Dear Consumer:
Buying a used car can be a smart decision. You can get
many years of service from a used car without having
to pay the high price of a new vehicle, the value of
which usually depreciates rapidly in the rst few years.
A used car generally costs less to insure, as well.
However, a used car is still a major expense, and
you must shop carefully to avoid being burned. Few
consumer transactions generate as many complaints as
used car sales.
The best way to avoid problems when purchasing
a used car is to learn all you can about its history,
condition, warranty coverage, and your legal rights as a
buyer. This pamphlet explains the important steps to
take when evaluating and buying a used car.
Anthony G. Brown
Don’t buy a car from someone who won’t let you get
an outside professional opinion. Ask your own me-
chanic if there are signs of an accident, and to look
for other potential issues such as if the suspension is
lacking, if the interior smells musty, if there are leaks,
if the engine burns oil and if there is any corrosion
under the hood. If the mechanic nds a problem, get
a written estimate. is may give you leverage when
negotiating a price.
Take the car for a test drive. Spend at least 20 min-
utes driving over hills, on the highway, and around
turns. Try every button and switch.
Do not buy a car without rst examining the title.
No excuses. In a private party sale, the name on the
title should be the same as the seller’s. Make sure all
numbers on the title are easy to read. See if there are
any alterations. Be suspicious of out-of-state or P.O.
box addresses. When buying from a dealer, conrm
the mileage reading on the car is close to what the
original owner identied.
When signing the contract, make sure to read every-
thing regardless of what the salesperson says. Initial
and date all changes, and cross out all blank spaces
so nothing can be added aer you sign. Include all
oral promises. When the deal is done, don’t leave
without a copy of the signed contract. Be certain
the seller completes and signs the disclosure state-
ment, which is found on the back of the Maryland
certicate of title.
Understand warranties and service contracts. Find
out whether the car will be covered by a written
warranty from either the dealer or manufacturer.
Look for the “Buyer’s Guide” sticker on the car re-
quired by federal law. It will state whether the car is
oered “as is” or with a warranty. A used car dealer
in Maryland may only sell a car “as is” if it is more
than six years old and has more than 60,000 miles.
All other used cars sold by the dealer come with an
implied warranty, which is like an unspoken prom-
ise that the car will function for a reasonable period
of time. If it doesn’t, you may be able to make the
Helpful Hints to Remember:
Take advantage of publications such as the Consumer
Reports Annual Car Guide to narrow down the vast
number of vehicle choices to a few models you are
most interested in. is will reduce the likelihood
of an impulse purchase. Remember to check out
websites such as www.nhtsa.gov to check on vehi-
cle recall histories. Shop wisely because there is no
“cooling o” period aer a purchase – a buyer has
no right to cancel a car purchase. Also, shop around
for nancing plans. Ask for information from several
banks, and/or your credit union to nd the best oer,
then compare to the nancing oered by the dealer-
ship. Also, don’t nance a high-mileage car for more
months than the vehicle life expectancy.
When nancing a vehicle, you may be asked to sign
a document that explains your nancing may not be
complete when you leave the dealership. In that case,
the dealership has 4 days to notify you in writing if
the nancing is not accepted. If this occurs, you have
2 days to bring the vehicle back and either cancel the
sale or arrange for other nancing. Should problems
arise, contact the Oce of the Attorney General at
410-528-8662.
If you discovered a used car deal through an adver-
tisement, the dealer must put the full selling price in
the largest font, not including additional taxes, fees or
dealer processing charges. e advertised price must
be the actual selling price before rebates, trade-in
allowances or down payments.
You have two choices: buying the used car from a
private party or a dealer. Buying from a private party
will usually cost less money and you may be able to
have easy access to the vehicle’s history. However,
the vehicle is usually sold “as is” so no warranty will
be available. Ask for maintenance records, why the
vehicle is being sold and who the original owner was.
A dealer may be safer because they have their rep-
utation to protect, may oer some sort of warranty
program and will take care of all paperwork. Howev-
er, the vehicle may be more expensive and salesmen
are also better at using slick sales tactics.
Buying a
Used Car
dealer pay for repairs if you can prove that the defect
existed at the time of the sale.
Service contract. Find out whether it would dupli-
cate any warranty already given, what is covered, if
a deductible is required, and if a reputable company
backs the contract.
Problems?
If your vehicle acts funny aer you buy it from the
dealer, take immediate action. Check out your deal-
er and manufacturer’s warranty package or service
contract. Contact the dealer; if the salesperson is not
helpful, ask for a manager. If the car is still covered
by the manufacturer’s warranty and the dealer won’t
make necessary repairs, contact the manufacturer’s
regional oce. If none of this works, send a written
complaint to the dealer with copies of all relevant
documents. is puts your complaint “on record” in
case it turns into a legal situation later on.
Dispute resolution services are available if your at-
tempts with the dealer or manufacturer haven’t been
successful. ere are two options: mediation and/
or arbitration. In mediation, a mediator attempts
to negotiate a mutually agreed-upon resolution. In
arbitration, both parties agree to be bound by the
decision of the trained arbitrator.
• e Maryland Attorney General’s Consumer
Protection Division oers mediation and arbi-
tration services. Call 410-528-8662 or toll-free
1-888-743-0023.
• e Better Business Bureau oers several arbi-
tration programs. Certain automobile manu-
facturers are pre-committed to its AUTO LINE
arbitration service. Call 1-800-955-5100.
If you think your car’s odometer has been tampered
with, call the Motor Vehicle Administration at 410-
768-7050. Call the Attorney General’s Oce if you
are eligible for Maryland’s Lemon Law. Although
intended for new vehicle purchases, this law is appli-
cable to you if your car was purchased by the original
owner less than 24 months ago and has less than
18,000 original miles.
Maryland Ofce of the
Attorney General
Anthony G. Brown, Attorney General
200 Saint Paul Place, 16th Floor
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Consumer Protection Hotline:
410-528-8662, or
1-888-743-0023 toll free
www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov
Revised January 2023
Maryland Ofce of
the Attorney General
Anthony G. Brown, Attorney General
A Consumer Guide to
