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What you Need to Avoid When Buying Used Cars

admin — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 18:50:54 +0000

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Car Maintenance Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

admin — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 10:51:09 +0000

It is a good and noble thing to learn how to run essential and basic car maintenance checks and balances all by yourself. First and foremost, and probably most importantly for a majority of people, it will save you money. If you can fix a few things without needing to run to the mechanics, then you will be able to pick up more knowledge as you go along, and will only need to drop the car in for an overall check up every once in a while. If you have to go to the garage frequently, the mechanics probably welcome you with open arms. You may well have paid for their holiday this year. However, know where the line is between something you can fix and something you cannot. Running essential maintenance on your car is great. Running essential maintenance badly is going to cost you money.

It is important to check tire pressure, and ideally you should do it once a month at least – but certainly no less often than twice a year. When you check your tire pressure, you may well find the tires are under-inflated, and this will also make itself known in the fact that you can get roughly the same handling from your car as you would get from a broken supermarket trolley. However, if under-inflation is bad it does not follow that over-inflation is good. Over-inflate your tires and you will find that they wear out a heck of a lot more quickly, and they will give you handling that is just as bad. Do it to the prescribed level, and no further. And then keep more regular checks.

Replacing wiper blades is not a big job, but it is a fairly niggly one. There is a lot of fiddling around required in order to do it correctly, and some people decide to get as much as they humanly can from their wiper blades before replacing them. The problem with this is that worn wiper blades are probably as bad for your windshield as none at all. They scrape on the windshield and they are more of a debris redistribution mechanism than a cleaner. Replace them once a year, in the fall. Extreme weather conditions play havoc with rubber – it expands in the summer and contracts in the winter. Give your blades a chance to get into their stride, then, by replacing them when the weather is temperate.

Simplified, the principle of Occam’s Razor is that the simplest explanation is the preferable one. Funnily enough, this applies to vehicle maintenance. This means that if you hear unfamiliar noises when you perform a certain driving task, then that part is probably lacking in some way. More often than not, it will be a fluid issue. If your brakes are squeaking, check your brake fluid. If your power steering is making an odd noise, check the fluid for that, and so forth. Finally, preventative maintenance is better than curative, so if you are concerned about the performance of your car in cold or hot weather, or any form of climatic condition, put it in the garage. It is after all a lot less likely to get stolen in there, too.

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Automotive Troubleshooting : How to Avoid Falling for Unnecessary Tuneup Specials

admin — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 11:09:32 +0000

Don’t get fooled by car tuneup specials that sound too good to be true! Avoid deceptive tuneup specials with thecar maintenance tips in this free video on automotive repair from a professional auto mechanic. Expert: Dave Erb Contact: www.davesultimateautomotive.com Bio: Dave Erb is an ASE Certified Master L1 Technician with 21 years experience in automotive care and maintenance. Filmmaker: Todd Green

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Car Buying Tips: Five Things You Need To Know To Avoid Hidden Fees And Additional Costs

