealership and they did not want to give me the time of day. I took the car to 2 body shops and they both said the bumper had a very bad paint job. One of the shop owners gave me the name of the owner of the dealership. I phoned him and he told me to bring it in and he will look at it and make a determination. The moment he looked at it he noticed it. He scheduled me to have it repaired. He had someone paint the bumper and had me pick it up the same day. Upon me picking up the care I noticed that the bumper still did not match one of the cars quater panels and that the paint job was horrible he painted over dirt and there were bugs in the paint. After numerous calls to the dealership he agreed to take it to the auto body shop. However after learning that he was going to allow Macco to do the work I told him that we need to find a company with a good reputation to do the work because that is how your dealership is in this situation now because they have been cutting corners to get the job done. I research the Macco shop he wanted to do the work and there have been some real bad stories. I want this to be over with so I want someone with a good rep to do it so that I wont have any issues down the road. I have went to 2 more body shops for estimated and both of them laughed at the work that was done to a 1 year old car. the quotes I am receiving are in the $1500-$2000 range. I am waiting for one more place to give me a quote. This has gone back an forth for three months and I am to the point where I want to take legal action. I am in the process of contacting the BBB, Consumer affairs, as well as the NY State attorney generals office to file a complaint to see if I can get this situation put to bed. In your opinion what should my next step be?

A: You are going to have to do that and a lot more to force that dealer to spend $1500.00 to $2000.00 15 months after you took delivery. You need more that luck, Marco

Q:  I SIGNED PAPAERS AND FIANCE MANAGER SIGHED PAPERS FOR A AUTO LOAN. MY MOTHER LIVES OUT OF STATE. PARENTS GOT INSURANCE ON VEHICLE PER MANAGER. MANAGER TO SEND PAPERS TO MOTHER/CO SIGHNER TO SIGN. NEXT DAY DEALER CALLS ME FOR DOWN PAYMENT OF $1600.00. I BELEIVE HE UNDERBIDDED CAR. BUT HE SIGNED ALL THE PAPERS FIRST. HE SAID IT WAS NOT BINDING BECAUSE MOTHER DID'NT SIGH. HELP????

A: If Mom hasn’t signed, walk away from the deal. If you smell a rat, there probably is one, somewhere. Good luck, Marco

Q: if you finance a car at car dealer ship and the car does pass state inpection is the dealer responsible?

A: Yes. If you just bought the car you have to take it to get inspected but it is the law in New Jersey that a vehicle must pass the inspection. If you have any problems you need to go to the Dept of Motor Vehicles. Good Luck, Marco

Q: I put a downpayment for a new car, until after I wrote out the check did the car dealer tell me I was not approved for the loan. I forgot that I gave them the check but they went and processed it anyways. I let them know what they did was wrong and to give me my money back, but they said they can't do anything until after the weekend.

A: If I were you I would stop payment on it ASAP! You should be able to go online and do that. If not, you should be at the bank door when it opens Monday morning AND PLACE A STOP PAYMENT ON THAT CHECK. Good luck, Marco.

Q: I bought a 2006 Certified Toyota Sienna from a dealer in NJ in March '08. I found cracks in windshield in 3 days and they fixed it after 3 weeks - but in this time I found that A/C is not working ( first time I checked the A/c) . When I left the car to have windshield fixed, told them about A/C as well. They fixed windsheild but for A/c they said condensor is hit by stone so warranty will not cover it.Demanded $980 to fix it.I asked to see proof that 160 point check was done and A/C was fine before they sold the van to me. They never showed me that. Complained to BBB,it's been 40 days - no response from them yet- they are dragging to see if I wil give up..Can I go to small claims court - as I feel they sold the van without going thru the 160 point inspection.

A: I think that $980.00 is a little steep for an A/C condenser. But they are banking on the fact that you will not take them to court. This would be your word against theirs and the fact those three months past before you noticed, is not good for you. A Certified Used Car means that it has past a mechanics inspection and it is certified in writing with the technician’s signature on the inspection. Regardless of how many “points” this inspection consist of, one of the items that is standard in all of them is the A/C. They claim that it was a stone that cause a hole in the condenser therefore it is not a mechanical break down it is an accident. Here is what I would recommend. Take the vehicle to a third party certified mechanic. Get their opinion in writing as to what is wrong with the A/C. If it is indeed a stone that caused this then I would call my insurance company and try to put a claim in. After all, driving down the street and running over a stone and causing it to damage part of the vehicle is considered an accident and your collision insurance may cover it. Of course you would have to pay your deductible; hopefully it is a low one. Good luck, Marco

Q: I bought a "certified used" (2007) Camry LE on my first trip to the car dealer on 5/31/08. Believing the quoted price $19,999 included the extended warranty; I didn't read the numbers carefully when signing the contract. I ended up paying additional $1999 for the warranty, and $790 for Gap contract which I have no idea what it is. I signed the Decline of cancelation. Now I blamed myself for buying spontaneously. Is there a way I can cancel the contact or the warranty / Gap contract? Or I am stuck! Thanks.

