4 Things to Do Before You Buy Your Next Car

Buying a car can be exciting. However, it can also be stressful. You want to make sure to plan carefully so that you know you will be getting a reliable car and one that you can afford. 

Here are four things that you want to make sure to do before you purchase your next car.

Check Your Credit Report

If you plan on getting a loan to pay for your car, then you will need to check your credit before doing so. A good credit score will not only help you get approved, but it can also help you get a loan with a lower interest rate. 

Take action if your credit score is under 700. Pay off any outstanding debts you have and keep your credit card bill low to help boost your score if needed.

Research the Car that You Want

You should do your homework on your car before you decide to buy it. There are plenty of websites that you can use to look up how reliable a car is and what its average value is. 

You want to make sure to read reviews written by actual people to make sure that you are getting accurate information about the car you want.

Find the Right Dealership

It is important for you to choose the right car dealership. Find out about the reviews and ratings of past customers online before visiting the dealer in person. 

You will also need to visit the dealership’s website. By checking on them and making sure they are reliable, you ensure that you are going to get a good car for your budget. 

Finding a dealership that is well reviewed also probably means you will find someone who is reliable and will provide you with good customer service.

Decide Whether You Want to Buy a New Car or Used Car

When you are looking for a car, you want to decide between a new and a used car. New cars can be nice because you know they won’t come with any problems and you can usually get a better warranty that will protect your car for longer. 

However, they are more expensive than used cars and depreciate in value much more as soon as you drive them off the lot.

By comparison, used cars are cheaper. Since they’re already used, they won’t depreciate in value as quickly from their base price, making it easier to resell them. 

You can also often find a better value for insurance on a car that is used, as you probably won’t need as many protections. However, you have to be careful and make sure to research the car’s history to ensure that it hasn’t been in any accidents before.

There is a lot more to buying a car than just going to the dealership and selecting one. You will have to check your credit report and research the car that you want. 

You will also have to research the dealership. Furthermore, you should decide whether you want a used car or a new car to find the one that is the right fit for you.

Get the Most Money of Your Used Car with These 5 Improvements

The easiest way to sell a car is to be confident about the goods. Make your car easy to sell and at a good price by investing a little bit of your time and an affordable amount of money. This is what will help the new owner feel like they struck a good deal.

Do the minor repairs

Provided that the car you are selling is in a good general state what you need to do is have a look at your dashboard and see whether there are any unwanted lights on. 

 Your car is maybe signaling that there are still minor issues to be removed and this is something that you want to do before you sell it. Being honest about the issues with a customer is a right thing to do, but it is even better to have nothing to report.

Take it for regular maintenance

Once everything is repaired, check whether your car is due for regular maintenance. Have the oil replaced, check the battery and the wheels. 

This is something that the new owner would most likely do first thing after purchasing the car, but you having proof of it being done just recently will set them in a good mood and help them make the decision.

Make it pretty!

Make your car nice to look at. You want it to be a pretty sight so it can leave a good first impression and make the potential new owners feel great about it. 

Take your car to an auto body shop and ask them to fix any visible dents or scratches. Also, if there are signs of rust especially at the underbody, ask them to remove it and protect the car appropriately.

Check the inside

Give the inside of your car a detailed wash. Check whether paint started to peel off or is worn off and repaint it. Estimate the state of the upholstery and judge whether any of it needs replacing. 

If you cannot clean it so as to look as good as new, consider buying new car seat covers and new mats. Check the stereo and the speakers and make sure they are functioning properly as it will add to the entire experience of driving the car.

Deals on Wheels

One of the first things I have mentioned is checking the wheels. You can take your car to an auto service center and have a professional mechanic align your wheels or, alternatively, you can do it at home if you are generally ok with DIY stuff. 

Have a look at the tread on your tires and replace them if they are not in the best of shape. This is one of the things that a buyer will instantly spot as they are probably calculating in the expense of getting new tires. 

