How to Save Real Money When Shopping for a Used Car From a Private Seller

There are a few major items to check out when buying any used car from private sellers and they are listed below. Follow these guidelines BEFORE you pay the deposit and you will reduce your chances of buying a headache. You want this car to run cheaply, keep its resale value, be reliable and look good. Ready to start?

Look over the car generally first. If you think it is suitable, follow these steps.

Check the Title.

It is no use paying good money for what seems to be a bargain, when in a few weeks or months the car is repossessed due to unpaid debts attached to it. There are several ways to check this out depending on your local circumstances:

1. Check the owner details with your local or state government agency and whether there is money still owed on the vehicle.

2. Some agencies can also advise whether the car has been written off or wrecked, and then rebuilt. Definitely stay away from a car that has been “reborn” since your resale value will suffer when you try to sell it eventually.

Check the Authenticity.

1. Look at the Registration papers and ensure that the registration plates, the chassis number or vehicle identification number and engine number are EXACTLY the same as the Registration details.

2. In older cars look at the chassis number on the car and ensure it has not been tampered with. Make sure it looks genuine – not extra clean and just repainted. This could mean that the number has been tampered with by grinding off the old number and replacing it with a new one. Stay right away from a car in this condition.

3. If the car has log books and/or owners purchase papers all the better. Look through them carefully and check these details against the answers you receive from the questions you ask in 4.).

4. Talk to the owner(s) and ask the following questions. If you notice hesitancy or you think they may not be genuine be very, very careful.

a) How long have you owned the car?

b) Do you know any of the car’s history prior to your purchase?

c) To your knowledge, are the miles or kilometers genuine?

d) What repairs or work have you had done to the car? Do you have receipts for the work?

Check the Car Body

1. Look for rust. This is the major risk when buying second-hand cars. If you are not sure how to do this have a qualified panel-beater or rust repairer check it out. If you want to do this yourself look for the telltale signs of bubbles under the paint or brown/orange color in the following areas:

a) Under the mudguards or fenders.

b) Around each door, especially under the door.

c) In the floor. Lift the mats and carpets if you can, and check out carefully.

d) Around the windscreen, where it meets the body.

e) Around the roof, especially in the gutters.

2. Look for panel damage and/or repair. Do the panels match properly? Is the paint color consistent on every panel? Has the whole car been repainted recently? If it has had a recent paint job, what is it covering? It could be covering cheap rust repair or panel work.

3. Look under the car. Is it straight and clean? If it’s very dirty and the under floor is bent out of shape it could mean the car has had a hard life off the normal roads. This could mean extra stress on steering and suspension components.

4. Look at the paint color. The most serviceable color, and best for resale generally, is white. Darker colors may look good but they show the dirt more and are harder to match if you need minor panel repairs.

Check the Motor.

1. If you are not sure how to do this, have a qualified motor mechanic or your road service organization check it out. If you want to do this yourself look in the following areas:

a) Does the car blow smoke at start up?

b) Is the motor very oily and dirty? Does it look too clean, just washed?

c) Does under the oil filler cap look like the oil is a milky mixture, not black?

d) Does the radiator show bubbles being formed in the water when the motor is running?

e) Are the other fluid levels low?

If any of these problems show up then you may need some more expert help.

Check the Gearbox.

1. Again, if you are not sure how to do this have a qualified motor mechanic or your road service organization check it out. If you want to do this yourself look in the following areas:

Automatics –

a) Is the oil level on the dipstick correct and clean?

b) Does it change gears correctly when driven?

c) Is the gearbox clean and not showing oil leaks?

d) Does it sound OK when being driven or is there a whine at certain speeds?

If you cannot say Yes to these questions you may need some expert help.

Manuals –

a) Is the gearbox clean and not showing oil leaks?

b) Does it sound OK when being driven or is there a whine at certain speeds?

c) Is the gear change smooth and quiet?

d) Does the clutch work properly, with no shuddering at take-off?

If you cannot say Yes to these questions you may need some expert help.

Check the Interior.

Look for these potential problems.

a) Always check upholstery under seat covers – no matter how nice they look.

b) Look for seat belt wear.

c) Do all the gauges and controls work properly?

d) Is the headlining in place correctly, not dropping or coming undone?

e) Does it look cared for, or has it been neglected?

