Archive for December, 2009
The price that we pay for our car insurance premium is something we all complain about, however regardless of this fact it is something which we all have to purchase if we want to drive on the roads in the UK. About the only thing we can do when it comes to car insurance is to make sure that we get the cheapest deal around. Without a doubt the best way to look for car insurance is to do so online from the comfort of your own home, using a specialist broker.
The first thing you will have to consider before taking out your car insurance is the type of coverage that you need and you can do your research online. By making an online search you will be able to find what is entailed in all the different components to car insurance and this is essential in order to ensure that you are covered for exactly what you need to be.
However rather than having to go around several companies, the internet allows you to make a quick and through search for the exact type of insurance that you want, not only this but you are able to make comparisons at many sites and means that you are fully informed when it comes to understanding car insurance.
Once you have decided on the type of insurance you wish to take out then you can let your broker begin your search for the cheapest premiums for your needs. There are many companies online and while they all offer similar car insurance some companies do offer incentives and bonuses and this is where your broker can make you savings.
When it comes to making comparisons they will make sure that they consider like for like, this is because while one particular quote might seem very expensive if you take a look at what it offers when compared to a lower priced quote in which you have to add on extras, it could work out better taking the dearest quote.
There are many things that are taken into account when it comes to saving money on your insurance and the same applies when buying online. Your broker will take into consideration the size of the car engine and this is particularly essential if you are a very young driver. As a note, young drivers should always stay under a 1 litre engine.
The safety equipment on your car is also taken into account. The more safety features you have on your car then the cheaper your car insurance can be. Good quality locks, window etchings and where you park your car overnight can make a huge difference to the quote you are given.
Tags: Buy Car, Buy Insurance, Car Insurance, Car Price, Different Components, Doubt, Exact Type, Incentives, Insurance, Insurance Companies, Insurance Coverage, Insurance Online, Insurance Premium, Insurance Price, Many Things, Online Broker, Premiums, Quote, Saving Money, Specialist BrokerRelated posts
I had what I thought was an interesting question sent in to me the other day and that is the topic of this article. The question asked was essentially; out of all of the car buying tips, the car deal negotiating tips, and out of all the dos and dont dos when you are car shopping and ultimately buying, what is the single most important area to have under control as the buyer.
I had to preface my answer by saying that in order to get your best deal when buying a car, there are many pieces to the car buying puzzle. They are all individually important because when you put all the buying processes together they make up your deal. And all of these car buying puzzle pieces are what dealerships are all about. They each represent an opportunity to sell you something and therefore make a profit on that sale.
Having said that, this is a great question and you would probably get many different answers. But, since you asked and I have pondered Ill give you my thoughts.
I would have to say financing. You must take the time to do such things as:
Get and understand your credit report.
Shop around for your financing options and ultimately get yourself pre-approved so you will know the amount, the interest rate you qualify for, and the length of your loan.
If you dont get your financing questions answered and in order, you can literally cost yourself thousands of dollars. So, while all of the other aspects of buying a car are indeed important, such as the price of the new car, what you get for your trade, and all of the research that goes into these areas; you can literally give it all back and much more in the dealers finance department.
If I get all my financing lined up ahead of time, why would I even bother with the dealers finance department?
A Good question; and there are a couple of aspects to the answer. First, once you know what you qualify for (a bird in hand), you can then give the dealers finance manager the opportunity to do even better for you. Secondly, even if you have no intention of using the dealer financing option, youll still have to have a seat in the finance office just to sign all the paperwork. Which means the finance person will do their best to sell you their financing package. So being prepared is the best answer.
If you have your financing in hand and know all your numbers ahead of time, youll be able to fend off the monthly payment approach by the car dealers sales person. Buying a car based on monthly payments is good for the dealer; bad for you.
Also, your financing homework becomes even more important if your credit is less than grade A. Be mindful that just the difference in just a couple of percentage points on your interest rate can represent over a thousand dollars to you during the life of your loan. And if your credit score leaves a little to be desired by potential lenders, you will probably see a wider range of qualifying quotes that you get back. So it is even more important that you get your car financing house in order before you head out to the dealership.
