Our Guide to Buying a Car

The information age made our lives more complex, but it also gave us the ability to buy a car online.  It seems like everyone has a car dealership horror story.  We've experienced tactics that seem aimed at separating us from our money, and not making sure we're buying a car that we really need.  The Internet really has changed the way we can do business with car dealerships, and for the better.

Whether the car is used to drive back and forth to college, or a recent graduate needs basic transportation to a new job, finding the best car for a college student (or high school) is all about striking the right balance.

If you're thinking about buying a car over the Internet, then you're going to be pleasantly surprised.  Buying a car on the World Wide Web is a fairly simple process.  It also eliminates a lot of the unpleasant experiences often associated with a visit to the local car dealership.

If you're thinking about an automobile purchase in the next 12 months, this publication can help you make a better decision.  With the average price of a new automobile hovering around $25,000, it's important to make the right decision.  There is a lot of money at stake, and it's a choice that can impact your life for several years.

When we think about buying a new car, we instinctively look at local or online dealerships.  But have you ever thought about the possibility of exporting a car from Germany?  Or perhaps you've considered importing cars into the United States?

It's becoming increasingly popular for many Americans to consider donating a car, especially right after buying a new vehicle.  Unless you have a loved one that could use your used car, you have a limited number of options if you're replacing it with a new one.  You could trade the vehicle in, sell it yourself, or donate it to a charity such as the Salvation Army.

With the continued threat of rising gasoline prices, buying a fuel efficient car is a way to save money while helping the environment too.  From a consumer's standpoint, the technologies used in today's cars to separate a gas guzzler from a fuel efficient car are nothing short of amazing.

When gasoline prices first jumped in the summer of 2005, you started to hear more information about fuel efficient cars.  That's because consumers that were used to paying around $20 to fill up their cars were suddenly paying over $50.  That summer was a wake up call for everyone that thought paying $3.00 or more for a gallon of gasoline would never happen.

If you're thinking about buying a new car over the next couple of years, then you may be introduced to an entirely new breed of vehicles:  fuel cell cars.  They're not exactly ready for sale today, but in the coming years you'll be hearing from several car manufacturers that have these vehicles on the drawing board right now.

While anything is possible, it looks like the long-term price of gasoline is going to stay well above the $3.00 per gallon mark.  Given this new price point for gasoline, the economics of buying a hybrid vehicle are changing, which is good news for "green" consumers.

With the cost of gasoline hovering around the $4.00 per gallon mark, many of us are spending $50 or more each time we fill up our cars at the gasoline station.  Just as fuel economy starts to become more worrisome for many consumers, we have some new technologies hitting the highways of America with a promise to lower those monthly gasoline bills:  hybrid cars.

In the never-ending drive to squeeze more miles per gallon of fuel, automobile manufacturers are once again turning to lean burn technologies.  The government showed its support for this equipment when it passed the Energy Policy Act of 2005.  Cars, trucks, and SUVs certified as advanced lean-burn vehicles qualify for tax credits as high as $1,800 under the provisions of that law.

Car Leasing is a subject that we use to supplement our car buying topic.  That's because the same individuals that are thinking about buying a car are often wondering if leasing a car is a better choice.  In this article, we are going to discuss what goes into the calculation of car leasing payments.  If you're thinking about getting a new car, this article might help you make a more informed decision.

When you're negotiating a car lease, the terminology can be pretty confusing.  Even if you're just looking through advertisements, it's sometimes hard to figure out what the dealer is really telling you.  If you've never leased a car before, and want a fundamental understanding of all the terms used in a car lease, then keep on reading.

If you're new to car leases, or if you've leased a car in the past, then you've probably heard the term money factor.  If you don't know what the money factor is, then keep on reading.  We're going to explain how this value is used in calculating car lease payments.

The decision to own or lease an automobile is as much about a lifestyle choice as it is a financial option.  Whenever making a major investment decision, as is the case when buying a car, it's important to weigh the pros and cons of buying versus leasing the vehicle.

Twenty years ago, leasing a car made sense for individuals that were writing-off their monthly lease payments as part of a business expense.  Today, many people prefer the luxury of driving a new car every two or three years.  The shift from buying to leasing cars has led to a large, and growing, used car leasing marketplace.

When shopping for a new car, consumers have many options.  One of those options includes leasing a car.  In this publication, we're going to share with you a car lease calculator.  This calculator is going to be an Excel workbook, sometimes referred to as a spreadsheet, which you can use to calculate monthly car lease payments.

If you're interested in leasing a car, and you are looking for a no-money-down arrangement, then you might want to swap a car lease.  If you're not familiar with the concept, you really don't need to "swap" a car lease with someone else; you can either be the buyer or the seller of a lease.  Here's how it works.

