Successfully Selling Your Used Car

Posted on January 29, 2012 by classcar

After a few years of good service from their car, many people wish to move on to another car.  This could be because they want to sell the car before it has devalued too much over time (certain models can drop off very steeply), or because they just fancy a change.  No matter what the reason for selling the car, there are a few things to keep in mind that will help you to find a good buyer and a good price for your used car.  Attention to detail is a great thing to exercise at all times, from preparing the car to closing the sale.

First, make sure the car is in as good condition as possible.  Clearly, it will help your car valuation to have the car in a clean and sturdy running condition – however, be sure not to spend a great deal of money on renovation, as it is unlikely that the value added will make up for the expenditure.  A simple thorough clean of the interior and bodywork will go a long way to helping buyers have a good impression of your vehicle, making it that much easier to get a good price.

The next important step, now that the car is physically ready, is to decide how to sell it.  Many people now prefer to sell a used car online.  Going online is better than traditional methods for a few reasons.  First of all, it helps to reach the most potential customers, as many buyers are looking online as a first resort these days.  Second, it offers a few ways to get better cash for cars prices – auction sites ensure a fair market value, and online dealers offer easy car valuation and competitive rates.

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Information About Used Cars

Posted on January 26, 2012 by classcar

A used car, often referred to as a second hand car or a pre owned car, is a vehicle that has had one or more previous owners. The car industry in the United Kingdom is huge and a big proportion of this relates to used cars. In an average year, UK consumers spend around £24 billion on used cars and they are said to be the average person’s second most expensive purchase after buying a house.

For a great number of people, buying a used car is a much cheaper alternative to buying a new one, as they can often find what they want at a cheaper price or get more car for their money.

There are many different outlets people can use to buy cars, ranging from attending auctions to visiting car dealerships. Many turn to private sales in order to make their purchase, either looking at adverts placed in local press and in magazines or by looking at sites on the internet.

For many people, even though the internet provides them with an easily accessed outlet for their search, buying from a car dealer can bring several benefits. For starters, when making the purchase through a dealer, UK law, more specifically the Sale of Goods Act 1979, protects the consumer. This act protects the buyer from making a purchase that is not satisfactory and ensures they are purchasing exactly what has been described. A car dealer is also likely to have a wider range of vehicles to choose from, such as vans and automatic cars.

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Make Sure You Have the Correct Car Insurance Cover

Posted on January 24, 2012 by classcar

It is easy to settle for a car insurance policy just because it is cheap.  However if a claim needs to be made this is the wrong time to find out that the policy does not cover everything it needed to, or is perhaps an invalid policy.

When taking out a car insurance policy for a car that is being used for business purposes such as for sales representatives, or those who work in the community, the insurance company should be informed.  This is because the car will be used often and therefore there is an increased risk of accident when compared to those who use their car solely for pleasure. 

Be aware of the fact a third party policy will not cover for damage to the policyholder’s car if it is deemed that they are in the wrong.  This is another factor to consider as the policyholder could be left with a large repair bill, and even loss of earnings for those who have to travel for their work. 

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Buying a Car – where to look?

Posted on January 22, 2012 by classcar

The purchase of a new car should be an exciting adventure, but often a consumer looking to buy a new car may find the whole experience a little daunting and frightening. First of all the cost of a new car will be a major investment and some first time buyers may prefer to buy one of the many second-hand cars on the market before acquiring a new model.

There are many motoring magazines and internet comparison sites, including Car Shop and Auto Trader where the customer will be able to read reviews and compare prices of both new and used cars. The UK motoring programme Top Gear is useful if the buyer is lucky enough to be trying to buy the latest Ferrari or Pagani Zonda, but everyday car buyers can also get a lot of practical car sales advice from any of the Sunday newspapers.

The more questions that are asked by the consumer the more satisfied they will be with their purchase. If the seller doesn’t seem to want to answer questions relating to car repairs or a service history, the buyer must find out why. Many dealers will be able to provide car insurance deals as well as warranties and breakdown cover; it’s useful to try and compare these different offers so go to more than one venue.

As well as checking out the mechanical parts of a car, always look for rust and examine the exterior bodywork. A superficially beautiful motor is of no use if pieces start to drop off after a couple of months.

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Car Repair Courses

Posted on January 18, 2012 by classcar

There is no substitute for a fully qualified mechanic to ensure that a car is regularly serviced and maintained. Alternatively membership of either the AA or the RAC can preclude roadside disasters, but it is also important for a motorist to have an elemental knowledge of what goes on in the engine of a car. A little mechanical knowhow could also save a lot of money.

Increasingly, educational establishments across the UK offer a huge variety of basic repair courses for those who want to learn more about their cars. There are over 22 colleges that offer Vehicle Maintenance courses. Some of these courses form part of a professional apprenticeship scheme, whereas others are to help the student acquire a bit of basic engine knowledge and prevent any major engineering disasters. Most drivers don’t really understand the vagaries of the internal combustion engine and these courses will be able to help the car user to drive with greater confidence, as well as to ensure that their vehicle is always running safely and well.

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Getting Cheap Car Finance

Posted on January 15, 2012 by classcar

Whether you are looking for an Audi A3 for sale or maybe a used Mercedes, there are several options for obtaining cheap car financing if you are prepared to look beyond the usual avenues for getting a car loan. This article will examine some of them.