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:31:18 +0000

Before purchasing your next car, you’re going to want to check for hidden costs, add-on fees, and other charges. You could end up spending hundreds, even thousands, of dollars over the lifetime of your loan.
Once you’ve found the car you want, it’s time to sit down with your sales rep to negotiate the terms of your contract. After a little back and forth on price, figuring out your interest rate, and calculating your monthly payment, you’re ready to sign on the dotted line, right?
Not so fast.
When you read the fine print you may find that additional fees and charges have found their way into your contract – including add-ons you didn’t necessarily ask for.
Most car buyers are so focused on getting the best interest rate and negotiating the most affordable monthly payment that they’re unconcerned with the fine print of the contract. By the time they get to the step where they review and sign the paperwork, if the sales rep is throwing industry terms at them that they don’t fully understand, they’re becoming exhausted from the entire process and just want to get it over with.
Here are a few insider tips to make sure you don’t regret signing those papers.
1.) Read the Fine Print
While this seems pretty obvious and self-explanatory, it’s amazing how trusting the consumer can be. Honestly, the last time you bought a car, did you read and fully understand the contract before you signed it? Probably not. Most people don’t.
Some unscrupulous car dealerships are betting on that. Because most people don’t read the fine print, some sales reps can slide in additional, undisclosed charges or extras with huge mark-ups to their profit.
Also, make sure there are no blank spaces on your finance contract that can be filled in later – wherever there are blank spaces, write in “$0″ or “N/A.”
2.) Typical Extras
Most of us are familiar with learning about the standard features of an automobile and then figuring out which additional features we are willing to pay extra for, but here are some extras to look out for when reviewing your contract:
? Rust proofing
? Extended warranty
? Fabric protector
? Car alarm (including Lojack, a device police use to find your car if you report it stolen)
? Paint sealant
? Credit life insurance
? GAP
? Window etching
The value of such extras depends on individual customer needs and situations. If the sales rep attempts to tell you that some or all of these extras are standard for every vehicle on the lot, ask to order your car from the factory, or suggest the dealership trade with another dealer that hasn’t pre-packaged their vehicles.
Extra products can add thousands to the negotiated price of the vehicle. Most products fill a customer need that when priced and disclosed correctly and can add real value to the whole transaction.
The problems with extras occur in two areas. First, when the sales rep doesn’t spend the time necessary to determine which products fit the specific needs of the customer. Rather than suggest specific extras individually priced, the sales rep lumps all the products together and pushes you to buy them as a package.
Second, unscrupulous sales reps can add thousands of dollars to the amount financed for these products, but not disclose the price increase until the last possible moment, when the financing contracts are being signed.
3.) Documentation and Administration Fees
Federal, state, and local governments are pushing more and more of their regulatory cost onto the local dealerships. In an effort to offset some of these fees and services dealers are required to perform, most add, a documentation or administration fee to the total cost of the transaction. Depending on state and local regulations, fee adding $100 to $150 seem reasonable and cover most of these additional items. These services include:
? Duplicate Title Fees
? Notice of Security Interest (to perfect lien)
? 30-day Permits
? Federal terrorist matching data bases
? Federal information privacy requirements
? State vehicle id verification
? Highway Patrol Inspections for out-of-state titles
? Registering leases at customer’s county of residence
? Carfax
? FedEx charges/Shipping charges
? Additional title addendums
? Truth in lending record retention
Some dealers have taken up the practice of marking up documentation and administrative fees and are now charging as high as $300 to $500 per sale. A few are even higher. The charge for most of these fees seems to be more based on getting a customer to pay extra after the customer has finished negotiating, not the average amount it cost to get most deals through various state and federal regulations, as implied.
4.) Ask for a Menu System Disclosure
The best disclosure method I’ve seen in years involved using a menu system. On a separate sheet of paper the rep produces a document that includes:
1.) The negotiated price of the vehicle or trade difference
2.) The additional price of suggested extras (these can be shown as various option packages that may save money when bought in combination and as individually priced options)
3.) New totals initialed by both parties
This procedure makes sure that any suggested extras are properly explained and disclosed. It also allows the customer time to consider each item separate from the longer and potentially confusing finance documents. The final numbers from the menu should get carried over directly to the finance document.
5.) Other Costs
When buying a car, remember that there are other “hidden” costs (or, costs that aren’t usually considered), that go beyond the dealership.
During the lifetime of your vehicle, you’re going to have to pay for registration and tags, taxes, insurance, oil changes and fuel every year, and periodically pay for maintenance and repairs. Older models (cars more than 3-5 years old) may cost less up front, but you will likely need to factor more maintenance and repair costs into your budget than if you bought a newer model. While new models need fewer repairs and maintenance work, you will have to pay more up front.
Your wallet does not have to go through the ringer the next time you decide to visit a new or used car dealer. You can protect yourself from blindly signing into an unfavorable car deal by doing your homework, going to a car dealership with a good reputation, being prepared, asking questions, and double checking behind your sales rep.

Scott Conklin is president of Conklin Cars, a Salina new/used car dealer (http://www.conklincarssalina.com/), Hutchinson new/used car dealer (http://www.conklincarshutchinson.com/), and Newton new/used car dealer (http://www.conklinnewton.com/) in Kansas.

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How to Avoid Hidden Costs on Your Next Car Rental in Spain

