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Are Women Charged More?

An article worth reading from Carla Swick at AxleAddict.com

Are Women Charged More for Car Repairs? 6 Tips to Help Women at the Mechanic

Updated on January 24, 2019

Carla J Swick  moreContact Author

Source

9 in 10 women believe they are treated differently at auto repair shops than men are.

“I have some bad news for you.” I was getting tired of hearing this same line over and over this past year as I attempted to keep my daughter’s late model Ford on the road. When my mechanic would call, I would brace myself and just wait for that line – it always came.

Finally, two mechanics later, I cut my losses and sold the car to salvage. I had no way of knowing whether the repairs to the car (which cost me at least $2000) were valid and every time we turned around the car was back in the shop, never really fixed and always breaking the bank.

Are Women Tricked Into Spending More Money at Auto Repair Shops?

“Nine in ten women believe they are treated differently at auto repair shops than men are,” says Jessica Anderson, Kiplinger.com. The information is from a national study done by the Car Care Council, an association that encourages consumer education.

According to Danielle Kurtzleben of US News, three Northwestern researchers wanted to know if women were treated differently based on their gender. Their study showed, “…that shops appear to have an attitude that ‘if you’re well informed you get the price that we cite to well-informed people, and if you’re poorly informed, whether you’re a man or woman, we cite you the price that we cite to poorly informed people.'” Apparently, women fall into this category more readily than man.

The Huffington Post shared a story about the Nightline Prime series called “The Lookout” wherein undercover cameras were sent to local mechanics and national chains – their findings, according to Huffington were, “… men were more likely to get only what they came into the shop for, while women were more often lied to and tricked into spending more money. Most of the time, the additional work the women were paying for wasn’t even done, as there wasn’t a problem to begin with.”

6 Tips to Avoid Being Scammed

In light of my research, not all mechanics will overcharge for repairs. Many are doing an honest job, so this is not an article to ‘raise your hackles!” This is an article to assist women in making sure that they know how to negotiate a fair deal. I decided to find out and better prepare myself for the future. Here is some of what was discovered and I’ve written up as 6 tips to assist you:

Many experts are pointing to a free app called, Repair Pal. The site offers a free “estimator” that allows you to plug in your vehicle information and then provides you with a close estimate of what the repair should cost in your area.

Author Lauren Fix also recommends using an ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) mechanic. A sign should be posted in a visible location at the shop. The ASE site says, “The non-profit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) works to improve the quality of vehicle repair and service by testing and certifying automotive professionals. Today, more than 330,000 professionals hold ASE certifications, and work in every part of the automotive service industry. Just look for the blue-and-white ASE insignia.”

Fix also recommends that you go armed to a mechanic with as much information as possible about the issue your car is having by asking yourself questions such as: What does it sound like? What does it smell like? What does it feel like? For instance, if a car smells like “rotten eggs”, this information can help a mechanic pinpoint issues easier.

Audra Fordin is a woman and a mechanic. She offer 10 tips that are worth reading. Tips as simple as “maintain correct tire pressure” and “ask your mechanic to show you the problem” help you know your car better and maintain good upkeep as well as assure you that you aren’t getting ripped off.

Along with showing you the problem, Fran Lostys (Reader’s Digest) says you should, “Always ask for your old parts back.” You or someone you know who knows cars needs to inspect the parts for wear or breakage. Don’t hesitate to ask your mechanic for a demonstration of what exactly is broken or damaged on the part. “This way,” says Lostys, “you’ll know they’ve been changed.”

Finally, I’ll add my own tip. Let your husband deal with car repairs or take a man (boyfriend, brother, cousin, friend) with you if you can. Why? In my personal experience – men listen better to men. And in the world of automobiles, we’ve already seen that mechanics typically assume that women know less than men. When it comes to cars, there’s a certain amount of the “good ole boys” mentality. Take a man with you if you can—you’re less apt to get ripped off. I have not proved this theory, but I highly suspect it’s true in some cases. In short, it can’t hurt.

AAA Survey on Car Repair

  1 in 4Could not pay for a car repair of $20001 in 8Could not pay for a car repair of $100050%Percentage of American drivers holding onto older vehicles because of financial reasons25%Percentage of American drivers neglecting repairs and maintenance due to economic reasons38%Percentage of American drivers who would use savings to pay for $2000 car repair bill20%Percentage of American drivers who would use a credit card to pay for $2000 car repair bill

http://newsroom.aaa.com/2011/08/1-in-4-cant-pay-for-major-car-repair/ August 3, 2011

Conclusion

In conclusion, I’ve learned about this topic the hard way. Hopefully, with these tips and a few tools women can better navigate the car repair world finding a fair and honest price from mechanics for needed fixes.

NOTE: IF you have a complaint that you cannot settle with an automotive shop manager, different states handle automotive complaints different ways and you’ll need to do a little research before moving forward.

://axleaddict.com/auto-repair/How-Can-a-Woman-Know-her-Mechanic-is-Legit-Six-Tips-for-Managing-Car-Repairs

from Updates About Auto Repair https://dontgetwrenched.wordpress.com/2019/10/04/are-women-charged-more/

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What to Know When Buying a Car: A Guide on How to Get the Best Deal

The average car salesperson sells about 10 cars per month. Take that number and multiply it by the number of salespeople there are working at each dealership in America and you’ve got a whole lot of cars changing hands every year.

If you’re going to be among the many buyers that pick up a new or used vehicle in the next 12-months, you’re going to want to educate yourself on what to know when buying a car to ensure that you walk away with the best deal. Our team has talked to experts and weighed our own experiences to do the heavy lifting for you on that front.

Below, we share 8 steps that will maximize the value of your next car purchase.

1. Do Extensive Research

What to know when buying a car almost 100% comes down to doing basic research. You need to know which kinds of cars are best for you and how much those cars cost on average. So, before you spend a Sunday exploring dealerships, spend a Saturday exploring the internet to find out what it is that you’re looking for and how much you can expect to pay for it.

2. See If You Can Secure Financing Before Shopping

Most people that buy cars will look to lenders to help them out with financing since purchasing a car all-cash could cost thousands of dollars. To understand how much car you can afford prior to shopping around, we recommend looking into getting financing before visiting dealerships.

Banks and credit unions both offer vehicle financing to qualified buyers that you can look into. You can also visit these experts which work directly with dealerships to source you financing offers and will work with customers that have bad credit.

3. Explore Dealership Inventories Online

At this point, you should know what kind of car(s) you’re looking for, what an acceptable price is for that car and how much car you can afford per the financing offers you’ve received. You’re now ready to start browsing local inventories to see which cars are available in your market.

Tools like AutoTrader are very helpful when it comes to inventory browsing because they index multiple dealership’s inventories and allow you to filter down car options so you can see who’s carrying the exact make/model of car that you’re looking for.

4. Visit Dealers With Promising Inventories

After you’ve shortlisted a few dealerships that have cars you might be interested in, visit those dealerships in person. Find the cars that you were looking at online and confirm that they’re in the same condition that they were advertised to be in. Then, test drive them to make sure that everything runs smoothly.

If you like the car you’re assessing, you can begin the negotiation process.

5. Negotiate With Your Magic Number in Mind

Negotiating a car’s price is the most intimidating part of completing vehicle purchases. Unfortunately, though, negotiation is an integral component of the what to know when buying a car formula, especially if you’re looking to get the best deal.

In order to strengthen your negotiating position, try to appear on the fence as you test drive and analyze your vehicle. If you seem too impressed, your salesperson may feel more validated in driving up their price.

When it comes time to make an offer on the car, know your “magic number” and present it to your salesperson as such. Your magic number is the price that would lead you to buy the car right now. Let your salesperson know that if they can’t hit your magic number, you’ll keep the car in mind but will continue shopping around.

Chances are, your salesperson will meet your number if it’s reasonable. If it’s not, they’ll either counteroffer or tell you to look elsewhere.

6. Keep Your Trade-In to Yourself

If your salesperson asks if you’ll be trading in a car, tell them that you don’t think so. If they don’t ask about a trade-in, don’t mention anything.

