Free Tips Before You Buy A Used Car

I have always purchased my cars used. And every single time, I got a great deal because of a few secrets that is easy to do. These secrets will save you money. And the good news is there is no luck involved.
If you follow these steps you are guaranteed to save lots of money, so please pay attention.
BUYING A USED CAR Power Tip #1 - Check Consumer Reports on the safest cars out there. Looks are one thing, but never ignore safety.
Here's what you do: Go to a reputable car repair shop and ask if you can bring the vehicle by for a look-over.
There is a 99% chance they will say "yes".
While you're there, ask what cars they have to repair most often. Also, ask what the inspection includes, how long it takes, and the price. Always get this information in writing - just to be safe.
Once the vehicle has been inspected, ask the mechanic for a written report with a cost estimate for all necessary repairs.



Be sure the report includes the vehicle's make, model and VIN. If you decide to make an offer to the dealer after approving the inspection, you can use the estimated repair costs to negotiate the price of the vehicle.
Do you see how easy it is?
Are you going to purchase from an individual? If yes, then here is your next tip.
BUYING A USED CAR Power Tip #2
Remember, private sellers generally are not covered by the Used Car Rule and don't have to use the Buyers Guide. However, you can use the Guide's list of an auto's major systems as a shopping tool.
It's simple.
You can ask the seller if you can have the vehicle inspected by your mechanic. If he/she says no... beware. No matter how nice the car appears, something fishy is going on.
Now, a private sale likely will be on an "as is" basis, unless your purchase agreement with the seller specifically states otherwise. If you have a written contract, the seller has to live up to the contract.
The car also may be covered by a manufacturer's warranty or a separately purchased service contract. But that doesn't mean that the warranty and service contract are transferable.
Plus, other limits or costs may apply. Before you buy the car, ask if it's still under warranty or service contract, and review that baby carefully.
Some states will require vehicle sellers to pass a vehicle inspection before a sale is made. That's not always the case, though. To find out what your state requires, contact your state Attorney General's office or a local consumer protection agency.
Hey, it's just a phone call. And it will take less than 5 minutes.
Whether you end up buying a used car from a dealer, a co-worker, or a neighbor, follow these tips to learn as much as you can about the car:
BUYING A USED CAR Power Tip #3
Examine the car carefully yourself using an inspection checklist. You can find a checklist in many of the magazine articles, books and Internet sites that deal with buying a used car.
Once I bought a used car in August, and never thought to test the rear defroster. Guess what? Come November, I found out it didn't work. If you're shopping in the summer, don't forget to check the heater. And if it's cold as ice outside, still turn that air on full blast and make sure it works!
Test drive the car under varied road conditions--on hills, highways, and in stop-and-go traffic.
Ask for the car's maintenance record. If the owner doesn't have copies, contact the dealership or repair shop where most of the work was done. They may share their files with you.
Talk to the previous owner, especially if the present owner is unfamiliar with the car's history.
Have the car inspected by a mechanic you hire.
There you go.

Free Tips on How to Negotiate The Best Auto Purchase

The first thing to keep in mind if you plan on financing your new automobile is that the dealer’s offer is not necessarily the best loan available. If you establish direct contact with lenders, especially via the Internet that is where you will find the lowest rates.
Buying a car is one of the most expensive purchases you will make, second to a home. To get the best deal possible, it requires research and a willingness to negotiate with the dealer. Being prepared will help you choose the right auto loan and save a lot of money.

Know Your Options
It is never a good idea to walk in and expect to buy a car without having any reasonable quotes that can compete with the dealer’s financing option. Take into account the annual percentage rate and the length of the loan; don’t focus only on the monthly payment.
After you have negotiated the price of your auto purchase, that plus the APR and the length of the loan will be your total amount paid.
Some dealers might present very low financing rates for certain makes or models of cars, but ultimately won’t negotiate on their price. Any changes made with these variables can yield savings of hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
You might be required to make a large down payment to qualify for any special rates. Occasionally it is more affordable to pay a higher finance charge on a car that might be lower in price, but will ultimately require a smaller down payment.
Trading in Your Old Car
When it comes time to talk about trading in your old car, keep the negotiations separate from your new purchase. Hold off any discussion about your trade-in until the end, after you feel you have reached the best possible price for your new car.
Do the research beforehand and know the value of the car you are using as your trade. Research can be attained from many reputable sources (books, magazines, newspapers and the Internet) and can provide you with the worth of your vehicle.
Come prepared with your information and use that in your transaction with the dealer. Ultimately, any prior research done will help get you the best possible price for your trade in. Although to get the most money for your old car, you would probably have to sell the car yourself.
Credit Insurance
You might come across certain lenders and dealers that will ask you to purchase credit insurance. This would serve as payment towards your loan in the event of death or disablement. Take into consideration the cost of credit insurance and whether or not it is beneficial to you.
Review your current policy to prevent the duplication of any benefits. This type of insurance is not a requirement by federal law. If the dealer requires you to purchase this, it must show in the APR and not be included as an extra charge to you.
If you have any questions regarding credit insurance check with the State Consumer Protection Agency or your state’s Insurance Commissioner.
Service Contracts
In the event of any problems with your new car, service contracts can be purchased to provide repairs as necessary. Manufacturers, dealers or independent companies make these contacts available, but may not offer any additional coverage past the manufacturer’s warranty.
A warranty is included in the total purchasing cost of a new car, while the service contract is not. This contract works in the dealer’s favor, so be cautious when you are presented with one.
Before agreeing to this additional contract, consider if it is right for you. Find out the difference between the coverage that is included your warranty and what is covered in the service contract. Is routine maintenance covered and are the repairs? Who covers the cost of labor and parts?
In the event of an accident, where are the repairs made and is the consumer able to pick the location? Finally, how long does the service contract last and are there any refund policies or options to cancel at any time?
Consider the terms of the new car loan and figure out if it is affordable before signing any contracts and driving away in a new vehicle. Remember that experienced sellers will usually mark up their asking price a few hundred dollars more than they are willing to get for the vehicle.
Make sure to keep your finances in mind and negotiate the best possible financing for your new automobile loan.

