When it comes to buying car insurance it can be a very daunting task. For those buying car insurance for the first time this is especially so, any type of insurance can be confusing to the majority of people and car insurance is no exception. Not only are the policies hard to understand but there are many different components to them and for the majority of time these arent always clearly explained. For example one of the types of insurance is called fully comp; the very title of this is confusing because not everything is included in this type of cover.
When buying car insurance for the first time it is essential that you shop around for the best deal and cheapest premiums, car insurance premiums are always cheaper when bought online because the overheads are cut down, along with the staff needed to run them.
Of course when it comes to buying your car insurance you will first have to decide on the type of insurance that will be more suitable for your needs, the three main types of car insurance are fully comp, third party, fire and theft and third party only.
Third party fire and theft will cover you if you should be in an accident and this causes damage to the other partys car, it will also cover your car in the event that it is stolen or should be damaged in a fire.
Fully comprehensive is misleading but while it doesnt cover everything, it does include all that the third party cover does, along with accidental damage to your car and will also cover any belongings, personal accident cover and medical cover.
Third party only as the name suggests will only cover claims made by others against you, for example any damage that is made to their property or injury to themselves.
Of course these arent the only types of insurance you can take to cover you and your car and those buying car insurance for the first time have to take this into account. What you also have to take into account however, is that if you choose to add extra cover then this will of course boost up your premium.
Ways that you can cut down when it comes to saving on your car insurance include making sure that you have a clean driving record. This is essential and can save you a huge amount of money; you should also make sure you have equipped your car with the latest security features such as window etchings, alarms and steering locks.
Tags: Accidental Damage, Arent, Belongings, Buying Car Insurance, Car Buying, Car Insurance Premiums, Daunting Task, Different Components, Fire And Theft, Insurance, Overheads, Party Fire, People, Personal Accident, Third Party, Types Of InsuranceRelated posts
If you are considering whether to buy or perhaps lease your next car and which would afford you the best deal, most consumer experts agree that from a purely financial aspect you will be better off in buying your next car.
Of course paying cash in full is the best possible scenario since with this option you would avoid any type of finance charge. But for the vast majority of us and for the scope of this article well take a look those purchases or leases that involve financing.
In the short term leasing may look attractive to you because monthly lease payments will more than likely be less than the monthly payments of a purchase agreement. Why? Because with a lease you are essentially only paying for the part of the car you are going to use. Its kind of like splitting the cost of a pizza with someone. You are only paying for the pieces that you are going to eat. In car terminology the part that is left over in a lease is called the residual value of the car. The higher the residual value of the car the less of the car you will use during the lease so you payments for the part that you do use (the lease) will be lower.
Typically lease durations are 24, 36, or 48 months. Do not sign up for a lease beyond 48 months. Actually anything beyond 36 months is pushing the value of the lease. Dont let the car salesman get you into a longer lease just because they make your monthly payments look more attractive. Remember time costs you money and the cars residual value will plummet and you loose all the advantages of leasing and still be left with nothing in the end.
For some drivers the car buying decision isnt based purely on bottom line numbers. And this is fine. Its strictly personal. Leasing does afford you the ability to always be driving a new car. A car that is within a few years of the latest body style and technology. A car that is always under the factory warranty. For the person that has accepted the fact that they enjoy being in a newer car and that car payments is just another monthly expense, then why not get the most car for the money? Then leasing could be a good alternative.
If this is your personal preference the other two questions you must answer are how many miles a year do I drive and how hard on cars am I? The mileage question can really come back to haunt you if you are not careful. People who are in new cars and thus enjoy driving them and showing them off more will have a tendency to drive them more. Be very careful with you mileage. Going over your allotted mileage on your lease could end up costing anywhere from 15 to 30 cents per mile beyond the lease mileage allowance and this can get painful in a hurry. In most leases you can purchase additional mileage up front at the time of the lease but keep in mind if at the end of your lease you havent used all of your miles, you dont get that money refunded back to you.
I mentioned a bit earlier you need to consider how well you treat your cars. Only you will know this and you need to be honest with this one. Dont think that you can turn your lease car in at the end of the lease with the car in sub par condition. If you do, you may be assessed reconditioning fees that could become rather hefty.
In summary, from a purely financial perspective buying your next new car is the best over the long haul. But, car with car ownership, so much personal preference, and personal priorities come into play. If you think leases look attractive, be absolutely certain about your mileage you will drive. Take good care of the car. And finally check with your insurance agent first to make sure that you dont give back the money you save in monthly payments to your insurance company.