A: Yes you can cancel the extended warranty and the gap. Your monthly payment won’t go down because the “credit” you get will come off the amount financed. This means that they will take off a couple of payments off the tail end of the loan. Don’t feel bad, there are people like you being taken for suckers everyday. Everyday people are over paying anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000 at dealerships across the country. And then there are people like me, that feel they should be paid for their services to help others avoid situations like these and still you won’t take advantage of it. After almost two years of running this site and listening to people whine and complain after the fact, I am coming to the sad conclusion that you people deserve what you get. Good luck in the cancellation process, they will make it difficult. Marco

Q: My father-in-law purchased a car trailer from a used car dealer, paid it off. He has all the cash receipts and cancelled checks to prove it. The dealer is telling my father-in-law that he still owes him three payments and will not give him the title to the trailer. We have reported him to the dealer board. What kind of attorney do we need to be looking for to file a civil suit or try to resolve this? I've tried Contract attorney, Criminal etc... but no one seems to know who I should be speaking to. Your help will be greatly appreciated. Thank You.

A: If you have all the proof like the original buyers order and all the receipts, all you have to do is take him to small claims court. You don’t need an attorney. Good Luck Marco

Q: Can a dealership in minnesota sell you a car and then call and say they forgot to figure in tax and tell you that you have to go to the dmv and PAY IT YOURSELF TO TRANSFER THE TITLE

A: It depends on how the buyer’s order is written. Were you charged sales tax? You must have a buyers order. Pull it out and look to see how they broke up the charges. All buyers’ orders have a section for “Sales Tax”. What does yours say? You may want to contact the Minnesota Dept of Revenue you can them at 651-296-6181 in the Twin Cities; elsewhere in Minnesota, call 1-800-657-3777 Good luck, Marco

Q: In 2004 I purchased a used Honda Accord from Alcoa Mitsubishi in Alcoa, TN. The owners abandoned the dealership in November of 2005. I am wanting to sell the car but Alcoa Mitsubishi is still listed as a lienholder on my title (and the car was dealer financed). The vehicle was not paid off as all checks were returned to me after they abandoned the dealership. What can I do? I have contacted the TN Department of Commerce and Insurance who no longer handle the case. They referred me to the Title and Registration Division who then referred me to the Motor Vehicle Division and an attorney with them referred me back to the Title and Registration Division. Please help.

A: You need to get in contact or if possible go to the Tennessee Department of State in Nashville. Get proof (some kind of print out may do) that Alcoa Mitsubishi is out of business. Take that written proof to the Department of Revenue. Good luck, Marco

Q: My son recently went to look at a car from an E-bay dealer here in Houston, Texas. He liked what he saw and the salesman tolf him he could hold the car for $200.00. He proceeded to give him the deposit and the next day went back with his mother to do the paperwork. It turns out that the dealer could not get the deal bought from any lender. When asked about the deposit, my son was told it was non refundable. Their site states this, however I was told by other dealers that it was not legal without a bailment or other document stating fees would be deducted from deposit amount. Can they keep the deposit if they cannot get the deal bought? Thanks Mark

A: No, especially if the car never left the Dealer. And that is what it sounds like, it sounds like your son never drove the car off the lot. They will try, but you tell them that they failed at their job by not approving the loan and that there is no buyers order saying that the deposit was non-refundable. Good luck, Marco

Q: I recently bought a lexus from a 45 min. away from me dealer. It was said that I would not buy the car if all damages and tires were changed. They said that it will all be fixed in the next couples (4) days. So I bought it, they kept my car for two weeks and fixed nothing. I have a customer satisfaction paper stating that everything should have been done. After they finally changed the tires I had a control light pop out about my tire pressure. I drove over there again to fix it. They fixed it but i didnt even get home and it popped out again. Can i take this problem to court? I have drove the 45 min. there and back about 10 times not being satisfied.

A: No you bought a used car. Go back and tell them to fix your problem and forget about court. Tell them that they still have a chance to get a good survey from you. Of course I know that's a lie but sell them on the idea that if they come through for you you will give them a good CSI report to Lexus. Good luck, Marco

Q: can i still get my registration sticker if i dont transfer the car in my name

A: No, the vehicle has to be in your name. The registration renewal notices will continue to go to the seller until the vehicle is transferred to the buyer’s name. Good luck, Marco

Q: i got a 2006 toyota corolla sport from a used lot that is fixin to go out of business. its under toyota, they just recently moved to a bigger area. I have had my car for a little over 4 months now., and have yet to recieve my license plates. The dealership said they lost the power of attorney paper they had gotten from the previous owners of the vehicle. Which means until they can get the paper, i have to keep getting temporary tags from the department of transportation. Come to find out the previous owners now live in japan and they cant get a hold to them. Or they say they are trying to get a hold of them. which we have given them over 2 months for that process and nothing has come from it. How much longer should i give them before i just return the vehicle and get another that they can fully see to me? Its an inconvenience to me to have to call and go get new tags every month. also i have recieved a ticket for expired tags that they offered to pay for and have not given me the money. i feel im going out of my way and there just kicking back.

A: Whenever a vehicle is sold in Texas, state law requires the vehicle be titled and registered in the buyer’s name within 20 working days. If you buy your vehicle from a dealer, the dealer is required to file the title papers on your behalf, so you will not have to visit the tax office. Make sure the dealer provides you with a receipt showing the vehicle has been titled in your name within 20 working days. You have been more than kind. I smell a rat here. Have you checked the vehicle ID number at the DVM office to see if there are any liens on it? If I were you I would give the dealer X amount of days to register and title the car or replace it ASAP. Good luck, Marco

Q: I am 20 yrs old and it was my first purchase. I bought a used Nissan 2005 and gave a down payment of $6K. The next day I tried returning the car for another but finance manager said that they can't do that for I have already signed a "no" cancellation contract. He had intentionally tricked me into signing it saying it was for a extended warranty service contract, but he then tells me that it was for the vehicle itself. On top of that, he game me a trade-in value of 9K for the vehicle when it had actually cost 12.5K. Moreover, he would not give me my $6K back. Is there any way for me to claim my money back? I also have a witness who heard the finance manager say that it was for the extended warranty service contract. Please help!