Get cool hub caps, make sure the style matches your car, polish them and spray the tires.

Depending on how quickly you need to sell, if it is an option, think about selling it yourself as you will get a better price without having a mediator. Any dealership will give you a lower estimate on the car as they need to earn from the transaction as well. 

Remember to provide the new owner with all car related paperwork and advise them on all the repairs and maintenance you have done.

Having done all of the above will make your car look brand new. Don’t forget to give it a good wash and a wax as people generally like shiny things. 

If it is not too much to ask, throw in some perks such as emergency equipment, the vest, triangle, a first aid kit etc. Let your old vehicle do you proud one last time.

Tips for Seniors Buying a Used Car

Used Car Lot (Photo credit: Hugo90)

Most people are on a fixed budget after retirement. This can make it difficult if your car breaks down and you need to purchase a new one. Buying a used vehicle may be the best way to go, but you need to be careful before choosing a used car. Many unscrupulous dealers try to take advantage of seniors. Here are some things that you need to know when buying a new car. 

Don’t Be Overly Trusting

Unscrupulous people often try to take advantage of seniors, because they assume that they are naïve or poorly informed consumers. You will need to be on your guard before buying a used vehicle, whether you are purchasing from a consumer or a private party.


Robert Jones is one senior citizen that was exploited by a shady car salesman. A dealer sold him a used vehicle for much more than the book value of a new version of the same car. Jones was suffering from a mild stroke and wasn’t thinking clearly when he made the purchase. His daughter tried to have the deal reversed at the local dealer. They denied the request, but the parent company that oversaw the franchise agreed to reverse the deal for them.

Exercise Good Bargaining Skills

Salespeople can be very smooth talkers and very aggressive negotiators. You will need to be on your toes before you start bargaining with them. Here are some tips that you will need to follow:

• Make sure that you do your research beforehand. You will want to read the value of the vehicle on the Official Kelley Blue Book. You will want to avoid paying more than any car is worth.
• Do not cave under pressure of a deadline. Dealers often try to pressure people into buying on the spot. You will want to take your time and avoid making any impulse decisions like Mr. Jones did.
• Contact different dealers to see what they are charging. This is important if you want to make sure that you can get the dealers to compete against you so you can get the best price.
• Check the car over carefully before committing to a decision. You should always take it to a local mechanic to find out if there are any problems that need to be resolved. If they find any serious defects then you will want to offer a lower price.
• Read all documents carefully before signing them. Make sure that you read the fine print, because some shady companies try to use subtle legalese to rip people off.
• Know when to walk away from a deal. Some companies are committed to screwing people over and they will just try to push you out the door if they realize that you aren’t willing to cave.

Researching a used car is a lot of work, but is definitely worth the time. You don’t want to be stuck paying a lot of money for a car that is going to break down on you in a couple of weeks.

Kalen knows a couple of friends that have been exploited by used car dealers. He suggests that people speak with reputable car companies, mechanics and salespeople such as the folks at http://www.treadworks.com

How to Save Money on a Car

Buying a new car can be exciting, but it can also be a bit confusing if you don’t really know what kind of car you are after, or if you’re trying to buy it on a budget. As you get older, the things that you need from your car might change.

Do your research before you go to the dealership

Do your research before you go to the dealership and try and decide on a make a model of car that you want to buy, so that you could possibly haggle on the price if you need to or feel comfortable enough to do it. Don’t let yourself be bullied into buying a better model if you can’t afford it.

Buying a new car or a used one?

Perhaps one of the first decisions that anyone will make when it’s time to buy a new set of wheels is whether they want to buy a new car, or one that has been already owned by someone else. While lots of us may wish that we could afford to buy new, buying a used one could save you a lot of money, and, you may also be able to part-exchange your old car to help cover the cost. 

