Auto News Articles

What You Need To Know About Leasing Used Cars

Leasing a used vehicle can be an attractive deal in many ways, no least getting you into that luxury model or SUV, for lower monthly payments than a brand new one. Be prepared, however, to do some more homework to dissect a good deal.

As with new car-leasing, your price research should focus on the key figures that are the initial market value and the estimated residual value of the used car. This is harder to predict since there is no factory-set sticker price on used cars, and the residual percentage is very much pegged to a subjective current retail value. Use different sources to get a rough idea of the value of the used car: your local dealerships, internet car-evaluating tools, such as Edmunds website and Cars website, to name but a few.

Another way to pin down a good estimate is to compare the lease on your given car to a lease on a new-car with the same make and model. This should give you a better picture of the difference between leasing new and going for used. Just like leasing a new car, used vehicle leasing is more attractive when residual values depreciate the least. You stand a better chance of finding a bargain in the high-end, luxury vehicles that keep their values better as used cars.

Next, you need to check the initial mileage and the overall vehicle condition. The maximum mileage on a used car should be no more than 12,000 miles a year. A 3-years old car with 50,000 miles on the clock is very unlikely to make a good used-vehicle lease. Check for signs of excessive use, like worn seat fabric, worn pedal pads and dirty engine, which might indicate that the odometer has been rolled back. If the car is not certified, you need to get it thoroughly inspected. Ask your dealer for a manufacturer-sponsored certification program or have your car certified by a qualified mechanic or inspection service.

Most used-car deals do not come with gap coverage. This is a special type of coverage, normally offered on a new auto-lease, to cover the consumer if the leased vehicle is lost, stolen or damaged. Typically, auto-insurance policies cover only what your car is worth at the time of loss, not what you still owe on the lease. The difference could run into thousands of dollars. For peace of mind, do not enter into any used-car lease without gap-coverage. Arrange it separately with either the lease dealer or your auto-insurance company.

Sell More Cars/Auto Marketing Website/Search Engine Marketing Kit

Texas Dealership signs up with WebHookMarkting LLC.
http://www.SpecialFinanceLeadProviders.com along with Search Engine pay per click (PPC) marketing programs, allow the dealer to become their own online “special finance” lead provider.
Since a huge portion of the leads are generated through the Internet the real lead providers are the search engines such as Google, Yahoo, MSN and their network.
So why do the dealers pay other companies to advertise in their area and sell them back the accumulated list of searchers?

The answer is simple Auto dealerships sell cars and Advertising agencies advertise.
SpecialFinanceLeadProviders.com is part of WebHookMarketing.com together they have designed a program that allows the Automobile dealerships to be their own third part lead provider.

The advertising costs are paid directly to the search engines eliminating the middle man.
Having this ability it gives the dealership an opportunity to have an in house marketing department.
SpecialFinanceLeadProviders.com sets the dealership with their own third party Domain; own Auto Credit Lead Website, their own Control Panel, and their own username & password, along with a local Search Engine Advertising Campaign. 

 Their Method Is Simple: 
They Give You Your Own “Third Party Domain Name”, A proven Website and a Control panel where you immediately retrieve your Customers.         

  Automobile Dealerships are having a hard time drawing business through their doors, but that doesn’t mean that people are not buying Cars, they are going to where they perceive the best deals are.    

   As the economy continues more and more Auto Dealerships Feel the Struggle not only financially but also in the moral of the dealership.
Some are going to make it and some won’t.
The ones that are going to make it are the ones that go back to work, what do I mean by that? You see years ago when computers didn’t exist and the promotions and incentives that put us where we are today were not around.
Salespeople relied on their Basic work skills, walking in to work checking out their inventory from the prior day, handling their insurance forms, contacting their previous customers asking them for referrals and offering them bird- dogs. Sending out holiday and birthday cards.
If the lot had an empty hole they fill it in with a good attitude , giving a customer a good walk around and a thorough service walk, I can go on and on, you see people skills is what is all about, good true customer service. 
Now don’t take me wrong certain things require change and adapting. But people buy from people and that is what all is about.
Now in order to get with the times you must be able to utilize the Internet to your advantage a few basic examples would be inventory search of your dealership vehicles and if you are fortunate enough to work at a store that has multiple stores you should also utilize it as a way to search their inventory in case you get a customer that may be interested in something they have.