Christina Costa

Free Tips on How to Avoid Car Dealership Scams

If you're planning to purchase a vehicle, either used or new, you need to be an aware and informed consumer. While the majority of car dealers are honest and sincere suppliers, there are scams out there that could cost you big money.
To get a run-down on some of the most common auto dealership scams taking place today, keep reading.
1. VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) Etching
The dealer will offer to etch the VIN onto a window, explaining that this acts as a theft deterrent and will help you quickly identify your car. The price will be set anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a thousand.
The dealer may even offer you a discount on this service, letting you have it for just a couple hundred dollars. What you don't know was that this can be done either at a mechanic's shop for twenty to thirty dollars or at home with an inexpensive etching kit.
2. Yo-Yo Financing Scams
In this scam, the dealer encourages you to take the car home, claiming they'll take care of all the financing details. A couple of days later, the dealer will call you to say he's having trouble setting up your financing, but can set up a new financing scheme directly through his dealership.
Of course, the new financing plan will cost you more interest and you'll be dealing directly with the dealer. If you have less-than-perfect credit, arrange to have all your financing taken care of before you even step foot on a dealer's lot.
Go to your bank or lending institution for an auto financing loan or line of credit so you don't even have to deal with dealership financing. Or better yet, if affordable, pay the entire auto cost with cash.
3. Extended Warranty Plan
Most dealers will try to sell you an extended warranty plan or service contract deal, and many of those will try to tell you it's a condition of your bank's auto financing. If a dealer tries this, ask him to put it in writing so you can take it to the bank and ask them directly.
Also, remember that many cars come with manufacturer's warranties, meaning you would therefore be paying for redundant and unnecessary coverage.
4. Prep Fees and Market Adjustments
Some dealers are notorious for marking up the price of a car, from claiming market adjustments for popular vehicles to charging you to "prep" the vehicle for sale. Arm yourself with local sales data on new models in your geographical location. Try the Kelley Blue Book pricing for new cars in your area to find out what other people are actually paying, and don't be persuaded to pay more.
Clearly the purchase of an automobile is a significant expense that merits due caution and some homework to ensure you are armed with all the information needed to search and bargain wisely. Those who rush into a transaction without a careful assessment of both the vehicle and terms of the sale are at a higher risk of being taken for a ride - and not in the car!

Never Get Tricked by Used Car Dealers Again - (part 1)

Amazingly, no matter what car the customer wants, it is always ‘hot property’, ‘very sought after’ and/or ‘hard to find’. Moreover, it isn’t a secret; we have all known it for years. Nevertheless, some of us still continue to be tricked into buying a new or used car we really don’t want to buy, and at a higher price than we expected. So let’s find out what some of the most favourite and sneaky used car dealer tactics in the car industry today and put them in our diary so we can refer to them when next buying a new car.Car Dealer
Tactic #1Almost every new car dealership will drop the initial price they have listed on a car for sale. However, be wary of scams, pressure tactics, twists, and turns that car salespeople have up their sleeves. It is in the showroom, when you are ready to finalise the deal, where you shall be worn down by these machinations if you don’t have your wits about you.Car Dealer
Tactic #2Car dealers will never give a direct or exact quote. If they do, they know you will go to another dealer and have them better the price. If you do leave the dealership and tell the dealer you will ‘look around for other prices’, the dealer will most likely ask you to come back once the ‘best price’ has been obtained. Don’t be fooled by this because the dealer will then either match the price, or, worse, since you're back and apparently ready or even eager to take the car, they will increase the pricer slightly, knowing they've gained upperhand this time.Smart and very familiar, this trick works very well for most car dealers. It relies mainly on getting you, the customer, to feel obliged to buy the car finally, since you have put the dealer to ‘so much trouble’.Car Dealer
Tactic #3Smart car dealers will urge you to commit to buy the car you really want, even before you get the final price. This is irksome and exasperating for customers, but reasonable from a car dealer’s point of view. Now your car dealer has two choices: to give you a quote and watch you walk out the door, or entice you to negotiate. Perhaps you may be lucky when negotiating with the dealer; however, you may never know whether you have paid too much.If you feel uncomfortable about a car dealer, know that you can always back out of the negotiation, and find a new or used car elsewhere.Go online at consumer.vic.gov.au, for instance, where you can check if traders of cars and other vehicles in Victoria are licensed and have Licensed Motor Car Traders (LMCT) number. Car classifieds such as OzFreeOnline.com, offer thousands of used cars for sale, which can offer you the best price without the car dealer commission.