07-08-2026 Ask the Expert – Larry Dawson: Carvana's Hidden Fees, Open Title Fraud, and the Case for Buying Local

Auto buyer Larry Dawson joins Dale Cooper by phone from a traffic jam on I-64 before making it into the studio to cover the latest in used car buying and selling in the Kanawha Valley. Dawson recounts a recent deal where a seller chose him over Carvana after discovering the online platform charged a $400 pickup fee — making Dawson's offer effectively $1,000 more competitive. He details his house-call approach to buying vehicles, including a visit to a Kanawha City homeowner who couldn't leave due to caregiving responsibilities. The conversation turns to a listener question about a suspicious private sale involving a third-party seller and a below-market price, which Dawson identifies as a likely title-jumping scheme. He closes with a cautionary account of a complicated and-or title dispute that required court intervention and insurance company involvement to resolve, and advises parents placing a lien on vehicles they purchase for young family members as a protective measure.