January 4, 2010

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.

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January 1, 2010

You’ll want be surprised at how varied the rates for pickup insurance can be in your area. Totally shop around for your automobile insurance. Dont just go with the first agency you speak with.

Now, thanks to the net, you can shop around suitable from the comfort of habitat. Go ahead and get at least three price quotes from distinctive kinds of insurance corporations.

If youre in the audience for a novel car, call to see how much it will cost to ensure in the first place. Having a car alarm and other anti-theft devices can chip in reduce your costs.

Always apply about discounts. Dont be shy. Corporations anticipate this!

Whats my cost if I have a $500 deductible? (Enhancing your deductible from $200 to $500 could lower your collision and in-depth coverage cost by as much as 30 percent.)

How about a $1,000 deductible? Running to a $1,000 deductible can save you 40 percent or more. (Now if you dont keep at least this much in the bank, dont alternative out this option!)

If your car is worth less than 10 times the annual insurance premium, purchasing extra coverage may not be affordable. Whichs one distinguished gizmo about owning an aged car!

My credit rating is astounding. I always pay my bills on time.

What if we insure more than 1 car with your corporation?

I havent had an accident in more than three yearsK

I havent had a traffic ticket in three yearsK

Ive taken a drivers training course.

My car has an anti-theft mechanism.

I dont put a mass of mileage on my car in a years time.

I carpool.

My car has air bags.

My car is quipped with anti-lock brakes.

I have daytime going lights.

Im a student driver with top-grade grades.

Since I have both car and home coverage with you, do I qualify for a discount?

Im a schoolhouse student away from homeK

Ive been a long time regular purchaserK

My mom and dad use your companyK

Do you present any other discounts? Some companies offer reduced rates to drivers who get insurance through a group plan from their employers and other expert groups. It cant hurt to ask.

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December 29, 2009

But you’ll want be surprised at how varied the rates for pickup insurance can be in your area. Totally shop around for your automobile insurance. Dont just go with the first agency you speak with.

Now, thanks to the net, you can shop around suitable from the comfort of habitat. Go ahead and get at least three price quotes from distinctive kinds of insurance corporations.

If youre in the audience for a novel car, call to see how much it will cost to ensure in the first place. Having a car alarm and other anti-theft devices can chip in reduce your costs.

Always apply about discounts. Dont be shy. Corporations anticipate this!

Whats my cost if I have a $500 deductible? (Enhancing your deductible from $200 to $500 could lower your collision and in-depth coverage cost by as much as 30 percent.)

How about a $1,000 deductible? Running to a $1,000 deductible can save you 40 percent or more. (Now if you dont keep at least this much in the bank, dont alternative out this option!)

If your car is worth less than 10 times the annual insurance premium, purchasing extra coverage may not be affordable. Whichs one distinguished gizmo about owning an aged car!

My credit rating is astounding. I always pay my bills on time.

What if we insure more than 1 car with your corporation?

I havent had an accident in more than three yearsK

I havent had a traffic ticket in three yearsK

Ive taken a drivers training course.

My car has an anti-theft mechanism.

I dont put a mass of mileage on my car in a years time.

I carpool.

My car has air bags.

My car is quipped with anti-lock brakes.

I have daytime going lights.

Im a student driver with top-grade grades.

Since I have both car and home coverage with you, do I qualify for a discount?

Im a schoolhouse student away from homeK

Ive been a long time regular purchaserK

My mom and dad use your companyK

Do you present any other discounts? Some companies offer reduced rates to drivers who get insurance through a group plan from their employers and other expert groups. It cant hurt to ask.

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December 25, 2009

1. Buy from the internet.Most companies offer a discount for online applications as this is automated process and costs them a lot less to process your application, you can usually see discounts of 5%-10%.Click here to get a instant online insurance quote

2. Shop around.All insurance companies use different formulas to calculate your insurance premium by adding or detracting money after each question the ask you.By shopping around you could find big savings on your insurance premium.