Certainly, financing is but one piece of the car buying puzzle. But, its a big piece. And you can rest assured its a big piece (for potential profit) for the dealer. Many people dont realize that this is yet another area at the dealership that you can and should try to negotiate on the road to getting your best car deal.
If you have done your research and homework to give yourself the best possible chance on the front end of the car buying process (new car & trade-in), dont give it all back on the back end of the deal (financing & insurance F&I) by not knowing what your financing numbers and options are.
Tags: Bird In Hand, Buying A Car, Buying Car, Car Buying Tips, Car Deal, Car Shopping, Control, Credit Report, Dos, Finance Department, Finance Manager, Financing Options, Good Question, Interest Rate, Negotiating Tips, New Car, Opportunity, Preface, Puzzle Pieces, Thousands Of DollarsRelated posts
There is no secret that auto insurance prices are on the rise and have been that way for a good many years. There is something that makes us all cringe in response to paying for something that we may very well never use and at great expense to us. So we are all in search of the cheap auto insurance. This can be a game that takes a good long time to play but in the end it should be well worth it. Of course this is not something that will happen over night and there is several matters that go into the whole thing. Auto insurance is tricky business and the companies not only want to protect you, but also their bottom line in the end. So if you are in search of the cheap auto insurance then you should follow a few general rules.
The best way to get cheap auto insurance is to be a good driver. That is really a common fact that many people over look these days. Insurance companies reward those drivers that have had no accidents, and no tickets. Of course this may be easier said than done to be honest considering even accidents that are not your fault look bad on your record. The tickets thing is what really matters most. Just one ticket for speeding can raise your auto insurance rates by over thirty percent a year. So you can see that it is best to obey the traffic laws at all costs no matter what. This will give you the very best cheap auto insurance with most companies.
There is the matter of shopping around for cheap auto insurance as well. The one mistake that people often make is to think that the company they have been with since they were young is giving them the best rate. This is the farthest thing from the truth in all actuality. You will find that with the vast array of auto insurance companies that sprinkle the country side that the prices will vary greatly. Many times you can save hundreds of dollars in premiums by going with another company.
Finally, cheap auto insurance is given to those that have easily insurable cars. This is no secret, but you should have a car that has a good safety rating with the insurance companies in order to maintain the best rates on the insurance. The auto insurance companies do not like those little sports cars that move at top speeds as they can be the ingredient for disaster and much expense.
Tags: Accidents, Actuality, Array, Auto Insurance Companies, Auto Insurance Rates, Bottom Line, Cars, Cheap Auto Insurance, Cheap Insurance, Company Insurance, Cringe, Insurance, Insurance Business, Insurance Prices, Long Time, Mistake, Premiums, Shopping, Traffic Laws, Tricky BusinessRelated posts
The Pros And Cons Of Buying A Used Car From An Auto Auction
Are you in the market for a new used car? If you are, have you ever thought about attending an auto auction? Each year, a relatively large number of individuals walk away with a quality used car from an auto auction and now you may want to think about doing the same.
Although it is nice to know that many have had success with auto auctions in the past, you may be wondering whether attending an auto auction is worth your time. To determine whether or not one is, you may want to think about examining the pros and cons of buying a used car from an auto auction. A few auto auction pros and cons are briefly touched on below.
Perhaps, the biggest pro or plus side to buying a used car from an auto auction is the price. Auto auctions are well-known for their more than affordable prices. Depending on the auto auction that you attend, as well as the car that you choose to buy, you could walk away with a quality used car for as little as a thousands dollars! In all honesty, you never know what treasures or quality used cars you will find until you attend an auto auction. That is why it is advised that you at least attend a local auto auction, even if it is just to see what one is like.