A: If you signed the contract and took delivery of the vehicle you will not be able to back out. The good thing is that you are twenty years old and you already found me! People go through their whole life getting ripped off every time they buy a car because they don’t know where to go for help. Next time you buy Marco’s 8 Simple Rules, and I guarantee that this will not happen to you. Good luck, Marco

Q: about 3 months ago I purchased a 1994 low mileage civic si unseen for top dollar ($6500) due to the Iowa Honda dealerships description "showroom condition". Once it arrived it has some rust which is $3300 to fix. The dealership offered to repurchase the car but not reimburse me for my $750 of shipping after I followed your advice to talk to the owner, sales manger, etc... should I be happy with that? I did not accept. Should I get them to repurchase it *and* pay my $750 of shipping? Can I make them fix the car here in PA? Do I have that option with a lawyer? The Iowa attorney General has not really helped me in this. They are basically shuffling papers back and forth but have not done anything in 2 months. Should I hire a lawyer next? Threaten to sue in hopes they just pay to get the rust fixed or buy the car plus pay my shipping? I have not driven the car more than 120 miles due to waiting on this mess. :( thanks!

A: No you should not be happy with that but here is the problem. How much will an attorney charge you to try to get that $750.00 shipping charge back? Will it be worth it? Or how much will the attorney charge you to get them to fix it in PA? And do you really want them to fix it? After all $3300.00 of rust repair is a whole mess of rust. Do you really want to pay top dollar for a car in that condition? The fact that you bought the car in Iowa and you live in PA makes this even worst. How are they going to refund the money? Are they going to make the refund after they receive the car in Iowa? That’s scary. What guarantee do you have that they will refund 100% of the price after they have the car in their possession? Who is going to pay the freight back to Iowa? As you see there are so many unanswered questions that I believe sooner or later you will need an attorney. I hope that this ordeal cures you from the urge of buying a used car “unseen” again. Good luck, Marco

Q: I just bought a 2009 pontiac with a trade in jgc. To make a long story short the gm and we agreed on a 7200 difference between the two cars. We went ahead and bought this car at the price the finance man had given us. Two days later the gm man calls us and acuses my husband of trying to rip him off because we did not pay tax on the right amt. He says we still owe him 700.00 dollars in tax because we ( DID NOT) tell his finance man that the price agreed between us was 7200 out the door when indeed it was just 7200 plus tax and title.We did not decide what the numbers were. Isn't this the salespersons job to tell the finance man what we agreed to. The contract is signed and marked paid in full but the gm says if we don't cough up 700.00 more dollars he will not give us the title.wth

A: Call the attorney generals office in Ohio. The telephone number is 877-244-6446. Tell them what happened and the fact that they are going to withhold the title. In the state of Ohio if you buy a car from a dealer the dealer is required to provide you with the title WITHIN 30 DAYS of the purchase date. Just make sure that the dealer has the correct spelling of your name, as well as having your proper county. If you have financed the car, the dealer will apply for the title and have it sent to the lien holder, which in this case would be the financing company. You can still register your car without a title (because of a lien), as long as you have the other sale documents from the dealership. Good luck, Marco

Q: I recently heard an ad on the radio for Suntrup Nissan in St. Louis, MO. The ad stated that they would add $5000 to the value of a trade towards any new car. Thinking that this was a great deal I went to the dealership to find out the details. The salesperson told me that yes, that was indeed the deal, I trade in my car, they take $5000 off the MSRP of the car and use the regular value of the trade as the down payment. Needless to say, I took the deal got myself a new car and drove away the next day after being told that I would get the $5000 taken off the MSRP and that I would keep my low payment. A month later, after a misspelling kept me from getting my statement, plates or survey in the mail, I discovered that they had not honored the $5000 off MSRP. When I asked why they told me it would cause them to loose money and there was nothing they or I could do. This seems like fraud/ bait and switch. Is it and where could I find specific statutes relating to that? I want my $5000. Without it I could have gotten a better deal at another local dealership. Thank you.

A: I hate to be the bearer of bad news but you have nothing. You have no proof that they were going to give you that discount. It will be your word against theirs. The judge (or mediator) will ask you one question. They will ask “is this your signature here” and when you say yes, they are going to ask you “why did you sign this, didn’t you read this”? And you will be lost for words. Next time you hear an add like that you can email me and I will clear it up for you. Good luck, Marco