Think about size

Think about the size of the car that you want too. If your family is no longer young, then you may be able to buy a smaller car than you have been able to in the past, which could end up being cheaper for you. However, you should keep in mind that your family may expand if your children decide to have kids of their own, that you might wish to take on car journeys.

Shop around to get a good deal on the insurance

When it comes to getting the insurance on the car, shop around and make sure that you get the best deal for you.

Choose the time of year carefully

If you can manage to wait before you buy your new car, wait until dealers are selling off their models cheaper to make way for new ones. This isn’t always possible if your old car suddenly becomes no longer road worthy, but if you can wait, it can help save you money.

Finally, make sure that you take care not to overspend on the cost of your car and make sure that you still have savings left afterwards.

Investing in Cars: 5 Money-Saving Tips for Buying a New Car

The mere thought of getting a brand new car causes some people to become filled with excitement. Although purchasing a new ride can be a wonderful experience, it will be much better if you strive to get the most value for your money. In some instances, you may have to make a few compromises when shopping for a new vehicle. Here are five money-saving tips for buying a new car.

Develop a budget

Before heading out to search for a new ride, you will first need to develop a reasonable budget. Being stuck with an expensive car that you can barely afford can be very frustrating. When establishing a budget, be sure to factor in the cost of insurance and the interest rate. Knowing your financial limits will give you more leverage when making a car deal.

Sell your current ride

Although you generally have the option of trading in your old ride, it is usually not as beneficial as selling it. The vast majority of car dealerships are unlikely to give you nearly the cash for your current vehicle on trade in that you could get for it otherwise. Selling your car on the open market is often a far better option if you want to get the most money from it. That money can then be used toward making a down payment on a new car.

Obtain the necessary funds beforehand

Waiting until you visit the dealership to seek a loan puts you in a very compromising position. Acquiring a pre-approved loan will eliminate the need to obtain a loan through the car dealership. Do not hesitate to get several quotes from a variety of lenders. This will help you to get the lowest interest rate available.

Purchase aftermarket upgrades

Often times, optional car features will add thousands of dollars to the total cost of a vehicle. If you desire to save some money, you can opt to purchase your own aftermarket upgrades. For example, you may be seeking a high-performance set of tires. Instead of paying the expensive premium demanded by the car dealership, you can save money by shopping at discounted online vendors such as http://simpletire.com or others.

Have patience

When searching for a new vehicle, it is critical that you exude patience. Do not settle for a vehicle that you really do not even like. Veteran car salesmen can smell a desperate car buyer from a mile away. Always be prepared to walk away from a deal that seems too expensive.

Buying a new car does not have to be a financial burden. You can find an amazing deal by taking the proper steps.

This article was written by Rianne Hunter with assistance from Rhett Stone. Rianne is a mother of three and an avid finance, auto, and family blogger.

Close That Sale: Second-Hand Purchase Checklist

English: Couple on a motorcycle in Rajasthan, India (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Most of us start a sale these days with lots of browsing online and, thankfully, we’re actually going into sales a lot more clued up than we ever have in the past. However, closing a second-hand sale isn’t an easy thing to do, and from introducing yourself to taking a test drive to handing over the cash, there are plenty of areas where a sale could go wrong. 
So to ensure that you end up making not just the right purchase, but the right purchase at the right price, here’s our step-by-step guide to closing a second-hand sale. 

1. Good Introductions

In most cases you’ll end up making an introduction online or over the phone but it doesn’t ever hurt to make a good first impression when meeting in person. Turn up on time, give forewarning and make it clear you’re interested in coming to a mutually good deal, not just getting as a low a price as possible. You don’t need to be overly outgoing, but don’t give your seller any reason not to give you the sale. 

2. Start with the Paperwork

Most of us are edging to get a look at our prospective new bike when we’re closing a deal, but it’s actually much better to start with a paperwork. You should be checking the logbook, the service history and whether it has any motorcycle insurance, MOT or tax left on it. Check that everything is present and correct first, but also make sure it adds up - do the addresses match, does the frame number match? If not, always ask why not - there could be a simple explanation. If there isn’t, the bike could be stolen. 