Another one of the many pros or plus sides to buying a used car from an auto auction is the choices that you have. In terms of the used cars that you have to choose from, it is not uncommon for an auto auction to include as many as fifty used cars or more. Many of these used cars include different years, as well as different car makes and models. In keeping with the choices that you have, you also have a choice when it comes to choosing a used car auction to attend. If you live in or around a large city, such as Chicago, you may have more auto auctions to choose from. You could choose to attend an auto auction that gives you the opportunity to inspect each vehicle or you can choose one that does not have any admission fees.
Although there are a number of pros or plus sides to buying a used car from an auto auction, there are also a number of downsides as well. The good news, however, is that those downsides may not even apply to you. One of the downsides or cons to buying a used car from an auto auction is that not all auto auctions have an inspection session. An inspection session is when you are able closely examine or inspect all of the cars that will be auctioned off. You should never buy a used car without thoroughly examining it first. This downside to buying a used car from an auto auction may not even be an issue, as long as you choose to attend a used car auction that allows you to inspect all of their vehicles first and they are out there.
Another con or downside to buying a used car from an auto auction is the fact that you arent really given any guarantees. Perhaps, that is why it is so important that you are able to inspect a used car before bidding on it at an auto auction. When you pay for and receive your used car, it is then yours and you are responsible for it, including all updates and repairs that may need to be made. It is difficult, if not virtually impossible, to find an auto auction house or company that offers warranties on their used vehicles. Of course, buying a used car is a risk anyways, as most used car dealerships, as well as owners outright selling their vehicles do not offer warranties either.
If you live in or around the Chicago area, you may want to examine North Shore Auto Auction. Their online website can be found at www.publicautoauctionnst.com. With regularly scheduled auto auctions, as well as information on those auctions, including the used cars that will be auctioned, North Shore Auto Auctions is known for being one of the best auto auctions in the Chicago area.
Tags: Admission, Auction Auto, Auto Auction, Auto Auctions, Auto Price, Buying A Used Car, Car Auction, Car Makes And Models, Car Models, Choices, Choose One, Honesty, Local Auto, Makes And Models, New Car, Opportunity, Price Auto, Pros And Cons, Quality Cars, Quality Used CarsRelated posts
Car insurance is compulsory, but it’s not necessary to pay more than you have to. A few simple steps combined with some time surfing for competitive car insurance rates really can save you serious money at renewal time.
Step 1 – Cut the Risk and Cut the Cost
The easiest way to cut your car insurance premiums is to cut the risk and accept a higher voluntary excess. An insurer’s standard excess may be 100 but if you meet the first 250 of any claim, you’ll see a reduction in your premium. This is because you’re taking on more of the risk so you get a discount. But it’s a gamble, be aware that you might have to meet the cost of a broken window after an attempted theft or a bill for repairing bodywork damage after a car park crunch.
Step 2 – Security Means Savings
Fitting security devices can also result in cheap car insurance premiums. All major insurers insist on Thatcham rated security equipment, usually a minimum of an alarm. If you live in a high-risk area for car crime, it makes sense to fit extra security. It saves you money when your insurance renewal is due and gives you extra peace of mind.
Step 3 – Annual Mileage, Less Means More in Your Pocket
If your annual mileage is, 5,000 miles or less, ask insurers if they offer discounts for agreed mileage restrictions.
Step 4 – Named Drivers Trick
Adding a named driver to your policy can increase or reduce your premiums depending upon the named drivers age, sex and driving record. Adding a young driver will increase your premiums, particularly with a limited or poor driving record. However, adding a driver over 30 years old with a long and clean driving record can cut premiums, particularly if the named driver is female!
Step 5 – Shop Around and Save Even More
The biggest car insurance savings come from shopping around. There can be massive differences between the lowest and highest car insurance quotes for exactly the same car and driver(s). Start off using good comparitive online quotation sites, take their best quotes and go direct to the cheapest car insurance company for more specific quotes.
So next time your renewal quote arrives, don’t just accept it and give your money away to the insurance company. Use the steps above and get the right cover at the right price.