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:00:13 +0000

The first and most important advice is that you should never be blinded by a cheap, fabulous day rate for the rental vehicle you’re planning to book. Depending on your travel destination a lot off extra charges may apply, like airport surcharges, insurance, sales taxes, licensing fees, local and state taxes, concession recovery fees, customer facility charges, mandatory theft protection, young driver fees to name just a few.
By the time all the extra charges are added onto your bill, you may find yourself paying almost double the cheap car rental base rate you were quoted.
How can you avoid paying almost double that fantastic base rate?
Read the following tips on the surcharges and tricks for how to cut the expenses you’re most likely to face at the desk of the local car hire company.
Airport Taxes
If you have booked your car hire rental at an airport location, in many cases the car hire agency is contractually required to pay a concession fee to the airport. It does not matter if you collect the vehicle when you get of the plane or if you go to an airport location when you’re already staying in town. So don’t try to be smart by not picking up your rental car as soon as you get off the plane, go to your hotel first and then return to the rental office at the airport to pick up the car. You will have to add up the additional expenses (taxi or any other local transport) to the price of the rent a car.
Make sure to check if the concession fee (sometimes called airport tax) is included in the quoted price, some online car hire booking engines do not mention this charge at all until the moment you’re almost ready to confirm the car hire booking online.
Local and state taxes
In Europe local and state taxes, sometimes also called sales tax vary considerably from country to country. Depending on the country of origin you probably can’t avoid European value-added tax (VAT), which can be as high as 25 percent, depending on the country you’re travelling to. In some cases you will be charged a small fee which is used by the local governments to fund local development projects or improvements to the infrastructure. It is important to know that in some countries you may be entitled to a total or partial refund of the VAT, occasionally this can greatly reduce the final cost of the service of the car hire company you’re booking your vehicle with.
Insurance
One of the most common extra charges is for the insurance, usually referred to by the car hire companies as Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW). For an extra amount per day (the so-called Excess Waiver), you can avoid liability for any damage to the vehicle, provided you’re not found guilty of gross negligence. Basic insurance is compulsory in most European countries and built into the basic car rental cost.
Before you sign up for the extra insurance make sure if it is really worthwhile to do so. Some credit cards also provide additional insurance when you rent a car. Apart from the CDW-LDW the most common insurance options are the Additional Liability Insurance (ALI), the Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) or the Personal Effects Coverage (PEC) which you can purchase from the car hire company at the time that you collect your rental vehicle.

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Purchasing a Used Car-tips on How to Purchase a Pre-owned Vehicle and Avoid the Lemons

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 07:05:34 +0000

Used cars can be a great way to get a deal on a car and still get a good vehicle. Shopping around and doing it wisely can lead you to a great used car. Being too hasty can cause you to buy a lemon. If you do a thorough analysis of a car, you can come away with a car that will stand the test of time. Deciding on a vehicle you are looking to purchase is the first step. Make your decision about what you’re looking for in a car before stepping onto the car lot, or calling a private party. It’s advisable to have an idea on how much mileage your “new” car could have, as well as some sense of how many features you’d like.

To begin, check online for car values and visit car sales sites. You will get a feel for what the base price will be on the car you choose. Beware of a deal that’s too good to believe. It usually is. If the price tag on the vehicle is too low, it can signal that the car will require costly repairs later on.

Don’t forget to check your state’s Lemon Laws. These laws help prevent the sales of abnormally poor vehicles – lemons – which are defined as vehicles requiring a certain number of repairs for a certain number of problems within a given period of time, most often 30 to 45 days.

When you look at your states specific laws, make sure to check for the exact details. With the law on your side, you should have more courage to ask the hard questions that will keep you from purchasing a lemon. Writing down and looking up the VIN number can help you avoid the purchase of a lemon. For cars you’re seriously considering, grab the VIN number. It’s located on the driver’s side of the dashboard, close to the windshield. You can use the VIN, plus $20, to obtain a report on the vehicle. Even the most thorough inspection can only tell you about the car today, but a VIN report can uncover everything in the car’s past. It will include anything from accidents to expensive repairs. While low cost may usually be bad, don’t count out a low cost car too quickly, if it’s through a dealer. While a dealer may be more expensive than a private party, the cars they sell are often thoroughly inspected and include a warranty. This could be a great way to avoid a lemon. Make sure you are not buying a lemon, but that you are getting a good value. Low cost is not the only aspect of purchasing a used car.

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Avoid a Car Rental Nightmare

