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.

7 Safe Driving Tips To Stay Safe On The Road During Winter Storms

by Carsurfer Admin on 2015/11/09 in On the Road with Comments Off on 7 Safe Driving Tips To Stay Safe On The Road During Winter Storms

Winter storms can hit at any time and create very hazardous driving conditions. They can bring down large amounts of snow and ice in a short period of time. If you are caught in one of these storms, then you need to know exactly what to do. Here are seven driving tips to stay safe on the road during inclement weather.

Reduce Your Speed

You want to slow down when driving in a winter storm. Slowing down allows your tires to maintain traction in the snow and ice. Going slowly also reduce the chance that you will accidentally run into a car that was hidden by the falling snow.

Increase Your Distance between Cars

You want to increase the distance between your vehicle and other cars on the road. Try to get as much distance as possible since other cars could swerve out of control at any second. Try to double the normal amount of space between you and the car in front of you to give you more time to react to dangerous situations.

Try Not To Stop

Try not to stop if you are driving through a winter storm. Stopping will force your car to work hard to gain acceleration again. You could potentially become stuck in a single spot if you do stop.

Keep Your Headlights On

Turn your headlights on as soon as the storm starts. Keep them on at all times. Headlights will let you see the road better. They also signal the presence of your vehicle to other drivers.

Apply Gas and Brakes Slowly

Apply your gas and brakes very slowly during a storm. You want to accelerate and brake gradually. If you slam on the breaks, your tires may lock up and slide in ice, which can be dangerous. Give yourself extra time to stop and go slowly so you don’t lose traction.

Know When to Pull Over

It’s important to know when to pull over. Some winter storms might be so intense that you cannot see anything and other drivers are getting into accidents all around you. If conditions get incredibly bad, then just pull over to a safe spot and wait for the storm to lighten up.

Never Drink and Drive

Never attempt to drive under the influence. This is important because you could make bad decisions and lose control of the car. Drinking and driving also inhibits your ability to react to sudden changes like a car spinning into your lane. Besides the injuries and damage you could cause, driving while under the influence can get you fines and jail time, according to Columbus attorneys at Suhre & Associates.

Never underestimate the danger of a winter storm. It takes just one patch of snow or one errant move to send your car careening off the side of the road. These seven tips will help you to stay safe if you are caught driving in a winter storm.

How to Protect Yourself after Being Hit by a Drunk Driver

by Anica Oaks on 2015/11/06 in Auto Accident with Comments Off on How to Protect Yourself after Being Hit by a Drunk Driver

Car accidents are dangerous. The aftermath of a car accident can often be a significant portion of the overall danger, because it is then the financial realities, medical issues and the overall burden of car repairs, wasted time and inconvenience manifest themselves.

All of these things are only magnified if the accident involves a drunk driver.

Technology to the Rescue

In the age of mobile technology, phones and tablets, every human being is equipped with virtually unlimited capacity to document any event on their own. Photographic and video evidence are both incredibly powerful and often conclusive in any legal matter.

The practical ramifications of this are clear. After an accident, you should be taking pictures of everything, especially anything with letters or numbers on it. License plates, VIN numbers, driver’s licenses, insurance cards, and so forth.

Secondly, don’t forget to take pictures of the surroundings, starting with the road in both directions. Take pictures of the pavement and nearby structures. Photograph the accident from every angle and be sure to photograph any accident evidence: skid marks, glass, metal, paint, dents, scrapes, car parts, etc.

The Authorities

If it is at all possible, anyone involved in a drunk driving accident should interview all of the relevant authorities, starting with the responding police department. However, you should not answer any questions until you have a chance to speak with legal counsel, even if you aren’t at fault.

Firefighters and ambulance drivers or emergency medical personnel should be at least identified. Get numbers and names if possible. All of these people will become crucial sources of information and possibly testimonies at a later date.

Legal Advice

Even if you don’t think you’ll need an attorney, it is often a good idea to at least speak with someone involved in personal injury or vehicle accident litigation. Firms like Racine Olson will often alert you to things you may not have considered. A qualified and experienced attorney can also often be a good candidate for organizing all the information related to your case.

Insurance

It goes without saying that if you are ever in a car accident, your second call should be to your insurance company. This is doubly and triply true when dealing with an accident with potential criminal liability, even if you are not at fault. Your insurance company can coordinate their efforts with your legal representatives and assist you in obtaining any official documents related to the accident, the aftermath and your case. You pay premiums for this service. You might as well use it.

Keeping your cool and making sure you approach an accident with a calm and reasoned attitude will often be the difference between major financial problems an accompanying legal trouble versus a favorable outcome.

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