Tags: 5 Steps, Car And Driver, Car Crime, Car Insurance Premiums, Car Insurance Rates, Cheap Car Insurance, Competitive Car Insurance, Extra Security, Insurance Renewal, Insurance Savings, Mileage Restrictions, Peace Of Mind, Renewal Time, Risk Area, Security Devices, Security Equipment, Serious Money, Time Step, Time Surfing, Voluntary ExcessRelated posts
Do you want to own your own car? Do you want to save money? Then why not try to buy a rental car?
Acquiring a rental can be a best deal to save thousands of dollars in your pocket. There are many things to consider.
In United States, many states have laws implemented in order to give the customer the safest way to obtain rental cars.
The main concern of the laws is to prohibit the possible dealer or private sellers to escape from the confinement if they sold a rip off car. If the dealer purchased a dreadful type of rental car, the law will give them proper consequences.
It is advisable for the buyer armed with knowledge when purchasing rental cars. When the buyer goes out to look for the available rental car, he must not buy on a single impulse alone.
Most of the car dealers have a sales strategy to convince their customer. The buyer should not let these strategies to pressure him or herself when making a major car rental purchase.
The buyer must look at the car. He should find out what is the value of its blue book system. The blue book is a kind of publication that records the fair price for most rental car available.
The mechanical parts of the car must be check by a professional inspector before making a decision. The mechanical parts of the car should have a good standing. If the dealers do want to inspect the engine, do not buy that car.
Examine also the several parts of the car like tires, brakes, belts, rims, mirror and others in order to get the best car. If those parts are damaged, be sure to repair it as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary accidents.
Have a best transaction on a rental car
For instance, if a buyer is fined with a well-maintained car for at least one month of its life, do you think he will get it?
The car should have a regular oil changes, brakes and other parts inspected as often. A best rental car must enclose with warranty. For example, the warranty must be at least one-year wit a five moth/12,000 miles and a seven day purchased warranty policy. If the rental cars have that quality, most of the time buyers will be grateful to get their hands with those said cars.
Most of the rental cars are priced based upon its availability. Some car dealers give its customer the best price deal, like buy now a rental. This deal normally gives the buyer discounts and privileges to have enough time to negotiate with the dealer.
In the year 2005, about 1.9 million rental cars were sold out in United State. Many kinds of were conceded out directly to auction and bidding sale. There are also cars sold out straightly to the dealers floor.
On the other side of the story, several rental companies for their own marketing strategy selected almost ten thousands.
Here are some of the considerations how to purchase rental cars:
Is it a late type? A typical kind of rental car for sale is having an age of one or two years of age. This can create a wide selection of vehicles that has a new style and sought after.
The car must have only one owner to further trace it history. The papers and other requirements can be easily signed.
Most important the reasonable price. The buyer must get the car without the pressure of bargaining.
Rental cars can offer a wonderful value option. The buyer must be wise enough. Remember rental cars must give comfort not troubles.
Tags: Accidents, Belts, Best Car, Blue Book, Car Brakes, Car Tires, Confinement, Many Things, Moth, Oil Changes, Own Car, Private Sellers, Professional Inspector, Rental Car, Rental Cars, Rims, Sales Strategy, Seven Day, Thousands Of Dollars, WitRelated posts
Nowadays, hundreds of articles advice people on what to look for before purchasing a new vehicle. But, very few articles advice a prospective car owner on what things he or she should avoid doing.
- Never enter a negotiation zone unprepared
Even if you know nothing about cars -or negotiation for that matter- it is in your best interest to enter the “negotiation arena” well-prepared and “armed.” Collect as much information as possible from a variety of sources and take a mechanical savvy friend along to the dealership of your choice. It is always a good idea to be able to inspect the car at the point of purchase; much better staying a bit longer at the dealership than having to call later only to learn that “this model has always experienced similar mechanical problems and you have not purchased any service-guarantee.” Do not enter the field as an amateur; especially if you are one. Compare cars and prices, decide on the maximum available budget and stay within your price range, secure your finances beforehand and never accept whatever the price-tag says. There is always room for negotiating a better deal, even if that is in a form of a rebate or a 5-year mechanical service!
