5 Helpful Tips for Selling Your Vehicle Online

by Carsurfer Admin on 2015/11/25 in Auto Selling with Comments Off on 5 Helpful Tips for Selling Your Vehicle Online

According to a 2014 publication by CNBC, the used car market is worth 41.5 million dollars per year and continues to ride a wave of popularity as more and more motorists shy away from the depreciation and expense accrued with a new vehicle purchase. If you have a used vehicle you’d like to sell online, here are some tips for commanding top dollar.

Be Honest and Up Front

There’s no point in trying to deceive potential buyers with an overly optimistic advertisement. If there are small cosmetic defects or you’ve had to replace the parking brake a few times, say so. List all of your vehicle’s good points, of course, but don’t fail to list any issues or problems.

Disclose the Status of the Title

The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and title are listed on the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System and will include information about rebuilds, accidents and ownership changes. If your title is ‘clean,’ advertise this as a selling point. If there is a rebuilt branding on the title, disclose it and talk about the quality work that was done to restore the vehicle. If someone questions your vehicle history, direct to a source like Instavin that will check vehicle history and title reports. Honesty is your best policy.

Clean It Up

Nobody wants to purchase a vehicle that smells like an ashtray or has dubious stains all over the upholstery. Either pay to have your vehicle scrubbed out well and detailed or do it yourself to save some money and net a higher sale price. Polish all the glass, vacuum and shampoo the upholstery and carpets and air out the car to remove any lingering smells. If the upholstery is stained beyond repair, consider reupholstering the seats or purchasing seat covers that will sell with the car.

Have It Inspected

If you live in a state that requires yearly inspection and your inspection was done not long ago, you may be able to skip this step. If your inspection was six months ago or longer or you live in a state that doesn’t require it, have one performed by a certified mechanic. This lets potential buyers know that you are offering a dependable and safe vehicle for sale.

Don’t Leap at the First Offer

Online sales can happen very quickly. While this is great if you need the cash right away, it may behoove you to wait and speak to several potential buyers. Letting the advertisement sit for a day or two before selling to the highest offer could potentially net your hundreds more than you anticipated.

Selling your vehicle online can be a great way to unload a car or truck you no longer need. By following these tips, you can make your vehicle attractive to potential buyers and sell it in good faith.

The Volkswagen Disgrace and What it Means for In-Car DUI Breath Evaluation Machines

by Carsurfer Admin on 2015/11/23 in Auto Design with Comments Off on The Volkswagen Disgrace and What it Means for In-Car DUI Breath Evaluation Machines

The Volkswagen emissions testing scandal is explosive, and the big bang continues to expand. The largest automobile manufacturer in the world admitted that millions of cars that it sold contained a software emissions test cheating "defeat device."

What’s the Defeat Device?

The "defeat device" detects when the Volkswagen automobiles are being emissions tested. When the device senses that the cars are being tested, the cars’ engines switch over to a different emissions testing mode. They undetectably run below ordinary power and performance to defeat emissions testing equipment. When they return to the road, the engines switch over to regular performance, and emissions are anywhere between 10 and 40 times higher than the EPA allows in the United States.

The Recall and Criminal Investigations

About 480,000 Volkswagen autos have been recalled in the United States. As the explosion expands, millions of Volkswagens are being recalled internationally. The recalls are financially devastating for Volkswagen. Both the U.S. Department of Justice and German federal prosecutors have launched criminal investigations.

In-Car Breath Evaluation Machines

These machines test a person’s blood alcohol content both before they can start a motor vehicle and while they’re driving it too. They’re usually used in the vehicles of people who have been convicted of drunk driving. They’re commonly known as ignition interlock devices, and they serve as ongoing criminal investigators while a person convicted of DUI is on supervision or probation. Not only do the devices shut down a vehicle’s ignition system if it detects any amount of alcohol purportedly on the driver’s breath, but it records the alleged blood alcohol content of the driver each and every time that they blow into the device.

False Positives

A common condition of supervision or probation of a convicted DUI offender is that they’re not permitted to consume any alcoholic beverages during their term. A false positive can put a person in jail. The facilities that install these devices are charged with pulling the information from them, but according to Sessions Law Firm, the convicted DUI offender isn’t permitted to inquire into the software that might be behind a false positive. If and when the machines might be tested, they too could be capable of defaulting back into a completely inaccurate test mode. Defense lawyers have raised the software issue on blood alcohol testing equipment, but courts have consistently held that manufacturers aren’t required to disclose how their machines work because of software copyright protection.

The public needs to know whether these in-car breath evaluation machines are working properly. There’s no control whatsoever over the software installed in these machines. We don’t even know what the software is because of copyright protection. In the interim, innocent people are going to jail because they’re not given a fair chance to learn exactly how these machines operate. Somebody is doing their best to legally withhold evidence.

5 Important Tips to Follow When Buying Your Next Vehicle

by Carsurfer Admin on 2015/11/18 in Auto Buying Tips with Comments Off on 5 Important Tips to Follow When Buying Your Next Vehicle

Buying a car involves a major investment. By educating yourself on the buying process and its risks, you can avoid making serious mistakes. Here are five tips to help you buy your next vehicle.

Figure Out What You Need

What kind of car is right for you? You will have to look at your driving habits and at your budget. Consider factors like the number of passengers that you have on a regular basis as well as at the amount of cargo that you typically carry. If you carry lots of people and cargo, you may want to focus your search on SUVs and minivans. If the cargo that you carry is often too big to fit inside a standard vehicle, consider a pickup truck.