Tags: Body Style, Bottom Line, Buying Versus Leasing A Car, Car Buying, Car Payments, Car Salesman, Factory Warranty, Finance Charge, Financial Aspect, Lease Payments, Leases, Leasing A Car, Line Numbers, New Car, Personal Leasing, Pizza, Purchase Agreement, Residual Value, Short Term Leasing, Time CostsRelated posts
Car Audio – What To Know Before You Buy Used Car Audio Systems
If you are looking for a car audio system and would love to save a little money when purchasing, you should consider buying a used system. Many people think you can only get quality sound from new equipment, but that is not true. You can find great packages that are sold directly from another consumer if you know what you are looking for. There are a few things to remember before making a purchase however. If you are considering buying a used system, think about these things before you throw down any cash.
The first thing to consider is what you need. You should always be aware of what your automobile can handle before purchasing a used system. When you go to a store to purchase new equipment, the salesperson usually assists you on knowing what you need. When you are purchasing from a consumer however, you may not be getting correct information. Since most consumers wont offer a refund policy, you will need to know that the equipment will work on your car before buying it.
The best way to figure out what you need is to go your research. Go to a salesperson or a audio specialist and ask them about the specific equipment you are looking at. Ask them if it will work in your car. You may even have to let them inspect your car, but they can likely tell you whether or not it will work over the phone. After you know that the equipment will work for your car, you will need to make sure the equipment works as it should. Ask to test the equipment, if it is not in a car at the time.
If you cannot test the equipment, you might not want to purchase it. Even though someone might tell you it works fine, they may not be as honest as you would like to think. Most sellers are honest, but there are a few who will try to trick you and you dont want to be their next victim. So, be sure that you know what you need for your current automobile and be sure the car audio system you are looking at is still usable. If you do these two things, you will be able to save yourself a lot of money by purchasing used quality equipment. It is always great to save money, but you only want to purchase used equipment that will work for you. If you dont, then you really havent saved anything at all.
Tags: Audio Specialist, Automobile Purchasing, Buy Car, Buy Used Car, Car Audio System, Car Audio Systems, Car Buying, Car System, Car Systems, Consumers, Love, Many People, Money, Quality Sound, Refund Policy, Salesperson, Specific Equipment, Test EquipmentRelated posts
When it comes to negotiating your best deal on the car youve got your eye on, first and foremost you have to do your research and homework on all the various parts of putting a car deal together.
At a high level, this is all the pricing, rebate, and dealer incentive numbers you can find on your perspective car. Youve lined up your financing so you know what you qualify for, how much you qualify for, how long you can finance, and what your monthly payments will be based on a few different financing scenarios. And (if applicable) you know the actual cash value, and retail value of your trade-in.
If you dont have a firm grasp on the aforementioned, proceed no further (dont show up at a dealership) until you do.
But if you have, and you feel confident, lets talk a bit further about negotiating.
Rule number one when it comes to negotiating and car deals.
Never negotiate from the MSRP down Youll never get to the price you want.
Always negotiate from invoice price or dealer cost up.
Since youve done your homework, go to the dealership with your opening offer in mind. Be confident in yourself and the fact that although you certainly arent going to offer sticker price, your number will be fair and not ridiculous. If you offer up something totally ridiculous for the selling price from the dealer, youve wasted your time and havent really opened the negotiating process because your offer wont even be viewed as serious. Keep your offer within the win-win window.
When you know your numbers and you come across as confident (because you are) the sales people and the others at the dealership will be aware of this and will spend less time trying to work you.
Give yourself room to eventually feel good. By this I mean, dont table your first offer with the price you have in mind that you are willing to pay. Think about it for a moment; by definition there is going to be some negotiating going on here, so you certainly dont want to begin at the price you want to be and simply hold firm. This may sound easy but this is truly a point where many miss the mark. Many people feel uncomfortable about starting below their target price, but it is an absolute must when it comes to successfully coming close to or hitting your pricing goal.
If the salesperson or the dealership is the first to offer up a number to get things going, rather than you countering with an actual dollar amount simply let the salesperson know that his number simple not within your budget and they need to come back with a better offer. By doing this, your goal is to get an even better opening price without tipping your hand.
Remember, a dealership is always going to take a couple shots at maximizing the deal for their side first.
Keep in mind that negotiating is just that negotiating. It isnt a one-way street where you get everything you want and the dealership simply acquiesces. There is plenty of give and take and it may not (actually hardly ever is) limited to just the price of the car. In other words, if you feel like you have to come up a bit off your offer or counter offer, see if you can get some return value for your effort such as some complimentary maintenance, even floor mats or something.
