Before buying a car from a dealer, family member, friend, or stranger, you should check the car title history to confirm that it has a clean past and won't cause you headaches in the future. It is your responsibility to do this even if the car appears to drive well and has no visible damages. Here's what you should keep in mind when reviewing the car title history of an automobile that you're looking to purchase.
Understand the certificate
A car title is an official document of ownership issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. It provides information about the car to a new owner. The certificate also has a vehicle identification number (VIN) that is unique to each car. Make sure that this number on the car title history matches the number on the car, usually printed on a strip on the car engine compartment, on the door jam on the driver's side, or on the dashboard.
Compare mileage
The car title history will also include information about the mileage on the date of the last sale of the car. You should compare this number with the car odometer. You need to make sure that the mileage indicator has not been tampered with, to make it appear that the car has fewer miles on it than it does.
Investigate potential hidden damage
If the car has had consistent mechanical trouble, damage from a fire or other natural disaster, or has been reported as stolen or involved in fraud, this will be indicated on the car title history. There will also be a report of previous emissions testing and title changes. Don't ignore these warning signs about the condition of the car you are thinking of buying.
Be aware of the red flag
A car may be officially labeled as "salvage", in which case the value will decrease significantly. Sellers may try to hide this crucial information from buyers by claiming that the car title history has been lost. Don't be fooled into believing this, as you can always request a duplicate copy of the car title history from the Department of Motor Vehicles.
By: Alisha D
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Alisha Delphi holds a degree in Economics and Commerce from USC. She started out as a financial advisor with a bank and has moved on to become a loan consultant with more than ten years of experience. Her key areas are auto title loans, auto pawn and pink slip loans.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
What To Look For In A Used Car
If you are in need of a car, you may be considering looking at older models that might save you a few bucks, however, if you do not shop around and do your homework you may wind up with a car with more problems that will cost even more in the end.
Before you rush out and start looking at every used car wherever you can find them you should know a few things about cars and even where to look for a used car. You can look through ads in the local newspaper or even watch the television commercials to find various locations to purchase used cars from individuals to used car dealers to auctions. Now, you where to look, but how do you know you will find a car that will be dependable without major problems.
The very first advice is to steer clear of auctions. In most cases, at car auctions, you do not get the chance to check out the car at all. They just drive them in front of the bidders and then move them out once they have a winner.
You can visit individuals that have their used cars listed in the newspaper. Once again, if you do not know the person, you are at their mercy to be honest. They may not even allow you to test drive the car before you purchase. This is a huge mistake if you have any idea of how a car should feel while you are driving down the road.
A used car dealership is normally your best bet. Of course, you will still need to do your homework. Just because they have a used car on their lot, they may not realize all the problems the car may have under the hood. In the majority of times, the used car dealer took the car in as a trade in on one of their new models. This only means they may not know the problems. In some cases, the dealer may have even fixed a few of the problems. In your best interest, you should ask if they know if the car has any problems and learn if they did any type of repairs.
Drive the car! Take it out on the highway and let her rip! Does the motor sound right? Is the steering pulling one way or the other? This could be a sign that there is a problem with the main frame. Look for blemishes and differences in the color of paint, this might mean the car was in a wreck at one time. If so, there could more wrong that just cosmetic. Look for any fluid leaks under the car. Of course, you will more than likely see stains on the ground, but check and see if the fluid is dry or wet. If it is wet, then the fluid more than likely came from the car you are checking out.
By: Hold Croft
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
About the Author:
Holdcroft: New and Used Car dealer in Staffordshire. Huge range of new and used cars including Honda, Mazda, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Renault, Subaru, Isuzu, and Saab.
Before you rush out and start looking at every used car wherever you can find them you should know a few things about cars and even where to look for a used car. You can look through ads in the local newspaper or even watch the television commercials to find various locations to purchase used cars from individuals to used car dealers to auctions. Now, you where to look, but how do you know you will find a car that will be dependable without major problems.
The very first advice is to steer clear of auctions. In most cases, at car auctions, you do not get the chance to check out the car at all. They just drive them in front of the bidders and then move them out once they have a winner.
You can visit individuals that have their used cars listed in the newspaper. Once again, if you do not know the person, you are at their mercy to be honest. They may not even allow you to test drive the car before you purchase. This is a huge mistake if you have any idea of how a car should feel while you are driving down the road.
A used car dealership is normally your best bet. Of course, you will still need to do your homework. Just because they have a used car on their lot, they may not realize all the problems the car may have under the hood. In the majority of times, the used car dealer took the car in as a trade in on one of their new models. This only means they may not know the problems. In some cases, the dealer may have even fixed a few of the problems. In your best interest, you should ask if they know if the car has any problems and learn if they did any type of repairs.
Drive the car! Take it out on the highway and let her rip! Does the motor sound right? Is the steering pulling one way or the other? This could be a sign that there is a problem with the main frame. Look for blemishes and differences in the color of paint, this might mean the car was in a wreck at one time. If so, there could more wrong that just cosmetic. Look for any fluid leaks under the car. Of course, you will more than likely see stains on the ground, but check and see if the fluid is dry or wet. If it is wet, then the fluid more than likely came from the car you are checking out.
By: Hold Croft
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
About the Author:
Holdcroft: New and Used Car dealer in Staffordshire. Huge range of new and used cars including Honda, Mazda, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Renault, Subaru, Isuzu, and Saab.
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