Carfax, bookouts, comparison shopping are also other features you must master if you want to be on top of your game.
The computer savvy can do much better follow up storing their customers information sending them emails and printing out letters at a click of a button.
If you don’t promote your self on the Internet you are missing a huge portion of customers that may be in search for Car Loans especially in these hard times.
There are many companies out there that are Auto Lead providers, the only issue is that they are very expensive and only the Dealer themselves advertise with those services minimizing the Auto Leads that an individual salesperson may receive.
We Searched for Companies and found one that rents websites at an extremely low price allowing the Auto Dealers and their Salespeople to have their own Internet Advertising website.
The name of the website is www.SpecialFinanceAutoLeadProviders.com

Things to remember about this article is get back to basics, people buy from people and when you get to work go to work!                       

Car Insurance Finding Tips

Anybody who drives a car needs car insurance. Not only is it against the law to drive without proper insurance but it will also protect you in the event of a car accident, theft, or damage to your car. With the rising costs of insurance these days however, it seems that everybody is looking for a way to reduce their payments while still staying covered. For this reason, there are a few things to keep in mind when choosing car insurance and there are several things that can be done to reduce the costs of insurance.

The first thing to do is look at the excess that is being charged with any policy. This is the amount that you are responsible for when making a claim. The cost of the insurance policy will be directly connected to the excess amount. Many people, who have car insurance, especially if they have had the same policy for a long time, do not ever think to reconsider their excess. When getting quotes, they could get them lower if they have a good driving record and are willing to make larger payments should something happen.

Another way to cut the costs begins when you are first buying the car. This is because many makes and models of cars, such as sports cars, cost more to insure than others. Other types of cars that can be costly to insure are those that have a high theft rate. Be sure to do some research on different models of cars when buying and see what the insurance on these kinds of cars will be.

Driving carefully and safely is one of the biggest ways to save on car insurance. It may sound like common sense but a good driving record will be a great benefit when getting online or offline quotes. This is because the cost of the policy is determined according to how high a risk the driver getting insured is. Many companies also offer safe driver discounts, giving money back or discounts to those drivers that do not get many speeding tickets or get into accidents often.

Installing safety and anti-theft devices can also make a huge difference on your premium. By having these devices fitted on your car, it reduces the risk that they will be stolen. Again, the insurance company takes into consideration the risk of insuring the person and the car so when you lower the risk, the cost of the policy will also be lowered. If you get these devices after you have your car policy, be sure to let your insurer know that you have installed them and ask if they can change your policy accordingly.

Before renewing any policy, be sure to get different quotes. Car insurance rates are always fluctuating and you or your car may have made changes since getting the car insurance initially that will affect the policy. Going online can be a great way to get several different quotes quickly from different insurance companies. These quotes will give you a better idea of what to expect from your policy.

Tips on Buying a New Car

Buying a new car is not just as simple as going to the dealer and getting one for you. The real player is the one who finds the best deal which is quite tuff in car industry.

If you are planning to buy new car, do your homework. You need not to get yourself a new car buying guide, but you should keep in mind some points that will surly help you get best new car deals. So, here are few important tips on buying a new car:

Set Your Budget

First thing to be done after the idea of car buying pops into your head is to set an appropriate budget. Proper budget must be determined before you proceed in buying a new car as it helps you decide how much you are willing to pay but do leave some room for the negotiation when it comes to the dealer’s price. This will not only help you maintain your financial budget but also lead to a fruitful negotiation with dealer.