Always try to negotiate the lowest price possible without letting your salesperson know that you’ll be looking for trade-in credit. Then, once you’ve landed on a great price, bring up your trade-in to drive down the price even further.

Mentioning your trade-in early could lead to salespeople being more aggressive in their pricing since they know that you’ll be getting a discount with your trade-in vehicle.

7. Never Buy Anything During the Closing Process

When you’re signing your final paperwork on your car, your dealership will try to sell you everything from alarms to warranties. Say no to everything.

Whatever it is that they’re selling, you can get cheaper from a third party.

8. Keep Your Leverage by Being Prepared to Walk Away

Sometimes, it’s a seller’s market in the car industry. During these periods, salespeople are going to be less inclined to cut your deals.

The best thing that you can do if salespeople don’t seem willing to work with you is to be open walking away. If you’re willing to walk away from a bad deal, you hold a ton of leverage in a negotiation.

Wrapping Up Our What to Know When Buying a Car Guide

If you understand what to know when buying a car and take the time to learn those pertinates, you’re going to be better equipped to score a great deal on a vehicle purchase.

Take our guide to heart to save money on your next car transaction! Also, feel free to read more of the stellar car content that we have right here on our blog if you need additional car-buying inspiration!

The post What to Know When Buying a Car: A Guide on How to Get the Best Deal appeared first on Auto-Facts.org.

from Updates About Auto Repair https://www.auto-facts.org/7653/what-to-know-when-buying-a-car-a-guide-on-how-to-get-the-best-deal/

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Car Battery Guide: How to Choose the Right Battery for Your Car

Car batteries can last 2 to 6 years depending on a variety of factors. No matter how much time you squeeze out of yours, it’s eventually going to kick the bucket. When it does, what are you going to do?

Buy a new battery of course!

Unfortunately, buying a new battery isn’t as simple as waltzing into the battery store and just pulling a unit off of a shelf. Car batteries leverage different kinds of technology to retain their charges and output power. They also come in different sizes and possess unique features that can be beneficial depending on your climate.

Bottom line, you’re going to have to do a little bit of homework to make sure that you buy the right car battery. This brief car battery guide can help!

1. Size Matters

Wouldn’t it be great if vehicles used a one-size-fits-all battery? It would certainly make shopping a lot easier…

Since one-size-fits-all batteries haven’t crashed the market yet, you need to understand what your car’s “battery grouping” is in order to purchase a unit that fits in your battery tray.

Group sizes range from 24 to 65 and knowing which grouping you’re in is as easy as cracking open your car’s manual. Don’t have your manual? Look up your car’s make and model online to determine its grouping number.

2. Understand the Importance of Age

New batteries aren’t always new. One of the intricacies of car batteries that any good car battery guide will clue you in on is that a battery’s “manufacture date” can have a big impact on performance.

You’ll want to make sure that your battery wasn’t manufactured more than 6-months prior to your purchase date to ensure that you’re going to get the most out of it. Your battery’s manufacture date can be found on its body.

3. Pick a Brand

In a perfect world, you’d just buy a battery from whichever company is specified in your car’s manual. If there’s a great deal going on that’s making another brand look attractive though, feel free to shop around.

Just make sure that the brand you buy is well-reviewed and is fully compatible with your car’s engine. For example, no matter how many benefits of lithium batteries there are, if you were to put one in a car that only accepts acid batteries, you could damage your engine.

4. Shop for a Good RC Rating

RC stands for “reserve capacity”. That number on a battery tells you how long it can keep a car going if its alternator fails. Getting a battery with a high RC rating could prove very valuable in an emergency situation.

5. Keep Cold Weather Considerations in Mind

If you’re driving your car in a cold area, pay special mind to your battery’s CCA figure. CCA (cold crank amps) lets you know how reliable your battery is going to be when starting up your engine in below-freezing weather.

The higher the number, the better your battery will perform.

Keep Our Car Battery Guide in Mind and Start Shopping

Now that our car battery guide has briefed you on battery basics, take what you’ve just learned and walk into your local auto parts store with confidence. Armed with our tips, you’ll be able to ask the right questions and walk away with the perfect battery for your four-wheeled friend.

For more advice on all things cars, check out additional content right here on our site!

The post Car Battery Guide: How to Choose the Right Battery for Your Car appeared first on Auto-Facts.org.

from Updates About Auto Repair https://www.auto-facts.org/7647/car-battery-guide-how-to-choose-the-right-battery-for-your-car-2/

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Car Battery Guide: How to Choose the Right Battery for Your Car

Car batteries can last 2 to 6 years depending on a variety of factors. No matter how much time you squeeze out of yours, it’s eventually going to kick the bucket. When it does, what are you going to do?

Buy a new battery of course!

Unfortunately, buying a new battery isn’t as simple as waltzing into the battery store and just pulling a unit off of a shelf. Car batteries leverage different kinds of technology to retain their charges and output power. They also come in different sizes and possess unique features that can be beneficial depending on your climate.

Bottom line, you’re going to have to do a little bit of homework to make sure that you buy the right car battery. This brief car battery guide can help!

1. Size Matters

Wouldn’t it be great if vehicles used a one-size-fits-all battery? It would certainly make shopping a lot easier…

Since one-size-fits-all batteries haven’t crashed the market yet, you need to understand what your car’s “battery grouping” is in order to purchase a unit that fits in your battery tray.

Group sizes range from 24 to 65 and knowing which grouping you’re in is as easy as cracking open your car’s manual. Don’t have your manual? Look up your car’s make and model online to determine its grouping number.

2. Understand the Importance of Age

New batteries aren’t always new. One of the intricacies of car batteries that any good car battery guide will clue you in on is that a battery’s “manufacture date” can have a big impact on performance.

You’ll want to make sure that your battery wasn’t manufactured more than 6-months prior to your purchase date to ensure that you’re going to get the most out of it. Your battery’s manufacture date can be found on its body.

3. Pick a Brand

In a perfect world, you’d just buy a battery from whichever company is specified in your car’s manual. If there’s a great deal going on that’s making another brand look attractive though, feel free to shop around.

Just make sure that the brand you buy is well-reviewed and is fully compatible with your car’s engine. For example, no matter how many benefits of lithium batteries there are, if you were to put one in a car that only accepts acid batteries, you could damage your engine.

4. Shop for a Good RC Rating

RC stands for “reserve capacity”. That number on a battery tells you how long it can keep a car going if its alternator fails. Getting a battery with a high RC rating could prove very valuable in an emergency situation.

5. Keep Cold Weather Considerations in Mind

If you’re driving your car in a cold area, pay special mind to your battery’s CCA figure. CCA (cold crank amps) lets you know how reliable your battery is going to be when starting up your engine in below-freezing weather.

The higher the number, the better your battery will perform.

Keep Our Car Battery Guide in Mind and Start Shopping

Now that our car battery guide has briefed you on battery basics, take what you’ve just learned and walk into your local auto parts store with confidence. Armed with our tips, you’ll be able to ask the right questions and walk away with the perfect battery for your four-wheeled friend.

For more advice on all things cars, check out additional content right here on our site!

The post Car Battery Guide: How to Choose the Right Battery for Your Car appeared first on Auto-Facts.org.

from Updates About Auto Repair https://www.auto-facts.org/7649/car-battery-guide-how-to-choose-the-right-battery-for-your-car-3/

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How to Choose the Best Auto Paint For Your Car, Truck, or Motorcycle

When it comes to painting your car, it’s a job that’s best done by the professionals. But, that doesn’t mean you don’t have any work to do! 

Before you can take your car in for a fresh paint job, you have to seriously consider what the best auto paint is for your vehicle. Think about the various kinds of auto paint, the many bases or forms that auto paint comes in, and the manufacturers of auto paint, too.

Here’s a closer look at everything you should consider when deciding on auto paint.

1. Know Your Type

There are three main types of auto paint available to choose from when painting your vehicle: urethane, acrylic, and lacquer. 

Urethane auto paint is known for its durability and shine. It’s a low-maintenance kind of paint that is likely to last you for many years. Plus, urethane paint dries the quickest of all auto paint types, so you can enjoy a quick turnaround (and low labor costs) for results you’ll be enjoying long after you leave the auto shop.

