Used Car Smarts

Going car shopping can be an enlightening experience. I remember my time on a car lot. I was so excited. Patience is extremely important because you want to think over every detail before purchasing a used car.

First be a smart car shopper. Do your research. The Internet is full of information that will help you find the going rate for a used car. Blue Book values can be found on the Internet. They are estimated sources and should only be used as guides to negotiate fair deals with the car dealer. Your lender could use a different source to name their price. It is important to find out which guide your lender uses, because if you pay more than your banker expects, they might not finance the full amount.

Next, check out the latest consumer reports on the type of vehicle you plan to purchase. This is a report that may contain a reliability history of that type of vehicle. In addition, contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to learn about the vehicle type's safety record. Here you can obtain consumer complaints and manufacturer crash tests that will help guide you in making a decision.

Be reasonable when shopping for a car. Look for a car that you can afford and manage to pay off without going into debt. Purchasing a used car is risky, but if that is what you can afford, do yourself a big favor and have a mechanic give it a thorough checkup. A reasonable mechanic will charge you approximately $100 to do this, but it is worth it. Do your research on the car by ordering a history report.

Make sure you are protected if the car ends up being a clunker. By checking with your State's Attorney General Office, you can learn how you, the consumer, is protected under your state's consumer-protection laws. Here you can find out about how your state's 'lemon laws' protect you. You can find the listing for your Attorney General Office in your state phone book in the Government section.

Lemon laws protect American car buyers who experience problems with their car. The law provides solutions if their car repeatedly fails the necessary standards of quality and performance. Cars that fall into this category are called lemons. Each state's laws differ. These laws also reflect whether you are entitled to free repairs by the used-car dealer. Maybe the law states that the dealer should even reimburse you. If you purchase a car from a franchise dealer, you should be able to get mediation help from the AUTOCAP program. This program is run by your state's National Automobile Dealers Association or NADA.

Get insurance before even going onto a car lot if you are planning on making an immediate purchase. You will not be able to take the car off the lot with you until you do. This is required by law in all U.S. states. Some dealers have insurance agents on site that can help you obtain insurance. Other dealers will just ask you to call an insurance company of your choice.

When selecting an insurance agent, be careful to explain the type of coverage you are looking for. Listen carefully to what the insurance agent has to say. Don't be in an excitable hurry to get whatever quote is presented to you just to get possession of the car and be truthful to all questions asked by the agent.

The type of insurance you may qualify for depends on these factors: Your age, your driving record, the type of car you drive or will be driving, where you live, the amount of coverage you need, the desired deductible, and any discounts you are eligible for.

Your car insurance rate can vary by hundreds of dollars from one insurance company to the other for the exact same coverage. This is why it is important to shop around and compare price quotes.