Q: I bought a used Dodge 1500 a few weeks ago. I bought the truck because I thought it was a good deal. The truck had less than 8000 miles on it and was selling for a good price. The dealer sold it as-is. I asked the salesman if the truck had issues because of the pricing and he told me the manager wanted it to go because it was the only non-honda at the honda dealership. I asked a lot of questions about the former owner and why they had the truck. I was told that the truck was traded with another one like it because the previous owner was looking for two cars with better gas milage. This made total sense and I went through with the purchase. Just the other day I was washing my truck (by hand) and I noticed that the tops of the doors were really misaligned. I began to question whether the truck had been wreaked. I have been looking for info on the truck and had found nothing. I thought maybe the door alignment was because of the way the truck was sitting when I washed it but this was not the case. Just today I was at a car show locally and I was approached by a young man (22 years old) who asked if I bought the truck at Graponne Honda. I told him yes and he told me he was the previous owner. I asked him if he had wreaked the truck and he went on to explain that he had in fact wreaked it by hitting a telephone pole at 30 MPH after carreening through a ditch. There had in fact been quite extensive damage. He gave me his number and I also spoke with his entire family who all varified the truck had been in an accident. They agreed to help if I needed anything which is just awsome of them. My question is: Where the dealership told me lies about the reasoning behind the pricing that were most certianly believable. Specifically when I asked if it had been wreaked. Do I have a case for a law suit against the dealership? The truck does have frame damage and the missalignment is pure evidence of this fact. There were absolutely no disclosures about the vehicle ever being in an accident. Moreso there were no disclosures of frame damage.

A: I MUST CONGRADULATE YOU. You go out and buy a car that was rammed into a telephone pole, all by yourself, and you still wouldn’t pay someone to help you avoid situations like these. You are a car dealers dream, anyway here is my opinion……Misalignment is not pure evidence of frame damage. And that real nice family that traded that vehicle in. Well, I am sure that guy did not tell the dealer that he ran that car into a telephone pole at 30mph. The dealer should be professional enough to inspect that car and determined if it has frame damage or not. Take the car to a body shop and have them inspect the front end. If they say it does have frame damage, have them put it in writing on their letterhead and take that letter to an attorney. Good luck, Marco

Q: I just put a down payment on a used car in Ct. It had just come into the dealship and they had not done any work on it yet. When I took it for a test drive I did hear a noise in the engine, and they said they would fix the problem. Now they tell me that the car needed a repair and it would cost them $800.00 so they are just going to send the vehicle to auction. So my question is, since they accepted my deposit don't they have to repair the vehicle and sell it to me if I still want it?

A: NO they do not have to sell you the vehicle. Were you willing to pay the extra $800.00 or $1000.00 it was going to take to fix it? I don’t think so. If their story is true, consider yourself lucky you did not buy a car with a major problem. What about if that little noise would have waited another month or two to “pop up”? What they do have to do is return 100% of your deposit back. Good luck, Marco

Q: I leased a car in 1998 for 5 years. I filled Bankruptcy 3 years later. The Attorney advised us that a lease car could not be saved in the bankruptcy and that the lease company would more than likely want the car back. In the end, our bankruptcy was discharged. The owner of the car is Felco Title Trust and the Leinholder is LaSalle Collateral Agent. Long story short, they never came for the car and 10 years later (today) the car is totaled in a wreck. I was told by the TXDOT that I need to get the release of lein in order to get the title so the insurance company will settle the claim. I recently found out that LaSalle was bought by Bank of America. And that Felco Title Trust is not in business. I haven't had any luck when contacting Bank of America to get the release of lein because they don't have any of the paperwork from LaSalle Bank yet. What do you think?

A: Your issue is with Bank of America. They bought out LaSalle. Only BOA can satisfy that lien. You need a whole lot of patience and I would recommend that you either do it by mail or email so you can keep a record of who you spoke with and who said what. Trust me you are in “Lien Release Limbo”. I wish you a lot of good luck, Marco

Q: CAN A CAR DEALERSHIP SELL A TRADE IN MOTORCYCLE TO A CUSTOMER OR AS A WHOLESALE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS? AND IF SO HOW MANY ARE THEY ALLOWED PER YEAR?

A: A new car dealer in the state of Texas must obtain a General Distinguishing Number (GDN). This requires, among other things, a permanent place of business, signage in accordance with regulations, and sufficient space to display five vehicles of the type the dealer intends to sell. You'll need a GDN whether you sell new cars or used. If you also (or instead) sell motorcycles, RVs, or other trailers, you'll need a separate GDN for each class of vehicle. If they have a GDN number for the sale of motorcycles, they can sell as many as they want. Good luck, Marco

Q: My son bought a 99 BMW M3 from a fleet dealer. Carfax only had history from 2005. My son went to a local BMW dealer to get a spare key as he only had one. The VIN number (it is registered with the state of CA) on the car registration is the same as the engine and 20 other parts of the car including everywhere it can be checked. The VIN number that BMW has is for an 325i that was shipped to Great Britain. So my son cannot get a spare key. What do we do now? We figure the only way that we can get a spare key is either to replace the ignition and door locks or sue BMW. The original fleet dealer did give my son his down payment back when he couldn't even drive the car all the way home before the clutch failed. My son has the car running fine now. We are concerned about the inability to get a spare key. Any ideas?

A: Start with taking the car to the Stolen Vehicle Division of your local police department. Tell them what is going on and have them inspect the car. They will let you know if the car VIN plates have been altered or changed in any way. If it passes that test then you get out your digital camera and take pictures of the car. Take a good pic of the VIN number on the dash and on the door. Send those pics to BMW with a letter telling them that there must be some kind of mistake. That you were told that this vehicle was shipped to Great Britain YET, HERE IT IS and you own it and would like a second key. Provide them with proof of ownership. First make contact with someone at BMW and get a name of a Customer Service Manager and send the letter with all the proofs in a “Return Receipt Requested” envelope. Good luck, Marco

Q: I purchased a car recently, in doing so it customary for all paper work to be signed and completed. Due to not having all of the pertinant information, I told the dealership, I would contact my references and fax it back to them. I presume my faxing it back to them was not exediate enough,they brought it upon themselves to forge addresses of my contacts! I had already had a converstation about me getting the information, it was then the salesperson pressured me into making up any address"they dont really check,anyway" he stated. I took the ref.sheet and stated I will get the correct information and fax it. It was after I left and followed up, that I discovered he falsified my documents. What should I do at this point? Thanks in advance, V.

