Mechanic exposes $50 ‘car dealer trick’ that drivers need to look for when buying vehicle

A MECHANIC has exposed a $50 trick that dealerships use to sell cars that are rusted or worn down.

Drivers should be on the lookout for the sneaky hack when they’re buying their next vehicle – and it’s hidden in plain sight.

Auto Parts City shared the trick in a TikTok video[/caption]

The fender flares hid the pick up truck’s rust[/caption]

An Illinois-based garage posted about the tip on TikTok under their handle @autopartscity, where they have over 363,000 followers.

“Let me show you guys the $50 car dealer trick,” the mechanic said in the video posted on Monday, which has over 4,700 likes and 100 comments.

The clip showed a pickup truck with rust covering the car’s body above its tires.

The mechanic then showed fender flares, which are black linings installed directly above wheel wells.

He put the flares on the vehicle, covering up the rust, so that the car looked as good as new.

Fender flares are meant to protect vehicles and cover up minor cosmetic damages like dents or small amounts of rust.

TikTok users were quick to weigh in on the dealership’s trick to hide preexisting blemishes.

“Rust? What rust?” one joked.

“Guilty, done it before,” another admitted.

“Just gonna rust behind it,” another said.

Some drivers said they already knew about the trick – and it’s why they avoid cars with the detail.

“I see flares at auction, I usually stay away,” one wrote.

“That’s why when I buy pickups I look at the wheel wells now,” another shared.

“If it’s got fender flares I always assume rusty anyways,” one user wrote.

Dealership Tips

Here are some expert tips when purchasing a car from a dealership lot:

1. Set your price: Ensure you’ve calculated your monthly budget before going to the lot. You should include the car’s loan payment, insurance costs, fuel, and regular maintenance.
2. Research: Make sure you know which cars you’re interested in test driving before you reach the dealership.
3. Pre-approval: Secure financing before you go to the dealership. Dealerships may give you a better interest rate if they are competing with an outside bank.
4. Test away: Get behind the wheel before making any payments. A car purchase will be worth thousands of dollars – drivers should ensure they like the drivetrain, steering feel, and comfort of the car before taking it off the lot
5. Haggle: Drivers should always try to negotiate the price. There are so many good cars on the American market – buyers have a strong hand when negotiating price.

Source: Kelley Blue Book

Fender flares can cost as low as $40 to $50 on Amazon.

Meanwhile, another dealership was shut down over another sneaky trick – but this one put customers in imminent harm.

ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TRICK

A Hyundai dealership in Detroit admitted to wrongdoing after state regulations found multiple violations.

Regulators accused dealership salesmen of striking a deal with drivers without providing proper paperwork or accurate odometer information.

Some workers refused to give leasees a temporary registration and didn’t complete the state’s application for title and registration.

“These violations created an ongoing imminent threat to the public health, safety, or welfare of the public, requiring emergency action,” the Michigan Department of State said in a release.

The dealership admitted customers were tricked but said they would work to earn back trust.

“We want to be clear: we find these actions completely unacceptable,” the business said in a statement.