THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES IS TARGETING UNLICENSED CAR DEALERS AROUND THE STATE. OFFICIALS SAY THE UNLICENSED DEALERS, OR “CURBSTONERS”, PURCHASE LOW-END VEHICLES FROM INDIVIDUALS AND SALVAGE YARDS AND DO LITTLE OR NO REPAIRS OR SAFETY CHECKS BEFORE THEY USE POP-UP LOTS AND WEBSITES SUCH AS CRAIGSLIST TO UNLOAD THE AUTOMOBILES. OFTEN, THE VEHICLES HAVE ODOMETER TAMPERING, FRAME DAMAGE, AND FAULTY SAFETY DEVICES WHICH ARE NOT DISCLOSED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. D-M-V OFFICIALS ENCOURAGE CONSUMERS TO USE CAUTION AS MANY POSE AS PRIVATE CITIZENS OR OPERATE UNLICENSED, NON-PERMITTED BUSINESSES. PAYING ATTENTION TO POTENTIAL RED FLAGS LIKE MULTIPLE FREE ADS WITH THE SAME NUMBER, REFUSAL OF CARFAX REPORTS, OR INDEPENDENT INSPECTIONS, AND SELLERS WHO WILL NOT ACCEPT CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS, CAN HELP BUYERS AVOID THESE “CURBSTONERS”.