- Research is not enough for your set of car keys
You can get online, you can ask around, you struggle with the information you will be able easily to retrieve for days. But that in many cases means you are left exhausted, confused and as time passes by, possible in despair. Overwhelming yourself with a plethora of data will not do you any good. Just stop to think things through before you act. No dealer will hold a gun to your head, at least not literally, since they need you more than you need them. It is the law of supply and demand they bow to, as any good salesman, which means that at this point in time you are in control. Enjoy it and never go to a dealership unprepared or simply showing that you are unsure of your final choice. There is enough “drama” in your life at the moment; you certainly not need any additional source of anxiety. Relax, take a couple of deep breaths, keep your car possible choices under the golden number two and enter the dealerships with confidence. Exactly like window shopping. You are not buying -yet- you are just looking! Ask questions, get quotes, request price offers, ask for any extra cost that might not appear on the price-tag and make clear that you are visiting other places before you conclude. You should never give the impression that you desperately need to buy the specific car you have been asking about for the last hour. Dealers are salespeople and can “smell” need and desire, miles away. Give yourself some time to see, test-drive and inspect the car(s). Even if the dealer promises you what it might seem as an incredible deal, leave the car dealership without signing any papers or leaving a down-payment; especially if that is your first day looking. Have courage and patience -attitude here is the key- and you will conquer your goal sooner than expected. That’s the spirit you should have.
Tags: Best Interest, Budget, Car Keys, Car Owner, Despair, Final Choice, Gun To Your Head, Law Of Supply And Demand, Mechanical Problems, Mechanical Service, Negotiation, Plethora, Point In Time, Point Of Purchase, Price Tag, Prospective Car, Savvy Friend, Service Guarantee, Supply And Demand, Time PassesRelated posts
Nowadays, life can be pretty hard. Everything is increasing with prices escalating out of site! This makes us all targets of potential scams and frauds.
With all these swindlers and scammers lurking just about anywhere, it is best to always be on guard and to know the things to be avoided in order to prevent the probability of being a victim of frauds and swindles.
Consequently, people who are buying used cars should also be aware of the different fraudulent activities being employed by unscrupulous people in order to have the best buy of used cars.
Moreover, people who are aware that the cars they have bought are stolen, chances are, they will be held liable.
Here are some things to avoid when buying used cars:
1. Used car buyers should avoid any transactions that are too good to be true. This will only make the matter worst if the buyer will believe that the deal is the best-used car deal ever.
2. Buyers should avoid buying used cars from sellers that do not provide a permanent address or the actual place of work of the phone number given.
3. It is important for a buyer to check on the VIN or the vehicle identification number plate. It must be securely fastened onto the used cars dashboard, with no rivets that are loosened.
Loosened rivets would mean that the VIN plate does not fit or it has been previously removed.
4. Also, the buyer should also avoid buying used cars that have VIN plates that are touched up, its paint is newly retouched, and the numbers look as if they are not the original factory numbers.
VIN plates can be easily swapped by a thief and use those that are taken from a destroyed vehicle.
5. As much as possible, it would be better to avoid buying a used car that is freshly painted. There are instances wherein the stolen cars identity is being changed through changing its paint color.
6. Used car buyers should avoid buying cars from a seller that cannot present the cars insurance policy. This could mean that the car is stolen or the seller is not the true owner of the car.
It is extremely important for the buyers to take note of these things before buying a used car. An ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure!
Tags: Best Buy, Buying A Used Car, Buying Cars, Buying Used Cars, Car Buyers, Car Deal, Factory Numbers, Frauds, Fraudulent Activities, Insurance Policy, Original Factory, Paint Color, Permanent Address, Rivets, Scammers, Swindlers, Swindles, Vehicle Identification Number, Vin Plate, Vin PlatesRelated posts
Buying a new car is a major purchase with major amounts of money leaving your pocket. Ask an honest car salesman and he will tell you that he is trying to get his potential customers to buy something they dont really need. Ask a dishonest salesman and he wont tell you why. That about sums it up plus it opens the door for all kinds of scam artists to try to use tricks to get you to buy a new car. Arm yourself with all the information you can when buying a new car. Here are some tips:
There are some classic scams that car salespeople use to get you to sign the dotted line on a sales contract. Get on the internet and see what these scams are. Car salespeople are probably the most persuasive type of salesmen/women (most tend to be men) that you will come across. It is very tempting to give into their hype.
