Question: Who is responsible for auto inspection?

(Posted by: Kirk on 2010-07-29 08:43:10)

I just bought a used car and it failed both safety and emissions. The inspector says that the seller is responsible in MO. The seller does not answer his phone any more. What if anything can I do to recover $ for the repairs?

Posted by: Bash Limpbutt's Oozing Cyst© on 2010-07-29, 08:55:22

You should have insisted that the seller get it inspected before you bought the car. If you bought from a dealer and it fails the MO inspection you can force the dealer to pay for repairs or refund your money (dealer's choice, unfortunately) but if you bought from a private party there's no teeth in the law that forces a private seller to make repairs or refund your money.

Posted by: Scott H on 2010-07-29, 09:56:44

If you bought the car from a private party, then you bought the car "as is ". That makes you responsible for the repairs to get it past the inspection.

Posted by: Bostonian In MO on 2010-07-29, 10:09:37

The inspector is only partially correct. In MO a dealer cannot sell a car to the general public that does not have a current MO safety inspection no more than 7 days old as of the date of sale. If you bought from a dealer and did not get a current safety inspection form and windshield sticker and the vehicle fails the safety or emissions test you can force the dealer to repair the vehicle or roll back the deal. If you are buying from a private seller you should insist that the seller get the vehicle inspected immediately prior to closing the sale. Private sellers are not bound by the same law as dealers are so you cannot force them to repair the vehicle or take it back if it fails the inspection.