There are other components such as suspension, brakes, air-conditioning and steering that can also cost significant amounts of money to repair or replace, but these are usually serviced by experts.

These are just some basic checks that you can do when looking to buy a used car. Use your common sense. Keep in mind, as with any private purchase, Buyer Beware. If you think you are out of your depth in any of these major areas, it may be better to have the vehicle checked by an expert.

These are just some general tips and hints from my experiences in buying and selling cars over a long period of time. I am passing them on to you to help you with your personal finances. You need to be able to save money wherever you can.

For hints on how to bargain when buying a used car from a private seller see my other article titled “How to Save Real Money When Bargaining With a Private Seller for a Used Car”.

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Ways To Save Money When Buying A New Car

Buying a new car is a major decision in the life of a majority of individuals, primarily because it involves money and emotions.

It is prudent to take care of your expenses while buying a new car, because it can go a long way in affecting your personal finances.

Here, we discuss some ways to save money when buying a new car ( I presume that you have already done your initial study of which car to buy and have also decided upon your budget for the same ):-

By following these ways, you can be assured that you would be getting good value for your money and also leaving the dealership with a happy smile on your face.

1)

One of the easiest ways to save money in the long run is to make sure that the car is fuel efficient. In these times of recession, a vehicle can be an enormous strain on our personal finances, if it is not fuel efficient. So, do a comparison of different models for their fuel efficiency before buying a new car.

2)

Among the easiest ways to save money is to do Comparison Shopping. This involves getting quotations from different dealers who deal in the same model of the car which you are interested to buy. The convenient way is to get quotations over the Phone / Internet. In most of the cases, the dealers will send one of his representatives over to your house / office along with the necessary brochures to discuss. Upon request, they can also send a car to you for a test drive.

3)

Also, check the prices of the particular car online. This will help you to start discussions and further negotiations in a well informed way and also create the good first impression that you are a serious buyer who is looking for ways to save money and to get full satisfaction from his exercise of buying a new car.

4)

Once you get the prices from all the dealers, then comes the process of Car Purchase Negotiating with them. Be confident and ask them for the maximum possible discounts which they can offer. Also, ask them about the freebies (Like music systems, seat covers, alloy rims etc) which they would be willing to give in order to close the sale. This is one of the easiest ways to save money when buying a new car, because, after all this discussion, the salespeople are convinced that you are a willing customer and would be doing their best possible efforts to satisfy you and close the deal.

5)

After negotiating for the maximum possible benefits, I advise you to negotiate a little more…..and with luck, you may get something extra… After all , it is your money and you must try your level best to save your personal finances.

6)

Once you have decided upon the final amount to be given for buying the new car, then the next step is to ask the dealer for the best possible financing options. Also, you should contact the banks and the financial institutions for the lowest possible interest rates while applying for a loan for buying a new car. This sort of homework must be done so that you can have every possible option at hand which you can utilize to save money. Also, Try to keep your loan repayment terms to the shortest amount of time. It is one of the most practical ways to save money in the long term. If possible, then take the loan repayment term for a period of 36 months (3 Years), for getting the lowest possible rates of interest. This will help you a lot in managing your personal finances in the long run.

7)

Also, try to negotiate so that you can have zero / minimum pre payment facility – ( in case you decide to prepay the loan before the expiry of the loan repayment period ). In most of the cases, there is a pre payment penalty, but with adequate negotiation, it may be reduced. This is also one of the ways to save money for yourself in the long run.

Also, try to go in for extended warranty on the parts. Nowadays, manufacturers are offering extended warranty for a nominal price, so it is better to negotiate the price with the dealer and then buy the extended warranty. It is essential because you would essentially be buying your piece of mind. There might be a major fault in the engine later on, and if you have warranty, then it would be taken care of without any extra cost on your part. So, buying extra warranty should be included in your list of ways to save money when buying a new car.

I Hope you have enjoyed reading this article. As always, comments are Welcome and Encouraged. Cheers…

P.S. :- If you really enjoyed this post, then please consider helping us out and spreading the word. Thanks…

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Invest in a Car Cover and Save Money

A good quality car cover will more than pay for itself in maintain the value of your vehicle as well as the direct costs and time savings provided by less maintenance and less cleaning chores. Unless you are storing your car in a garage, your car is exposed 24/7 to the elements and other factors in the environment. This constant exposure will accelerate rust, increase the risk of bumps and dings and adversely affect the look and performance of your vehicle when you drive it.