3. Buy extra products.Most insurance companies also do other insurance products ie”Building’s and content’s insurance”.Most insurance companies will give extra discounts for purchasing more than one product,by doing this you could save a fair amount on all your insurance premiums.

4. Pay your insurance premium in one go.By paying your insurance premium in full you can avoid paying costly interest charges that would be added if you paid your insurance premium by instalments.Some insurance companies may charge as much as 15% APR on instalments.You may even receive a discount for paying in full.If you can not afford to pay in full check out what rate a small loan would be you may still save some money.Fill out a online loan application.

5. Increase your voluntary excess.Your excess is the amount paid by you in the event of a claim,by increasing this your insurance company should reduce your premium.

6. Lower your annual mileage.Lowering your annual mileage can reduce your premium,most insurance companies will quote you for around 12,000 miles a year.Try and work out how many mile’s you will do if it’s likely to be less you may get a discount.Be honest about this as your insurance company may ask to see old MOT’S and service history to verify your mileage in the event of a accident.

7. Have a Alarm,Immobiliser or Tracker fitted.Theft of and from your vehicle play a major role in the calculation of your insurance premium.Having a alarm or immobiliser fitted will give you a small discount to your premium and having a tracker fitted could make you quite a saving.

8. Take the advanced driving test.Passing your advanced driving test will show your insurance company that you have extra skill when driving and are less likely to be involved in a accident.

9. Don’t inflate the value of your car.Adding extra value to your car when you apply for your insurance quote will do nothing for you apart from increase you premium.In the event your car is stolen or written off you will only be paid the market value of your car at the time of your accident.

10.Look after your credit rating.Insurance companies are now looking at your credit score as part of the calculation for your insurance premium.Maintaining a good credit rating could avoid unnecessary additions to your premium.

11. Insure your car Third Party Only.Third party only is the minimum cover you are required to have by law it’s also the cheapest.If your vehicle is of a low value then you could consider this type of cover.You need to remember that with this type of cover if you was to have a accident that any damage to your vehicle would not be covered for repair.

12. Keep a clean licenceInsurance companies take driving convictions very seriously and can dramatically increase your car insurance premium,by maintaining a clean licence proves to the insurance you are a safe and careful driver.

13. Remove any unnecessary drivers.If you have a young driver on your insurance policy that no longer use’s the vehicle you should remove them as this will reduce your premium.

14. Young driver’s add a older driver.Some insurance companies will reduce young drivers premiums if they have a older named driver on the insurance.

15. Build up your no-claims discountOne of the biggest factors affecting your car insurance premium is the number of years no-claim’s discount.You could receive up to 75% discount for around 5 years of no claims.The more years you can stay claim free the safer driver your insurance company will see you as.

16. Protect your no-claims discount.Although this will increase your insurance premium if you have a lot of years of no-claims you may want to protect this as a small claim may increase your premium by up to 75%.

17. Buy a lower insurance group car.A very important factor to your insurance premium is what car you drive.Most insurance companies adopt the Association Of British Insurance Group Rating.This rates vehicle’s from 1 – 20 generally speaking the higher the group the higher the premium.By buying a car with a lower group rating can lower your premium especially for young or inexperienced drivers.

18. Join a car club.If your vehicle is a classic or specialist consider joining a club related to your car most clubs offer insurance schemes which have very good premium rates.

19. Put your spouse as a named driver.Some insurance companies offer discounts when you add a spouse as a named driver as opposed to unmarried couples,they see marriage as a sign of stability and associate stability with safe driving and there for give you a discount.

20. Take pass plus.If you are a new driver consider taking your pass plus.some insurance companies could give you as much as a 25% discount and when you have just passed your test and have no no-claims this could make a considerable saving.

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December 16, 2009

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.
8) 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.

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Tips For Buying A Car

Author: admin
December 15, 2009

So your ready to take the plunge and buy a new car? Here’s a little guide to help get you through the process.

Know your credit score. The higher your credit score is, the lower your monthly car payment will be. You can obtain a free credit report by writing a credit bureau, or just do a search online , there are plenty of websites offering a free credit report.