When you do this it keeps the negotiation alive and lets the dealer know that you are serious about putting together that win-win deal that works for both parties.
Stay open minded during the process and treat the entire car buying process as a negotiation package. There are numerous avenues that you can probe for negotiation during the car buying process. Its not just the price. However, dont agree on the price and then start trying to negotiate other items. Once youve said yes to the price, you lose your leverage. Remember its the entire package.
Finally, always keep in mind that without you there is no deal for the dealer. If you reach an impasse if you have to walk. Dont rationalize giving in against your better judgment because you really want the car, or that youve spent the better part of your day at the dealership. Remember the dealer and the salesperson have their time invested as well and dont want the deal to fall through either. Be patient, keep the negotiation communication lines open and chances are youll be rewarded with a new car at a price you feel good about paying.
Tags: Actual Cash Value, Car Buying, Car Deal, Car Deals, Dealer Incentive, Fir, Grasp, Homework, Invoice Price, Msrp, Perspective, Retail Value, Rule Number One, Sales People, Scenarios, Sticker Price, Win WinRelated posts
Must Read before Buying a Car
Purchasing a car can be an exciting experience for anyone. It doesn’t matter if the vehicle you are purchasing is a car, truck, SUV, band, or even motorcycle, the thrill of purchasing an automobile gives the buyer a feeling of being free. However, that feeling of being free can fade almost as soon as it comes if you are tied to auto financing that isn’t the best option for your situation. Car buyers can save themselves a lot of headache and hassle if they know what they need for they begin the car buying process.
Determine your needs and wants before you begin learning about getting appropriate financing for the car. If you find that you have been looking for more financing in the car that you need requires the news wasted valuable time that you can be spending on looking for your next vehicle. Once you’ve selected a vehicle that you are comfortable with to some background investigation on the car.
Research consumer report websites, as well as get other user feedback on the vehicle if at all possible. Don’t forget research on any factory recalls that may have been implemented on the vehicle. Finally, when you have decided on your vehicle, be sure that you are comfortable behind the wheel of the car and driving. A car is a large investment and you want to make sure that you will be comfortable in the years ahead while driving it.
It doesn’t matter if you are purchasing a new car, truck, SUV, van or motorcycle the act of getting a new vehicle is an exciting experience. A new vehicle can mean freedom to the owner as long as the vehicle that they did meets their needs and wants.
Before you go to purchase your next vehicle, be sure to get a few preliminary things out of the way first. That can help you avoid hassles and headaches down the road. One of the first things car buyers should do is to make sure that the car that they shop for is one that will meet their needs for the next several years. This includes making sure that they are comfortable in the vehicle and can properly handle the controls.
Never rush to test drive process as it is very imperative that you fully acclimate yourself to your new car and make sure it is one that you will be comfortable driving for the next few years. Next, research your new car as much as possible, online and by asking owners that have the car if they have any problems and how much they like having the car.
Finally, make sure all of your financing is in order before you go searching for new car. You don’t want to form an emotional attachment to a vehicle, only to find out that you will not be able to afford it later.
Be sure that your financing options are in order before selecting the car of your dreams. You don’t want to form an emotional bond to a vehicle and then find out that you will not be able to afford it. A vehicle purchase can be an exciting endeavor for anyone. However, make your next vehicle purchasing experience exciting as well is responsible by utilizing the tips above.
Tags: Adviser, Auto Financing, Automobile, Background Investigation, Car Buyers, Car Buying, Car Research, Car Truck, Consumer Report, Driving A Car, Freedom, Hassle, Hassles, Headache, Headaches, Motorcycle, New Suv, Purchasing A Car, Purchasing A New Car, WheelRelated posts
Buying a car can be hard enough; do I want a hatchback, saloon, 4-door, 2-door, convertible, four-wheel drive? How much can I afford to pay for insurance? Furthermore, being given the hard sell in the dealership showroom can add more pressure. However, do we need the hard sell or have we already subconsciously made a decision on the car we would like to buy?
Studies have shown that many customers do not need the hard sell, but instead just a picture to show off the features of the car. Weve all probably seen an advert on television or a picture in a magazine or newspaper, which has made us look at the car and want to have one on the spot! Obviously, it aids the customer if the picture is of something sleek and stylish rather than a rust-bucket, which is why the desirability of vehicles such as a sporty hatchback is high.
Manufacturers are clever in the way that theyll do this. Youll notice on more occasions than not with car adverts that the price provided is not for the car you are seeing. The picture of the car will be the top of the range version with all of the possible extras, but in fact the price youll be told is the starting from price for the lowest car in its range. The price for the actual car you are viewing will usually be in small print at the bottom of the advert.