Dont be afraid to say No.
If there is ONE thing you dont like about a car dont buy it. That one thing will bug you down the road as you make those expensive car payments and the honeymoon has worn off. Often, people find the need to purchase another car than keep mending the current one, because of their poor decision making when purchasing the existing one.
Dont give the salesperson a feel for what you like and dont like. Dont get too personal with the salesperson. Scam and con artists are skilled at getting into you head and detecting something you have an emotional or preference stake in. Keep focused on buying a car and try to avoid the small talk with the salesperson.
How much is that car really going to cost you in terms of maintenance, insurance, and fuel? There are web sites where you can get this information. Another bit of knowledge to arm yourself with is knowing how much that car loan is going to cost you in terms of interest.
Check your credit report and correct any errors that may be there. It will help to get your loan approved faster.
Read reviews on various cars and educate yourself before going to the car lot. The internet has a wealth of information resources for buying new cars.
Today, there are many places where you can purchase a car. There are classifieds in your local newspapers, local car dealerships, car magazines, the internet, with a huge array of sites, also offers many great deals. Ebay is also an increasingly popular destination to find cars and not necessarily just to from it. Ebay can also be used for researching the car you are looking to buy. You can use it to gain an idea of how much cars in general go for based on your specifications and conditions. There are many, many new listings every hour that you can browse through to help find your new car.
Tags: Buying A New Car, Car Loan, Car Lot, Car Payments, Car Salesman, Car Salespeople, Con Artists, Decision Making, Dotted Line, Expensive Car, Honeymoon, Hype, Maintenance Insurance, Poor Decision, Sales Contract, Salesmen, Salesperson, Scam Artists, Scams, StakeRelated posts
Car insurance is one of the most expensive costs involved in driving a car, and it’s not something you can avoid – a minimum level of insurance is required by law. That doesn’t mean you have to blindly pay whatever your insurer quotes though, as there are several simple things you can do to reduce the cost of your premiums.
1) Shop around and buy online: Figures show that many people simply renew their current policies without shopping around. The internet makes it easy to compare prices from different insurers, so why not take advantage of this? Plus, you’ll usually get a discount of 10% or more just for buying your policy online.
2) Policy type: do you really need a comprehensive policy with all the extras? Going for a third party fire & theft policy can reduce your premiums hugely, and is definitely worth considering if your car isn’t an expensive model.
3) No claims discounts: Nearly all policies feature a discount that increases for every year you don’t make a claim. The higher the discount available, the more you could save. Also look at insurers offering a ‘no claims bonus for life’ feature, where your current discount level can be fixed forever, even if you have to make a claim somewhere down the line.
4) Excess: The excess on a policy is the amount of a claim you have to pay before the insurer pays the rest. Choosing to have a higher than standard excess level will usually mean lower premiums.
5) Security: Fitting your vehicle with an alarm, immobiliser, or other security devices can lead to premium reductions. Parking you car off-road, for example on a driveway or in a garage, will also mean a cheaper policy.
6) Pay annually: Many insurers charge you interest for the privilege of paying in monthly installments. Pay annually if you can afford it to avoid this, or look for one of the companies who don’t charge extra for monthly payment.
7) Mileage: The more mileage you run up every year, the more your insurance will cost. Even if you can’t reduce your mileage, make sure you’re not overestimating how much you actually do drive, and give your insurer an accurate figure.
Drivers: The more drivers you have on your policy, the more it will cost. Reduce the number of people insured to drive your car to the minimum possible, and try to get the policy in the name of a driver with the lowest risk profile. For example, if a car is driven by both a man and a woman, insuring it in the woman’s name will often result in a cheaper quote.