A: There is really not much you can do. If you want you can write or call the bank and provide them with the correct information, but again, there are people out there that are pros at getting caught and coming up with great explanations. For example: “I don’t know how I messed this up, it was an honest mistake. I had a couple credit apps on my desk at the same time and the phone was ringing, I must have gotten that info crossed up or something”. You just can’t come out and accuse someone of something like that without the proof. Don’t misunderstand me, I agree with you, this guy did this, but you can’t prove that it was just an “honest mistake”. Let it go, give the bank the right info and good luck, Marco

Q: I purchase a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee from a local dealer (Northeast Ohio) in December 2007. Yesterday, I was pulled over and informed that the window tint on the driver and passenger side window, was illegal. The office had a device which measure light penetration and issued me a citation, because it was not passing the required amount of light. He stated that it is illegal to sell a vehicle in the state of Ohio, that is not street lega. I have contacted the dealer, they have not encountered this before. Is it there responsiblity to make the vehicle lega by removing the tint. It MUST be done by June 4th and the vehicle brought to the city that issued the citation, which will then be voided. Thanks Marco!

A: You are going to waste more time and money trying to make the dealer remove those tints than having them removed yourself. It really is not that expensive to remove tints. And the dealer will give you a hard time. Let’s face it; they know you are not going to hire an attorney for something like this. Good luck, Marco

Q: I purchased a 2008 Dodge & which the dealer sold it to us as a used car & it does not have a New Car inspection sticker on it either, why? (according to title, it was never title to anyone before) also the dealer gave us the title & the title has the car mileage at 6,844 & we purchased the car with 15,142 miles on it, who do I contact to get this corrected? (would I contact the dealer again)

A: Check your buyer’s order and see what it says for mileage at the time of sale. Why would a new car have 15,000 miles on it? Was it a Demo? Did they deliver this unit to someone who did not get approved and had to return it? There is got to be an explanation for that many miles on a new car. I hope you got a good deal! The miles on the title are not what you should be looking at. The important mileage is on the buyer’s order when you bought the car. Good luck, Marco

Q: I bought a car a couple of months ago, the dealer shut up shop before the title was given to me but he did register the car in my name. I tracked down the title to a finance company, the dealer who sold me the car owed the finance company money but after I proved I paid in full for the car they wrote off the amount owed and gave me the title. I was so happy and ran over to the dmv but the lady there said that the finance company had signed the back of the title saying they were the lien holder so I was told I would have to get a lien release. I went back to the finance company and they said that they weren't the lien holder and that they had written that on the title in error and that a statement of fact would suffice. I have that and am going to go to the dmv to try again but is it a waste of time, do I need that lien release? Also if they aren't the lien holder then who is as I thought someone had to be?

A: The lien holder was the finance company you spoke to and they were nice enough to write off the amount that was owed so you should be fine with a statement of fact. That statement corrects the fact that the vehicle was “erroneously reported” as having a lien and covers the Department of Motor Vehicles of California for any loses they may suffer from registration or issuance of ownership certificate covering said vehicle. This should work. Good luck, Marco

Q: I just leased a new '08 VW GTI. My payoff on my old car was $10,571 the dealer traded it in at $16,250. The agreement was I would would get $3900 in cash out of trade and put the rest down on the lease. When I read the lease agreement they rolled the entire amount into the lease but are still cutting me a check for $3900. Why? Does this effect my lease pymt?

A: I don’t understand exactly what you mean by “they rolled the entire amount into the lease but are still cutting me a check for $3900.00”. But maybe this explanation will help. The payoff is $10,571.00 to the bank and $3900.00 to you. That gives you a total of $14471.00. If you subtract that from what they gave you for you car ($16,250.00) your balance would be $1,779.00. Now check your lease agreement and look at your “total due at start” and it should match or be very close to the $1,779.00. This way, everything, including the money going to you, is documented. Hope this helps, good luck Marco

Q: Marco, On April 14, 2008 My daughter and I leaseda new scion xb from Andy Mohr Toyota in Avon In. The night that we did the deal, wesigned a contract with them through toyota motor credit corp. At that time they did not tell us we needed a security deposit and did not ask for one. The blank on the contract for a sec. deposit is labled "N/A". now three weeks later they are calling back and wanting us to give them a sec. Deposit and sign a new contract saying they did not realize toyota required a security deposit at the time of the deal. i called toyota credit and they say they dont require it and that is a dealer negotiated item. I think its the dealers problem and not mine if they are negligent. what are my options and should I be making a complaint to the Atty. General office? We have already titled and plated the vehicle and our first payment was due on 5-14-08. I have been buying cars for 25 years and have never had a dealer come back for more money after I have signed the credit contract? thank you for your help.