By investing in a car cover you will be able to protect your car from the effects of rain and snow; water has a devastating effect on vehicles particularly as the major cause of rust which will damage the look of your car but also impact the safety and performance you expect from it. You must ensure that you purchase a car cover with low water permeability – permeability is a measure of how well the cover will allow water to pass across the protective barrier.

You need air to circulate underneath the cover because this helps damp and moisture accumulation underneath the cover and this in turn will prevent mold and mildew growing as well as the occurrence of rust spots. At the same time, because the car cover has a low permeability, snow melt and rainwater are unable to pass through to the car underneath and instead, are washed off and dry before they can cause any damage.

A frequently overlooked advantage of a car cover is the anti-theft factor. Many thieves are opportunistic – they look for open windows and unlocked vehicles as a prime target, and will smash a window in seconds if they see valuable possessions on a car seat or parcel tray. By using a well fitted car cover, thieves will instantly be unable to see what is inside the vehicle and even if they are of a mind to try to steal something, they will be deterred by the fact that the car cover will impede their crime, making it more likely they will be detected and caught. Cars fitted with car covers are unlikely to be the object of thieves attentions nor of vandals intent on simply causing damage.

In many parts of the country, the sun also plays a significant factor in deteriorating the look of the paintwork. By using a car cover which has a high ultraviolet protection factor, you can provide your vehicle with the same protection as you enjoy when you wear sunscreen on the beach. Continuous and prolonged exposure to the harmful rays of the sun is a serious cause of faded and blotchy paint work and this immediately detracts from the appearance and value of your vehicle.

Choose a car cover which is easy to fit and easy to store, especially if you are using the vehicle on a regular basis. No matter what type of cover you invest, you should ensure that the inner side of the car cover (the side which comes into contact with the vehicle) has a “soft-touch” so it does not scratch the car itself.

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I’m looking to buy the ed hardy koi seat covers but I don’t want to waste my time or money if they won’t fit my wrangler. I’ve had trouble with fitting it with other accessories like a sunshield and I found that some things have to be made specificly for it.

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Car Covers Protect your Investment and Save you Money

Ask anyone why they purchased a car cover and they all give you a different answer. Yet, the underlying reason will be the same; they want to protect the investment in their vehicle.

Car covers and car cover fabrics are generally misunderstood. Many believe that the inexpensive off-the-shelf cover they can pickup in their local discount store or auto parts dealer is the same as the high quality custom tailored vehicle covers available from Covercraft. But, this is a mistake and the quality cover from Covercraft can cost less long term over the life of the cover.

The inexpensive local alternative car covers are not much more than large bags of various materials with elastic bands to help hold the cover in place. Whereas, a custom tailored Covercraft car cover is cut to exact measurements provided to Covercraft from the vehicle manufacturer (think Ford, Chevy or BMW) directly. So the fit on the vehicle is perfect and adds to the protection since there are no baggy areas to blow around in the wind. Many of the patterns for custom car covers have mirror pockets and some even have pockets for the new smaller stubby antenna and/or satellite radio antennas.

Another difference between the covers is the wide selection of fabrics available for the custom fit covers. The fabric is key to the effectiveness of the cover and many of the low cost options don’t stand up to even the most mild of weather situations. Fabrics available from Covercraft are designed first and foremost to protect the vehicle from dust, dirt and pollen. Basically, they keep the vehicle clean which saves you time and money on washing and detailing the vehicle.

Outdoor car cover fabrics go beyond the basics of keeping a car clean have water resistance and UV reflectance properties. On the topic of water resistance, no Covercraft car cover is waterproof. Why is this? Simply because if you place a waterproof cover over a vehicle, any moisture that is normally in the air or any water puddles under the car will evaporate and become trapped between the car and cover. This will create a “greenhouse effect” and cause the water to condense on the vehicle which can lead to damage. With a Covercraft cover the fabrics are designed to “breathe”, that is they allow the microscopic water molecules to escape out of the fabric keeping your vehicle clean and dry. The outer layer of the cover will repel most of the rain and moisture that hits it so you have protection inside and out.

UV damage can occur in any area but more so in climates with brilliant sunshine all year round. You’ve seen the faded or cracked dashboards or discolored seats in many vehicle. But, with a custom car cover most damaging sun rays are reflected so you not only protect your paint and finish but your interior as well. An additional benefit in sun protection is that your interior stays cooler in the hot summer months.

