Friday, January 30, 2015

Car Buying - The Online Way

The internet has revolutionized the way we live. We can buy clothes, plan a wedding and reconnect with old friends online. Then, why not buy a car online? Follow this step-by-step guide and you will be able to complete the car buying process without having to leave the comfort of your home.

1. Planning for a Car

Planning is a pre-requisite for every financial decision. If you fail to plan, you will end up in a financial mess. But don’t worry. Planning for your car won’t take more than a few minutes. You can use online Budget Calculators and calculate your monthly budget. It will help you in ascertaining a monthly payment amount that you can spare for car expenses.

2. Selecting Car Models

There is no need to go to a dealership lot for taking a look at the car models. You can visit the dealer websites as well as the manufacturer websites to know everything about the available models. The main benefit of being an online car shopper is that you can save your time. You don’t have to wait for a holiday or a weekend to visit the websites. You can do it at one in the morning - there won’t be any problem.

3. Reviewing the Selected Car Models

You don’t have to go searching for a car expert because every car expert is present in your home. Does it sound confusing? Well, just think about your computer or your smart phone. You can visit several car review websites and find expert comments about car models. Many websites review several car models in the same price range and provide a competitive analysis. It will help you in understanding advantages as well as disadvantages of buying your favorite car models.

4. Buying a Car

Once you are sure about buying a car, you can visit several dealer websites and find a dealer with the best deal. If you are looking for a used car, you can even visits websites that have a list of private sellers.

Once you are sure about the dealer/private seller, you can contact him and make an appointment for buying a car.

5. Searching for a Car Loan

Most car buyers don’t have enough cash for buying a car. This situation makes car financing programs compulsory. If you are looking for a reliable auto financing company that provides low-rate car loan options, you can take help of the web. Every big auto financing company has its website.

Also, there are many modern online financing companies that provide guaranteed loan quotes to car buyers. They work with large networks of lenders and dealers and so; they have a better chance of providing loan quotes to people with bad credit history.

Applying for a car loan online is very simple. First, you have to check the safety of your personal information. You must ensure that the application page is an HTTPS page. You can even check the security certificate of the website clicking on the symbol of a lock in the address bar.

Once you are assured of the website’s safety, submit a car loan application form by filling your personal information and loan requirements. The company will find a suitable a lender/dealer and offer car loan quotes to you. Isn’t it as simple as ABC?

Truly, the internet has transformed the entire car buying process. You no longer have to walk to the dealership lots and the traditional banks. A few simple clicks can help you obtain a car and a car loan comfortably.

Car Destination is an online sub-prime auto financing company that specializes in low-rate auto loan programs. The company will even help you in obtaining bad credit used car loans as well as instant new car loans. You can contact the company by submitting an online application form on its website.

Everything that you didn’t know about the Hidden Dealership Cost

Car is one of the most loved possessions of Americans. Car driver adore the four-wheeled beauty so much that they often make an impulsive purchase without considering the hidden costs. This impulsive nature gives dealers a chance to cheat car buyers. They add so many extra charges and fees without your notice and end up earning more, unnecessarily more.

Don’t let the hidden dealership costs ruin your car buying experience. Know everything about the real cost of buying a car.

• Vehicle Registration Fees

When you buy a new car or a used car, you need to register it with your local DMV office and pay vehicle registration fee. If you buy a car from a dealer, he/she does the work of registering the vehicle on your behalf.

• Sales Tax

When you buy a car, you need to pay the state sales tax. You must also consider several other local taxes levied by your city, county, etc. Usually, the dealers charge the sales tax from you and pay it on your behalf.

Both fees mentioned above are non-negotiable and inevitable for every car buyer. There are other questionable fees mentioned below:

• Dealer Preparation Fees

Dealer preparation fees are also called vehicle preparation fees and shipping fees. They are charged by dealers to cover the cost of preparing the car for a buyer. Dealers argue that they undertake a lot of work for making the car ready for the buyer. But, usually the work includes nothing but washing the car, removing protective covers from the seats and other such things. So, it is important that you negotiate this charge with the dealer.

• Advertising Fees

Advertisements and marketing are important for attracting customers. But, it is not necessary to charge customers heavily for it. Dealers levy advertising fee because they argue that it was advertising that brought car buyers to them. You can negotiate a lower price with the dealer to ensure an affordable car purchase.

• Documentation Fees

For a dealer, every car purchase comes with a significant amount of paperwork. So, dealers charge documentation fees or “doc” charges from car buyers. It is important to know that few states such as New York, California and Delaware have a maximum limit for charging documentation fees. While there are several states such as Florida, Kansas, Iowa, etc. that don’t have a limit. If you live in a state that doesn’t have a limit for the fees, you can negotiate and reduce it to make your purchase cheaper.

• Fees for Dealer-Installed Accessories

Dealers can add several unwanted expensive accessories such as aftermarket wheels, sound system, stolen vehicle recovery system, etc. and charge you for it. Make sure that you are paying for only those things that you need. Also, remember that you can obtain most of the accessories at a cheaper cost by shopping around elsewhere.

• Floor Plan Fees

Dealers don’t have all the cash that they require to buy vehicles. So, they obtain finance. Dealers charge floor plan fees and try to extract the cost of finance from car buyers.

So, whenever you set out to sign your contract at the dealership read everything and asks question regarding anything that raises an alarm. You can take a friend or a family member with you if you are feeling overwhelmed with the thought of negotiating with the dealer. Remember that signing without negotiation means allowing the dealer to take possession of your hard-earned money.

Car Destination is an online auto financing company that ensures bad credit dealership financing. It also helps car buyers in making an informed decision by providing them with useful car buying tips. Apply now.