Get an auto insurance quote. After you have narrowed down your choice of your new car’s make and model, get a free insurance quote. You should make sure your insurance payment fits into your budget. It’s a wise decision to get quotes from multiple insurance carriers , to nail down the best possible rate. Also, if you have enough money saved up, you can pay the policy in full, to get a discount, instead of making monthly payments.

Now its time to visit the dealer. Car salesman are fast talkers, make sure your in the right frame of mind to deal with them. They make a living off commissions, so they try very hard to make a sale. While you can admire their eagerness , they can be annoying. Just ask politely for the facts. What are the standard options, warranty info, gas mileage, and anything else you want to know about the car.

Haggling. Trying to haggle over a new car’s price is like an art form. While sales people would love to make a sale, and haggle with you, they have to answer to a higher power. Usually they are tough to budge on getting a great deal. It also depends how the dealership is doing at the time, if its a slow month or quarter, they may bend a bit more.

However, this is one method I tried , and it did work for me once.

I just told them I would pay x-amount, nothing more, and to give me a call if they can meet my price. About five days later, they did call me back.

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November 25, 2009

While you can get a great bargain by purchasing a second hand car you can also get nothing more than an old banger if you dont take care. When it comes to purchasing a second hand car from a private dealer there are different rules than if you bought from an established dealer. One of the biggest differences are your consumer rights – or lack of them.

While there are many honest and trustworthy people out there selling used cars there are also some dodgy characters and of course sometimes it is hard to tell the difference. One of the best tips when buying a car from a private dealer is to pay a small fee to have a car data check carried out. This will check such things as the previous owner of the car, mileage data associated with the vehicle and if there are any problems relating to finance or insurance.

When going to look at a second hand car sold by a private buyer you should consider taking someone with you who knows about cars. If you dont have someone who knows enough about cars and what to look for when buying second hand then it could save you money and heartache in the long run if you were to pay a mechanic to go and look over the car with you before committing yourself to purchasing it.

When buying privately make sure that you learn as much as you can about the make and model of the particular car that you are going to look over. Do an online search through used cars for the model and make sure that you have a very good idea of what that particular make and model is selling for.

When buying privately always make sure that you go and look over the car in daylight. If the seller is wary of letting you do this then it is very likely that they have something to hide. The seller should be able to answer all your questions willingly about the history of the car. If they tell you they dont know or are unsure because they are selling the car for a friend or relative then you should stay clear and look elsewhere. They should also be able to provide you with all the necessary documentation relating to the cars history.

If you are buying from a dealer then be aware of all the added extras which they could try to entice you with and ask yourself if you really need them. Also be careful when it comes to taking any payment protection insurance associated with any car finance through them as this can boost the price up drastically of the car.

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November 23, 2009

Every year in the UK over 7 million used cars are purchased, with many of these cars being purchased privately direct from the owner. Whilst this can often be the route to achieving the best bargains it can also become very expensive in cases when it emerges that the car has a number of problems or a previously unknown history. In order to reduce the likelihood of being caught out weve put together the top tips when buying a car privately:

The first step is to do some research about your desired car. Check classified ads and trade guides to get a good idea of prices. Parkers.co.uk is an excellent site and contains a free used car valuation tool and thousands of reviews and ratings.

Once youve decided on which car youd like to buy and have found a possible seller always go and take a look at the car in daylight.

Take a friend along with you. If problems occur in the future its very useful to have a witness available to validate what was said.

Check that the car has not been clocked. The average mileage is 12,000 miles a year. Have a look at the tyres to see whether this looks right or if the car has new tyres ask the owner for details of its servicing history.

Always go for a test drive. However, make sure that you are insured to do so and if the seller says that he has cover ask to see his policy.

Carefully check the log book, officially known as the V5 or registration document. In particular look for the chassis number, known as the vehicle identification number (VIN). This will usually be located on a small plate on the drivers door or in the engine bay. The absence of a VIN number strongly suggests that the car has assumed the identity of someone else, probably because it has been stolen at some point in its past.

