Terms of Use Before you start shopping for a car, you’ll need to do some homework. Spending time now may save you serious money later. Think about your driving habits, your needs, and your budget. You can learn about car models, options, and prices by reading newspaper ads, both display and classified. There is a wealth of information about used cars on the Internet: enter used car as the keywords and you’ll find additional information on how to buy a used car, detailed instru  More...

Terms of Use A new car is second only to a home as the most expensive purchase many consumers make. That’s why it’s important to know how to make a smart deal. Think about what car model and options you want and how much you’re willing to spend. Do some research. You’ll be less likely to feel pressured into making a hasty or expensive decision at the showroom and more likely to get a better deal. Before determining what vehicle you want to get, consider the following: H  More...

Terms of Use: When getting a new vehicle you have two options: leasing and buying. In almost all cases, leasing will only make good financial sense if you generally get a new vehicle every couple of years or if you can write the leasing expense off as a business expense. When you lease a vehicle you are effectively renting it with the option to purchase it at the end of the lease. Below are some simple comparisons between leasing and buying. Ownership: Leasing: You do not own the vehicle. At the  More...

Terms of Use: Here are some helpful Web sites to check out when buying a new or used vehicle: Better Business Bureau - www.bbb.org Carfax, Inc. - www.carfax.com Consumers' Checkbook - CarBargains - www.carbargains.org Edmunds.com, Inc . - www.edmunds.com - gives the True Market Value, or average selling price, for a particular vehicle in your region. Consumer Reports . - www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars.htm Kelly Blue Book - www.kbb.com National Automobile Dealers Association (N  More...

Terms of Use Under the federal Consumer Leasing Act, you, the consumer, have a right to information about the costs and terms of a vehicle lease . This information will help you compare lease offers and negotiate a lease that best fits your needs, budget, and driving patterns. The most common type of vehicle lease is a closed-end lease. With a closed-end lease, you may return the vehicle at the end of the lease term, pay any end-of-lease costs, and walk away. The following compares common t  More...

Terms of Use You've decided to buy a new or used car. But how do you go about getting the best car loan? Your financing options (other than paying cash or borrowing from family or friends) include dealer or manufacturer financing, online auto loans, and financing through your credit union, bank or other financial institution. You've seen the advertisements for rebates, zero financing, no money down... but these might not be the best deal for you. Be prepared to do some comparison s  More...

Terms of Use When it comes to buying a car, you want to make a well-informed decision. Here are some tips to avoid making a costly mistake: Check out different vehicles . Several Internet sites can help you compare features and prices on new motor vehicles. Go to www.popularmechanics.com to see the 7 best sites for buying or selling a car online. ?Visit www.truecar.com to see what others paid for cars you're interested in. Two popular magazines offer information in print and online co  More...

Terms of Use Buying a used car is a great way to stretch your dollar, but you'll want to learn these used car facts BEFORE you shop. GET THE USED CAR FACTS FIRST The price of new cars has steadily climbed over the past few years making used vehicles more attractive than ever. Because new vehicles lose so much of their value as soon as they're purchased, car shoppers are increasingly turning to previously owned cars as a smart financial alternative. Today, thanks to manufacturing and  More...

Terms of Use The only leverage any customer has with a new car dealer is the possibility that he or she will walk out and either buy a car from another dealer or not buy one at all. To get a good price, you need simply set up a competitive bidding process. You have to be careful, thorough, and persistent, but you don't have to know all the intricacies of the car business. You can start the bidding process after you've decided on the make, model, and style of car you want (Ford Tauru  More...

Terms of Use Your car may be the key to your freedom and independence . No more bus schedules , cab fares , or hitching rides from friends and family . But what is the true cost of this convenience ? It may be hard to measure the intrinsic value of owning a car , but it's important to consider the overall cost of your vehicle . First , there's annual ownership cost : Annual cost , assuming a loss due to depreciation , wear and tear , etc . over 6 years ( the amount of time we'll as  More...