Case file — Sterling Wheels (Riverside, CA). Profile: independent seller of import cars; ~8 years trading; ~27 vehicles listed.
Lot address: 6756 Commerce Ave, Riverside, CA. Visitor parking: Front-lot customer stalls facing the office; overflow on the side street near Riverside lot gate.
Signals checked: state license (current); doc fee $399 (disclosed); outside inspection limited to the premises; title-in-hand ratio ~88%; after-sale terms a 3-month/3,000-mile limited warranty.
Finding: no divergence between claims and observable signals. Indexed as trustworthy on current evidence; most independents that clear all four signals stay clear.