admin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:00:26 +0000

It won’t take much effort to find car rental disaster stories. Just a few online searches and you will see them. In fact, research will show that some rental companies have a worse reputation than others. Online searches will bring up stories of people charged for insurance they didn’t want or charged for damage they didn’t cause, of cars not be serviced when they are due and even a bumper falling a car as it was being driven down the road.
While it is impossible to avoid a bad experience completely, taking a few precautions will keep the chance of having your very own car rental horror story to a minimum.
First Objective: Successfully book your car hire
This should be easy, but instead for many it is a confusing search of prices, car types and fine print. These steps should help ease the confusion.
Book well in advance
Make sure to book well in advance, car rental prices tend to go up the closer you get to the pick up date, not down. Prices work on a simple supply and demand system; they go up as availability goes down. If you are travelling to Europe and require an automatic car you will need to book months in advance in order to secure one, especially in Italy where they are particularly rare. If you are travelling during the holidays, Christmas and Easter in particular, making a reservation around three months ahead is ideal. This way you will have the best chance of getting a car at a normal price. After this point the prices just start to go up. Most car rental companies sell out for the holidays, resulting in many travellers panicking in the last couple of weeks before a major holiday as they struggle to secure a car. Those that are lucky enough to find a car will be forced to pay very high prices, three or four times a normal rate. Don’t be one of these people. The summer is also another peak period to prepare for. Many locations have low or no availability during the summer so if you are booking last minute you may have trouble finding a good price and the car type you want.
Make a car rental reservation
To get started make a list of the basics: where and when you want to pick up the car and where and when you want to bring it back, what size car you need and do you want an automatic or manual gear box. These details are especially important if you are contacting various rental companies by email to get quotes. Make sure you provide them to avoid unnecessary emailing. Also do a little research on the various rental companies and avoid the worst offenders even if they are offering the cheapest price. No rental company is perfect so you will just have to narrow down your options.
Next you will want to research prices. When you do this make sure you are taking the full offer into account. Do the rates offered include taxes, location fees, mandatory insurances, break down cover and unlimited mileage? You will discover that most of the rates offered for car rentals in Europe are inclusive of all mandatory charges. But make sure you know this for certain, because if they are not included in the rate offered and they will be added when you pick up your car, making for an unpleasant surprise. If you are unsure about anything email the rental company, sometimes this is better than the telephone as you will get a response in writing. Which might solve any problems that may occur down the line. The rental company will have a hard time arguing written correspondence but they could deny any thing they said on the phone.
Once you are satisfied with a price make your reservation. If you book online you should get a confirmation voucher within a certain time period, this can range from instantly to a couple of days. If you do not receive your confirmation voucher within a couple of days don’t hesitate to email the rental company. Maybe there is some kind of problem confirming your reservation or your voucher was sent but it was blocked by your email spam guard and it is necessary to find another way of getting your booking information to you.
Second Objective: Pick up your car without a hitch
It is important to have your wits about you on arrival at the rental desk, you may be tired and have the urge to breeze through the paper work, grab your keys and go. But it is best to resist this urge at all costs, you won’t regret it. When you speak to the rental desk clerk you will be asked if you want any optional insurances, such as a Super Damage Waiver. The SDW reduces your liability to zero or an amount much less than you would be charged in the event of damage to the car. To take this extra insurance is a personal choice, however it is not usually mandatory and it is one of the major ways car rental companies make money. If you are only renting for a couple of days then the expense of this insurance may make it worth getting for your own peace of mind, but for longer rentals think carefully. The cost of the SDW may end up being close to the excess liability amount so do really get much benefit from it.
Read your contract carefully
The most important thing you need to do at the rental desk is to read your rental contract and receipt very carefully, this is where many people get stung. What happens is that extra insurances get charged to your credit card even if you specifically say you do not want them. This seems to be a common “mistake” made by rental clerks. Make sure you are also clear about the fuel policy, most rental companies require you to bring the car back with a full tank or else they charge you an inflated rate for fuel. Before you sign anything ensure that every charge and policy you are unsure of is explained to you. Don’t be afraid to ask about everything, it is your wallet that ends up worse off if there are errors. Once the rental company has your signature there is little you can do to get refunded for any charges you were unaware of.
Third Objective: Drive away and enjoy your trip
Once you find your car in the parking lot it is very important to give it a good going over. If you see any dents, dirt or scratches make sure that the rental company takes note of them before you drive away. Otherwise you could be blamed and end up being charged the full excess amount, which is usually in the hundreds of dollars. If you want to be really cautious check the oil and make sure that it is not due to be changed.
Fourth Objective: Return the Car
In most cases you will need to return you car rental with a full tank of fuel. There is usually a gas(petrol) station near to the car rental drop off location. It is best to use the closest possible option and to fill the car as much as possible so it cannot be claimed that the tank isn’t quite a full. Return the car keys and agree any extra charges with the rental company.
Quick Summary
-Plan what you need
-Do some research
-Make sure you understand the rate and terms
-Book well in advance
-Check your contract and receipt carefully before you sign
-Check you car carefully for any damage before you drive away
-Return the car with a full tank (make sure you are clear on this policy at the rental desk)

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Preventative Car Maintenance in Summer Helps to Avoid Breakdowns

admin — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:59:14 +0000

Preventative car maintenance in summer months is not much different from what it takes to maintain cars in winter. In summer, you have to regularly check and maintain the mechanical components of the car to tackle the rigors of the hot summer conditions. The following tips on preventative car maintenance in summer assures you trouble less rides:

The very first thing you need to take care is the cooling system. During the hotter months, the cooling system works more intensely to prevent overheating of the engine. For the mechanism to work effectively, the coolant and water mixture for a vehicle’s radiator should measure to 50:50.

