Q: “I’m selling an older car privately and don’t want to guarantee it. If the buyer gets a safety inspection, am I off the hook?”
—Name withheld, Edmonton, Alta.
A: A provincial safety standards inspection is not a warranty, although it may give the buyer some peace of mind regarding the condition of some safety systems on the vehicle. Instead, prepare a bill of sale or receipt that includes a disclaimer like the one recommended by Ontario’s Used Car Dealers Association, which states: “This vehicle is being sold ‘as is,’ unfit, not emissions tested and isn’t represented as being in a roadworthy condition, mechanically sound or guaranteed.” Sign it, and make sure the buyer does too.
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