Acrylic auto pain takes about twice as long as urethane paint to apply and dry – prolonging work on a vehicle as multiple coats are applied. However, what this option lacks in speed, it makes up for in quality and safety. 

Many drivers think acrylic is well worth the extra wait to invest in something that has just as good of a visual appeal, but not as many safety concerns. Acrylic paint doesn’t use as many toxic chemicals in the painting process the way that urethane and lacquer do. It’s just as durable as urethane and has a nice look to it.

Speaking of toxic materials, be cautious about using lacquer auto paint. It has the most safety concerns of all paint types – so much that it’s banned in certain parts of the United States. It’s also hard to come by in other areas that aren’t as heavily regulated. 

2. Learn the Lingo

There’s much more to choosing the best auto paint than understanding the main kinds of paint out there. You also have to consider whether you’d like a single-stage or two-stage paint, and the base of the paint as well. 

Single-stage vs. Two-stage Paint

Single-stage paint is basically the quick, one-step solution to painting your car. It combines what would traditionally be a separate base coat and top coat into one kind of paint. This speeds up the process of painting your car by a significant amount, and it looks just as good as most two-step paint jobs. 

If you don’t mind the extra time, two-stage paint is also a good option. By keeping the base coat and top coat separate, you can ensure that the results last a bit longer than what a single-stage paint job may endure.

Keep in mind that two-stage paints require a few layers of clear coat to go on top of the color. This adds to the amount of time and money your car’s makeover will need, but it’s worth the investment.

Solvent-based vs. Water-based 

Another thing to think about is the base of the auto paints you’re interested in.

Solvent-based paints are made with chemicals meant to strongly adhere the paint to the car’s service. Unfortunately, these toxins are also strong in smell, which can be a serious downside. Solvent-based auto paints also don’t dry as quickly as water-based ones do. 

Not to mention, water-based auto paints are typically much safer. They don’t come with as many toxins in them and they actually spread and adhere to vehicles very well. This means you can do more with less and get a great final product. 

3. Research the Top Auto Paint Brands  

The final step in the auto paint selection process is to research the various manufacturers of auto paint. This may not seem like a big deal, but it’s well worth looking into – especially if you have a high-end car that requires specific tools and resources, or if you want the absolute best look even if you’re on a budget.  

The more you know about the different auto paint brands – their pros, cons, and what each brand specializes in – the more you can make a truly informed decision.

After all, you wouldn’t want to spend so much time researching auto paint only to buy a sub-par brand for your high-end car. Or, you may not need to splurge on a luxury brand if you’re just looking to give your old car a bit of love.

There’s also the chance that you end up looking into auto paints that are made specifically for motorcycles or trucks. If you do happen to have a bike sitting around, this complete guide can help you figure out all the ins and outs of motorcycle paint jobs. For a truck, you may want to consider an auto paint’s durability if you like to go off-roading or are typically doing tough jobs with it.

Whatever your goal is, it’s best to learn everything you can about the brands available to you before making your buying decision.

Tips for Finding the Best Auto Paint Color

Just when you think you’ve found the absolute best auto paint for your car, take a moment to think about the look and feel you’re going for! Whether you’re just refreshing the color that your car was originally made in or if you’re trying to transform it with a new look, seriously consider the style you want your car to have. 

Take a step back and try to imagine your car with a classic black or a fun red paint job before you start laying coats of paint on it. You may be surprised to find yourself leaning toward a new color than what you originally set out thinking your car would have.  

The post How to Choose the Best Auto Paint For Your Car, Truck, or Motorcycle appeared first on Auto-Facts.org.

from Updates About Auto Repair https://www.auto-facts.org/7651/how-to-choose-the-best-auto-paint-for-your-car-truck-or-motorcycle/

[thomaskwilke]

Car Battery Guide: How to Choose the Right Battery for Your Car

Car batteries can last 2 to 6 years depending on a variety of factors. No matter how much time you squeeze out of yours, it’s eventually going to kick the bucket. When it does, what are you going to do?

Buy a new battery of course!

Unfortunately, buying a new battery isn’t as simple as waltzing into the battery store and just pulling a unit off of a shelf. Car batteries leverage different kinds of technology to retain their charges and output power. They also come in different sizes and possess unique features that can be beneficial depending on your climate.

Bottom line, you’re going to have to do a little bit of homework to make sure that you buy the right car battery. This brief car battery guide can help!

1. Size Matters

Wouldn’t it be great if vehicles used a one-size-fits-all battery? It would certainly make shopping a lot easier…

Since one-size-fits-all batteries haven’t crashed the market yet, you need to understand what your car’s “battery grouping” is in order to purchase a unit that fits in your battery tray.

Group sizes range from 24 to 65 and knowing which grouping you’re in is as easy as cracking open your car’s manual. Don’t have your manual? Look up your car’s make and model online to determine its grouping number.

2. Understand the Importance of Age

New batteries aren’t always new. One of the intricacies of car batteries that any good car battery guide will clue you in on is that a battery’s “manufacture date” can have a big impact on performance.

You’ll want to make sure that your battery wasn’t manufactured more than 6-months prior to your purchase date to ensure that you’re going to get the most out of it. Your battery’s manufacture date can be found on its body.

3. Pick a Brand

In a perfect world, you’d just buy a battery from whichever company is specified in your car’s manual. If there’s a great deal going on that’s making another brand look attractive though, feel free to shop around.

Just make sure that the brand you buy is well-reviewed and is fully compatible with your car’s engine. For example, no matter how many benefits of lithium batteries there are, if you were to put one in a car that only accepts acid batteries, you could damage your engine.

4. Shop for a Good RC Rating

RC stands for “reserve capacity”. That number on a battery tells you how long it can keep a car going if its alternator fails. Getting a battery with a high RC rating could prove very valuable in an emergency situation.

5. Keep Cold Weather Considerations in Mind

If you’re driving your car in a cold area, pay special mind to your battery’s CCA figure. CCA (cold crank amps) lets you know how reliable your battery is going to be when starting up your engine in below-freezing weather.

The higher the number, the better your battery will perform.

Keep Our Car Battery Guide in Mind and Start Shopping

Now that our car battery guide has briefed you on battery basics, take what you’ve just learned and walk into your local auto parts store with confidence. Armed with our tips, you’ll be able to ask the right questions and walk away with the perfect battery for your four-wheeled friend.

For more advice on all things cars, check out additional content right here on our site!

The post Car Battery Guide: How to Choose the Right Battery for Your Car appeared first on Auto-Facts.org.

from Updates About Auto Repair https://www.auto-facts.org/7645/car-battery-guide-how-to-choose-the-right-battery-for-your-car/

[thomaskwilke]

What to Know When Buying a Car: A Guide on How to Get the Best Deal

The average car salesperson sells about 10 cars per month. Take that number and multiply it by the number of salespeople there are working at each dealership in America and you’ve got a whole lot of cars changing hands every year.

If you’re going to be among the many buyers that pick up a new or used vehicle in the next 12-months, you’re going to want to educate yourself on what to know when buying a car to ensure that you walk away with the best deal. Our team has talked to experts and weighed our own experiences to do the heavy lifting for you on that front.

Below, we share 8 steps that will maximize the value of your next car purchase.

1. Do Extensive Research

What to know when buying a car almost 100% comes down to doing basic research. You need to know which kinds of cars are best for you and how much those cars cost on average. So, before you spend a Sunday exploring dealerships, spend a Saturday exploring the internet to find out what it is that you’re looking for and how much you can expect to pay for it.

2. See If You Can Secure Financing Before Shopping

Most people that buy cars will look to lenders to help them out with financing since purchasing a car all-cash could cost thousands of dollars. To understand how much car you can afford prior to shopping around, we recommend looking into getting financing before visiting dealerships.

Banks and credit unions both offer vehicle financing to qualified buyers that you can look into. You can also visit these experts which work directly with dealerships to source you financing offers and will work with customers that have bad credit.

