Buying a car is one of the biggest purchases in your life. It is not just an asset, but also an investment. Your car will somehow be your daily companion. And once you have decided to buy a car, test driving is the initial process of finding the right one. Test driving is a way to check whether a car fits your personal preferences and needs. It allows you to get physical and weigh the driving features before committing to it for certain. Through test driving, you could actually save time, money, and effort.
Before you buy your dream car, you need to consider some important things to avoid regrets in the long run.
Car Researches and Choices
Research which vehicle you want before you go to the dealer. What make do you want? What kind of car do you prefer? How much is your budget? These are just some essential questions you need to ask yourself to make the car buying process easier. Having a wide range of car choices will help you, just in case your initial pick is a flop.
Basic Driving Needs
Test driving is likely the same with actual driving. Be sure that when you test drive, you are comfortable with the whole aspect of the car. You need to pay attention to some basic driving needs and keep in mind that the car that you are driving will likely be the one that will be with you for a while. Check the acceleration of the vehicle, whether it is fast or slow enough to meet your driving standards. Further, verify if the brake and steering aspects are way comfortable to quickly respond to your driving needs.
Test Drive as Passenger
Another vital thing to take into account during test driving is how it feels to be the passenger in the car. Sitting on the passenger side will make you discover some neglected points while you are the driver. As a passenger, you will be more watchful of the whole car features like the car ambiance, climate control, audio, etc. You can also take this opportunity to ask your salesperson some questions that will help you throughout your decision-making process.
Test Driving Selection
Since this is a test driving, it means you have the choice to choose whatever car you want. Choosing a car is not a piece of cake. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Through your inquiries, you will have a grasp of all types of cars and ultimately, you will find the best one for you. Every car is unique so you need to compare all different models according to your needs. Drive and test cars until it meets your particular demands.
After Test Driving
Once you are done with test driving, you can right away close a deal or take some time to internalize all driving facets. But before you go, don’t forget to ask your salesman about the finance and lease offers. Ask them about the warranty and maintenance to make sure of a quality car service.
Now that you've test drove a few vehicles and know what you want now it's time to determine which to purchase.
Buying New or Used?
The first thing you must decide before you begin your automobile research is whether you want a new car or a used car. Of course, there are benefits and drawbacks on both sides. If you decide to buy a used car, there are several things you need to keep in mind.
One of the largest benefits of buying a used car is that you can often get a great deal and in many cases, the car you buy may even be relatively new. Successful used car buyers often are just as happy with their used car as new car buyers are with a new vehicle. But remember, the most common car-buying horror stories do involve the purchase of used cars. When you have a good idea of what kind of car best fits your needs and budget.
Determine your budget
When shopping for a new car, make sure you determine how much you can spend on it. AAA’s financial services experts advise allocating no more than 15 to 20 percent of your total monthly budget to car-related expenses. Don’t forget to factor in the cost of car insurance in addition to your monthly car payment.
Arrange Financing in Advance
Before jumping into the driver’s seat for a test-drive, decide on the type of financing you’d like to use (loan, lease or cash). If you’ll be going for a loan or lease, arrange for financing ahead of time. Compare rates offered by your own bank or credit union as well as other local banks to secure the most favorable terms.
Know Your Trade-in Value
While you’ll probably get more money for your old car if you sell it yourself, you may not want to deal with the hassle. If you’re planning to trade in your used vehicle, make sure you know its trade-in value. Use websites like Kelley Blue Book and AutoTrader to zero in on a number.
Check the Spare Tire
In an effort to reduce weight and increase fuel efficiency, auto manufacturers are choosing to skip the full-sized spare tire in many new cars. While you may laugh at the thought of changing your own flat tire, it’s still good to know if you have a spare on board. Ask the salesperson to show you if there’s a full-sized spare, a temporary spare or a tire-repair kit or whether your car is equipped with run-flat tires.
Some Important Tips When Buying a Car
- Have a mechanic put the car up on a lift for a full inspection and to check for damage — anything that might indicate a previous accident or possible flood damage.
