| Vehicle cloning is a growing trend caused by creative | | | | and property, so it can prove useful to know when |
| car thieves looking to take advantage of rising | | | | and where these auctions are. |
| used-car sales. Close to 4 million used cars were | | | | Cloned vehicles can still slip through the auction |
| purchased in the U.S. in May, a 23 percent increase | | | | screening process so buyer beware still applies. These |
| from April, versus a 34 percent drop in new car sales | | | | are a few tips to assist you in participating in this |
| over the same period, according to CNW Marketing | | | | way of get an automobile at a low or less than |
| Research, which tracks such sales. These auto | | | | market value price. You can also apply these tips in |
| thieves take vehicle identification numbers (Vin#), | | | | your normal vehicle purchase search in non auction |
| from legal vehicles, create counterfeit labels and apply | | | | situations: |
| them to stolen vehicles, eliminating any easy | | | | 1. Check the vehicle's vin# with appropriate |
| possibility of tracing the stolen ride. | | | | government agencies. The National Motor Vehicle |
| For not more than $2,000, cloning rings can use a | | | | Title Information System (NMVTIS) is an electronic |
| color printer, bar code label printer, | | | | system that gives consumers valuable information |
| computer,typewriter,rotary tool and engraving pen to | | | | about a vehicle's condition and history. Prior to |
| counterfeit a vehicle's identification numbers, stickers, | | | | purchasing a vehicle, NMVTIS allows consumers to |
| labels and titles. Sophisticated cloning operations are | | | | find information on the vehicle's title, most recent |
| capable of producing vehicle clones that are virtually | | | | odometer reading, brand history, and, in some cases, |
| undetectable by untrained auto theft investigators | | | | historical theft data. Alot of states are still not |
| and consumers. | | | | particpating is this federal database program but all |
| In a challenging economy people young and old are | | | | states will on January 1, 2010. Visit Auto Data Direct, |
| looking for ways to buy and save on automobiles at | | | | Inc (add123.com) or Carco Group, Inc |
| government auctions. Monthly across the U.S., | | | | (autotitleinfo.com). You can also do a check with |
| thousands of vehicles are seized by different Police | | | | Carfax and AutoCheck for free Vin# checks. |
| Departments and Government agencies (IRS, DEA, | | | | 2. Any determination that the vehicle is "salvage" by |
| FBI) then auctioned off to the public. Due to certain | | | | an insurance company or a self-insuring company |
| laws these vehicles are listed and sold at up to 90% | | | | including those vehicles determined to be a total loss. |
| OFF their original value. Many auctions may start at | | | | 3. Any reports of the vehicle being transferred or |
| $100. | | | | sold to an auto recycler, junk yard, or salvage yard. |
| Car auctions involving Police and Government seized | | | | 4. Trust your instincts, if your deal sounds too good |
| property don't advertise extensively, so it can be | | | | to be true, just walk away. |
| quite a challenge to know exactly when and where | | | | Everyone wants to buy and save on a car purchase |
| they are taking place. Sometimes small adverts for | | | | by buying property at less than market value. |
| these auctions will appear in the legal newspapers and | | | | However, it can be well worth your time to join an |
| other general papers, but you would need to check | | | | online government auction website that organizes all |
| the press every day or you might miss them. It is | | | | the details of government auctions for you. It may |
| because there is no widespread advertising of these | | | | cost as much as fifty dollars for as a member to join |
| government auctions that you can save a lot off the | | | | such auction sites but this will help you cut down on |
| normal price of a car. Asset auctions can also be | | | | your needed research activities. |
| conducted at the same time, including seized homes | | | | |