Car Buying Advice: When a Dealer Gives You Lemons…Ring His Neck

Car buying advice, like all advice, comes in many forms. There are an infinite amount of tips to heed when purchasing such a large investment, but some of the primary concerns are financing, warranty coverage, and making sure that you haven't bought a lemon.

I'm convinced that cursing was invented concurrently with the automobile. Never have I seen people become as verbally frustrated and irate as when dealing with a broken-down car-especially, one just bought. And while purchasing a new or used automobile unavoidably entertains an aura of danger, fortunately for buyers, states have enacted lemon laws to protect consumers from cursing themselves to death. However, these laws, while essential, do not cover all realms of automobile purchasing. Here's some other car buying advice:

After sealing the deal on the purchase of a new car, buyers drive away with a factory warranty guaranteeing the reliability of their investment for 3-years or 36,000 miles. Standard issue on brand-new vehicles, factory warranties-a direct result of state lemon laws-are routinely exclusionary bumper-to-bumper plans; meaning that everything on the car is covered, from the door locks to the engine, as long as it is not explicitly excluded in the signed written agreement.

Buying a used automobile does not come with such guarantees. Although extended warranties are readily available for recently purchased cars (warranty coverage ceases to be an option ordinarily after 6 years or so) and is transferable through sale, consumers just don't have the same protection when purchasing used vehicles. Therefore, take heed of this essential used car buying advice:

Buying From Dealerships

Most used automobiles reposing in dealership lots are either off-lease or off-rental cars; meaning that these cars formerly paid their dues as rentals or leases. Off-lease and off-rental autos routinely demonstrate markedly better care. Since rental cars are not driven as often as regular cars, and since consumers leasing cars must pay penalties for any damages incurred, these autos are generally in good shape. This is, of course, not a hard and fast rule, and if thrift is the important variable in purchase, dealerships might not present the wisest course of action.

Buying From a Private Party

Party-to-party automobile purchases, as well as used dealership ones, should not be completed without first conducting a used car history report. This is the best, single piece of used car buying advice possible. Some brief internet navigation on websites like www.carfax.com will yield a free VIN report listing pertinent and specific vehicle information and history. Buyers should not buy without knowing whether their prospective automobile was involved in a major collision, rebuilt, underwent odometer rollback, or suffers from perennial mechanical failures and problems.

Financing

Car buying advice, with respects to financing, gets tricky. Oftentimes, dealership will not provide the best rates and terms for buying a car. Banks and other lenders routinely offer shorter auto loan terms and better interest rates. Companies like www.eloan.com even extend loans to borrowers purchasing a person-to-person used car (ordinarily unheard of). The best car buying advice in regards to financing is to scour lender rates (many websites offer free multiple auto loan quotes from a variety of different lenders) to uncover the best terms and conditions. Don't settle for the dealership's quote, but don't recklessly solicit loan offers from unreliable internet providers. Ascertain the reputability of your financial provider through the Better Business Bureau before paying application or vehicle appraisal fees.

Car buying advice is somewhat of a common sense issue, but consumers need to realize how vulnerable they become without first researching the specifics of their purchase. Taking a potential used car purchase for a professional evaluation by a mechanic should be a matter of routine, as well as requesting a VIN and used car history report. State enforced lemon laws shelter consumers when it comes to new automobile purchases, but buying a used car, even when from a dealership, comes with inevitable concerns of reliability; concerns that can be easily allayed by carefully investigating your investment. Now, that's something to swear by.