A woman who says Mercedes Benz Vancouver didn’t tell her a car had been involved in a major crash before she bought it has settled a civil suit with the dealership.

Moyra Rodger paid $46,000 for the pre-owned vehicle in 2011. At that time the car was just 10 months old and had just 7,800 kilometres on it. But when she went to trade it in recently, she says the dealer told her it had been in a major front end collision – nine months before she purchased it.

“There was a major accident to the front end of this car and I would never have purchased this car to begin with," Rodger told CTV News.

At the time of the sale the dealer declared, in the sales contract, the vehicle had not sustained any damage totaling more than $2,000.

Rodger got a CarProof report that verified the previous damage and an ICBC vehicle history and damage claim report listed all kinds of repairs totaling more than $15,000.

ICBC confirmed to CTV News that the vehicle history, listing the repair, was available at the time she purchased her vehicle.

Documents show Mercedes as the only owner of the car before Rodger purchased it and the paperwork revealed Mercedes also did the repairs in its North Vancouver shop.

The Motor Vehicle Sales Authority of BC has the ability to investigate and make things right when incorrect information is given in the sale of a vehicle.

"They must disclose damage that they know about or ought to have known about," Doug Longhurst from the MVSA told CTV News.

There are protections for individual consumers but because Moyra Rodger bought her Mercedes under her business name, the protections for her were limited.

Unhappy with the Mercedes offer for her devalued trade-in, she filed a small claims action. But it never got that far. Mercedes settled at mediation, just days after we started asking questions.

We reached out to Mercedes Benz Canada seven times to find out how the major damage was missed when the vehicle was sold . First Mercedes Benz Canada said it couldn’t comment because the matter was before the courts. But after it settled, it said: “It's a private matter between Mercedes and its customer."

Rodger is happy with her settlement but says she can't talk about it either.

"I can tell you we have reached a settlement that's acceptable to both parties," Rodger told us.

However, this issue is much bigger than a private matter between Rodger and Mercedes Canada Inc. It's about important lessons when you buy a vehicle. All material facts that could influence your decision to purchase need to be disclosed. This wasn't about the safety of the vehicle or how it was repaired, it's about disclosure.

When you buy a car, trust but verify. Do your own research, ask for the title histories or get your own reports and get your own mechanical inspection. The Motor Vehicle Sales Authority of BC told CTV that a good mechanic should be able to spot major repairs from a front end collision.

To access an I.C.B.C vehicle history click here.

I.C.B.C used vehicle inspection checklist can be found here.

More information from ICBC about purchasing a used vehicle can be found here.