En Español
If you are taking advantage of the buyback from Volkswagen, you need to be aware of a scam that some dealers are using to get the buyback money themselves. The sad part is, it may be legal.
Some dealers are buying recalled cars back from auto auctions and unsuspecting drivers, registering them in someone else’s name, then filing the paperwork with Volkswagen to get the buyback money. That buyback money is supposed to go back to the original owner. And the original owner just performed a trade-in, they won’t see any of the buyback money. This nets the dealer a five-figure profit but goes against the spirit of the buyback program.
From Volkswagen’s perspective, they have no idea whether or not the person who sent in buyback paperwork was the original owner or not. They do need proof of title, but a dealer can easily change that as part of the purchase process. It doesn’t matter if the car isn’t the owner’s daily driver or not. As long as there is proof of title and the vehicle is in running condition, it can be bought back. To avoid getting caught, some dealers are putting the cars in the names of family members or other employees at the lot in exchange for a cut.
Volkswagen didn’t institute a registration program to tie owners to vehicles, likely because of the intense pressure for them to do something quickly to handle the emissions scandal.
If you have a recalled Volkswagen diesel, learn the details of the buyback program before you sell the vehicle to a dealer. You need to get what you deserve in this program. If you feel you were swindled out of your buyback by an unscrupulous dealer, contact John Foy & Associates.