Other benefits of Covercraft car cover fabrics included protection from dings and dents, acid rain, bird droppings, tree sap, snow and ice. Every area has unique weather and external factors that threaten your car’s appearance, so it makes sense that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for your car cover needs. This is where Covercraft and their specialized line of custom car covers can help keep your car, truck or other vehicle clean and looking brand new.

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My jeep liberty was in a car accident a year ago. We had it repaired by our mechanic. It started giving us problems a few months later and we took it back to him. He said we needed to pay more money to get it fixed. We were starting to think something was up so we took it for a second opinion. We found that he did not replace half the parts he was supposed to and used zip ties instead of hose clamps, dry wall screws instead of automotive screws, etc. I had the new mechanic look at the original estimate and he determined that there was about ,000 worth of repairs. What I would like to know is if I need to pay for the damages before I take him to court or can I sue him for the money for the repairs? I don’t have an extra 00 laying around so it would be difficult to pay up front. I already talked to my insurance and they already covered a replacement wiring harness (which was severed and electrical taped back together), and reset the seats so the air bags would work (he broke the light bulbs out of the panel, which would have alerted me they did not work), and the 30 days of rental coverage. They will not cover any more issues. Any help?
So you are saying I go to the police department and file a report on the mechanic? Wouldn’t the insurance go after him since he obviously frauded them? Can you give me more info? I’ve never done this before…

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I’m shaking. We checked our answering machine today and there were two calls from a woman who said she was with County Children and Youth. One was for me and one was for my husband. She said something about having trouble finding our residence! Why would CPS be coming? We live in an old house which is kind of dusty, but it’s clean. All the rooms we use are heated with natural gas except the bathroom which has an electric heater. We have a 6 week old baby who is clean and very healthy. He always goes to his doctor’s appointments and I have taken him a few times when I thought something was wrong (turned out nothing was). We always have formula in the fridge for supplementing and plenty of clean bottles. My son never cries for more than 2 seconds before someone picks him up and attends to his needs. We have friends over sometimes, but my husband, I, or our close friend Kelly who has 3 children of her own is ALWAYS with him in the nursery. We have 4 cats but they are clean, their litter boxes are in a separate part of the kitchen and no oder can ever be detected. They don’t do anything to the baby except stare at him with mild interest. They have all their shots and they are indoor cats anyway. My husband works steadily and we are not on any assistance. I am off work right now because I just had the baby, but I have plans to return and I take online classes in the meantime. We never leave the baby alone except to run to the bathroom which is adjacent to the nursery. If we shower, he comes in with us in his bouncy seat where he naps. One time my cell phone was broken and I had to tell my husband something at 10 o’clock at night, so I put the sleeping baby in his stroller and ran over to my husband’s work (one block away) to give him the message. I was out for maybe 5 minutes. The baby never woke up.

The only thing which I can figure would be wrong with me is that I owe money on some medical bills for myself. Can CPS be called because of that? Can they actually take my son away from me? He is my whole life! I’m so scared. Can anyone give me some definite information? I don’t want "I think" I want "I know!"

I am in the US in Pennsylvania. And yes, my husband and I both returned the woman’s calls at once but she was out of the office for the day and it’s a Friday so we won’t hear back from her till at least Monday. Please help!
No no, some of you misunderstood! I didn’t leave the baby alone in the house, I would never do that. I took him with me in the stroller. But it was 10 o’clock at night and my husband works in a restaurant so I thought maybe someone thought I shouldn’t have him out that late or something.

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I am getting ready to put this house on the market for what is a great price in this neighborhood. We are trying to downsize and are tired of being landlords. We have just installed a new water pump for the well, a new water heater, will possibly be putting in new HVAC. The exterior will be repainted a little darker grey, with white trim and black shutters. The carpet is relatively new and is high end. There is newer tile in the kitchen and both bathrooms. New faucets, toilet seats, etc.

I am looking for suggestions to make this home stand out, without putting a ton of money into it. I mean, it is really a good deal already!! Please give honest feedback! Thanks!