- Run a Vehicle History Report to get a full history of the car. You can get a Vehicle History Report at CARFAX.com. It will include everything you need to know about the car including: if it was ever salvaged, stolen or recalled the number of previous owners if it ever failed inspection if someone tried to create a fraudulent odometer reading
- Never sign an “As Is” statement. Many used car dealers will mix that in with the other paperwork you’ll be asked to sign. As with anything that requires a signature, READ BEFORE YOU SIGN. You should have at least 30 days to make sure the car is in good condition. If you sign an “As Is” statement, once you drive the vehicle off the lot, anything that goes wrong is your problem.
- Have your own financing and loan approvals ready before you go to buy the car.
If you have found the right car for you, then you’re good to take the next essential step of every car owner — get your car insured.
Insurance is required for any car that operates on the roads, we all know that.
We all try to shop and negotiate for the lowest insurance rates for our motor vehicles. You need to know that insurers consider so many aspects of your motor vehicle before insuring it. Would you like to know which cars have cheaper insurance? Read on to be in the know. In our field of work, as an insurance agency, we have taken time to research and come up with an analysis we rely on when selling insurance to different car owners. We spent so much of our time to come up with detailed research on what an actuary would consider when allocating premium on a particular car make and/or model.
Our agency takes you to step by step hoping that by the time you read through, you will have obtained substantial knowledge on which cars attract cheaper insurance. When deciding on the premium to charge a car, an actuary considers the age of the driver, the car performance in relation to acceleration, costs of repairs, and costs of the car spare parts. The security measures installed and the cost of the motor vehicle as well play a great role in insurance premium allocation. More premium is charged to a young and novice driver because he or she has a higher probability of causing an accident as compared to a more experienced driver. A motor vehicle's cost of repairs highly determines the category of car insurance it is placed in. Cars with expensive spare parts and longer repair periods attract higher premiums. In case of any accidental damages or theft, such car repair costs would be expensive.
Ever considered how taking security measures like installing; tracking device, alarm, immobilizer, and high-security lock to your car would save you substantial amounts of money? Installation of inbuilt security measures by manufacturers would ensure that in case of theft, your car would fail to move or will be recoverable. Due to the reduced possibility of unrecoverable loss, the insurance premium charged to you will be cheaper. Cheaper motor vehicles further attract less insurance. Cheaper cars have cheaper spare parts and take shorter periods of time in the garage for repairs, which makes insurance premiums charged cheaper. Statistical history of insurance claims has found out that, motor
vehicles with high engine performance that can result in faster speeds
have high claim rates compared to cars with lower performance? Lower performance cars get charged cheaper insurance premiums due to their lower accident risk.
Why pay more insurance premium when you can get cheaper insurance for your motor vehicle by being a safer driver, installing car security, observing traffic rules, and contacting our reputable Insurance Agency?
Now that you've got a new car now what?
Congratulations, you have a new car! But wait— are you ready enough to be a car owner? If you were quite impulsive when you bought your first ever car, then you should know that cars aren’t just simply toys. This rather fascinating investment involves a tough yet exciting journey that will surely make your lives easier or messier. So, to make sure that you’ll stick with the former than the latter, better yet check out this comprehensive checklist specially made for new car owners. Fasten your seat belts and delve into the captivating world of cars.
Registration
Of course, the first step that shouldn’t be missed is the registration of your new car. Well, you can’t just drive in the public arena if you haven’t had your car registered in your state. Every state has distinct rules and regulations, though there are some basic guides for all drivers to follow. To start, bring all the needed documents for registration such as identification cards, proof of address, title certificate, bill of sale, loan documents (if under financing), insurance coverage, emission test records, inspection reports, and a couple of dollars.
Insurance
Insurance is a must, not just for registration purposes, but also for your safety. Life is downright surprising, so you always need to be ready with its uncertainties. To secure your car and your life, have your car insured with a reliable car insurance company. There are lots of insurance coverage— the minimum liability, collision and comprehensive insurance, and other optional extras. Most states just require basic property damage and bodily injury coverage, but you can add extras for a more carefree drive.
Familiarity
Having your first car can be compared to having a newfound friend. Hence, just like friendships, it will need some time to get to know your car. You should know your car above anyone else. Treat it like a prized possession and know every detail of it. As a car owner, you should know the ins and outs— the different buttons, various switches, diverse lights, and all. The lack of familiarity may be one of the reasons for unfortunate accidents. And before you forget, designate an area in your house for your keys. You don’t want to spend an hour of your precious time looking for your car keys, right?
