When buying a used car you should always be concerned about buying "someone else's problems." Make sure you get a detailed vehicle history report and service records from the person selling the vehicle. A vehicle history report can identify major problems including past accidents, flood damage, and odometer discrepancies. When you decide to buy a used car, make sure you get it checked out by a trusted mechanic before you give the seller any money.

One major concern is odometer tampering.  Odometer readings may be rolled back or documents can be forged. Making km's disappear helps increase the car's value to the seller, but can mean increased maintenance and repair costs to the buyer.

In addition to odometer fraud, there are other significant events in a car's past that unscrupulous sellers may try to hide. Every province has laws designed to protect consumers from buying used cars that may not be road worthy. Consumers should be direct when asking sellers about a vehicle's past, and they should get a detailed vehicle history report. The person selling you a used car should provide a detailed vehicle history that answers questions to your satisfaction. 

If the seller cannot provide a detailed vehicle history report, you can use the 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN) to secure a history report from a private vehicle history company.  A great company in Canada that compiles data from multiple sources to help you get a better picture of the car's past is www.carproof.com.