The Bulloch County Tax Commissioner has issued the following warning for residents of Bulloch County:
Our office has been inundated recently with customers who have been scammed, coming in without the proper paperwork that they need to register and title a vehicle that they have purchased online from random sales sites or from individuals. There are a few key things to remember when buying a vehicle from anyone other than a non-licensed dealer.
- If it seems like a deal is too good to be true, it probably is! Many of the scams we are seeing lately are coming from Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, etc.
- ALL vehicles 1986 and newer REQUIRE a title to be registered. Don't let anyone sell you a 2000 model and tell you that you don't need a title because it's "over 20 years old." That simply isn't true. 1985 and older are the only vehicles that can be registered with a bill of sale and without a title.
- Run a vehicle history report online. There are several websites with various fees, but this could save you thousands later and will let you know if the vehicle has ever been wrecked, etc.
- If the person selling you the vehicle is NOT the person whose name is printed on the front of the title, expect issues!
- Pay attention to the back of the title. Make sure there aren't a lot of erroneous signatures, white out, etc. Those things can completely void a title.
- If the person selling you the vehicle tells you they are acting on behalf a dealership and want to meet you in a random place, tell them that you need to meet them AT the dealership that they work for. That will keep you from getting into a sketchy situation and likely you won't be meeting them at all because they aren't being truthful.
If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact our office at 912-764-6285. We will help you to the best of our ability.
In a world where everything happens through our phones and online, there is so much to look out for. We want to help you avoid issues and keep you from becoming a victim.
