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Is it safe to buy a rental car?
When you are considering buying a used vehicle, it is important to cover all of your bases and take all options into consideration. Most people don’t even think about the buy a rental car option. It is an option with many pros and cons and it is worth it to factor them into your used car purchase decision.

Rental car purchase pros

First things first, as a used buyer you know where this car is coming from. Chances are the car has been kept clean and well maintained during its life as a rental. Any rental service that sells their cars should be able to offer you maintenance records to back that up. In fact it should be insisted upon to ensure that the car has been properly cared for. Pricing is another attractive factor if you want to purchase a rental car. Many of the cars rental agencies will offer for sale are less than a year old and have less than 25,000 miles on them. Do not be suspect when you see a newer model for sale, it does not necessarily indicate that the vehicle is problematic. Rental companies are able to purchase their vehicle at the bare minimum fleet pricing, enabling them to re-sell at very competitive prices. Another pro is the possibility of a warranty still intact with a purchase through a rental car company. Because they generally sell them within a year of purchase and at a reasonable mileage, there is a good chance that there will still be some time left on the manufacturers warranty. Giving the new owner a little peace of mind, especially when you consider the cons of purchasing a rental car.

Rental car purchase cons

Anyone who has rented a car has probably heard this joke, “What’s the difference between a rental car and a 4X4? A rental car can go anywhere!” It’s funny when you rent a car, but when you are looking to buy a rental car suddenly it’s not so funny anymore. This being the biggest con of them all, people are hard on rental cars. The rental companies have no idea what the car actually endures while in the care of the individuals it rents to. Of course they will assure you that the car was not mistreated, but again, anyone who has rented a car knows the kind of abuse they can take. Generally the rental agencies will inspect the car upon its return to their lot to ensure that there has been no damage. However what is reported at that point is largely cosmetic, and while aesthetics are important, it’s what’s inside that really counts. If you are considering purchasing a rental car, be sure to take it to an outside, unaffiliated mechanic for a through inspection to ensure that the vehicle has not suffered mechanically at the hands of an thoughtless renter. As far as cons go, the vast unknown is really the one to worry about. While cosmetic issues are important, mechanical soundness is truly the bottom line with any used car purchase.

Bottom line a good option

When purchasing a used vehicle, the rental agencies offer a viable option for purchase. Contrary to popular belief previous rental cars can be a great investment for anyone looking for a suitable used vehicle. Having access to maintenance records is a huge plus, and all things considered every vehicle they buy is the rental companies bread and butter. It is good business sense for them to keep them in tip top working order.

<b>About the Author:</b> My name is Paige Filler and I'm a creative writer with a love of all things that go vroom. I do my homework to bring thought and innovation into everything I write about the auto industry. You can find more of my stuff at <a href="http://www.cash4usedcars.com/" target="blank">Cash 4 Used Cars</a>, and <a href="http://blog.cash4usedcars.com/" target="blank"> this blog.</a>

3 Places not to go when you sell a car

Car dealerships

Mainly because of their industry, car salesmen have a bad reputation in general. Sure, there are some car salesmen out there who are great people, contribute to charity, good with children, but bottom line; they still sell cars for a living. Point being, if someone wants to sell a car and they go to a dealership they will have to interact with a salesman whose one goal is to sell them a car. They don’t care that you want to sell a car, all they care about is the new vehicle they want you to buy. Particularly this coming year of 2007, it has been predicted that used car sales will rise as new car sales decline. This means that those car salesmen at dealerships will be chasing their customers with added desperation trying to defeat those projections. Do yourself a favor when you want to sell a car and avoid the headache and potential purchase that comes along with a dealership.