Do, however, the roles of celebrities come into play in persuading us to purchase a certain make or type of car? I believe that they do.
Take a look at the BMW X5 for example. Since the release of this car, every celebrity and their dog have one. I believe as a consequence of this, the amount of non-celebrities driving this car has risen dramatically. The same can be said for a few cars, which brings the assumption that we, to some extent, base our lifestyles on celebrities, who influence us to purchase cars that are deemed fashionable and popular by them.
The bases for buying a certain car by many will be will my friends laugh at me? and will I look cool in it?. After all, the technological strides of manufacturers recently have meant that the reliability and performance of vehicles is very good, and certainly more than adequate for most drivers using city and country roads. So what else can there be to influence the decision of car buyers other than the cool factor?
Maybe, the running costs and fuel consumption is prominent somewhat; especially for the four-wheel drive and high performance vehicles. However, the celebrity power has certainly persuaded many in their car buying decisions, and will almost definitely continue to do so.
Tags: Advert, Aids, Assumption, Behaviours, Bmw, Bmw X5, Car Adverts, Car Buying, Car Price, Cars, Celebrities, Celebrity, Consequence, Extent, Four Wheel Drive, Insurance, Lifestyles, Occasions, Rust Bucket, WheelRelated posts
Car loans are more common than ever. Most people are learning that they can get into the car that they want much easier and much more quickly if they have a loan than if they wait until they have saved enough. The fact of the matter is that cars are expensive, even those that are not all that fancy. If you want a car that will last and will get you from point A to point B safely you’ll need to invest in it. And a simple way to do this is with a car loan.
Applying For a Car Loan
Applying for your first car loan is a little bit unnerving because you aren’t quite sure what you are getting into. The process is actually quite simple and depending on your credit, your lender, and your car dealership you could be driving home in your new set of wheels the same day as you fill out an application! Sound too good to be true? The whole point of car loans is that they make it simple for people to get a new car without actually having the cash on hand.
When you apply for a car loan you will first need to know what sort of car you would like to buy. Most lenders need to know the make and model of the car that you are looking at so they can verify that it is a car worthy of their financial support. In addition to providing the lender with this information you will need to supply your personal information such as your full name, your mailing address, your financial information, your date of birth, and your social security or tax payer identification number. When the lender has all of this information they run a credit check. They look to see how responsible you have been with credit in the past.
If you have had credit challenges in the past, there is no need to worry. There are many lenders out there who deal with those that have less than perfect credit. Regardless of your credit, you will usually hear back from the lender within an hour or so and they will let you know how much they are willing to finance, how much of a down payment you need if any, and what the terms of your loan are. The terms refer to how long you have to pay off the loan and what your interest rate is. Once you sign the paperwork and verify that you have automobile insurance you are free to drive your vehicle home.
With a car loan you will generally need to make one monthly payment. This not only pays on the amount that you have had to borrow to buy the car, but also the interest on the loan. While the idea of paying on a car loan is not something that people look forward to, it is a lot easier to come up with the money for a monthly payment than it is to save up for the car! Car loans really do make it simple for the average consumer to get that new car.
Tags: Buying Car, Car Buying, Car Dealership, Car Loan, Car Loans, Cars, Credit Challenges, Credit Check, Date Of Birth, Fact Of The Matter, Financial Information, First Car, Lenders, Little Bit, Model Car, New Car, People, Set Of Wheels, Social Security, Tax Payer Identification NumberRelated posts
Car buying is not a task to be taken lightly. The cost of a new car equals almost what my parents paid for their first home. It’s imperative to do behind the scenes research to ensure you get a great deal.
Do not be in a hurry. Car dealers can detect the scent of desperation a mile away! If you are totally without transportation, rent a vehicle until you find the right car. If you rush your purchase, you will usually end up on the bad end of the deal.
You can uncover the typical retail cost of a specific make and model right on the internet. With a little extra research, you can discover the wholesale cost as well. These two pieces of information give you an edge when it comes to negotiation.
It’s best to work toward a win-win situation with the car salesperson. They need to make some money on the deal, and you want to pay a fair price. You can often negotiate a price that is $500 above dealer cost, or about 20% off the sticker price. Make sure you take your calculator with you when car hunting.
You can often order a car with *custom* option choices. This could save you hundreds of dollars. You might wait a couple of weeks, but why pay for options that you do not need?
Always check with the dealership to see if you can return the car if you do not like it. Many dealerships now offer this option. Some dealerships will give you a three day trial period in which to try the car.