A: Wait a minute, wait a minute, you mean to tell me that the vehicle is already titled in your name and you already made your first payment! In this case they are trying to appeal to the “nice side” of you but you are right. This sounds like it is their problem and you let them know that you will file a complaint if they keep harassing you. Good luck, Marco

Q: hello marco, i recently purchased a 2007 vehicle and later returned and purchased a 2008 vehicle, this was all due to misrepresentations and issues with the 2007 vehicle. i thought i would have some assurance, peace of mind if i purchased a 2008 model. the point is that i received two letters in the mail today, one stating that i was denied financing thru chase and the second also from chase - congrats. so i contacted the bank and the rep. could not explain besides that it may have been a denial for the 2007 model but approved for the 2008. so it led me to ask her about my loan application, which she was able to retrieve and she stated i had listed other income which i did. although i listed $2400 additional income and they the dealership crossed out and wrote in monthly under the word annual. the rep said i needed to contact the dealership and that i wanted a copy of the credit appl i would have to supeona the document. fyi, again the loan was funded. question is what recourse do i have? i contacted doj and the dealership for a copy of the credit appl and sure enough the credit appl was altered and included the name of a relative not living with me that they wrote in which is not even related. they altered the credit appl after i signed it. what do i do i want to return the car. thank you : )

A: You need to call Chase back and get the phone number for the indirect lending department. Then ask to speak to the branch manager. Explain to him/her that you believe someone altered your credit app with false information regarding your income and that this happened after you signed it. If they used that additional income to qualify you for the loan, then they will be very interested in talking with you because if they can proof that the app was approved based on false information that would be grounds to back out the deal! The dealer may try to approve your loan with some other bank, but do not re-contract. Show them the altered app and tell them it is to their best interest to drop this issue. Good luck, Marco

Q: On jan31 2008 i purchased a truck. Three months later I notced the temp registration has expired and have not received the registration card. I called the dealer he said everything was sent in and i should have received it. I then called the department of transportation and they told me the truck is not in my name and the plate was not registered. So I called the dealer back and they informed me a few days later the dmv cashed the check that they have a copy of the cancelled check but they want the 96 dakota registered as a 3/4 ton. Several phone calls later I have gotten no where. I called the dealership to ask for the wid number so I can try to track the paperwork I got an answering machine and left a message. After several messages no one has yet to call me back. What do I do? Oh yeh, the dmv also told me nothing has been rejected in my name.

A: There is no way in the world you are going to find a solution for this over the phone. You need to go to the dealer and ask to speak to the “title clerk”. That person will be able to tell you what has or has not been done with your paperwork. Get copies of whatever was submitted to the DVM by the dealer and go the DVM with all your paperwork and whatever you get from the dealer. If the mistake was made by DVM they will make the correction. Good luck Marco

Q: My Cousin who does not speak the greatest of English got taken by a car dealer. They charged her WAY more than the car was worth. When I found out that she got it financed for the entire amount, no money down I thought it was fishy. I helped her get the paperwork from the finance company, (since the dealer refused to give her a copy) I found out that the "Like" invoice they used to value the car was not LIKE the car she purchased. The "like" invoice was for a special edition w/ leather seats and all kinds of good stuff that her car does not have. Can I get her out of this mess? (She thought she was co-signing fo someone, but she was the only signature...the relattive she "co-signed" for is gone, now she stuck paying for a car and insurance that she doesn't need!) Thanks!!!

A: A bank will ask for a “like invoice” when it is a used current model year and the vehicle does not show up in the Official NADA Book. So since there is no way to book out the vehicle, they will ask the dealer for a “like invoice”. Most banks only require that the first 8 numbers of the vehicle identification number be the same as on the like invoice. You have an uphill battle but with patience and knowing who to contact at the bank, you have a shot. You need to find out the names of at least 3 to 4 top executives of that bank and one of them must be the top dog in the “indirect lending department”. Write a return receipt requested letter to the top dog with copies to all the rest explaining how their bank was given false information in order to process this loan. Banks have guide lines. Loan to value is one of them. If the value of the collateral (in this case the vehicle) is exaggerated by the dealer, then they based their loan on false information and that is a direct violation of their dealer agreement. If the correct invoice does not meet their maximum Loan to Value guide lines then they would ask the dealer to payoff the loan and pick up the car. Include pictures in that letter and visually show them that the vehicle is a different vehicle than the one on the like invoice. Good luck, Marco

Q: Q: I bought a bran new car from the ford dealer. No, I didnt have to pay any dealer fee's or prep fees. Thanks Marco!

A: OK the reason I asked is because Ford does not allow dealers to charge for “dealer’s fee” on an X plan. Good luck, Marco

Q: I BOUGHT A USED AUTO FROM SLIMANS 2 WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT IT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY CLAIMED THEY FIXED IT HAD TO TAKE IT BACK A COUPLE WEEKS LATER AND THEY CLAIMED THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PAPERWORK FROM LAST TIME AND TRIED TO CHARGE ME THE 2ND TIME I REFUSED TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE THIS IS THE 2 ND TIME THEN THEY SAID THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BECAUSE OF THE GAS CAP NOW WHEN THE 3RD TIME IT CAME ON THEY REFUSED NOW I AM CONSIDERING LEGAL ACTION WHAT ELSE CAN I DO OR LAWS THAT PROTECT ME THANKS

A: There is no legal action you can take. You bought a used car and there is no lemon law for used cars. Good luck Marco

Q: I cosigned on a car for my daughter last summer, i have found out that she has been late on almost all of her payments, i had to make one myself to stop them from turning it over to collections, my question is in the state of texas do i have the right as the cosigner to take back the vehicle?