Do Your Homework – Some Research

Once you are done with your budget, now it’s time to do some research. Decide the model you want to get for yourself. An important word here is that go for cars that are available with dealers in abundance, because for such models you will get a better deal as dealer would wish to clear the lot as soon as possible. After deciding your choice, study it. Do search for its good and bad. It will let you compare the prices at different vendors and be the leader during negotiation.

Look for the Best Deal

One should always be clear about how to buy a car. It is not as simple as buying a shampoo from a nearby departmental store. Try looking for car which will attract least car tax, mainly greener cars. You need to be smart and patient. If you wish to finance your new vehicle, look for deal that suits your needs. Try not getting lured by attractive finance offers or extra incentives like insurance covers etc rather stick to negotiation over the car price.

Prefer Buying the Car at the End of the Month

It can help you get the best possible deal. As the end of the month arrives, the dealer rush to boost their sales figures to either complete their sales quota or get maximum incentives, so, this is the most appropriate time to buy a new car as dealers are ready to lower their prices. Most of the manufacturers provide highest rebates and dealership money by the end of the model year i.e. during months of March, April, August and September. Also, Saturday mornings are good to get a car since dealers tend to maximize their sales as going to the weekend.

A Guide to Buying Used Cars

Shopping for used cars? Requesting used car quotes? Ready to make a purchase? Before you sign the bottom line, read through this guide to buying used cars, which can help you research, locate, and price any number of models.

Buying used cars is a tricky process. As a consumer, you are not only searching for the best quotes, but you are also trying to weed out models with mechanical and structural problems. Malfunctioning models tend to have “bargain” prices and can be, if you’re not careful, difficult to avoid. But, by utilizing the following guide to buying used cars, you can make yourself a little wiser and maybe save a little money in the process.

If you’re not careful, the model you are interested in could have a laundry list of problems. Some of which are not easily repaired. Buying used cars means taking the time to carefully inspect your purchase. Remember, it is not new. It’s been used, and possibly abused.

The following are some common problems:
• Prior accidents, possibly salvaged
• Flood damage
• Unsuited Vehicle Identification Numbers
• Odometer rollback
• Missing airbags
• Auctioned
• Smog test failure
• Previously Stolen

However, with the proper precaution, the buying process can be less risky:

• Try to purchase a “Certified” model – one that shows proof of a thorough 100-point inspection and already includes an extended warranty.
• Research the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and Vehicle History Report.
• Schedule a qualified mechanical inspection to thoroughly inspect it inside and out.
• Consider purchasing an extended auto warranty, especially if it’s five years older or more.
• Be sure to take a test drive. Check for problems with the handling, engine, transmission, passenger controls, etc.

Taking these precautions when buying used cars will not only weed out the lemons, it will allow you to find the best of the bunch. If you find a credible model, the upside is tremendous. First, you’re not paying a large MSRP, like you would for a new car. So, if you purchase a used car in good condition for a reasonable price, you’ll get a better value. Second, the depreciation is lessened. In other words, instead of losing immense value in the first few years, a used car’s value is maintained. If you’re smart about your purchase, you’ll get more “drive” for less money.

The following is a complete breakdown for the process of buying used cars, taking you from beginning to end. In just 10 steps, you can save time, money, and headaches.

Used Car Buying Advice, Step One – Research prices
Search for used cars to determine what average prices are. Be sure to do thorough research, so that you’re paying a fair price for the make and model you choose.

Used Car Buying Advice, Step Two – Get multiple used car quotes
After figuring out a fair price, request as many quotes as possible, on as many models that come close to fitting your description. Request prices with all applicable taxes and charges included in those used car quotes.

Used Car Buying Advice, Step Three – Get your credit report
Your credit score is what is used to determine the APR you’ll pay on your loan. You should get a copy so you know the kind of rate you deserve and to ensure there are no errors.