Leasing

Leasing can sometimes provide a cheap car finance option for people with bad credit. Instead of buying a car outright, you can lease it for a certain period of time and then exchange it after two or three years. The disadvantage of this method is that you will never completely own the car and the payments will never stop. This option can actually work out a lot more expensive in the long run, but many people consider that the lack of a down payment and the relatively cheap monthly repayments outweigh these disadvantages.

Buying a Pre-Registered Car

Pre-registered cars are vehicles that have been registered by a previous owner, usually the dealer. They should only have a few miles on the clock from their initial delivery, so technically you are getting a brand new car for a used car price. This can affect the resale value, however, as you are, from a legal point of view, the car’s second owner. The initial purchase price means a reduction in the amount of money you will need to borrow, so it is certainly an option to consider when looking for a cheap car loan.

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The Carbon Footprint of Really Cheap Cars

Posted on January 13, 2012 by classcar

Some people may be on a limited budget and as a result are only be able to consider really cheap cars when looking for a used vehicle. Many of us worry about our carbon footprint, so the good news is that even really cheap cars do not have to be old bangers that belch out clouds of black fumes behind them wherever they go.

The Age of the Car

Used cars do not really start increasing their carbon footprint until they are around 13 years old. This means that even a ten-year-old car can be driven with a clear conscience. Cars over a decade old usually drop significantly in value, so concentrate on looking for models between ten and 13 years old. 

A Surprising Fact

Did you know that buying a used car is better for the environment than buying a new hybrid model? It may be hard to believe, but due to the energy used to make it, a Toyota Prius has to travel 100,000 miles in order to make the same carbon savings as a ten-year-old used car. So you can buy a really cheap car and still do your bit towards saving the planet.

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Car Buying Guide

Posted on January 11, 2012 by classcar

Buying a new car can be a daunting process.  After all, you will be paying out a large amount of money for a new car; for most people it ranks as the second most expensive purchase they will make in their lifetime, behind their house.  When choosing a car, you need to make certain that it suits your needs, while at the same time making the best deal possible.

There are many places that specialise in car sales, and you should not limit your search to a car supermarket.  Shopping around is very important, as is having a good idea of what you want from your car.  Deciding on which type of fuel your car will run on should be one consideration, as should the size of the car and its passenger capacity.  Many car showrooms will offer incentives as well including discounted extras or after-care services, which can save you quite a bit of money.  

No matter where you buy your car, it is important that you take it for a test drive before finalizing the purchase; you will want to ensure that it is comfortable and there are no issues that become obvious only when the car is actually being driven.  

Just as you wouldn’t rush in to buying a new house, don’t rush in to buying a new car.  Weigh all your options and choose carefully.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions and, if you don’t like the answers you are getting, don’t be afraid to buy somewhere else.  Also, make certain that you negotiate the best deal possible; in these tough economic times, many car supermarkets and dealerships are willing to be more flexible on the advertised price, and that money is better in your pocket than theirs.

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Finding Buyers for Your Used Car

Posted on January 9, 2012 by classcar

After a period of years or sometimes months, many people find themselves wanting to move on from their current car, and try out a new model.  Or perhaps their current car is too expensive to maintain, and long-term savings are the aim.  Either way, there is a huge used car market in the UK, with many people looking first to second hand cars to find their next vehicle.  This means that whether you are thinking “I want to sell my Citroen,” or “what’s my Vauxhall worth,” there is really no worry about finding a buyer of some sort.  The problem lies with finding a quality buyer who will help you to have a problem free transaction and will pay a fair price for your vehicle. 

Traditionally, people use local car dealerships to sell their cars.  This is a very easy way to quickly get rid of a used car and to have some cash for cars from it.  However, businesses like these will not give you the full value of your used car, as they have to be able to sell it on for a profit.  Depending on the dealership, there may be a big difference in the amount of money you receive, and the amount of money that is made in the end by the dealer.  To avoid costs, people often try selling their cars directly.  The simplest way to do this is to put an advert in a paper, a shop window, or even just leaving a sheet of paper visible in the car window with a phone number and a price.  This helps you to keep all of the money from a sale – however it is not the best way to find a quality buyer. 

Using an online dealership helps to tread the middle ground – the websites sell many cars and can give a fairer price for sellers.  There are also car auction websites that are useful for attracting buyers with the chance of a deal.

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Book your car in for a service online

Posted on January 7, 2012 by classcar

Like so many more things in this modern world, car service arrangements are easily made online. Assuming the buyer does not have a preset deal with the garage from whom the car was purchased for free or cut price servicing, then booking a car service online may be a viable option. Some of the larger servicing centres allow bookings to be made on a central website to any number of local centres. Car servicing outlets can have really good incentives like full warranty deals, quality parts etc. and some places even offer to pick up and return a car for minimum inconvenience, so it is a good idea to shop around for the best car service deal. Sometimes the small local garage around the corner may prove the best and most convenient.

For optimum performance ensure the car is serviced regularly in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. If the service date falls due in winter it is worth getting a winter service and a 28-point service in the summer time, and this twice-yearly servicing programme should be easily sufficient to keep the vehicle in optimum running condition.

While people sometimes complain that car servicing is expensive it is really essential maintenance that can avoid costly car repairs in the future. By keeping a car’s servicing up to date the owner is not only purchasing an extension on the life of the car but peace of mind as well.

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