A: If you co-signed for your daughter then the title must be in her name. Maybe your name was added as the co-owner. The answer to your question is NO. Not without your daughter’s written consent. She must sign over the title to you and you would have to transfer it at the DVM. Good luck, Marco

Q: I purchased a vehicle in the state of Utah and was told that the vehicle was in transit and that I would have to pick it up the following week. The dealer had me sign papers to purchase the vehicle and to get it from the other dealer. I have now found out that the other dealer still has the car nad has not recieved an order of transfer. When I go to pick up my car and it is the wrong VIN what are my legal options at that time, or is there anything that I can do now? I am very upset that I am being lied to and feel that this contract should be null and void. I know that I shouldn't have signed a contract of sale but that is hindsight. I was told that it was necessary to get the vehicle from the other dealer.

A: The vehicle ID that is located on the driver’s side door or where the dash meets the windshield on the driver’s side, must match the vehicle ID on your sales agreement or contract. If you have not taken delivery of the vehicle and they are trying to sell you another car, you must sign new paperwork for that other car. If you do not want that other car DO NOT SIGN!! They will give you a hard time with your down payment. Don’t stand for it call the DMV or the Attorney Generals Consumer Protection Agency in Utah. Good luck, Marco

Q: I purchased a car from a dealer who shut down before transfering the tile to me although he did register the car in my name. I went to the DMV and they said that the car had a lien on it and I would have to contact the lien holder which I did. That lien holder is a Honda dealership and they said that no money was owed on the car. They said that they sold it to an auction house who sold it to the dealer who then sold it to me. They said that they had signed a lien release when they sold it and the auction house had done the same and that it was my dealer who failed to go to the DMV to get the lien taken off. I asked what the probem was then, if no money was owed why couldn't they sign the release to which they said that they couldn't sign the lien release without a title. I called the DMV and was told that they don't need a title to sign a release, so I called the Honda place back and they were making a ton of excuses and ended by saying that if they signed a lien release then the dealership who sold me the car may sue them later on if it's found that I don't own the car. They said that they had already signed a lien release once acording to them so what was the deal? I told them once again that the dealership was out of business and that I had in fact paid in full in cash for the car with no finance whatsoever and had receipts, bill of sale etc. I was told to fax copies over and they would see what they could do but I am not holding my breath, I think I was just told that so they could get me off the phone! They were also saying that I needed proof that the business had closed down, how am I supposed to get that? So what do I do if they don't help? They have a lien on a car that is paid for, isn't that illegal? Thanks.

A: No it is not illegal. Keep pounding them and they will sign off on it. But pound politely because you are not their customer. All you are doing is bringing them a problem they have nothing to do with. You need to convince them that you need their help. Good luck, Marco

Q:  I bought a bran new car from the ford dealer. I have a friend who retired from ford a few years ago. He got me a ford discount that comes with a pin number. When I was shopping for the new car I told the dealer I had this pin number. There are two or three different plans and they all have a different amounts that are discounted depending on the plan type. We went a picked up the car and signed all the paper work. The next day I get a phone call from the sales man, he said they gave me the wrong discount. I have a x-plan and they priced if for the z-plan. There is a 900.00 or so difference in the price that I have to pay. I dont think I should have to pay the difference, they made the mistake not me and I never told them what plan it was, I didn't know. Do I have to legally resign for a higher purchase price or can I tell them NO, we made the deal the papers are signed,,,to bad.

A: Yea but you better get an attorney because here is what is going to happen. If it is a finance deal they will not process the contract. You can tell them to shove it but, they will not process the title paperwork until you go in to sign the new paperwork. Your friend gave you an “X” Plan pin. This is what you are entitled to. Not an “A” or “D” or “Z”. Although it is their mistake because they should have “locked in” that pin number. If they would have done that they would have realized immediately that they were using the wrong program. By the way did they charge you a “dealers fee” or preparation fees? Good luck, Marco

Q: I bought a used car in February and paid in full in cash. A few weeks ago I called the dealer as I thought my license plates were taking a while to arrive and he said that he was waiting for paperwork from the place he got it from before he could complete everything. I called the DMV and they said that the dealer had initiated the paperwork but that was all. Well I tried calling the dealership today and their phone has been disconnected, I called a business next door to them and they told me that the lot was vacant so now what do I do? I called the DMV back and they would not give me any information over the phone as I asked for the name of the people that my dealer got it from. So now I am freaking out thinking that my car is going to be reposessed, what are my legal rights? I live in California, thanks in advance. As a follow up, I went to the dmv this afternoon and got the contact info I needed, however, I was told that the place my dealer got it from held a lien on the vehicle. I drove to that dealership, 50 miles away, and spoke to some idiot who didn't have a clue and was told to call the sales manager tomorrow. He did say that the car should have not been sold with a lien on it so who is at fault? Them or the dealership who sold it to me? What recourse do I have if they won't help me? Thanks in advance. As a follow up I found out that the dealer who sold me the car is the one that owes money to the dealership they bought it from as they got it on finance. That dealership says that the lien is on the car and not the person and so I have to pay, is this true? I have found out also that my dealer has filed for bankruptcy so shouldn't the other dealership file a claim to get reimbursed?