Used Car Buying Advice, Step Four – Get loan rate quotes
With your FICO credit score prepared, you should apply to online lenders for the best loan rates. Your bank, other banks, other lenders, the dealership, and even your family. Shopping around for financing can save you thousands over the life of your loan.

Used Car Buying Advice, Step Five – Research insurance companies
You should research insurance companies thoroughly as well. Some specialize in offering plans for used cars and/or less expensive plans for drivers with good driving records.

Used Car Buying Advice, Step Six – Get insurance rate quotes
Request quotes from the preferred companies you found, and much like the search for auto loan rate quotes, pick the plan that offers the best protection for the most reasonable price.

Used Car Buying Advice, Step Seven – Determine trade-in value
Use Kelly Blue Book to estimate your current car’s value if you’re thinking about trading it in to help pay for the used car. The trade-in value will be affected by the used car’s price.

Used Car Buying Advice, Step Eight – Vehicle History
Once you’ve narrowed down potential purchases, you’ll need specifics about each of those used cars. Run vehicle history checks with the VINs (Vehicle Identification Number).

Used Car Buying Advice, Step Nine – Get an extended auto warranty
It is important to purchase an extended warranty to cover any surprise repairs (unless the car is certified, which means the original warranty is still valid). It is a smart investment that may save you thousands in the long run.

Used Car Buying Advice, Step Ten – Negotiating your purchase
Contact your preferred sellers to see if they’ll beat the lowest of the used car quotes. Many will compete because they want your business. If you can do this online, it may make the process quick and hassle-free.

Sell a Car or Buy a Car – it Can All be Done Online

Viewing cars for sale has never been easier. Online capabilities have made it possible for consumers to buy and sell cars from the comfort of their own home. “Consumers consider online shopping and traditional shopping to be closer substitutes than any other pair of channels” (Ward 2004). 

The Internet makes it possible for consumers to view cars for sale online with reviews, pictures, prices and location. There are then tools for consumers to compare different models and makes of cars over a much wider selection than available on the forecourt of a car dealership. With changing attitudes towards cars and need for consumers to feel they have a wide selection available to them when making a decision, the internet is the perfect forum from which consumers can start their search. 

The rise and changing fuel costs, the rising tax, the congestion charge for those affected, the need for economically sound cars for sale, these are all effecting factors in the need for a wider range of car choice for consumers. Consumers are looking for specific specifications so dealers must have these available to them. The only way to achieve this is through a large stock choice. Nearly 7.5 Millions used cars were bought in 2007 (smmt.com).

The online dealer can hold a database of tens of thousands of cars, a physical local dealer can’t. Due to the nature of physicality of a car dealership, the geographic location of the dealership can affect the amount of cars available, whereas online dealers will provide consumers with delivery options and possible regional selection when searching for a car.  

The sale of cars online leads us to the question then of, ‘could the internet car shopping forums end the need for car dealerships?’ or does the car market, similar to the clothes market, need both internet availability as well as a tangible market place? 

There are currently various ways to purchase a new or used car. These include;

-                     Franchised dealers

-                     UK brokers

-                     Car supermarkets

-                     Online supermarkets 

The cost of using any of these mediums entails an extra cost, so another question raised by consumers would be; Who is charging the most for their service? This is where online supermarkets are able to capitalise, through minimisation of costs and over-heads when compared to other mediums of car sales. 

The online market has its own pitfalls however. These include, enjoyment levels reduced due to intangibility of the product, access to the Internet necessary combined with a daunting level of product choice. However, these possible hindering factors are counter-acted by the fact that online shopping is convenient for consumers, there is no salesmen and no pressure to buy, an infinite shelf space for dealers and product and price comparison capabilities all lead to a superior shopping process. Whether the consumer currently likes to enjoy a tangible shopping experience or not, the online shopping process has taken a hold on many markets including the car market. Providing a good forum for both consumer and seller to optimise their chances on receiving the best deal from reaching a wider client base.

 References;

 SMMT. 2008. Motor Industry Facts 2008. [Online]. Available at http://www.smmt.co.uk/downloads/motorfacts.pdf [Accessed 20 October 2008].  