It is a good idea to wait until the end of the month to go car hunting. Salespersons who want to meet a certain quota will be eager to strike a deal.
Knowing the value of your old car makes it easier to negotiate a better price for it. Try not to talk about a trade-in possibility until you get a purchase price. Sometimes this is difficult, as most salespeople will ask upfront about a trade in.
I took my car to one lot, and was told the trade in value was $1,200. Another dealership said they would give me $3,500 for the same car! So do your research to make sure you receive a fair price on your used vehicle. Stick to your guns when it comes to getting the value of your trade-in, especially if you’ve had your car serviced regularly.
A service contract will likely be brought into the negotiation. Most consumer information shows no need to buy an extra contract on a new car, as it’s not likely a problem will occur during the first months of use.
Whatever you do, always read the fine print of any contract before signing it. Ask questions about what certain phrases mean if and when you do not understand something.
Also, just because a car is brand new doesn’t mean you should buy it without asking questions. New cars can land in the lemon category as well as used ones. Keep on your toes during the negotiation process. You will enjoy both getting a new car, AND creating a win-win situation for yourself and the dealer.
Tags: Car Buying, Car Car, Car Dealers, Car Salesperson, Custom Option, Desperation, Extra Research, How To Buy A New Car, Hunting, Hurry, Model Right, Negotiation, Option Choices, Quota, Right Car, Salespeople, Salespersons, Sticker Price, Trial Period, Two PiecesRelated posts
While it is possible to get a great deal and a bargain car at an auction, buying a used car this way isnt always the ideal way to buy a car, there are better ways.
If it is your first time of buying a used car or you know very little about cars, then buying from an auction isnt advisable. Perhaps the biggest problem with purchasing a car from an auction is the fact that that you have very little cover to fall back on if there should be any problem with the car. This is usually due to the auction house issuing a disclaimer, which many do, which states something such as sold as seen.
While many goods are covered by the Sale of Goods Act, some of the cleverer auction houses can get around this by altering the conditions of the sale by taking away the buyers rights under the Act.
If you do wish to purchase a car from an auction then it is advisable to visit an auction house several times before actually deciding to bid on a car. This way you can get used to the terminology used and the way auction houses work. It is also advisable to take someone with you who knows something about cars when you do decide to buy.
Most auction houses will hold preview days where you look at the car up for auction prior to bidding. This will give you a good chance to have a look at the vehicle.
You would be wise to consider having a vehicle data check done, which is a service that checks a vehicles history. It will show up really valuable things such as whether the car has been stolen, or the mileage tampered with etc.
Finally, it is essential that you know your spending limit. Dont ever be tempted to go over that limit no matter how good a deal something may seem.
Tags: Auction Bidding, Auction Car, Auction House, Auction Houses, Bargain, Bid, Buy A Car, Buying A Used Car, Car Auction, Car Buying, Cars, Checks, Good Chance, Ideal, Mileage, Preview Days, Purchasing A Car, Second Hand Car, Several Times, TamperedRelated posts
Should I Buy From A Used Car Dealer Or Privately?
Buying a used car from a dealer or buying it privately, which is the best?
Both have their pros and cons and these should be weighed up against the other before any decision is made.
Firstly, going with a dealer you will have a wider choice over the cars on offer, certainly more than you would by going privately.
When buying from a dealer the car will have been cleaned and any faults will have been corrected and it will come with some sort of warranty. When purchasing privately you will be liable to fix any corrections and have to valet the vehicle yourself, plus you will have no comeback if something serious goes wrong within the first year.
Going with a dealer gives you plenty of time to check the car over in perfect lighting conditions; however you might feel rushed or pressured when looking a car over privately.
A dealer usually wont mind at all if you wish to bring in your own expert to look over the car as they will have nothing to hide. However when going privately it could be harder for you to get an expert to look over the car with you.
Dealers also can offer finance often with high interest charges but this still gives you the option of finance which may be beneficial to you. With a private seller, you will need to pay the money in full.
The downside to buying from a car dealer is that the car could cost you more than by buying privately. Also, you wont be able to interrogate the owner of the car through a dealer however when buying privately you have the opportunity to do so.
It really is all a matter of which you prefer as there are good and bad points either way, but the above tips will hopefully give you a better idea of which way to go when looking for your used car.
Tags: Buy Car, Buying A Used Car, Buying Car, Car Buy, Car Buying, Car Dealer, Car Dealers, Cars, Downside, Faults, Finance, High Interest, Interest Charges, Lighting Conditions, Money, Private Seller, Pros And Cons, Purchasing, Valet, Warranty