The local newspaper

While it may seem simple to place an ad in your local rag and deal with individual buyers yourself, beware of the many issues that may arise from this avenue. To begin with you are forced to reveal your contact information, which lets face it, in this day and age can be a bad idea. Not to mention that you are forced to meet with strangers (always do it in a crowded public place), and allow them to test drive your vehicle. This poses a liability problem to your insurance carrier, and could be a personal liability for obvious reasons. In addition to close contact with strangers, there is also the issue of haggling, selling and convincing reluctant potential buyers, not to mention people who aren’t serious about buying wasting your time. Another serious issue is payment fraud. Selling a big ticket item isn’t something to be taken lightly and almost any type of payment you take can be fraudulent. If you must sell a car yourself be sure to only accept cashiers checks made out to you, and as an added step you should meet the buyer at the bank the check is drawn off of and never turn over the keys until you have negotiated the check and have cash (or another cashiers check you purchased) in your hand.

A high visibility parking lot

Many people simply buy a ‘For Sale’ sign and slap it in a window of the vehicle they want to get rid of. Quite frankly, driving with a for sale sign in the window isn’t a good way to advertise, talk about dealing with strangers. No one wants people yelling offers to them at stoplights, and while moving there is no way to make the copy large enough for passing vehicles to see. Many people will take their car and its ‘For Sale’ sign and put it in a parking lot with high visibility and lots of traffic. Beyond the obvious angry business owners and parking violations, this is another method of selling that requires your contact information becoming public knowledge. Not only can that incur unwanted attention, but it also gives that angry business owner or code enforcement officer a quick and easy way to track you down.

There is a solution

It may seem hopeless when you want to sell a car, there are flaws with almost any method you use. However, the newest and perhaps the most easy alternative lies in your computer. The internet offers any number of websites that make selling your car a snap. Not only do most of them come to you, but many offer cash to sellers. Utilizing affiliates within the industries helps them to eliminate your footwork and get you a reasonable price.

How To Get An Extra $1500 For Your Trade In
How To Get An Extra $1500 For Your Trade In If your’re trading in a car to a dealer follow these steps and get an extra $500 to $1500 for it! Get the wholesale price for the car your’re trading in. This allows you to have a starting figure and know what the dealer thinks your vehicle is worth. Now you’ll know what you can expect to get from your car, but the dealer won?t make it easy. Remember, they’re trying to make a profit, and giving you as little as possible for your trade-in is another way they can make money. They’ll try to bargain down the price they’ll give you for your car by saying: There are huge rebates on the new ones which affects the secondary market. “That’s a nice car, but we have 6 just like it already on the lot.? Oh, that’s an old body style, they’re impossible to sell anymore. Wow, this one’s been through the wringer there sure are a lot of dings and scratches.” Hmmm…it has a lot of miles on it, well have to take it to the auction. Of course, some of these statements might be true, but the dealer is also likely to exaggerate so they can under-value your car. How can you fight back? Here are a few tips: Have your vehicle professionally detailed. Bring all your service records to show the car was properly maintained. Make sure everything works: air, radio, etc. Put a few new car brochures (from other manufacturers) are in your car, plainly visible, so the salesperson knows your’re shopping. If you you follow these simple steps you will guarantee to get more for your trade-in! [ Submitted with ArticleSubmitter Pro - http://www.articlesubmitterpro.com]

Gus Skarlis is a former car dealer and founder of Before You Buy A Car. His Book "10 Things You Must Do Before You Even Think About Buying A Vehicle" has helped thousands of consumers save money and time when purchasing a vehicle. This FREE resource takes you step by step through the car buying process. The site is located at: http://www.BeforeYouBuyACar.com

Online Sites Make Used Car Shopping A Breeze
Whether you are looking to buy your first car or scouting to replace your worn-down family car, the Internet is a great place to start your shopping. It’s quick, convenient and money-saving. These are just some of the reasons why you should do your used car shopping online. Instead of braving the inches of high snow to go used-car lot hopping in Denver, you can just go online and click away to shop for Denver used cars.

Shopping for Denver used cars online saves you time and saves you money.