A: At this point you need to see an attorney. You need to file charges against the dealership that sold you the car. There is a very strong possibility you will lose your car if you don't have an attorney. Good luck, Marco

Q: In May 2007 my husband and I purchased a used car from a used car dealership. The car is running great. We payed way to much for it but our credit is horrible and we had to have a car. We have had nothing but trouble with the dealership. The women who runs the finance office is constantly calling and saying our payments are late. I go in and show her the recipets or cancelled check from the bank and she fixes it. A week a go they decided we were two months behind and showed up at our door to repo the car. I noticed the man had a set of keys to our car with a remote lock. When we bought the car we were given one key and one remote lock. We asked if they had another key and or remote and they said no. After seeing this I asked them why they had lied to me. I was told they keep a set encase you lose your key. How would I have known they had an extra key to my car. They told me no they didn't have one. I would have just taken the vin number and gone to the Chevy dealership to order a new one. I want to know if this is legal or if I should get a lawyer. We did get the repo issue taken care of. So they never took the car.

A: Some banks when dealing with someone they feel may become a payment problem will sometimes ask the dealer for a second set of keys as a condition for the approval. Nothing illegal about it. Good luck, Marco

Q: I cosigned for a car that I end up paying on. however the primary borrower has placed a second lien on the car and has not made payments on that lien. The car is worth less than the o/s debt of the 1st note. Can the 2nd lien holder repossess? In these cases is repo likely? What are my best options? Thanks

A: If the second lien holder repos the car (which by the way, he has the right to do) before he sells it he must payoff the first lien holder. You are saying that the car is worth less than the first lien, so it is highly unlikely that the 2nd lien holder will repo. Your best option is always to negotiate. Today banks and finance companies would rather save some of that loss and settle with their customer for less and are willing to work with you. Good luck, Marco

Q: My ex and I purchased a 05 durango . . . I am the primary on the auto loan he is the secondary / co signer. I want to know if it is legal for him to turn the vehical in as a trade in before i recieve and/or sign any legal documents. He already has turned in the vehicle and purichased a new vehicle... how is that legal for a dealership to take a vehical in on trade with out my signature and me being present if i am the primary on the loan???

A: What about the vehicle registration? Whose name is on that? Usually the first person on the loan contract will be the first person on the registration. But regardless of whether you are first or second if your name is on the title then you not only have to sign it, you have to sign a “Trade Affidavit” which authorizes the other person to sell the vehicle. The only exception would be if the title has an “or” FOR EXAMPLE: John Doe or Jane Doe. In this case either one of the two can sell the vehicle without the others consent. You need to find out how it was registered at the DMV. Good luck Marco

Q: Hello Marco, I am in a process of buying a vehicle from a dealer in Queens, NY. The dealer has the vehicle and the title of the vehicle with him, but the title in not on his name. He says that he has done a trade-in, He says that he can sell the vehicle and have the car registered on my name. So wanted to know 2 things: Can he actually sell a vehicle not in his name and second is once registered will the previous owner have a claim on the vehicle Thanks, Sachin

A: The answers are yes to #1 and no to #2. Any other information you need will be in the 8 Simple Rules and of course that call to me. If you choose to do this on your own, good luck Marco.

Q: I bought a car around 3 weeks ago. The dealer and I had agreed that the car had no warranty but that he was sure the car had no problem well car and well it's price. He sold us a 2003 Dodge Neon for $6,500. It left us in the street without battery working. We went to the complaint to the dealer for that reason and because also the engine light was on saying it had a problem. They replaced the battery but instead of fixing the check engine problem they took off the little light bulb from that light and didn't fixed anything. We made them put the light back and fixed the problem. What can we do because we also asked the dealer to check the time belt and they said it was perfectly fine and a week later the car left us on the street. dealer did nothing we had to call a mechanic and we don't hear from dealer. Tell me what can I do.

A: Usually when you agree that the vehicle has no warranty the dealer makes you sign an “AS-IS” form. On that form it will say something like this…..”You will pay all cost for any repairs. The dealer assumes no responsibility for any repairs regardless of any oral statements about this vehicle.” This means that no matter what they say, it is still as-is. So if you signed an as-is form you were lucky that you got those things repaired and there is not much you can do. If you are going to buy a car without a warranty you should have at least had it checked out by a third party mechanic or best of all someone you can trust. Sorry, good luck Marco

Q: I bought a used car in February and paid in full in cash. A few weeks ago I called the dealer as I thought my license plates were taking a while to arrive and he said that he was waiting for paperwork from the place he got it from before he could complete everything. I called the DMV and they said that the dealer had initiated the paperwork but that was all. Well I tried calling the dealership today and their phone has been disconnected, I called a business next door to them and they told me that the lot was vacant so now what do I do? I called the DMV back and they would not give me any information over the phone as I asked for the name of the people that my dealer got it from. So now I am freaking out thinking that my car is going to be reposessed, what are my legal rights? I live in California, thanks in advance. As a follow up, I went to the dmv this afternoon and got the contact info I needed, however, I was told that the place my dealer got it from held a lien on the vehicle. I drove to that dealership, 50 miles away, and spoke to some idiot who didn't have a clue and was told to call the sales manager tomorrow. He did say that the car should have not been sold with a lien on it so who is at fault? Them or the dealership who sold it to me? What recourse do I have if they won't help me? Thanks in advance.

A: You have to trace back the history of the vehicle and you have done a great job. If the dealership where the idiot works took that car in as a TRADE-IN, then it is their responsibility to provide the idiot that sold you the car with a title. In order to do that, they would have to satisfy the lien. The second scenario is if the first idiot bought the vehicle from some wholesaler or an auction then it would be their responsibility to provide idiot #1 with a lien free title so they can provide idiot #2 (the people that sold you the car) with a lien free title. I would suggest calling the Lien Sal