Training
Knowing your car isn’t just something that you can perfect overnight. You need training, training, and training. You and your car will have heaps of adventures together, making it essential for you to be equipped with the right amount of knowledge and skills. Training will give you a glimpse of the real road, which is rather full of surprises. Further, you’ll be able to calm yourself in case of frustrating circumstances or even accidents because you’re already trained properly. You can take an online safety course to get training or visit a local driver's education center to learn more.
Repairs and Maintenance
As always, repairs and maintenance are the main keys to keep your car in good shape. You can’t just let your car run unreliably on the road because it will endanger, not just your car, but also your life and of others’. There should be scheduled maintenance to ensure the quality of your car, as well as avoid road accidents. Setting aside an amount for the repair and maintenance costs is way better than untimely misfortunes.
How to Register Your Vehicle
Moving from one place to another can be really tiring and frustrating and in the midst of all this, you make mistakes that you regret later. Registering your vehicle with the new state is an important task which mostly gets dropped to the end of your TO-DO list after moving. So, here are a few things that you should know before moving to a new state.
The Grace Period:
Remember that every state has its own rules for the number of permitted days within which you have to complete your vehicle registration process. Generally, 3 or 4 weeks are allowed for completing the registration work and filing your insurance to the DMV but nothing can be said for certain. It is possible that your new state allows even fewer days for completing the process. So, it is suggestible that you either confirm the time allowed or complete the registering process as soon as possible.
Get all the Legal Documents:
It is important that you know all the documents that are needed for verifying your identity in your new state. While registering your vehicle or changing tags, you'll need to submit your legal documents to the government offices. It is a possibility that you may get asked for documents which were not required for your previous state registrations, don't panic at times like these. These situations often occur when there is a change in the rules and regulation of the process. So, it is recommended that you check beforehand and make a list of all the required documents so that you can prepare them well in time.
Here are some documents that are more or less required for any state:
Proof of Identification:
This can be any government supported identification that has your photo, signature and a verified address on it.
Proof of Ownership:
A document that states that the vehicle you are about to register is your own. This can include the registration of the vehicle from your previous state.
Insurance:
Most states like to see you have car insurance for your vehicle before its registered. Make sure you have a valid active copy in hand when you go in.
Odometer Disclosure Statement:
Not all states but some like California require your vehicle to pass this odometer test before registering. They run your vehicle in a testing area a verify the odometer readings with the real parameters.
Emissions Disclosure Statement:
EDS states that your vehicle follows the maximum allowed Emission level for the state. It must be noted that if the vehicle fails the Emission test then the vehicle is denied registrations rights.
Fill Out the Registration Form:
Next step after sorting all the legal documents is getting the registration form of your new state. It is important that you get the right registration form and do not mix it with some other. If you can find the official website that can provide you with the form and all the necessary details about the form then download and print the form. It is recommended that you first read the whole form patiently before filling it. Also they usually have the Registration form at the local tag office or DMV.
Final Steps:
After you register your vehicle with the state and finalize/pay everything asks for the receipt. If you did online funds transfer then save the generated receipt and don't forget to print it so that you do not have to worry about printing it so you can save it in your files. Also, be sure to file any paperwork and make copies of everything just in case. That way if for some reason they lose your records you will have proof that your car was registered and you paid.
After you register your vehicle with the state and finalize/pay everything asks for the receipt. If you did online funds transfer then save the generated receipt and don't forget to print it so that you do not have to worry about printing it so you can save it in your files. Also, be sure to file any paperwork and make copies of everything just in case. That way if for some reason they lose your records you will have proof that your car was registered and you paid.
New To Cheapest Auto Insurance?
Buying a new vehicle can be exciting but the cost of finding the right insurance can be exhausting. Luckily, it doesn't have to be and here at Cheapest Auto Insurance, we are able to help you find the best rate for you and your new vehicle without any hassle. Quick and easy! Our insurance professionals are ready to help and answer any questions you may have. Simply call us at 918-744-5145 for a quote or click here for an online quote!