A lot of time and effort are spared for the used car shopper. Instead of physically going from one dealership or used car lot to another, burning gallon after gallon of gasoline, all a shopper needs to do is to click on some buttons and type-in his or her desired vehicle specifications in search boxes. Listings appear, covering almost all car brands including, Toyota, Honda, Chrysler, Audi, GMC, and hundreds of other card brands. You can view pictures of your desired cars along with its specifications and compare them with each other. Shuttling from one site to another while comparing car details and specifications is fast and easy with online used car shopping.

Most used car shoppers find that shopping online is convenient. From start to finish, the entire process can be completed online. From finding the right car, to comparing prices, to making an offer on the car, you can purchase your desired car entirely on the Internet and the only thing left for you to do is to pick up the car from the dealership. Even questions on Denver used cars can be raised and answered online, through messaging services or email. Financing is also available through the Internet. Applications can be submitted by filling out the online forms.

Great deals on Denver used cars can be found online. Many used cars listed in online sites are prices considerable lower than their brand new counterparts. Not only this, some cars also come with certifications of some form. At the very least, they would have been reviewed by an independent agency. Be cautious, though, of those sites that may have biased reviews towards units carried by particular sellers. It would be worth the additional expense you have to shell out to get a comprehensive vehicle history from CARFAX. Through a used car’s vehicle identification number, CARFAX can check its database for all transactions and repairs that involve the particular vehicle. You can get information on previous damage caused by water or flood, fire, or accidents.

Reliable customer satisfaction rating company ConsumerReports.org regularly publishes a list of cars that have ranked well in their used-car surveys. Their “Good Choices” list includes those cars that showed above-average performance in terms of safety, fuel-efficiency and affordability. Those in this list are categorized in terms of price. Used cars in the “Good Choices” list are priced at a general range of around $4,000 to $30,000. Those that performed well in the Consumer Report’s road tests are further clustered in the “Best of the Best” list. When you are looking for Denver used cars, look for cars that are listed under this category — that is, if your budget allows. If not, you can always settle for any of those other cars in the list that exhibit roadworthy performance and efficiency nonetheless.

Brian Warner has been in the car sales industry for over 20 years, starting with Honda sales in 1988 after graduating from the University of Michigan with an MBA. From used car sales to sales management, to finance management and finally after owning his own Jeep/Dodge/Chrysler dealership, Brian Warner has seen it all when it comes to automotive sales. Currently Brian Warner has financed the opening of several online used car sales websites such as DenverCarZone.com, which focuses on <a href="http://denvercarzone.com">Denver used cars</a> and OmahaCarZone.com, which does the same for <a href="http://omahacarzone.com">Omaha used cars</a> - with both sites using a <a href="http://denvercarzone.com">cars auction</a> format.

Common mistakes people make when buying a car at a dealership
No one ever said buying a car is easy. However, it doesn’t have to be hard if you do a little homework first. There is tons of information about how to buy a car from a dealership, but here we thought we’d try a different tactic. Here we will show you some of the common mistakes people make at dealerships and how to avoid them.

Common mistakes

We may not cover them all, but here are some of the most common mistakes that will probably cost you money.

Falling in love

Lets face it, emotion has no place in any business transaction. Unfortunately car shopping and purchasing can easily be guided by emotions.

I’m not singling women out, because I am one, but the fact remains we tend to be the more emotionally driven gender. I must confess that emotion played a huge part in my last vehicle purchase.

Needless to say that now, as I tear up every time I have to fill my gas tank, I wish I had purchased with my head instead of my heart.

Keep your emotions in check. Be sure to react to fact rather than feeling. It is important to love what you drive. Like with people, superficial feelings don’t last but that uncomfortable drivers seat, or the squeaky sound under the hood will.

Not planning ahead

This is self explanatory. Research is king folks, the more you do the more you know, and knowledge is power. Car salesmen pressure will be easier to resist if you know your product.

Not taking a drive

Truly the most important part of the process is a test drive. Anyone who skips this vital step should not have the luxury of complaining when the vehicle they purchase doesn’t suit them.