3. Explore Dealership Inventories Online

At this point, you should know what kind of car(s) you’re looking for, what an acceptable price is for that car and how much car you can afford per the financing offers you’ve received. You’re now ready to start browsing local inventories to see which cars are available in your market.

Tools like AutoTrader are very helpful when it comes to inventory browsing because they index multiple dealership’s inventories and allow you to filter down car options so you can see who’s carrying the exact make/model of car that you’re looking for.

4. Visit Dealers With Promising Inventories

After you’ve shortlisted a few dealerships that have cars you might be interested in, visit those dealerships in person. Find the cars that you were looking at online and confirm that they’re in the same condition that they were advertised to be in. Then, test drive them to make sure that everything runs smoothly.

If you like the car you’re assessing, you can begin the negotiation process.

5. Negotiate With Your Magic Number in Mind

Negotiating a car’s price is the most intimidating part of completing vehicle purchases. Unfortunately, though, negotiation is an integral component of the what to know when buying a car formula, especially if you’re looking to get the best deal.

In order to strengthen your negotiating position, try to appear on the fence as you test drive and analyze your vehicle. If you seem too impressed, your salesperson may feel more validated in driving up their price.

When it comes time to make an offer on the car, know your “magic number” and present it to your salesperson as such. Your magic number is the price that would lead you to buy the car right now. Let your salesperson know that if they can’t hit your magic number, you’ll keep the car in mind but will continue shopping around.

Chances are, your salesperson will meet your number if it’s reasonable. If it’s not, they’ll either counteroffer or tell you to look elsewhere.

6. Keep Your Trade-In to Yourself

If your salesperson asks if you’ll be trading in a car, tell them that you don’t think so. If they don’t ask about a trade-in, don’t mention anything.

Always try to negotiate the lowest price possible without letting your salesperson know that you’ll be looking for trade-in credit. Then, once you’ve landed on a great price, bring up your trade-in to drive down the price even further.

Mentioning your trade-in early could lead to salespeople being more aggressive in their pricing since they know that you’ll be getting a discount with your trade-in vehicle.

7. Never Buy Anything During the Closing Process

When you’re signing your final paperwork on your car, your dealership will try to sell you everything from alarms to warranties. Say no to everything.

Whatever it is that they’re selling, you can get cheaper from a third party.

8. Keep Your Leverage by Being Prepared to Walk Away

Sometimes, it’s a seller’s market in the car industry. During these periods, salespeople are going to be less inclined to cut your deals.

The best thing that you can do if salespeople don’t seem willing to work with you is to be open walking away. If you’re willing to walk away from a bad deal, you hold a ton of leverage in a negotiation.

Wrapping Up Our What to Know When Buying a Car Guide

If you understand what to know when buying a car and take the time to learn those pertinates, you’re going to be better equipped to score a great deal on a vehicle purchase.

Take our guide to heart to save money on your next car transaction! Also, feel free to read more of the stellar car content that we have right here on our blog if you need additional car-buying inspiration!

The post What to Know When Buying a Car: A Guide on How to Get the Best Deal appeared first on Auto-Facts.org.

from Updates About Auto Repair https://www.auto-facts.org/7653/what-to-know-when-buying-a-car-a-guide-on-how-to-get-the-best-deal/

[thomaskwilke]

Car Battery Guide: How to Choose the Right Battery for Your Car

Car batteries can last 2 to 6 years depending on a variety of factors. No matter how much time you squeeze out of yours, it’s eventually going to kick the bucket. When it does, what are you going to do?

Buy a new battery of course!

Unfortunately, buying a new battery isn’t as simple as waltzing into the battery store and just pulling a unit off of a shelf. Car batteries leverage different kinds of technology to retain their charges and output power. They also come in different sizes and possess unique features that can be beneficial depending on your climate.

Bottom line, you’re going to have to do a little bit of homework to make sure that you buy the right car battery. This brief car battery guide can help!

1. Size Matters

Wouldn’t it be great if vehicles used a one-size-fits-all battery? It would certainly make shopping a lot easier…

Since one-size-fits-all batteries haven’t crashed the market yet, you need to understand what your car’s “battery grouping” is in order to purchase a unit that fits in your battery tray.

Group sizes range from 24 to 65 and knowing which grouping you’re in is as easy as cracking open your car’s manual. Don’t have your manual? Look up your car’s make and model online to determine its grouping number.

2. Understand the Importance of Age

New batteries aren’t always new. One of the intricacies of car batteries that any good car battery guide will clue you in on is that a battery’s “manufacture date” can have a big impact on performance.

You’ll want to make sure that your battery wasn’t manufactured more than 6-months prior to your purchase date to ensure that you’re going to get the most out of it. Your battery’s manufacture date can be found on its body.

3. Pick a Brand

In a perfect world, you’d just buy a battery from whichever company is specified in your car’s manual. If there’s a great deal going on that’s making another brand look attractive though, feel free to shop around.

Just make sure that the brand you buy is well-reviewed and is fully compatible with your car’s engine. For example, no matter how many benefits of lithium batteries there are, if you were to put one in a car that only accepts acid batteries, you could damage your engine.

4. Shop for a Good RC Rating

RC stands for “reserve capacity”. That number on a battery tells you how long it can keep a car going if its alternator fails. Getting a battery with a high RC rating could prove very valuable in an emergency situation.

5. Keep Cold Weather Considerations in Mind

If you’re driving your car in a cold area, pay special mind to your battery’s CCA figure. CCA (cold crank amps) lets you know how reliable your battery is going to be when starting up your engine in below-freezing weather.

The higher the number, the better your battery will perform.

Keep Our Car Battery Guide in Mind and Start Shopping

Now that our car battery guide has briefed you on battery basics, take what you’ve just learned and walk into your local auto parts store with confidence. Armed with our tips, you’ll be able to ask the right questions and walk away with the perfect battery for your four-wheeled friend.

For more advice on all things cars, check out additional content right here on our site!

The post Car Battery Guide: How to Choose the Right Battery for Your Car appeared first on Auto-Facts.org.

from Updates About Auto Repair https://www.auto-facts.org/7647/car-battery-guide-how-to-choose-the-right-battery-for-your-car-2/

[thomaskwilke]

Car Battery Guide: How to Choose the Right Battery for Your Car

Car batteries can last 2 to 6 years depending on a variety of factors. No matter how much time you squeeze out of yours, it’s eventually going to kick the bucket. When it does, what are you going to do?

Buy a new battery of course!

Unfortunately, buying a new battery isn’t as simple as waltzing into the battery store and just pulling a unit off of a shelf. Car batteries leverage different kinds of technology to retain their charges and output power. They also come in different sizes and possess unique features that can be beneficial depending on your climate.

Bottom line, you’re going to have to do a little bit of homework to make sure that you buy the right car battery. This brief car battery guide can help!

1. Size Matters

Wouldn’t it be great if vehicles used a one-size-fits-all battery? It would certainly make shopping a lot easier…

Since one-size-fits-all batteries haven’t crashed the market yet, you need to understand what your car’s “battery grouping” is in order to purchase a unit that fits in your battery tray.

Group sizes range from 24 to 65 and knowing which grouping you’re in is as easy as cracking open your car’s manual. Don’t have your manual? Look up your car’s make and model online to determine its grouping number.

2. Understand the Importance of Age

New batteries aren’t always new. One of the intricacies of car batteries that any good car battery guide will clue you in on is that a battery’s “manufacture date” can have a big impact on performance.

You’ll want to make sure that your battery wasn’t manufactured more than 6-months prior to your purchase date to ensure that you’re going to get the most out of it. Your battery’s manufacture date can be found on its body.

3. Pick a Brand

In a perfect world, you’d just buy a battery from whichever company is specified in your car’s manual. If there’s a great deal going on that’s making another brand look attractive though, feel free to shop around.

Just make sure that the brand you buy is well-reviewed and is fully compatible with your car’s engine. For example, no matter how many benefits of lithium batteries there are, if you were to put one in a car that only accepts acid batteries, you could damage your engine.

4. Shop for a Good RC Rating

RC stands for “reserve capacity”. That number on a battery tells you how long it can keep a car going if its alternator fails. Getting a battery with a high RC rating could prove very valuable in an emergency situation.

