Used Cars: Buying used car with salvage title, salvage title, department of motor vehicles

Question
First off i live in michigan and the car is a 2003 grand am.  Yesterday my wife purchased a used car from a dealer. At the very end of signing all the papers he gave her another paper to sign showing the car was a salvage title. He told her she had to sign that one also but she got out without signing. When she left the lot within 15 miles the check engine light and the service engine light came on. So the next morning I returned with the car trying to get our money back but he refused. So guess my question is do I have any options in getting out from under this car? I am prepared to call a lawyer in the morning and explain  I didn't know it was a salvage title until all papers were signed. Just wondering how I should go about handling this situation? The car has every dumby light on in it (Abs light, traction control light, check engine light, and service engine soon light)and is definitely going to be a problem. So if you guide me in a direction or a place to start the process it would be appreciated.
Thanks
 Brent

Answer

car guy Hi Brent sorry to hear you're having problems with a sleazebag car dealer. LOL but good news on this one is he has no leg to stand on... none. are obligated to disclose major issues like branded titles prior to the deal being consummated and you giving him your money.Everything else being equal and the car needing nothing .....cars with title brands are worth 50% of WHOLESALE BOOK ....kbb.com trade in value.  If the title is bad due to an accident ...or frame damage then it may be worth less it just depends.

Here's how I would handle this guy...

first thing in the morning I would fire off a e-mail to him in that e-mail I would reiterate the facts leading up to his late disclosure of this major screwup on his part just so there isn't any loss of memory I would also tell him that the next phone call you make will be to the Department of Motor Vehicles so they can open up an investigation of his store for violating state law. He will know when he fears this from you that in a matter of just a couple of days at the longest a DMV inspector is going to walk through his door and start asking for lots of deal files including yours ... people usually threaten to go to the Atty. Gen. when this happens which will generate a letter from the Atty. Gen. to the dealer and he will be given as long as 30 days to respond. You should do this just so they are aware of the guy.. but the part where you tell him you are going to have DMV sifting through his paperwork and asking him the hard questions about your deal is what will worry him the most. The Department of Motor Vehicles has the ability to pull his license at any time I don't know about your state specifically but in the states over here on the West Coast they don't think it's funny... I would stay away from bringing up all of the problems that the vehicle has because it doesn't matter and the more issues you tell him the vehicle has the more you will look like a person with buyers remorse when the real issue is all about the branded title. If you get to the point where he stops taking your call you can get a thing called a spoof card online for 10 bucks that will allow you to put any number into his caller ID when you call that you want which were usually get him to answer. Keep me posted on this because this is the third question I have been asked on this in just the last few days from different people in different states. Tony or wife to sign nothing else unless it's a contract recision. send your email first thing then if you haven't heard from the guy by lunchtime give them a call and be extremely polite... firm but fair and let him know that it doesn't matter to you whether he takes the vehicle back because it's the legal and honest thing to or if he takes it back after lengthy and expensive litigation in one way or the other he is going to take it back and if that doesn't get you where you need to be file a report immediately with the Department of Motor Vehicles... post negative information about him on ripoff report.com where it will never be removed even if you wanted it to be. I'm sorry this happened


My private e-mail is roadloans@Gmail.com if you have any follow-up questions feel free to ask them and going direct to this e-mail will get a much faster response as it gets sent directly to my phone and I check it constantly throughout the day. Good luck.

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I hope this helps

Roger