Cars are an integral part of our modern transportation system, and for classic car aficionados, they represent the summit of automotive technology and engineering. Unfortunately, a small but significant segment of the population uses this demand to scam potential buyers. Fortunately, there are legal services, such as legal assistance in Emporia, that can assist buyers and sellers of collectible vehicles.
Many buyers are unaware that auto scamming happens, and because the owners of classic cars often don’t know about it, they are easy targets for scammers. Kansas Legal Services in Emporia can help buyers understand the legal requirements for the buying and selling of these vehicles, and protect them from scams.
With America’s changing political landscape, many businesses are struggling to keep up with evolving government regulations, such as those passed by the Internal Revenue Service. Kansas Legal Services in Emporia helps collector car dealers keep the proper documentation for these regulations.
It’s no secret that the collection of rare or unique cars is a multi-billion-dollar industry, and the rarer the car, the higher the price. Money isn’t the only thing getting buyers in trouble, though; many rare vehicles don’t have clear titles, making it difficult to prove their provenance. If you own a collectible vehicle, talk to Kansas Legal Services in Emporia about getting the title legally transferred.
Case study: Tony and Otis, two friends who started a used auto sales business, had no idea that they’d need a contract for the business. “Neither of us are lawyers,” said Tony, “and we thought we could use contracts available online to write our own for our new business. The first person we showed our contract to was an attorney. When he finished reading, he said, ‘You can use this as is, or I can rewrite it, but you will have the same result – a hard-to-enforce contract. We don’t recommend that you use these contracts unless you want to end up in court.’ So, we decided to look for someone who could help.” Otis says it was a hassle to have to stop and find a lawyer, but having someone legal draw up their contracts saved them money in the long run.
Case study: Otis and Tony’s auto business ran into problems when they applied for business permits with the City of Emporia. “They wanted us to pay for a business license for each car we displayed on the lot,” recalls Otis. “I knew this couldn’t be right, so I asked Kansas Legal Services in Emporia for help, and they fought the City on our behalf and won!” Tony adds that their success in winning against the city spurred others to examine their licensing contracts, and they discovered that they too were overcharged. Kansas Legal Services in Emporia helped Tony and Otis and many others in their fight against oversized fees.
In cultures that embrace the collectible car market, buying and selling autos, trucks, and motorcycles is done under the auspices of the law, and is protected by it. How do you know that when buying a vehicle? You can take the car to an expert and have it certified. Case study: Brian and Susan Hunt, the owners of a factory-certified Buick dealership, saw an increase in sales almost immediately after having Kansas Legal Services in Emporia assist with drafting a business contract. “The contracts they drew up for us weren’t very different from ones we’d used before,” Susan clarifies. “But, they made absolutely certain that any warranties we offered were enforced by law. Our clients knew this, and we sold more cars and increased our profit margin as a result.”
Perhaps the most important process that Kansas Legal Services in Emporia offers to buyers and sellers of automobiles is the legal verification of the cars’ authenticity. A simple, yet crucial issue, it guarantees that a buyer gets what they paid for and that a seller receives compensation for the product they’re selling. Another example of the use of correct legal documents is in classic car insurance dealing. If a car isn’t correctly documented, it may be difficult to collect an insurance settlement on it if it’s lost or stolen.
Kansas Legal Services in Emporia investigates title discrepancies before and after they happen, attempting to identify problem airs before cars can be sold and in court after they have. It can save fake owners who have purchased a vehicle from the wrong source, and it can help good buyers get the money they deserve if they’ve purchased a bad vehicle, or at least get restitution for their time and trouble in the matter.
Not only does Kansas Legal Services in Emporia help clients settle the rare car disputes that happen throughout Emporia, they also help support many local automotive businesses as well.
Now that you know how much goes into the legal aspects of owning and selling a classic or collectible automobile, are you ready to learn more? We hope so!