You could also consider purchasing an AA Car Data Check. Importantly this will include a full description of the car, including engine size and date of first registration, so you can be sure of what you are buying. It will also tell you whether the car has a finance agreement recorded against it, if the car has been written off, and whether the car has had any number plate or colour changes.

The chances are that at some point youll enter into negotiations over the price. Have a highest price and target price in mind before entering into negotiations. If your two offers are some way apart you try not to say anything. Car salesmen use this tactic all the time as people find silence uncomfortable. Try this and the seller will often suggest meeting half way, at which point you can propose meeting half way between your offer and the new offer, getting yourself a better deal.

Finally, if interested in the car consider having it independently checked by a reputable garage. Reputable sellers will understand this so be wary if the owner of the car is against having it checked.

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Top7 Car Buying Tips

Author: admin
November 22, 2009

While we all like to think we wont be conned when buying a used car, thousands of people are every single year. The majority of these people have bought their used car from one of the popular free ads papers and have known very little – if anything – about what to look for in a quality car. If you fall into this category, then simply follow the top seven car buying tips outlined below.

First of all, look out for signs that the car may have been involved in a serious accident. Points to watch out for include slight gaps between the body panels and car doors that drop or that fit badly on their hinges.

Always give the gearbox and clutch a through test. To do this, make sure that you have the engine running then press down on the clutch. If there is any change in the sound of the engine then this could indicate the bearings are worn.

The gearstick should move smoothly without any crunching sound.

Make sure the brakes are in top order by breaking as firmly as you can without the car skidding.

When you start up the car make sure the exhaust fumes are white – any other colour could indicate problems.

Check the panels to make sure there are no lose screws. If there are this could indicate that the odometer has been tampered with and the car has done more mileage than it states.

Finally, always go over the cars paperwork thoroughly to make sure the history is correct. Generally the more history a car has then the better. Or invest in a vehicle data check, a service which can instantly check your proposed new cars history, including whether it has ever been stolen or involved in an accident or whether it has any outstanding finance on it etc.

The service does not cost a lot and could save you a fortune – as well as any headaches in the future.

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November 17, 2009

Getting a quote for auto insurance online is easy… but finding cheap insurance can be more of a challenge. It takes diligence and knowledge.

Here are a few tips to help you find the cheapest auto insurance available.

Safety Features
Make sure your vehicle is well built and “safety” feature rich. You should get cheaper premiums for adding anti-theft devices, car alarms or a good tracking system since these items reduce the risk of your car being stolen.

Defensive Driving
Take a defensive driving class. Certification will help you in your quest to locate cheap auto insurance and can reduce your premium for up to three years.

Comparing Rates
The automobile industry is fiercely competitive. Premiums can vary by as much as 300% for the same coverage. Be sure you are comparing apples to apples on the features you need the most when searching for cheap auto insurance.

Complete Application
If you don’t complete the application in full, the insurance companies are not going to give you a quote for their cheapest auto insurance and you won’t find out about any of the discounts you may be eligible for. You’ll simply get a higher rate quote by default. Be sure to enter your marital status, how many licensed drivers are in your home, your car’s safety features, your zip code, the miles you drive, etc.

Increase Your Deductible
You can also reduce your rates by selecting a higher deductible. Generally the higher the deductible, the lower the premium. Your savings can be as much as hundreds of dollars by increasing your deductible from $250 to $500.

Cut Back on Your Miles
If you travel less than an average of 40 miles a day, you’ll more than likely qualify for a low mileage discount. If you must travel more, car pool or use the public transportation one or two days a week to reduce the miles you drive.

Color of Your Car
Statistics tell us that red cars are involved in more accidents than any other color. If you want to find the cheapest auto insurance, avoid buying a red vehicle.

Who Drives What Car the Most?
Compare quotes with the man as the main driver and the woman as the second driver and vice versa on each of your vehicles. Always, place your younger drivers (teenagers) on the safest vehicle you own, such as the family station wagon or the family car. You’ll never find cheap auto insurance by putting your teenager on a sporty little two door vehicle.

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