Here is the link: http://hotpads.com/search/#lat=35.61490112645663&lon=-78.68312180042267&zoom=23&previewId=291836_HotPads&previewType=listing&detailsOpen=true&listingTypes=sale,newHome&includeVaguePricing=false&pricingFrequency=once&loan=30,0.0525,0&visible=new,viewed,favorite&points=lowes

Would you buy this house??? If so, which group are you in (first time homebuyer? Downsizing? Retiring?, etc.)?
Thanks for the comments so far.

I have been getting 00 a month for a rental for the past several years. I have MANY people interested at that price. Several people even want to do a lease-to-own. If I had a buyer, I would be happy to pass their info on.

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had a storm come through last week and drop a tree on my truck
2002 ford f150 supercrew, all the extras…
ACV came back as 590
myself and the adjuster assumed it’d be totaled at first glance, the tree didnt hit the hood/engine, but did significant body damage. cab, both drive side doors, back bench seat, bed, bed cover, bed liner are all destroyed.
a few days later, when receiving the ACV after the adjuster came out, hes talking about getting it repaired. i asked what his estimates were, and hes alotting 00 to repair costs.
8000/12590 = 63.5% repair cost to value
this is based on his initial estimate, the truck is still sitting at my place waiting to be towed. i was leaning more towards having the truck totaled as it will never be the same as before the storm.

now the next step is to have it taken to a shop of my choosing to get it inspected further. find all the damage, reasess the numbers. of course the insurance place has their own contractual shops that they recommend, my questions are as follows:

-am i better off finding an independent shop to inspect and possibly do the repair work?
an independent shop will have market rates for labor and part costs. im guessing the insurance co will find the replacement body peices and let the shop do the work. an independent shop is not backed by the insurance co so time is a factor, and there may be no warranty on work done.

-if i take it to the insurance co recommended place, they have discounted rates that may get it repaired and saving the insurance co some money, but im left with a truck thats going to have ongoing problems.

-i want this thing totaled, should i send it to an independent place?
-if i take it to the recommended place and they deem it repairable, can i negotiate the ACV with the adjuster? instead of them paying out 12590, say knock off 1500 and give me 11090, they keep the truck…
-or say i take a bunch of stuff off the truck to devalue it when they haul it away…drop the total ACV, so the repair % will be higher.

any input is appreciated, thanks

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I’m shaking. We checked our answering machine today and there were two calls from a woman who said she was with County Children and Youth. One was for me and one was for my husband. She said something about having trouble finding our residence! Why would CPS be coming? We live in an old house which is kind of dusty, but it’s clean. All the rooms we use are heated with natural gas except the bathroom which has an electric heater. We have a 6 week old baby who is clean and very healthy. He always goes to his doctor’s appointments and I have taken him a few times when I thought something was wrong (turned out nothing was). We always have formula in the fridge for supplementing and plenty of clean bottles. My son never cries for more than 2 seconds before someone picks him up and attends to his needs. We have friends over sometimes, but my husband, I, or our close friend Kelly who has 3 children of her own is ALWAYS with him in the nursery. We have 4 cats but they are clean, their litter boxes are in a separate part of the kitchen and no oder can ever be detected. They don’t do anything to the baby except stare at him with mild interest. They have all their shots and they are indoor cats anyway. My husband works steadily and we are not on any assistance. I am off work right now because I just had the baby, but I have plans to return and I take online classes in the meantime. We never leave the baby alone except to run to the bathroom which is adjacent to the nursery. If we shower, he comes in with us in his bouncy seat where he naps. One time my cell phone was broken and I had to tell my husband something at 10 o’clock at night, so I put the sleeping baby in his stroller and ran over to my husband’s work (one block away) to give him the message. I was out for maybe 5 minutes. The baby never woke up.

The only thing which I can figure would be wrong with me is that I owe money on some medical bills for myself. Can CPS be called because of that? Can they actually take my son away from me? He is my whole life! I’m so scared. Can anyone give me some definite information? I don’t want "I think" I want "I know!"

I am in the US in Pennsylvania. And yes, my husband and I both returned the woman’s calls at once but she was out of the office for the day and it’s a Friday so we won’t hear back from her till at least Monday. Please help!
Actually yes, my husband and I did have a week of fighting recently. But we’re getting counseling now. And for the guy who said they will take my son – on what grounds? I mean, they have to have a reason. No one is a perfect parent. This is ridiculous.
In the message the lady said it "wasn’t a big deal." Should that make me feel any better?

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