What is a Curbstoner?
The term curbstoner is well known to those in the automotive industry and government, but what does it mean to the consumer?

A curbstoner is defined as one who is in the business of offering vehicles to the public for the primary purpose of making a profit, but behaves as if he or she is selling their own personal vehicle.

 

In the first place, a curbstoner is an individual who routinely sells vehicles but is not registered under the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act. The curbstoner usually offers the "family car" straight from their house or residence.

Secondly, a curbstoner is defined as one who acts as if he or she is a private individual but is really registered under the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act. Often these people have used false information to become registered and this allows them to purchase vehicles from other dealers or at auctions.

Curbstoners dupe consumers into buying their vehicles through a myriad of "stories".

Reasons such as:

"I'm moving out of the country."
"I'm getting married and I really need the money."
"I'm getting a company car."
"It belonged to my Aunt, but she passed away."
are often used.

The public buys from curbstoners because it may seem like a deal they can't refuse. Curbstoners claim that they only want to get their money out of the vehicle. They tell the purchaser that they don't want to make any profit, but little does the purchaser know the complete opposite is true.