5. Keep Cold Weather Considerations in Mind

If you’re driving your car in a cold area, pay special mind to your battery’s CCA figure. CCA (cold crank amps) lets you know how reliable your battery is going to be when starting up your engine in below-freezing weather.

The higher the number, the better your battery will perform.

Keep Our Car Battery Guide in Mind and Start Shopping

Now that our car battery guide has briefed you on battery basics, take what you’ve just learned and walk into your local auto parts store with confidence. Armed with our tips, you’ll be able to ask the right questions and walk away with the perfect battery for your four-wheeled friend.

For more advice on all things cars, check out additional content right here on our site!

The post Car Battery Guide: How to Choose the Right Battery for Your Car appeared first on Auto-Facts.org.

from Updates About Auto Repair https://www.auto-facts.org/7649/car-battery-guide-how-to-choose-the-right-battery-for-your-car-3/

[thomaskwilke]

How to Choose the Best Auto Paint For Your Car, Truck, or Motorcycle

When it comes to painting your car, it’s a job that’s best done by the professionals. But, that doesn’t mean you don’t have any work to do! 

Before you can take your car in for a fresh paint job, you have to seriously consider what the best auto paint is for your vehicle. Think about the various kinds of auto paint, the many bases or forms that auto paint comes in, and the manufacturers of auto paint, too.

Here’s a closer look at everything you should consider when deciding on auto paint.

1. Know Your Type

There are three main types of auto paint available to choose from when painting your vehicle: urethane, acrylic, and lacquer. 

Urethane auto paint is known for its durability and shine. It’s a low-maintenance kind of paint that is likely to last you for many years. Plus, urethane paint dries the quickest of all auto paint types, so you can enjoy a quick turnaround (and low labor costs) for results you’ll be enjoying long after you leave the auto shop.

Acrylic auto pain takes about twice as long as urethane paint to apply and dry – prolonging work on a vehicle as multiple coats are applied. However, what this option lacks in speed, it makes up for in quality and safety. 

Many drivers think acrylic is well worth the extra wait to invest in something that has just as good of a visual appeal, but not as many safety concerns. Acrylic paint doesn’t use as many toxic chemicals in the painting process the way that urethane and lacquer do. It’s just as durable as urethane and has a nice look to it.

Speaking of toxic materials, be cautious about using lacquer auto paint. It has the most safety concerns of all paint types – so much that it’s banned in certain parts of the United States. It’s also hard to come by in other areas that aren’t as heavily regulated. 

2. Learn the Lingo

There’s much more to choosing the best auto paint than understanding the main kinds of paint out there. You also have to consider whether you’d like a single-stage or two-stage paint, and the base of the paint as well. 

Single-stage vs. Two-stage Paint

Single-stage paint is basically the quick, one-step solution to painting your car. It combines what would traditionally be a separate base coat and top coat into one kind of paint. This speeds up the process of painting your car by a significant amount, and it looks just as good as most two-step paint jobs. 

If you don’t mind the extra time, two-stage paint is also a good option. By keeping the base coat and top coat separate, you can ensure that the results last a bit longer than what a single-stage paint job may endure.

Keep in mind that two-stage paints require a few layers of clear coat to go on top of the color. This adds to the amount of time and money your car’s makeover will need, but it’s worth the investment.

Solvent-based vs. Water-based 

Another thing to think about is the base of the auto paints you’re interested in.

Solvent-based paints are made with chemicals meant to strongly adhere the paint to the car’s service. Unfortunately, these toxins are also strong in smell, which can be a serious downside. Solvent-based auto paints also don’t dry as quickly as water-based ones do. 

Not to mention, water-based auto paints are typically much safer. They don’t come with as many toxins in them and they actually spread and adhere to vehicles very well. This means you can do more with less and get a great final product. 

3. Research the Top Auto Paint Brands  

The final step in the auto paint selection process is to research the various manufacturers of auto paint. This may not seem like a big deal, but it’s well worth looking into – especially if you have a high-end car that requires specific tools and resources, or if you want the absolute best look even if you’re on a budget.  

The more you know about the different auto paint brands – their pros, cons, and what each brand specializes in – the more you can make a truly informed decision.

After all, you wouldn’t want to spend so much time researching auto paint only to buy a sub-par brand for your high-end car. Or, you may not need to splurge on a luxury brand if you’re just looking to give your old car a bit of love.

There’s also the chance that you end up looking into auto paints that are made specifically for motorcycles or trucks. If you do happen to have a bike sitting around, this complete guide can help you figure out all the ins and outs of motorcycle paint jobs. For a truck, you may want to consider an auto paint’s durability if you like to go off-roading or are typically doing tough jobs with it.

Whatever your goal is, it’s best to learn everything you can about the brands available to you before making your buying decision.

Tips for Finding the Best Auto Paint Color

Just when you think you’ve found the absolute best auto paint for your car, take a moment to think about the look and feel you’re going for! Whether you’re just refreshing the color that your car was originally made in or if you’re trying to transform it with a new look, seriously consider the style you want your car to have. 

Take a step back and try to imagine your car with a classic black or a fun red paint job before you start laying coats of paint on it. You may be surprised to find yourself leaning toward a new color than what you originally set out thinking your car would have.  

The post How to Choose the Best Auto Paint For Your Car, Truck, or Motorcycle appeared first on Auto-Facts.org.

from Updates About Auto Repair https://www.auto-facts.org/7651/how-to-choose-the-best-auto-paint-for-your-car-truck-or-motorcycle/

[thomaskwilke]

Car Battery Guide: How to Choose the Right Battery for Your Car

Car batteries can last 2 to 6 years depending on a variety of factors. No matter how much time you squeeze out of yours, it’s eventually going to kick the bucket. When it does, what are you going to do?

Buy a new battery of course!

Unfortunately, buying a new battery isn’t as simple as waltzing into the battery store and just pulling a unit off of a shelf. Car batteries leverage different kinds of technology to retain their charges and output power. They also come in different sizes and possess unique features that can be beneficial depending on your climate.

Bottom line, you’re going to have to do a little bit of homework to make sure that you buy the right car battery. This brief car battery guide can help!

1. Size Matters

Wouldn’t it be great if vehicles used a one-size-fits-all battery? It would certainly make shopping a lot easier…

Since one-size-fits-all batteries haven’t crashed the market yet, you need to understand what your car’s “battery grouping” is in order to purchase a unit that fits in your battery tray.

Group sizes range from 24 to 65 and knowing which grouping you’re in is as easy as cracking open your car’s manual. Don’t have your manual? Look up your car’s make and model online to determine its grouping number.

2. Understand the Importance of Age

New batteries aren’t always new. One of the intricacies of car batteries that any good car battery guide will clue you in on is that a battery’s “manufacture date” can have a big impact on performance.

You’ll want to make sure that your battery wasn’t manufactured more than 6-months prior to your purchase date to ensure that you’re going to get the most out of it. Your battery’s manufacture date can be found on its body.

3. Pick a Brand

In a perfect world, you’d just buy a battery from whichever company is specified in your car’s manual. If there’s a great deal going on that’s making another brand look attractive though, feel free to shop around.

Just make sure that the brand you buy is well-reviewed and is fully compatible with your car’s engine. For example, no matter how many benefits of lithium batteries there are, if you were to put one in a car that only accepts acid batteries, you could damage your engine.

4. Shop for a Good RC Rating

RC stands for “reserve capacity”. That number on a battery tells you how long it can keep a car going if its alternator fails. Getting a battery with a high RC rating could prove very valuable in an emergency situation.

5. Keep Cold Weather Considerations in Mind

If you’re driving your car in a cold area, pay special mind to your battery’s CCA figure. CCA (cold crank amps) lets you know how reliable your battery is going to be when starting up your engine in below-freezing weather.

The higher the number, the better your battery will perform.

Keep Our Car Battery Guide in Mind and Start Shopping

Now that our car battery guide has briefed you on battery basics, take what you’ve just learned and walk into your local auto parts store with confidence. Armed with our tips, you’ll be able to ask the right questions and walk away with the perfect battery for your four-wheeled friend.