Ward, R. 2004. Will online shopping compete more with traditional retailing or catalogue shopping?. Netnomics Business and Economics. [Online]. 103-117. (Springer Netherlands) [Accessed 20 October 2008]. 

Getting the Most From your Car Insurance Policy

If you are like most people, you probably grimace when you are writing out your check every month or every quarter to make a payment on your car insurance policy. On one hand you hate to do it but on the other hand, you realize that a car insurance policy is something you absolutely need to have, even if it is not required by your state’s laws, where it is required in most states.

While it may seem counter-productive to some to pay for a car insurance policy that only springs into action when something bad happens, that insurance policy is also buying you peace of mind and protection. In an accident, the aspects of personal liability, personal damage, and property damage can quickly add up to a healthy six figure number, and sometimes even more.

But it is interesting to note that while most people understand that they need to have a car insurance policy, very few people understand how car insurance works. Instead of obtaining the information they need, they continue to write out those monthly or quarterly checks like clockwork. As a result of this mentality, many (and some say “most”) consumers are paying more for their car insurance than they need to.

One of the most important coverages you can have with your car insurance policy is bodily injury liability. This type of coverage will pay for injuries to yourself or another person as a result of an accident. The fact that you consider yourself a very safe driver has almost no bearing on this aspect of it. Even if you are not at fault in an accident, many states have no fault policies in place, where an accident is nobody’s fault, and either party can be sued. And if an accident IS your fault, well, that is why they call it an “accident”. You did not cause it purposely, it was an accident, but you caused it nonetheless.

You also have comprehensive coverage, which pays for other things like fire or theft. If your car is not paid off, you will also want to have collision coverage, and in fact your car loan lender may require this coverage until your car is paid off. There are various other types of coverages you can elect to get with your car insurance policy, such as rental car reimbursement if your car is in the shop for an extended period of time, or towing coverage.

Then you have a deductible amount on each of those coverages. The lower your deductible amount, the higher your car insurance policy premiums will be, simply because chances are better that that insurance company will need to pay money out. For example, the premium different between having a $500 deductible and a $100 deductible on collision coverage could be as much as two or three times different.

You should periodically shop around for your best rates on a car insurance policy. Rates and coverages change all the time, and just because the insurance company you signed up with 10 years ago had a good deal at that time does not mean that they are still your most cost effective option.

Do not ignore or dismiss online car insurance quotes. Many times an online source will provide very aggressive car insurance policy quotes.

It costs you nothing to get quotes from various companies, both online and offline, to see where you can get the best bang for your buck. Take time to invest the effort to compare policies and you may find that you could save a bundle by switching.

Negotiation When Buying New Car

Quote: It’s a dog eat dog world out here and you might become lunch.

This is very true in today’s society whereby individuals try to make profit out of the other individuals. Could we blame each other for doing so? We all need to survive don’t we. The quote is very true when it comes to buying new cars from salesmen. The price they quote are simply exorbitant and some say that it is at least 45% higher than the new car invoice prices. Invoice prices simply mean the dealer cost of purchasing the new cars.

So before we plunge in to seal the deal, perhaps we could prepare a strategy. You might ask, what’s the purpose of negotiating? Well, you are probably afraid of being taunted a cheapskate but if you look at it from another perspective, car salesmen are actually doing the same thing to you! Moreover, imagine the savings you could get.

According to a theory, it states that the first person to quote the price will lose. Therefore, if the salesman asks you to quote a price; just act ignorant and let him give you the price instead. When they do quote you a price which could be lower than the price sticker pasted on the car; you have to be wary not to take the bait. The price is still high. Therefore, negotiate for a lower price until you are satisfied.

A few tips that you could practice before entering a showroom is to eat first because you could be there for hours and hunger will probably delude your mind into accepting whatever price the salesman quote you. Also do some researches on the new car invoice prices you are interested in so that you could get a rough idea on how much to negotiate. Lastly, always remember to walk out if you don’t reach a deal you like.

