For most of us, purchasing a new car isn't an everyday experience. For this reason buying a new car is a thrilling event. Even if you are buying a used car, it is still new and exciting to you. However, there are a handful of things to check before making a purchase on a used car. Most important is taking a test drive.
After browsing over thousands of ads in the newspaper or peeking at a handful of cars on the lot, you likely have found at least one that you would be interested in. The next step is to ask for some more information and then take a test drive. The first test drive you should merely be checking the overall fit of the car. One helpful tip is to first turn on the radio to make sure it works, then turn it off for the remainder of the test drive. This common practice makes it easier to hear subtle noises from the car during the drive. Think about how you feel behind the wheel, the overall sound of the vehicle, and general performance. Also, what kinds of features are included on the interior? When you are done test driving make sure to check the VIN of the vehicle before you leave so that you can continue to do your research.
Your next task is to do some research on the car you are interested. Start with some general research into the type of car and its history of problems. Some cars are known to be problematic at certain mileage points or have a list of recalls on different parts. Check into these problems before buying a car that is approaching a mileage range that is known to create flaws. With that information in mind you can move onto more detailed research. There are a number of online resources that have specific car history reports. Almost all of these websites have a fee, but the small fee is well worth it if you delve up some information that saves you thousands in the long run. This is where the VIN number comes in handy. This way you know the exact background to the car sitting on the lot.
If the seller has nothing to hide they will most likely let you take the car to your mechanic for a "check-up." Thus, your next step is taking a second test drive right on down to your trusted mechanic. This time, when you are driving you can take a closer look at the aspects most important to you. Usually for a small fee your mechanic will also take the car around the block and listen for any abnormalities, maybe even a hesitation. They will also look under the hood and do a multi-point inspection of fluid levels, hoses, belts, lights etc. Finally, ask your mechanic to look for previous damage. They can sometimes tell if the car has been in an accident before, or even if the vehicle has been repainted.
After doing your homework on the car and you still don't find any faults that can not be fixed, it is time to go ahead and make the purchase. From all of the research you have done you should have a good knowledge of the car and its worth. With this knowledge you set yourself up nicely to negotiate a fair price. Don't forget to inquire about warranties too! Often the best warranty plans for used cars are available online. Once the papers are signed it is time to sit back and enjoy your new ride!
Jake Newberry sells Sacramento used cars for NuStar Motors, which specializes in lifted 4x4 trucks and fast cars such as Mustangs, Cameros, and Honda V-techs.


4 Tips When Selecting Cheap Car Shipping Service
There are many car shipping companies nowadays providing a variety of car shipping services. By far, the cheapest and most economical way of shipping a car is by using open multi car carriers.
These carriers are huge trucks that can carry up to 10 cars at one time. You may have seen some of these on the roads before. They usually have 2 levels and can carry 4 to 5 cars on each level. Because they are so long and high, they are limited to travel along major highways and roads with no obstruction of low hanging trees and bridges.
When shopping around for cheap car shipping services, there are a couple of pointers you need to bear in mind
1) Federal Car Shipping License
All car shipping companies need to be registered with a federal license before they are allowed to ship cars. Make sure you ask the car shipping company for proof that they carry the federal license.
2) Extra Cost
Some car shipping companies appear to offer very cheap transport services but in fact, there are many hidden cost that they do not state upfront.
Make sure you check with the company the total cost of shipping up front before signing the agreement letter. Examples of hidden cost are usually fuel surcharges, car insurance and extra charges for shipping to your house.
3) Door to Door Or Terminal To Terminal
Not all car shipping services will ship the car to your house. Some car shipping companies only deliver to major cities and towns and will deposit your car in a terminal. From there, you will collect your car. There are also some companies that charges additional fees for shipping to your house.
In any case, make sure you ask the car shipping company whether they provide door to door delivery for terminal to terminal delivery. In most cases, terminal to terminal is cheaper.
4) Shipping Insurance
Make sure you have sufficient insurance coverage when shipping your car. Some car shipping companies already factor in the insurance in the total shipping cost while others require additional cost.
It’s also important to know what you are being covered. Most car shipping insurance cover against damage and loss of vehicles up to a certain amount. Make sure you know all the details before signing the agreement.
With so many cheap car shipping services available today, you should take your time and search for a few car shipping quotes before deciding on one.
Ricky Lim provides a car shipping tips site. Visit his site today for more information on shipping a car and car shipping costs.


Donating Your Car to Father Joe's Car Donation Program
Early on Father Joe realized that he wanted to help people out. And with this in mind he grew several non profit organizations which are known as Father Joe’s Villages. In order to help out Father Joe you should look into what you can do. After all, helping others is a great thing to do. By donating your car you can help make other people happy which is always a good thing.
But before you decide to donate your car to anybody, make sure that you know who they are. The fact of the matter is that there are many con men out there that will do whatever they can to take your care and make money off of it. So before you donate your car, check with the Better Business Bureau to make sure that you are dealing with a reputable organization.
After you know who you are dealing with you can then move forward with the car donation process. Make sure that you also look over the car donation papers clearly before you sign them. This will ensure that there are no loopholes that may come back to harm you. You may even want to ask your lawyer to check them out.
If you are not sure of who donate your car to, here are a few options to consider. They will all be grateful for your car donation, and all have to do with Father Joe.
St. Vincent de Paul Village is located in San Diego, CA but has branches all over the country. They put a lot of work into making the lives of many people better year in and year out.
Martha’s Village and Kitchen focuses mainly on bettering the lives of single women and children. They are located in Palm Springs, CA.
The Padre Luis Jayme International Outreach Program strives to help people out on a worldwide level.
National AIDS Foundation works with people who are suffering from this deadly disease. This is one of the more popular charitable foundations.
If you feel that a car donation is not right for you, you may want to look again. Even if you think that this is too expensive for your tastes, you should look into all of the benefits before you make a final decision. You may be surprised at what you find.


Anurag writes for Car Donation Infoline – You guide to charitable car donation and car donation program . Donate your car and help a needy.

© Copyright 2006 Anurag Pareek