For more advice on all things cars, check out additional content right here on our site!

The post Car Battery Guide: How to Choose the Right Battery for Your Car appeared first on Auto-Facts.org.

from Updates About Auto Repair https://www.auto-facts.org/7645/car-battery-guide-how-to-choose-the-right-battery-for-your-car/

[thomaskwilke]

5 Important Tips for Choosing New Motorcycle Tires

The tires on your motorcycle are more than just black rubber hoops that keep your bike moving while you’re out on the road. Motorcycle tires are responsible for providing traction for your bike to accelerate, brake, turn, and even serve as a part of your bike’s suspension! 

Before the fork and shock begin to work on your bike, the tires on your motorcycle absorb some of the impact of the bumps and potholes that you hit in the road. 

You depend on your tires to keep you safe in the cold, rain, and extreme heat. You may not always realize it, but every time you ride on your motorcycle, you’re betting your life on your tires. 

Checking your tires regularly is very important and should be part of your regular maintenance plan. When you know it’s time to change your tires over, how exactly should you go about buying the right type of tires? 

Five Tips for Buying Motorcycle Tires

So, how do you go about buying motorcycle tires that are the perfect fit for your bike? We’ve got five tips to help you make the best decision for your ride. 

Know When Your Tire Needs to Be Replaced

Having a flat tire isn’t the only sign that you should watch out for. Your tires could use a little TLC if:

They have a sidewall puncture

There’s damage to the tire that can’t be repaired

Your tire is more than ten years old

There’s a puncture to the fire that’s large than 1/4 inch

You can’t seem to raise the low pressure of your tire

Your tire has sices and/or cuts

There are missing tread blocks on your tire

If there’s any less than 2/32 of an inch of tread in any area

The tire is causing your ride to feel choppy

If you’ve noticed any of these occurrences with your tire, you need to change it out immediately. The safest option to go with is buying a new tire instead of attempting to fix any damage that you’ve noticed on your tires. 

Considering how essential motorcycle tires are in the safety of your ride and in the performance of your bike, we would highly recommend you buy new tires instead of trying to fix anything! 

Choose the Right Type of Tire

In order to go about choosing the right type of tire, you need to take a look at your bike and figure out what kind of style your bike is. The four main options you have to choose from are:

Cruiser

Dual Sport (aka ADV)

Dirt

Street

Thankfully, choosing the right type of tire for your bike is one of the easiest steps in this process! 

Choose the Right Tire Size

To go about choosing the right tire size for your bike, you need to take a look at the tires that are already on your bike. On the tires that you have, you’ll see a manufacturers code that breaks down the tire width, aspect ratio, speed rating, radial construction, and rim diameter! 

In order to figure out your bike’s specific manufacturer code, you’ll have to look up their alphanumeric system to discover the measurements they printed on your tire. 

However, here’s an example of what a manufacturer’s code may look like and what the measurements in the code mean:

130/50-ZR18

The 130 is the width of your tire, the 50 is the aspect ratio, the Z is the speed rating for the tire, and the R indicates that your tire is a radial tire. 

Choose Between Bias-Ply or Radial Tires

The difference between bias-ply and radial tires is simply in the construction of the tire. This difference in construction affects how the rides and handles on your bike.

Bias-ply tires last a lot longer than radial tires and provide users with a softer ride. On the other hand, radial tires are much stiffer, which results in more traction. However, radial tires don’t last as long as bias-ply tires do. 

You don’t have to choose one tire over the other. It really just depends on what type of bike you have and what your manufacturer recommends! 

Check Out the Tire Tread

There are countless different types of patterns and tread designs available on the market. That’s why it’s important that you check out the tread design on a tire before installing it on your bike.

Tires that have large, knobby threads are great for off-road riding, as they easily bite into the dirt for traction. Take this same tire out on the street and the traction from the pavement will easily eat through the tire. 

On the other hand, the tread on street tires aren’t as aggressive. The tread on street tires have been built to help wick water away from the center of the tire. This helps to keep the tire from hydroplaning while riding on wet roads! 

While you’re shopping around for tires, just keep in the back of your mind that the fewer groves there are on a tire, the potential for traction increases. You should also be aware that tires with a high-grip rubber happen to wear out a lot faster than tires that have a hard compound. 

Ride Safely

We hope that this buying guide helps to make buying tires for your bike easier! 

Keeping your motorcycle tires in great condition is one of the easiest ways to make sure that you’re staying safe on the road.

Are you looking for more tips on how to keep your bike in perfect condition? Check out our motorcycle repair manuals today!

The post 5 Important Tips for Choosing New Motorcycle Tires appeared first on Auto-Facts.org.

from Updates About Auto Repair https://www.auto-facts.org/7643/5-important-tips-for-choosing-new-motorcycle-tires/

[thomaskwilke]

Due Diligence: 10 Important Questions to Ask When Buying a Used Car

It’s time for you to buy a new car. Your other one sort of stopped working on you so now you’re left with no way to work. Your heart says that you want a new car but your wallet says you’re getting a used one.

The only issue you have with getting a used car is that you don’t want to buy it and have it break down on you in a few months like your old car. If you’re smart when you’re shopping around though, that won’t happen. 

To help you avoid buying a lemon, here are all the questions to ask when buying a used car.  

1. How Was the Car Maintained?

As soon as you drive up to that Caledon Chrysler Dealership and find a car you like, It’s good to ask how the car was maintained. The main thing you want to know is who you can go to if you want to find out more information about how the car runs.  

It’s also a good idea to ask if all maintenance is up to date so you know if you’re going to need to pay for any work to get done on the car soon. 

2. Are There Any Service Records Available?

If the answer to this is anything but yes then it’s a red flag. The seller should not only have service records for you to look at but also be happy to hand them over to you. 

If they are willing to give them to you then this is a good indicator that they have the car serviced on a regular basis. 

3. Has It Been Through Any Accidents? 

You can go to a lot of sites to find out if a car has been through an accident or not. These places don’t always catch everything though. 

You want to ask this question to make sure that it hasn’t been through an accident and if it has, how bad it was damaged and what was done to repair it. 

4. What Features If Any Don’t Work?

When you’re buying a used car there is a good chance that something on it doesn’t function the way it should. What you need to find out is if this car is an exception to the rule. 

If it’s not and there is something wrong with it then you need to now decide if this is a deal-breaker or not. If it’s a small issue like a broken CD player then there are ways around that. If it’s something like the AC not working then you may be hurting in the summer. 

5. What Is the Ownership History? 

You want to be on your guard if you ask this question and the seller doesn’t know much about the original owner or if the seller is the original owner and hasn’t had the car long.  

You need to know if the car you’re looking at has been loved and well taken care of. If you can’t get any information on the person who had it before then this is a little disconcerting. 

6. Why Are You Selling the Car? 

There are a million ways the seller can answer this question. If you’re buying from an individual and not a dealership they could be looking for an upgrade. Maybe they recently added a new person to their family and need a new car. 

Whatever reason they give you’ll have to decide if you believe them or not. If you do, and their story is true then it’s good you asked. You may run into similar problems with the vehicle in the future. 

7. How Did You Come Up with This Price for It?

If the answer to all these questions so far have been promising and you’re thinking about buying the car, the next thing you’re going to ask is how they came up with the price they are asking for it. There are some people who take the price they paid for it and take a little bit off. Some use an actual pricing guide.

If they used a guide then you can use the same one for a reference. This way, you’ll be able to see for yourself where they are getting their numbers.  

8. Will You Let Me Take It to a Mechanic for Inspection? 

This is another question you’ll be asking if you’re seriously considering buying the car. Most of the time, dealerships have no issue if you ask to take it to a mechanic to get it inspected before you buy. 

If they are a little bit hesitant though, you may want to rethink buying the car. Most of the time that means there is something wrong with it that they don’t want you to know. 

9. Do You Have the Title on You? 

If the owner had the car for a long time before they decided to sell it then they may have misplaced the title. A seller at a dealership may not have it either if there is an outstanding loan from the bank. 

Either way is fine. You can get past it and legally drive the car. It’s just good to know if you’re going to have to go this extra mile. 

