BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- A family complains they got ripped off when they bought a car from a man selling it through a newspaper ad. They ended up paying for the smog check and back registration fees.

A Department of Motor Vehicles inspector said it was the seller's responsibility to pay for that, but at this point the buyers may not have much recourse.

It's no comfort to Vanessa Smith, and she hopes this seller doesn't rip off somebody else. Smith said they found the Saturn advertised by a man who only gave his name as "Charles" and only gave a cell phone number. Now, he won't return their calls.

"The tags had been over due, and it had never been smogged," Smith complained -- looking over the paperwork she now has from the DMV. Smith said the seller told them it was a 1998 Saturn, but they later found out it was a '97. The seller also said he was the only previous owner -- but they found out he was apparently the fifth owner. If he was even the real owner.

Smith said they also discovered the registration sticker was not real, and it had been glued on to the license plate. But, the extra costs added insult to injury. Smith said they had to pay for back registration fees, and to have the smog check done.

DMV Supervising Investigator Eric Light said the buyer should not have to pay for a smog check. "It's the seller's requirement to sell that vehicle showing that it has been smogged," Light explained. He said in this case, there could be serious problems.

"In this instance we're talking about, seems like there may have been some criminal elements to it," Light said. He ticked off the possible problems: the seller might not be the true registered owner, he may have given false evidence on the registration, and he may not have a dealer's license. Light said that license is needed, if he's selling cars for a profit.

That's one thing that worries Smith. "I don't want him to do this to somebody else," she said Tuesday morning. "He's had a couple cars he's sold. I know he has one currently he's trying to sell."

The DMV investigator said there are legitimate private sellers, but buyers should still take extra precautions.

"As a purchaser, you would first want to verify the seller's driver's license or ID to the (vehicle) title," Light said. He recommends checking the seller's name on their ID and carefully comparing it to the name on the title.

Once that's done, he said it's also a good idea to make an appointment at the DMV. "The seller and purchaser can meet at the DMV office."

Light said at the office, DMV personnel can go over the title and paperwork to make sure it's all in order. "Once the purchaser gets a copy or gets their registration -- that's when money should exchange hands."

Light said buyers who've had problems with a sale from a private party can file a complaint with the DMV. Those consumers should make copies of all their paperwork, and turn that in with the complaint form. The form can be found on the DMV Web site.

Smith said her family is out $3,000 in trying to buy the Saturn. She's not too sure about the investigator's advice about meeting a possible used-car seller at the DMV office. "Most people don't have time to do that," she said.

But, Light said a legitimate seller would take that time. If they won't, the buyer should reconsider. "Time to do some soul searching, and realize -- maybe you want to look at another vehicle to buy."