Don’t trust a car dealer to pay off your loan

When trading in your old vehicle for a new one, you might be tempted to leave it to the dealer to pay off the existing loan, either by using part of the old car’s trade-in value or rolling any unpaid balance into your new-car loan. While that arrangement might sound convenient, it carries risks, as many Californians recently learned.

There’s a chance that the dealership may go out of business before paying off the note, leaving you on the hook for the remaining loan balance on your old car, along with the loan on the new car. The problem has become widespread in California, where hundreds of consumers have lost millions of dollars. The state is setting up a fund to reimburse victims.

Another danger is that the dealer might delay paying off the loan, causing your credit report to show missed monthly payments. That can damage your credit score, forcing you to pay more for future loans and insurance.

Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, a public-interest group in Sacramento, Calif., advises car buyers to pay off any outstanding loan on their old vehicle before trading it in for a new one. The group notes that doing so may be difficult, especially if the money you need to pay off the loan is tied up in the value of the trade-in. “It could be inconvenient, but how else are you going to know you’re protected?” asks Rosemary Shahan, the organization’s president. “How do you know the dealer is going to pay off the loan and not go out of business?”

If you can’t pay off the loan, you might want to wait until your payments are finished before shopping for a new car. That’s an especially good idea if you’re “upside down” on the loan and owe more money than the vehicle is worth. If you trade in a car under those circumstances, a dealership will typically add the balance of the outstanding loan to the new-car loan, leaving you essentially paying off two loans at the same time.

Similarly, whether you’re buying a used car from a dealership or an individual, make sure that any previous loan has been satisfied. If it hasn’t and the former owner falls behind, the lien holder might threaten to repossess the car. You can tell there’s been a loan if a lien holder’s name is on the front of the title certificate. If there is one, ask for proof that the lien has been paid. The lender should give you a lien release.  —Anthony Giorgianni

Comments

[Steve_07]

I commend Consumer Reports for highlighting this pervasive problem. Car dealers are feeling the pressure of tough economic times and will sometimes delay or "forget" to pay off liens. Check this News Feed to read many more stories about this issue and other car dealer scams: http://www.byownerautosales.com/modules.php?mod=Extra_Pages&pg=news

[Auto Insider]

I've written about this subject, you need to be very careful!

[Eddie]

Why is this blog under the title "Money" when it should be under "Auto" or both?