10. Has Anything Been Updated or Replaced?  

Certain updates and replacements on the car can up or lower the value depending on what they are. The answer to this question will also tell you if you’re going to need to perform updates of your own anytime soon. 

For example, if it just got an oil change, you have the peace of mind knowing you won’t have to do it for a while. Always ask for receipts of any work that’s been done. 

Questions to Ask When Buying a Used Car so You Won’t End Up with a Lemon 

Are you in the market for a used car? One of the main worries with doing this is buying a lemon on accident. Think back to some of these questions to ask when buying a used car when you go to the dealership so you drive off the lot happy. 

Still uneasy about buying a new car? Keep browsing our blog for more great buying tips. 

The post Due Diligence: 10 Important Questions to Ask When Buying a Used Car appeared first on Auto-Facts.org.

from Updates About Auto Repair https://www.auto-facts.org/7603/due-diligence-10-important-questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-used-car/

[thomaskwilke]

Due Diligence: 10 Important Questions to Ask When Buying a Used Car

It’s time for you to buy a new car. Your other one sort of stopped working on you so now you’re left with no way to work. Your heart says that you want a new car but your wallet says you’re getting a used one.

The only issue you have with getting a used car is that you don’t want to buy it and have it break down on you in a few months like your old car. If you’re smart when you’re shopping around though, that won’t happen. 

To help you avoid buying a lemon, here are all the questions to ask when buying a used car.  

1. How Was the Car Maintained?

As soon as you drive up to that Caledon Chrysler Dealership and find a car you like, It’s good to ask how the car was maintained. The main thing you want to know is who you can go to if you want to find out more information about how the car runs.  

It’s also a good idea to ask if all maintenance is up to date so you know if you’re going to need to pay for any work to get done on the car soon. 

2. Are There Any Service Records Available?

If the answer to this is anything but yes then it’s a red flag. The seller should not only have service records for you to look at but also be happy to hand them over to you. 

If they are willing to give them to you then this is a good indicator that they have the car serviced on a regular basis. 

3. Has It Been Through Any Accidents? 

You can go to a lot of sites to find out if a car has been through an accident or not. These places don’t always catch everything though. 

You want to ask this question to make sure that it hasn’t been through an accident and if it has, how bad it was damaged and what was done to repair it. 

4. What Features If Any Don’t Work?

When you’re buying a used car there is a good chance that something on it doesn’t function the way it should. What you need to find out is if this car is an exception to the rule. 

If it’s not and there is something wrong with it then you need to now decide if this is a deal-breaker or not. If it’s a small issue like a broken CD player then there are ways around that. If it’s something like the AC not working then you may be hurting in the summer. 

5. What Is the Ownership History? 

You want to be on your guard if you ask this question and the seller doesn’t know much about the original owner or if the seller is the original owner and hasn’t had the car long.  

You need to know if the car you’re looking at has been loved and well taken care of. If you can’t get any information on the person who had it before then this is a little disconcerting. 

6. Why Are You Selling the Car? 

There are a million ways the seller can answer this question. If you’re buying from an individual and not a dealership they could be looking for an upgrade. Maybe they recently added a new person to their family and need a new car. 

Whatever reason they give you’ll have to decide if you believe them or not. If you do, and their story is true then it’s good you asked. You may run into similar problems with the vehicle in the future. 

7. How Did You Come Up with This Price for It?

If the answer to all these questions so far have been promising and you’re thinking about buying the car, the next thing you’re going to ask is how they came up with the price they are asking for it. There are some people who take the price they paid for it and take a little bit off. Some use an actual pricing guide.

If they used a guide then you can use the same one for a reference. This way, you’ll be able to see for yourself where they are getting their numbers.  

8. Will You Let Me Take It to a Mechanic for Inspection? 

This is another question you’ll be asking if you’re seriously considering buying the car. Most of the time, dealerships have no issue if you ask to take it to a mechanic to get it inspected before you buy. 

If they are a little bit hesitant though, you may want to rethink buying the car. Most of the time that means there is something wrong with it that they don’t want you to know. 

9. Do You Have the Title on You? 

If the owner had the car for a long time before they decided to sell it then they may have misplaced the title. A seller at a dealership may not have it either if there is an outstanding loan from the bank. 

Either way is fine. You can get past it and legally drive the car. It’s just good to know if you’re going to have to go this extra mile. 

10. Has Anything Been Updated or Replaced?  

Certain updates and replacements on the car can up or lower the value depending on what they are. The answer to this question will also tell you if you’re going to need to perform updates of your own anytime soon. 

For example, if it just got an oil change, you have the peace of mind knowing you won’t have to do it for a while. Always ask for receipts of any work that’s been done. 

Questions to Ask When Buying a Used Car so You Won’t End Up with a Lemon 

Are you in the market for a used car? One of the main worries with doing this is buying a lemon on accident. Think back to some of these questions to ask when buying a used car when you go to the dealership so you drive off the lot happy. 

Still uneasy about buying a new car? Keep browsing our blog for more great buying tips. 

The post Due Diligence: 10 Important Questions to Ask When Buying a Used Car appeared first on Auto-Facts.org.

from Updates About Auto Repair https://www.auto-facts.org/7603/due-diligence-10-important-questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-used-car/

[thomaskwilke]

Your Used Car Buying Guide: 7 Tips to Know

Are you interested in buying a used car?

Buying a car can be exciting for first time buyers, but it can also be a daunting experience if you don’t know what to do. Used cars are affordable alternatives to used cars because they’re cheaper and have been broken in. 

Some people don’t invest in used cars because they fear that there could be something wrong with them, but you can avoid that by taking several steps.

Continue reading this used car buying guide to learn 7 tips to know when buying a car.

Decide What You Need

When buying a car, it’s important to decide what you will be doing with it. If you’re someone that often drives children around, it’d be wise to get a minivan. If you haul a lot of material, you should get a truck.

Knowing what kind of vehicle you need will narrow down your options and give you fewer things that you need to look at. This will also help you if you decide to go to a dealership because you can tell them what you want.

You also need to decide if mileage is something that you’d like to consider. If you don’t want to spend a lot on gas, you should get a vehicle that can drive for many miles with each gallon.

Try to find a vehicle that is well-suited for your area because some cars perform better on highways whereas others are better in stop-and-go city environments.

Make a Checklist

After you’ve decided what kind of vehicle you need, you should make a checklist of things that you’d like the car to have. This includes mileage, radio, lights, etc.

Making a checklist of a car’s features and condition will help you decide if it’d be a good buy or not. A checklist will also allow you to further narrow down your options.

Compare Several Dealerships

With buying anything, you should always compare the options before coming to a conclusion. There are many dealerships that are willing to sell you their product, but what matters is finding the cheapest deal.

Be sure to look at all the dealerships in your region and compare the prices of their cars. Try to expand your range so you can find more dealerships that offer cheaper prices.

Negotiate

Negotiation is a skill that’s used by everyone that buys and sells products. When you’re a buyer, you can’t let yourself get pushed around. It’s important to go in with knowledge beforehand so you can get yourself better deals.

Because you’re buying a used vehicle, it’s much easier to negotiate since it’s coming from a dealership or individual rather than the manufacturer. 

When you negotiate, you can try to lower the price or get them to throw in free things. Either way, you’re getting something for a lesser price. You can also look for a car that already has a discounted price.

Because you have browsed several dealerships, you know if you’re getting a good deal when you see inventory. You can bring up the fact that another place is selling the same car for cheaper and walk away, this will get them to chase you.

Test Drive

One of the best tips for buying a used car is to test drive it. When you buy a used car, you must test drive it to ensure that it is fully functioning.

There are a few things that you can do during the drive to make sure it’s a good purchase, such as checking the wheels and driving various routes. Take the car on the highway and a city environment with several stops.

This will give you the opportunity to see how the car’s brakes are and if there are any problems with its handling. You can also get a better feel of how the interior will treat you when driving, such as the legroom and comfort of the seat.

Buying from a Dealer Can Be More Expensive

While a dealership can provide more protection because they inspect vehicles and often include warranties, this also means that they can be more costly.