Selling a used car in uk is easy now

With the ever-growing auto market and with the emergence of cars in latest designs and makes selling the used vehicle has indeed become the most common phenomenon. In the fast shifting auto market what was once in fashion, quickly goes out of vogue to befit the requirement of the demand of the era. Changing cars with time thus becomes the need of the hour not only to stay up to date but also to flaunt your style.

However, to sell a car is indeed not a cakewalk and certainly demands your time and attention in order to strike the best deal. The common trend of the car dealers is to sell the trendiest car while paying you the lowest sticker price. Hence, the process of selling used vehicle demands good market analysis, an on time decision and above all proper planning to make the deal profitable. .

Consider the following tips before you sell a car.

Prepare your used car for sale:

First impression is the last impression and when it comes to selling used car the first impression that the buyer will have after seeing your car will indeed be his last impression to make his decision. So, to maximize the option of a quick sale, clean your car properly prior putting it up for sale.

Analyze your car type:

While going for a used car sale judge the analyze your car type and also the marketability of your car. If you own the latest model then try to sell the car as soon as possible before it goes out of fashion to close the deal with a better rate.

Proper pricing:

One of the biggest problems in used car sales is to quote a price. Your prices should not be too high or too low so take help from the guidebooks and online pricing sources while quoting a price. Remember, prices for used car sale can vary from one area of the country to another and also depends on the condition and mileage of the car.

Negotiate Professionally:

Light haggling is expected whilst selling the used car, as both you as well as the buyer want to strike the best deal.. It will be a good idea to start by offering your asking price and explain why you feel the price is fair. Try to point out the positive features and distinctiveness of your car.

Now that you have an idea how to sell your used vehicle, it is the time to do more homework to determine the place to sell a car. There are actually two ways to sell the car. One way is to sell the car through a wholesaler. This means you that you need to sell your used car to the dealer and the dealer resells it at a much higher rate and makes a profit. You can also bank upon the wholesale auctions to sell your car.

The other way is to sell your car directly to buyers. Also reckoned as “private sale”, this assures a better profit. Online sources are also available now a day for selling your used car.

The Used Car Dealerships Guide to Shipping Cars

The simple fact is, if you work at a used car dealership there is often a need to have inventory shipped. For the inexperienced sales manager, this can seem like quite a daunting task. With so many movers out there, who are experienced at shipping cars, which one is the right one? How can I find a dependable auto transport agent that I can rely on?
Luckily finding the right company to ship your vehicles isn’t difficult. In fact right now, you are only four steps away from finding a car shipping company that you can work with for years to come. Here are the questions you should ask, and the information you should find before selecting an agent to move your cars:

1. Timeframe: The first thing you should ask the shipping company is how long they usually take with pickups, and shipping to various places. The simple fact is that if you buy a car from an online auction, or other source, you likely need it soon. The carrier that takes a week to get your inventory to you is better than the shipper who generally takes 3 weeks to deliver.
2. Reliability: You will also want to know about reliability. Are they available for pickup on a regular basis, or is the driver always on the other side of the country? As a business you need a dependable auto shipper that you can rely on to get your inventory where it needs to go.
3. Call those references: After you have talked to a couple of companies, and narrowed down your list, take the time to call their references. Many times the list of references will include other dealership. In most cases the other sales manager will be happy to share information on the shipping company.
4. Confirm Insurance: Finally when you have selected a company that will be shipping your cars, make sure they have insurance to suit. Your inventory is your bread and butter, and you don’t want further issues when damage does occur. A simple call to the companies insurer is an easy way to make sure you’re covered.

As long as you take a few moments to find the right company for your car shipping needs, you’ll likely find a company that you can work with. The simple fact is that with so many companies out there, it can be quite intimidating. With a few phone calls, however, you will find the right people for shipping your cars.