Purchasing Used Cars in Maine
Buying Used From a Dealer
Go into the dealership knowing what you can afford to spend and with a firm price range in mind. Many salespeople will try to get you into a newer, more expensive car than you went in looking for. Two major differences when buying from a dealer as opposed to a private seller are the amount of information the dealer is required to provide and the warranties that may be available with the purchase.
Maine’s Used Car Information Act requires dealers to attach a window sticker called a Buyer’s Guide to the used cars they sell. The Buyer’s Guide must contain the following information:
- The car’s make, model, year, and identification number.
- What the car was used for by its previous owner (taxi, rental car,
personal car). - All mechanical defects known to the dealer.
- How the dealer acquired the car (auction, trade-in, repossession).