ATLANTA -- Consumers in the market for an automobile can find great bargains in the used car market but Georgia shoppers should do two things before buying.

Meet Gene Little

Gene Little turned to the picket line to raise awareness about his experience with a used car. His daughter, Maria, purchased a pre-owned vehicle from Carey Paul Honda over a year ago.

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"We was not buying what we thought we were buying," he said.

Maria Little loved her 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse until last year when she got into a fender bender and received some disturbing news from the repair shop workers, who said her vehicle had been previously wrecked.

"If you were to take this whole thing off, the whole back end is damaged," she said, pointing to the rear of the car.

The family believes the dealership knew the car had been damaged before the vehicle was sold although the company's general manager disputes the claim.

"We went back and called the original owner and there was a damage report filed in South Carolina," said Bob Britton. "But at the time we sold the car it was not something we had previous knowledge of."

Britton said the dealership conducted a background check of the car's history but turned up nothing out of the ordinary during the search. He said the firm performs similar searches to ensure the reliability of the vehicle.

"What that does is make sure we're not selling any vehicle that may or may not have been salvaged or in some way damaged."

If the customer requests it, dealerships will order a Car Fax report, which lists the vehicle's history. Those reports, however, may not list accidents or damage that a vehicle has sustained.

Also, in Georgia there is no law that requires the seller to disclose that information to the customer.

"People need to understand that 'as is' means as is and the moment you leave the lot it's your's," said Bill Cloud, who works in the Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs. "So the best thing to know is what you're getting."

Customers should never purchase a used car without having it checked out by a qualified mechanic first.

Mechanic Roy Kunzeman uses a sonar probe to detect body damage. He also uses his years of experience to uncover structural or mechanical problems a used car buyer might not notice.

The Littles said they did have a mechanic in their family evaluate their vehicle before they bought it. Even so, the family believes Georgia lawmakers should enact legislation to regulate used car sales.

"I would like the law to be changed to protect everyone who might come in here to buy a used car and not know exactly what they're getting," Gene Little said.

The family's dispute with Carey Paul Honda is headed to court. The car dealership has filed a $50,000 slander lawsuit against the Littles, saying the family's allegations have defamed the business.

Used cars can be a great bargain or an expensive lesson. To protect themselves, consumers should:

• Take the car to a certified, independent mechanic for an inspection and walk away from the seller and the deal who objects to the review.
• Get a copy of the Car Fax and perform a title search.
• Refuse to be pressured into buying because, contrary to what many consumers think, there is no three-day grace period to return the vehicle.