The next point about preventative car maintenance in summer is tire pressure. Tire pressure is important in all contexts – irrespective of whether it is for speed or for safety reasons. If you need your car’s tires to last long and perform efficiently, you will need to inflate them properly. Properly pumped up tires help maintain the best possible contact with the road giving the vehicle steadiness and speed. Inflating tires improperly, on the other hand, leads problems like punctures.

Refer to your owner’s manual for the ideal air-pressure for your vehicle’s tire. Remember, summer heat causes the pressure within the tire to rise; hence, you will be required to check the air pressure when the tires are cold.

The subsequent preventative measure for your car’s maintenance involves engine oil. The owner’s manual specifically mentions the best engine oil for your vehicle during hot summers. Yet, the general rule for engine oil necessitates you to use a little thick, viscous oil, which lubricates the integral parts of the engine.

Next in order of importance is the car’s battery. Car batteries hardly signal failure well ahead of time. It is advisable to leave all cares of car-batteries to professionals, especially in summertime when the excessive heat causes further damage to it. Changing your car battery every three years will save you a lot of trouble.

Beside these essential tips about preventative car maintenance in summer months, your cars need some lesser yet significant maintenance programs too. Replacing belts and hoses is one such car-care as is inspecting the wipers and wiper fluids.

Round up your preventative car maintenance in summer time by placing an emergency kit including basic tools like flashlights, pliers, screwdrivers, wrenches, etc. inside your car. With your car ready to budge, you can hoard some rations if you are really thinking of a long journey. Placing a first-aid kit in the car will make your journey 100% safe.

David Maillie holds numerous patents including his recently awarded patent for headlight repair, cleaner and restorer. He can be reached at M.D. Wholesale:
MDwholesale.com

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Tips To Avoid Car Insurance Premium Increases & Becoming Assigned Risk

admin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 03:00:52 +0000

Below are some tips to reduce your auto insurance bill, prevent
substantial premium increases and avoid becoming assigned risk.

Claim Reports: You know about credit reports, you should also
know about claim reports. C.L.U.E.® (Comprehensive Loss
Underwriting Exchange), is a claim report service provided by
ChoicePoint, Inc. ChoicePoint, Inc. states on their web site
“C.L.U.E. is a claim history information exchange that enables
insurance companies to access prior claim information in the
underwriting and rating process. C.L.U.E. Personal Property
reports contain up to five years of personal property claims
matching the search criteria submitted by the inquiring
insurance company. Data provided in C.L.U.E. reports includes
policy information such as name, date of birth and policy
number, and claim information such as date of loss, type of loss
and amounts paid.”

Tip: C.L.U.E. reports contain information on claims history by a
residence address. Just like credit reports, a C.L.U.E. report
may have errors. It is advisable to obtain a copy of your
C.L.U.E. report at ChoiceTrust.com to check your report for
errors.

Credit reports: Insurance companies are now looking at credit
reports to determine future premiums. They have determined that
people with better credit scores have fewer claims.
Consequently, if you have a poor credit report you may find
yourself paying more for car insurance.

Tip: Always make at least the minimum payment for your bills on
time, particularly your insurance bill.

Glass Coverage: Most auto insurance salespeople recommend “full”
glass coverage for an additional premium, when you purchase
collision coverage for your car. They remind you how much it
costs to replace all your windows if broken by a vandal. What
they do not tell you, and it is unlikely that they would even
know (I would only trust the answer from an underwriter, not a
sales representative), is whether your insurance company will
use a previous glass claim to increase your future premium and
whether they will report your glass claims to C.L.U.E.

Some insurance companies will report glass claims to C.L.U.E.
and then use these claims to raise your premium or even worse,
cancel your car insurance policy making you assigned risk with a
substantial premium increase. Allstate notified me that after
four claims in less than five years, they terminated my auto
insurance policy and then offered to sell me coverage in their
Indemnity Company with a shocking premium increase. These claims
consisted of two claims for a broken windshield, one for a
stolen and recovered car and one accident.

