Your dream car was advertised as “new, new, new,” so of course your heart is yelling “no, no, no” as your eyes settle on the odometer. It reads 4,653 miles. Before you unbuckle the seat beat and unleash a diatribe into the ear of the nearest sales person, be sure you understand what a new car is in Nevada. It will save you more than embarrassment; it could save you money, too.
Every new car in Las Vegas lacks a title
A car is considered new in Nevada if it has never been “titled,” which proves who is the legal owner. So how did your dream car manage to accrue 4,653 miles without a title – a formal declaration of ownership? Most likely because the owner of the dealership has allowed one or more sales team members to drive the car as a perk of working there. (In this case, the car is also known as a “demo.”) Or the car has been pressed into duty as a loaner – driven by people who are borrowing it as they wait for their own vehicles to be repaired by the dealership.
So technically, the dealer is neither lying nor deceiving you. The car advertised as “new, new, new” is exactly that because it is not legally recognized as anyone’s legal property.
Most buyers set limits on “new” cars
Your next question is equally valid: So how many miles can a car accrue before it is considered used? In Nevada, the answer to this question is as gray as some vehicle interiors: It depends. Most buyers are willing to accept no more than 5,000 miles on a car billed as “new.” Any more than that, dealers seem to agree, and buyers must overcome a psychological barrier to buying what they consider to be a pre-owned (used) car.
Wherever that line is actually drawn, it represents an important distinction. As every car dealer knows, most buyers enter a dealership with a clear idea of whether they plan to buy a new or used car. They usually don’t equivocate; if they want a new car, then they usually buy a new car in Las Vegas. This said, a reading of Nevada’s vehicle laws doesn’t draw as clear a line between new and used cars as, say, California. There, state law says that vehicles with as many as 7,500 miles can be sold as “new”; more than 7,500 miles changes the status to “used.” In the absence of a such a line, it’s possible that a Nevada dealer could say that a car with 9,000 or even 10,000 miles is “new” – as long as a title has never been issued.
Look twice at that new car in Las Vegas
It may be worth looking twice (and maybe thrice) at that car with 4,653 miles at Valley Automall. In all likelihood, you will be able to enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a new car, such as a full manufacturer warranty.
The dealerships at Valley Automall consider the full picture, from bumper to bumper, when determining a price on vehicles. So you can be secure in the knowledge that you’ll get more than a great car; you’ll get one at a fair price, too.