Keep your preferred driving experience in mind as well. Consider whether you want a car that is sporty and fun to drive like a coupe or one that offers practical benefits such as a sedan. You may be able to find a compromise between those two options. In order to simplify the decision-making process, browse the inventories of auto dealers like Chuck Colvin Ford Nissan.

Plan Your Dealership Visit

Your first visit to the dealership should be done with the intent to look, not to buy. Make it clear to salespeople that you have no intention of buying and resist any attempts to talk you into a deal. Spend some time inspecting vehicles, both inside and out. Look at the color and for signs that vehicle has more miles on it than has been stated. On the inside, consider the quietness of the cabin and the ease with which the controls are operated.

Look into the Costs of Ownership

Once you have decided on a particular vehicle, look into how much it costs to own it. The fact is that there is more to a car’s cost than the car payment.

Test Drive the Car

It is essential to get a feel for the car while it is moving. Remember that the car should be considered alongside other new vehicles and not the car that you presently own. This is because a new car is likely to be better than your present car and may cause you to be overly impressed. Consider factors like ride comfort and how the vehicle accelerates.

Get Ready to Negotiate

Before you visit your dealer with the intention of buying, you should research both the dealer and the car that you want. More information equals more bargaining power.

Given the size of a car purchase, it is important that you enter the transaction as a knowledgeable consumer. Research and planning are essential. Follow the above tips and take your time when going through the buying process.

Things You Should Know When Auctioning for a Car

by Carsurfer Admin on 2015/11/16 in Auto Trades with Comments Off on Things You Should Know When Auctioning for a Car

The ongoing economic crisis, among other things, resulted in tightening of credit rules and eligibility. This naturally caused a decrease in number of people who are able to buy cars on credit and in return increased interest in buying cars at auctions. A cash payment usually means getting a better price, but increased interest means more competition, and in order to get the best price and be pleased with the purchase different pitfalls need to be avoided. Therefore, here are things you should know when auctioning for a car.

Types of auctions

There are two types of car auctions, a government one and a public one. What they have in common is that you cannot test a car before you bid on it, which means you have to be careful and make sure that is the car that fits your criteria and the bidding competition grows bigger every day. In case of government auctions, cars usually have a known background with honest data presented, while at public auctions it is often not the case. Miles Exempt, with shiny appearance and rotten inside are unfortunately not isolated cases anymore.  

Do not pretend to be someone you are not

If it seems that a car needs only a little repair, but you do not have either knowledge or means to do it yourself, do not lie to yourself that you will learn and be able to do it in no time. What looks simple and cheap often turns out in a lot of work and a lot of investment, making the purchase a bad one meaning loss of money, or even worse loss money and vehicle if it turns out unrepairable.

Observe everything carefully

Since test drives are not an option on either of car auction types, your eyes are what you have to rely on.  Make sure you check both exterior and interior in detail. Repaint spots, rusty corners, scored brake disks, not completely smooth sheet metal surfaces, missing parts and wet floors are just some of the common issues that need to be paid attention to in order to score good deals at car auctions.

There is much more than meets the eye

Paint covers are sometimes there to cover some minor scratches, while the mechanical part of the car is in perfect shape.  On the other hand, they sometimes cover some serious damages, especially when public auctions are in question. More than two paint layers usually mean stay away, just as any strange smell coming either from the outside or inside of a car does.

VIN

Check VIN in several locations, dashboard, driver side doorpost and front of the engine block, for example. All of them need to match. In case they do not, some serious repairs had been done to the car, usually due to crashes. You can use VIN to check the entire history of a car, from its origin, true age to all service repairs it has undergone and the number of previous owners it had. A price to pay for this service is well worth considering the amount of crucial information on a car that you will receive.

Once again, being careful and taking your time at the car auction is required in order to get a good deal. If you are uncertain about some things, make sure you take someone more experienced to help you, especially when mechanics are concerned. Happy bidding.

5 Things to Remember When Applying for an Auto Loan

by Carsurfer Admin on 2015/11/11 in Auto Financing with Comments Off on 5 Things to Remember When Applying for an Auto Loan

Most people who are looking to purchase a new or used vehicle must first obtain an auto loan to afford the car. Auto loans are often available through financial institutions or through the dealer who is selling the vehicle. When applying for a loan, there are a few factors to keep in mind.

Know Your Credit Score

The lender will check your credit score when determining if you’ll be approved for a loan. Your credit score will prove if you’re qualified to borrow and if you have any record of collections on your history. Those who have a credit score of at least 650 are likely to be approved.

Have a Down Payment Ready

Having a down payment on hand will help to reduce the amount of money you borrow, which will ultimately allow you to spend less on interest once the car is paid off in full. The more money that you can put down, the less time it’ll take you to pay of the vehicle.

Determine the Length of the Loan

The length of each auto loan varies and can be up to 60 months long. 62 percent of auto loans are 60 months and 20 percent of loans are 73 to 84 months long. The longer you’re paying off the loan, the more money you’ll end up paying in interest.

Consider Your Employment History

If you’ve had an inconsistent employment history, you’re at risk for being denied of an auto loan. Lenders want to see that you’ll be able to make your car payment each month and eventually pay it in full.

Understand the Interest Rate

Each auto loan comes with interest that is applied, which is added on to each monthly payment. The interest often depends on the lender’s terms and the credit score the applicant. The higher the credit score, the lower the interest rate. Oftentimes, borrowers are able to negotiate the interest rate. A credit union car loan may offer some added benefits for interest rates if you are an existing member.

When applying for an auto loan, it’s important to understand the terms and how long you’ll be repaying the loan. You want to be confident that you’ll be able to afford the loan for the next several years even with a job loss. By proving yourself to the lender as a qualified borrower, you’ll be approved and can enjoy driving your new vehicle off the lot in no time.

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