3. Visual Inspection

After checking the books have a quick look around the bike to check for condition. Of course you’ll want to be checking for scratches, dents and marks but also look for things like mismatched screws, uneven tyres and rust. Check, also, if your seller has fitted any aftermarket alarms and the condition of the locks; these are all points for negotiation after the test ride. 

4. Get Hands-On

Before taking the bike for a test ride just spend a moment getting hands on. Is it the right size for you, are the handlebars comfortable or are you struggling to reach. Your new bike will feel different to bikes you’ve had before, but it shouldn’t feel uncomfortable. Also check the suspension has a slow, smooth spring to it and that the bike starts up easily. Once it’s going, check to make sure the owner doesn’t thrash a cold engine (because they will always do this if they do it when selling!) and that the dials all read appropriately. 

5. The Test Ride

Licensing and insurance can be tricky when doing test rides so you may have to ride on the back or take the bike to an off-road area where you can give it a full test. If you have comprehensive insurance you should be able to take the bike out, but you will need to check the details. When you’re finally on the bike, do a few smooth gear changes, check the acceleration and, most importantly, check the steering alignment: it could indicate a head-bearing problem or even a buckled frame. 

6. Settling Up

So you’ve decided the bike works for you but, in most cases, they’ll be a few small issues. These are grounds for haggling, but stay clear of market-stall bartering, most sellers find it irritating. State that because of x fault or y problem you’re only willing to pay a certain amount and go from there. If this price isn’t right, leave your name and number and, hopefully, you’ll get a call-back...!
For motorbike insurance visit aquote bike.

How the Car You Choose Affects The Kind of Finance Deal You Can Get

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Buying a second-hand car can be an excellent decision if you are trying to save a bit of money. However, one thing that you should remember if you want to buy a used car is that it may affect your financing options. Indeed, people are often surprised when they decide to buy a second-hand car only to find that they cannot get any access to financing. Here is a quick guide to the reasons behind this, and factors that you should consider when choosing a second-hand car if you want to get better access to finance. 

Used Cars Present a Greater Risk to Lenders

If you want to secure financing for a second-hand car, you may find that the lender has strict requirements about what they will lend you money for. For example, many lenders will not consider providing any financing for second-hand cars that have traveled over 100,000 miles, or for cars that are older than five years. 

The reason for this is that such loans are seen as higher risks by lenders. An old second-hand car, or one with many miles on it, is more likely to break down. If this happens, the person who borrowed the money may be more likely to stop paying back the loan. 

There is also the resale value of the car to consider. If you want to arrange a hire purchase agreement, the car is used as collateral. If the value of the car falls too low because it is too old, and you decide to stop paying for it, the lender will not be able to recoup their money. 

As a result, many lenders will not provide loans for buying second-hand cars. If they do agree to lend you the money, they will often insist on a much higher APR or a larger deposit. 

How to Choose a Used Car

It is not impossible to secure a good car financing deal when you buy a new car. However, to find the best deals, you should: 

• try to find a used car that is between six-months and five-years old. Although all lenders have their own specifications, you are more likely to get financing if the car is newer. 
• look for a car that has traveled less than 50,000 miles. The higher the mileage, the less chance you have of getting access to a good loan. 
• look for a make of car known for its reliability. If there is less chance that it will break down, a lender may be more likely to consider lending you money. 

In addition to the above, you may want to spend some time looking around for lenders that specialize in higher-risk loans. Alternatively, consider a different form of loan such as a secured loan. With this you will be able to use the money for any purpose, but remember that you risk losing your property if you fail to keep up with your payments. 

Find Financing for Your Used Car

Buying a used car can make a lot of sense if you need a vehicle but you cannot afford to buy a new one. However, take the above information into consideration to improve your chances of finding a suitable financing deal. Alternatively, do not completely rule out buying a new car. With the excellent financing deals that are available these days, and the fact that a new car will require less maintenance, it may still prove to be a better option in the long run. 