I had a sports car and had to endure a total premium increase
over a period of four years of approximately $12,000 and remain
claim free before I became eligible for coverage outside of the
assigned risk pool. I wrote a letter to the president of
Allstate complaining that they should not have considered my
glass claims when canceling my car insurance because the glass
claims were made under a separate part of the policy for which I
paid a separate and additional premium. Allstate responded in a
letter stating “Although this claim activity does not indicate
that you were directly at fault in each loss, the frequency and
severity of the above losses was not within our range of
acceptability. After careful review, I regret to inform you that
we cannot reverse our original decision regarding the above
policy. We have however continued to offer coverage in our
Indemnity Company.”

Tip: Check with the underwriting department of your insurance
company to see if they will consider glass claims when assessing
premiums or if they report glass claims to C.L.U.E. If yes, do
not make a glass claim. The two windshields which Allstate
provided me with were aftermarket windshields which would have
cost me less than $300 each. During the last 30 years of my
driving history, I have experienced two broken front
windshields, one broken rear windshield and two broken side
windows. While the financial risk of totaling a car can be
substantial, the financial risk of replacing a windshield is
comparatively insignificant. It does not make sense to file a
glass claim if it will increase your premium. You may even want
to decline this coverage altogether and save the premium.

Tip for leased vehicles: Some lease agreements require that the
car be returned with an OEM windshield. If you lease a car and
replace a front windshield using your “full” glass coverage,
insist that the insurance company provide you with an OEM
windshield from the manufacturer. If you pay for the windshield
yourself, check your lease agreement carefully to see if you
must use an OEM windshield from the manufacturer or if you can
use an aftermarket windshield. Some people with leased cars who
have replaced a windshield with an aftermarket windshield are
shocked, when they return their car, to find that the leasing
company is charging them $800 for a new OEM windshield, even
though the aftermarket windshield is in perfect condition.

Car Rental & Towing Coverage: While it may be a good idea to
have this coverage, it is not always a good idea to use it. Some
people have realized that this coverage is not just available
when an accident has occurred. For instance, some people have
used the car rental coverage when their car was in a repair shop
or the towing coverage when their car broke down on the road. As
with glass coverage, using this coverage may be the same as
filing a claim.

Tip: Check with the underwriting department of your insurance
company to see if they will consider rental or towing claims
when assessing premiums or if they report these claims to
C.L.U.E. If yes, do not use car rental or towing coverage unless
you have had an accident, in which case it will be part of the
accident claim. If you are concerned about towing costs when
your car breaks down, you can buy one of the roadside assistance
memberships such as the one available from AAA which provides
additional benefits not provided by your automobile insurance
policy

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Certain Things To Avoid When Buying A Used Car

admin — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 07:03:22 +0000

Nowadays, life can be pretty hard. Everything is increasing with prices escalating out of site! This makes us all targets of potential scams and frauds. With all these swindlers and scammers lurking just about anywhere, it is best to always be on guard and to know the things to be avoided in order to prevent the probability of being a victim of frauds and swindles. Consequently, people who are buying used cars should also be aware of the different fraudulent activities being employed by unscrupulous people in order to have the best buy of used cars. Moreover, people who are aware that the cars they have bought are stolen, chances are, they will be held liable. Here are some things to avoid when buying used cars: 1. Used car buyers should avoid any transactions that are “too good to be true.” This will only make the matter worst if the buyer will believe that the deal is the best-used car deal ever. 2. Buyers should avoid buying used cars from sellers that do not provide a permanent address or the actual place of work of the phone number given. 3. It is important for a buyer to check on the VIN or the vehicle identification number plate. It must be securely fastened onto the used car’s dashboard, with no rivets that are loosened. Loosened rivets would mean that the VIN plate does not fit or it has been previously removed. 4. Also, the buyer should also avoid buying used cars that have VIN plates that are touched up, its paint is newly retouched, and the numbers look as if they are not the original “factory numbers.” VIN plates can be easily swapped by a thief and use those that are taken from a destroyed vehicle. 5. As much as possible, it would be better to avoid buying a used car that is freshly painted. There are instances wherein the stolen car’s identity is being changed through changing its paint color. 6. Used car buyers should avoid buying cars from a seller that cannot present the car’s “insurance policy.” This could mean that the car is stolen or the seller is not the true owner of the car. It is extremely important for the buyers to take note of these things before buying a used car. An ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure!

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