When you're leasing a car, you've entered into a contract with the leasing company to take possession of the car for a predetermined period of time.  But what if you suddenly want to terminate a car lease early?  Or the car's lease is about to terminate, and you're left wondering about your next steps.

Used cars may represent one of the best values on the market today.  Of course that holds true only if you're able to find dependable used cars.  Interestingly, that's one of the nice features of buying used cars.  Previous owners have already put these cars through a real world road test.

Whether you are buying a used car or a new car, it is always advisable to take a closer look at the vehicle's historical repair record.  There is a saying in the investment world that past performance is not a guarantee of future performance.  When it comes to used cars, historical repair records are an important consideration.

There is an important difference between used car values and used car pricing.  Information on used car prices is straightforward, and this publication will discuss where you can readily find this data.  If you are really looking for used car values, then you may be looking for something beyond price.

Buying a used car is often more complicated than buying a new car.  In addition to the research you'd conduct when purchasing a new car, you need to understand a vehicle's reliability information too when buying a used car.  Fortunately, the time spent doing a little research now will save you a lot of headaches later on.

When shopping for a car, one alternative that often rewards the buyer with a great value is buying a secondhand car.  Once driven off the showroom floor, new cars often lose a significant amount of their resale price.  This is especially true during the first two years of ownership.

Used car warranties can be quite different than new car warranties.  Not every used car comes with a standard warranty, even if you're buying it at a car dealership.  If you're thinking about buying a used car, then this article can help you to become a more informed consumer.

According to the latest government statistics, the average new car today goes for about $30,000 in the United States, with a new car loan averaging around $28,000.  Buying a car involves a lot of money, so anytime a buyer is looking for a car loan, shopping around can really pay off.

According to some of the latest government statistics, a typical new car loan was over $30,000 in 2009.  That is a lot of money.  In fact, for many individuals, buying a new car is the second most expensive purchase they will ever make in their lives; only second to buying a home.  With that much money at stake, it makes sense to do some intensive research prior to finalizing a purchase decision.

Leveraging the power and speed of the Internet, many traditional automobile financing companies are now offering an online auto loan solution to their product mix.  Applying online can be a secure and fast way to obtain a car loan.

Figuring out which new car to buy can be a very stressful experience.  Financing decisions only add to that stress, especially if you have bad credit.  Having a bad credit score can hurt your ability to get a competitive interest rate on a car loan.

Rising fuel prices, longer car loan terms, and rolling-over debt from prior vehicles can all contribute to a condition known as an upside down car loan.  When this happens during a credit crunch, it's hard for consumers to escape this financial burden.

Our final article in this used car buying series is going to address financing a used car.  At this point, you've done your research and found a car that matches your needs and budget.  The car will be inspected by a mechanic you know and trust.  Finally, you should understand what to look for in a warranty, paying close attention to the information on the Buyer's Guide.

With the average new car costing in excess of $30,000 today, a lot of prospective new car buyers also consider buying used cars.  In fact, there are several important economic factors that we think contribute to the growing attractiveness of buying a used car.

If you own or lease a car, automobile insurance is a good way to protect that investment.  In fact, leasing agencies and lending institutions will usually require the purchase of an insurance policy to protect their investment.  After all, until that lease is up, or the car loan is paid off, those companies are part owners of the vehicle you're driving.

It's easy to buy a car that looks and feels great to drive.  Smart consumers will also look at the safety features of the car too.  While it's important to feel comfortable when driving, it's equally important to drive a car that will protect you and your passengers too.

Annually, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety chooses car models to win its Top Safety Pick award.  This award recognizes car designs that provide for the best protection in front, side, and rear collisions.  The award is based on a series of safety tests the institute performs.

Back in 2001, the federal government took a stand on car seat safety.  Statistically, studies showed that 82% of the child safety seats deployed in cars were not installed and used correctly.  That's why cars manufactured after September 2002 are required to have LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) installed; a system that makes attaching a car safety seat easier.

There was a day when no one thought about purchasing anti-theft devices for their cars.  Automobiles were parked on the street or in parking lots with their doors unlocked and windows wide open.  Nobody worried about their car getting stolen.  But now you have a $30,000 investment out there on the road, and buying an anti-theft device for a car is standard practice today.

Car Accessories are one of the options that consumers need to think about when buying a new car.  At one time, air conditioning in a car was viewed merely as an option or accessory that was nice to have if you could afford it.  Today, most new cars come with air conditioning installed as standard equipment, and it is no longer even offered as an option.  In addition, there are some accessories that really make a difference in the car's value.