Case file — Kern County Auto (Bakersfield, CA). Profile: independent seller of pickup trucks and work trucks; ~23 years trading; ~61 vehicles listed.
Lot address: 7628 Industrial Blvd, Bakersfield, CA. Visitor parking: Front-lot customer stalls facing the office; overflow on the side street near Bakersfield lot gate.
Signals checked: state license (current); doc fee $199 (disclosed); outside inspection permitted, including off-site; title-in-hand ratio ~86%; after-sale terms a 6-month powertrain warranty on newer units.
Finding: no divergence between claims and observable signals. Indexed as trustworthy on current evidence; most independents that clear all four signals stay clear.