Focusing on monthly payments

One of the oldest gimmicks in any sales mans repertoire is selling the package (full of stuff you don’t need) by breaking it down into monthly payments. It seems like they are being helpful when they ask you how much you can afford a month, however this is all part of their selling process.

Frankly waiting until you hit a dealership to consider your financing options is like showing up for a midterm unprepared. Have a ceiling price in your head, and make sure you have a calculated feel for the associated monthly payments.

If you can, apply for bank funding before you begin to shop. This will not only get you the best interest rate, but will also allow you to shop independent of dealership finance departments.

Good and bad options

No car dealership purchase would be complete without the salesmen pushing extras and options. Some of which are worth it, some not. Things such as rustproofing, stain resistant treatments for fabrics, and paint clear coats are all extras that carry a hefty price tag and no real economical value.

Safety features are a different story and clearly worth the money. Options like side airbags, anti-lock brake system (ABS), and electronic stability control (ESC) could potentially be worth all the money in the world.

Use your salesman

The person trying to sell you a car doesn’t have to be your enemy, keeping your emotions out of the equation will help to ensure a smoother purchase. Your salesman is a wealth of information about the brand, the model, not to mention the options that you do want.

Ask questions, gather information from all possible sources. Chances are the salesman has driven every car on the lot multiple times. Ask their opinion, ask why, knowing what you want will help you zero in on important information that could influence your purchase.

<b>About the Author:</b> My name is Paige Filler and I'm a creative writer with a love of all things that go vroom. I do my homework to bring thought and innovation into everything I write about the auto industry. You can find more of my stuff at <a href="http://www.cash4usedcars.com/" target="blank">Cash4UsedCars.com</a>, and <a href="http://blog.cash4usedcars.com/" target="blank"> our blog.</a>

Changing the Adversarial Nature of Car Sales
Consumers have an adversarial attitude towards car dealers, and I can’t say blame them. The retail auto industry has done so many things to create an atmosphere of confusion and intimidation that many car buyers understandably dread the buying experience. Not only do some dealerships encourage their sales staff to engage in dishonest tactics to fleece customers, many have proven themselves to be sexist as well. I always wondered how the salesmen for those particular dealerships came home at night and looked their wives or daughters in the eye. Being a dealer myself, I have encountered the best and worst that the business has to offer. While my turnover is quite low compared to most, I have hired sales associates with prior experience over the years. I have also fired more than a few of these “professionals” within a week of hiring them. Why, you ask?
I don’t mean to sound trite, but I do business by the golden rule. As a result, I won’t tolerate dishonesty on the part of my sales staff or the condescending attitude that I notice many dealers and salespeople take toward their customers. I also refuse to use the dubious tactics that many dealers use to nickel and dime more profit out of every customer that enters their showroom. Now, let me tell you what the results of following the golden rule are…
I don’t have an adversarial relationship with my customers. Sure, more than a few have stepped into one of my sales staff’s offices ready to do battle, but we quickly alleviate their anxiety by doing something that I can wholeheartedly recommend for any business. We give them honest, fair and respectful treatment. I know this might sound like a novel approach in the auto industry, but it’s the only way to do business in my opinion. If more dealerships would stop trying to treat every sale as though it were the last one they will ever make and concentrate on building a good repoire with their clientele, they would enjoy the success that I do. I would bet that my profit margin is, on average, a bit below that of most other dealerships. Still, I never have a shortage of customers, most of which return for their next purchase. Many of my long term customers will wait for me to find the car they are interested in before buying from another dealership. Why? Because they know that when they drive off my lot, they have been treated fairly and have received a good value for their money. More importantly, I can go home at night knowing I run an honest business and that I can take pride in considering myself part of the community I do business in. That’s worth a lot more to me than a few extra bucks. I wish more of my competitors felt this way as well, because it would benefit our industry as a whole to change our sales philosophy for the better.

To learn more visit Spanos Imports of Daytona Florida visit http://www.spanosimports.com/

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Is it safe to buy a rental car?