Neil Stelling has extensive experience in car sales and finance. In his spare time, he enjoys sharing his insights with others through blogging for a number of different websites. Click the car finance help link for more information.

Bad Habits: Kick That Car Lease Out.

When your on your way to straighten out your finances one of the hardest things to do is get of the car lease habit. Getting that new car every 3 years is quite tempting. You fool yourself by saying you deserve it. You remember when you had that old jalopy and how often it broke down. You need a reliable car and your going to pay for it. 

You know the right thing to do would be to purchase a good used car and pay for it in cash. You must prepare for this purchase by saving money. If you have $5000 dollars you can get a good used car. That lease car is costing you a payment of $500 a month, so save that much for 10 months and get yourself a car. Remember after the 10 months you'll have that $500 monthly payment to keep in your pocket. You can use it to save for a more expensive car or put it toward your emergency fund. 

You have to stop thinking the car purchase as a $500 payment. You believe, no problem, you can swing that. Think of it as what that will be in five years if you save it. We're talking $30,000 after 5 years. After another 5 years you will have $77,600 at 5% interest. I think I'd rather have the money. Most of us made our first car payment as teenagers. We got on that car loan merry-go-round and never got off. The best ways to lower your transportation costs is get that used car and drive it for many, many years. It's not easy to leave that new car smell. But if you want to have some money when your old, you have too.

Your Kids First Car

Image by Brave Heart via FlickrThe journey we parents go through to raise kids is hard and never ending. One of our hardest tasks is the purchase of the first car. Your child is anxious and you have reservations, but you know it has to be done. 
 
There are many factors that go into this fun purchase. First there is deciding to get either a new or used car. I'm sure junior wants to get that new 2011 Camaro. But you know it's to expensive and it's a accident waiting to happen. Plus who's going to write a check for that. We are going to use this car purchase to teach many things like living within your means and not going into debt. Hopefully by the time the car purchase date arrives you and junior have saved money for this car. Junior should have been working and saving. Mom and Dad should also have been saving to make this a debt free purchase. It's best for the child to save an amount of money and the parents match it. But if the child has all the money he should pay all of it. When junior has some skin in the game the car is going to stay a little cleaner and driven a little better, we hope. 
 
Is this car going to be new or used? Hopefully your savings will determine that. There is no excuse to not buy a used car. The argument of there being more reliability in a new car is moot because we only have enough money for a used car. Used cars are reliable and give many years of good service. Junior's learning a lot from this experience. 
 
Now what kind of car? I think many people believe that a big car with plenty of metal to protect your kid is the way to go. A big land yacht surrounding your kid is not the right choice. A small economical car like a Honda, Toyota or Ford will do just fine. In our house the 4 children drive 3 Honda's and 1 Mitsubishi. With proper maintenance they have really done the job. 
 
We bought 2 at the used car lot and 2 private sale. For us the private sale equaled less money spent. The cars mileage when purchase were from 50,000 to 75,000. I wouldn't buy a car with higher mileage. Also the cars were 5- 6 years old. 
 
The age when they get to drive their own car can vary. Some kids are responsible some aren't, you have to decide. We have one child who is 19 and we won't let him get a car because of behavior problems. In our family the rule was you must be 18 to have a car. This rule kept them out of a car a little longer and also the car is in their name and you can't be sued in an accident. 
 
When you drive by a high school look in the parking lot and see what cars are there. I bet you will see new cars there. Handing a kid an expensive new car is teaching them the wrong values. The first car is what I call the "practice car". Let them dent, scratch and mess up a used car. 
 
A car will always be one of the biggest purchases your children will make in their lives. You must teach them the proper ways of doing it right, because hopefully this car will see them through till they graduate college. So the next car they can buy themselves. 


Here's a list of some decent used cars: