[Dan in Pasadena]

Yup, you're hosed. You get all your're gonna get BEFORE money changes hands and you drive away or you get nothing. Consider it a learning experience.

I have sold a number of cars here without providing a smog certificate. I disclose this to the buyer. If they want me to do it, I will but as soon as I can and I ask for more to do the running around. Again, they want the car or they don't.

I once sold my then 10 year old '89 Toyota Corolla to a guy with the same agreement and when he went to smog it was told it needed a new cat. He came back to me and I sympathized but I didn't pay anything. Why do you think people sell old used cars? Because they are perfect? Anyway, it turned out the smog place was trying to screw the guy for more $$ and it didn't really need a cat...but he/I didn't find that out until after some drama.