Because dealerships will make their cars look better and replace faulty parts, they will drive the price up to compensate for the parts and labor. This is something to keep in mind when going to a dealership.

If you’d prefer to take the safer route, you should buy your car at a dealership. However, you can still strike gold with independent sellers. If you buy privately, be sure to bring someone with you that knows a lot about cars.

Having someone that can examine the vehicle for you will ensure that you don’t accidentally buy a bad vehicle.

Arrange Insurance and Get Plates Before Taking the Car Home

It’s illegal to drive a car without insurance and plates, and this includes driving a brand new car home from the dealership. You need to get these taken care of before you take it on the road to avoid any hassles.

If you get pulled over because you’re missing plates, many cops will give you a pass if you show documents of your purchase, but the lack of insurance can get you into serious trouble should you get into an accident.

Avoid paying a ton of medical and maintenance fees by arranging an insurance plan beforehand, and try to get plates for your vehicle, too.

Apply This Used Car Buying Guide

The best time to buy a used car is when you’re ready. Use the tips from this used car buying guide to ensure that you make the best use of your money and you will be able to get a great used vehicle without a problem.

Be sure to browse the rest of our blog for more automotive information!

The post Your Used Car Buying Guide: 7 Tips to Know appeared first on Auto-Facts.org.

from Updates About Auto Repair https://www.auto-facts.org/7591/your-used-car-buying-guide-7-tips-to-know/

[thomaskwilke]

Out With the Old, In With the New: How to Sell Your Used Car

You can save more money now by buying a used car than ever before.

And yet, when it comes to selling a used car, many people are overwhelmed by what to do next.

Keep reading below to learn our tips on how to sell a car. Let’s go!

1. Fix Up the Car

While many people  sell used cars, some are speculative of buying them due to potential mechanical problems. Therefore, you need to fix it up before you stand a chance of selling it. You’ll receive a lot more for your car if you ensure that everything’s well serviced and maintained before you sell it.

This also should include taking your car for an inspection to ensure the main components, such as brakes and tires are up to scratch. You will be compensated for any touch ups by the increased price tag of the vehicle.

2. Attach a History of the Vehicle

Nobody wants to purchase a car with a mysterious past. You need to ensure that you provide a vehicle history report to the buyer.

If there are any errors on the report, you may want to raise them with the reporting companies before you put the car up for sale.

3. Clean Inside and Out

Buyers expect the car sold completely clean. You may want to hire a professional cleaner or do it yourself.

Either way, ensure that you thoroughly clean the interior of the vehicle. If you smoked in the vehicle or transported pets, you could require some minor repairs.

During the selling process, you may need to clean the exterior of the vehicle more than once. Every buyer who comes to examine the vehicle should get to see the car in the best condition.

4. Create a Compelling Ad

You should ensure that you create a compelling ad. Marketing your used car effectively can make a huge difference in getting a buyer.

Take a lot of photographs of the vehicle. Every angle of the car should be covered. Spend time to capture appealing images of the car.

You should also include a short and effective description of the car. This should include the history and condition of the vehicle. Ensure you post your ad across social media and business listings websites.

5. Get the Price Right

Pricing your used car competitively is extremely important if you want a fast sale. You should compare your vehicle to other similar cars on the market.

If you’re selling your car privately, you may not be able to charge as much as dealers for the car. You don’t want to undersell your car. However, if you price too high, don’t expect many offers.

Selling a Used Car

Now you know what you need to do when selling a used car. There are many things to consider. But, if you follow our tips, you can ensure you get a fast sale.

Did you find this blog post helpful? Share this article with your friends on social media to support other people selling a used car.

The post Out With the Old, In With the New: How to Sell Your Used Car appeared first on Auto-Facts.org.

from Updates About Auto Repair https://www.auto-facts.org/7587/out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new-how-to-sell-your-used-car/

[thomaskwilke]

Your Used Car Buying Guide: 7 Tips to Know

Are you interested in buying a used car?

Buying a car can be exciting for first time buyers, but it can also be a daunting experience if you don’t know what to do. Used cars are affordable alternatives to used cars because they’re cheaper and have been broken in. 

Some people don’t invest in used cars because they fear that there could be something wrong with them, but you can avoid that by taking several steps.

Continue reading this used car buying guide to learn 7 tips to know when buying a car.

Decide What You Need

When buying a car, it’s important to decide what you will be doing with it. If you’re someone that often drives children around, it’d be wise to get a minivan. If you haul a lot of material, you should get a truck.

Knowing what kind of vehicle you need will narrow down your options and give you fewer things that you need to look at. This will also help you if you decide to go to a dealership because you can tell them what you want.

You also need to decide if mileage is something that you’d like to consider. If you don’t want to spend a lot on gas, you should get a vehicle that can drive for many miles with each gallon.

Try to find a vehicle that is well-suited for your area because some cars perform better on highways whereas others are better in stop-and-go city environments.

Make a Checklist

After you’ve decided what kind of vehicle you need, you should make a checklist of things that you’d like the car to have. This includes mileage, radio, lights, etc.

Making a checklist of a car’s features and condition will help you decide if it’d be a good buy or not. A checklist will also allow you to further narrow down your options.

Compare Several Dealerships

With buying anything, you should always compare the options before coming to a conclusion. There are many dealerships that are willing to sell you their product, but what matters is finding the cheapest deal.

Be sure to look at all the dealerships in your region and compare the prices of their cars. Try to expand your range so you can find more dealerships that offer cheaper prices.

Negotiate

Negotiation is a skill that’s used by everyone that buys and sells products. When you’re a buyer, you can’t let yourself get pushed around. It’s important to go in with knowledge beforehand so you can get yourself better deals.

Because you’re buying a used vehicle, it’s much easier to negotiate since it’s coming from a dealership or individual rather than the manufacturer. 

When you negotiate, you can try to lower the price or get them to throw in free things. Either way, you’re getting something for a lesser price. You can also look for a car that already has a discounted price.

Because you have browsed several dealerships, you know if you’re getting a good deal when you see inventory. You can bring up the fact that another place is selling the same car for cheaper and walk away, this will get them to chase you.

Test Drive

One of the best tips for buying a used car is to test drive it. When you buy a used car, you must test drive it to ensure that it is fully functioning.

There are a few things that you can do during the drive to make sure it’s a good purchase, such as checking the wheels and driving various routes. Take the car on the highway and a city environment with several stops.

This will give you the opportunity to see how the car’s brakes are and if there are any problems with its handling. You can also get a better feel of how the interior will treat you when driving, such as the legroom and comfort of the seat.

Buying from a Dealer Can Be More Expensive

While a dealership can provide more protection because they inspect vehicles and often include warranties, this also means that they can be more costly.

Because dealerships will make their cars look better and replace faulty parts, they will drive the price up to compensate for the parts and labor. This is something to keep in mind when going to a dealership.

If you’d prefer to take the safer route, you should buy your car at a dealership. However, you can still strike gold with independent sellers. If you buy privately, be sure to bring someone with you that knows a lot about cars.

Having someone that can examine the vehicle for you will ensure that you don’t accidentally buy a bad vehicle.

Arrange Insurance and Get Plates Before Taking the Car Home

It’s illegal to drive a car without insurance and plates, and this includes driving a brand new car home from the dealership. You need to get these taken care of before you take it on the road to avoid any hassles.

If you get pulled over because you’re missing plates, many cops will give you a pass if you show documents of your purchase, but the lack of insurance can get you into serious trouble should you get into an accident.

Avoid paying a ton of medical and maintenance fees by arranging an insurance plan beforehand, and try to get plates for your vehicle, too.

Apply This Used Car Buying Guide

The best time to buy a used car is when you’re ready. Use the tips from this used car buying guide to ensure that you make the best use of your money and you will be able to get a great used vehicle without a problem.

Be sure to browse the rest of our blog for more automotive information!

The post Your Used Car Buying Guide: 7 Tips to Know appeared first on Auto-Facts.org.

from Updates About Auto Repair https://www.auto-facts.org/7591/your-used-car-buying-guide-7-tips-to-know/