There are many ways to shop for used car. You can go from dealer to dealer and used car lot to used car lot, you can go on many of the used car sites online, or even an auction site online. Regardless of how you go about finding a vehicle it is important you understand what to look out for to make sure the you are not purchasing somebody else’s discarded problems. Here are some tips that might help you to find a high-quality vehicle that hopefully will serve you for many years to come…

1. Take your time when evaluating a vehicle. Take several walks around the exterior of the vehicle noting any imperfections you may find. Open the doors, trunk, and hood and look for anything that does not look like it was original or just doesn’t look right. Don’t be afraid to ask the seller questions and evaluate the answers you received. Do the same with the interior, take your time and sit in the vehicle and make sure you try all of the equipment and accessories to make sure they are operating properly. Shift the vehicle into drive, neutral, and reverse and make sure it seems to shift quickly and smoothly. If not, expensive repairs may be imminent.

2. Ask for a vehicle history report such as Carfax or AutoCheck. Make sure the vehicle has no major negative events in its history and that there are no odometer discrepancies.

3. Start the engine and open up the hood. Your eyes, ears, and nose are your best friends here. You want to look for any visible oil leaks. You want to listen for any unusual sounds. And you want to make sure that there are no unusual smells, for instance something smelling like it’s burning. Check the transmission fluid by pulling out the dipstick and checking the level and giving it a quick smell. If the vehicle was just started the transmission fluid level should be near the cold marker. You want to make sure it does not smell burnt as this could identify a current or pending problem. When the engine is turned off again pull out the oil dipstick and again, make sure it looks like it is not dirty and does not smell burnt. The color of the oil should be similar to dark amber.

4. Now it’s time for a test drive. Before you start moving check the steering system. Open the windows and turned the steering wheel hard all the way to one side, and then the other. You want to make sure there is no resistance and that there are no loud squealing sounds which could signify a problem with costly parts of the steering system. You will also want to jiggle the wheel back and forth a bit from the center position and make sure that it doesn’t have any play. Going from one side to the other. It should feel firm when turning from one side to the other. Once you are confident the vehicle is safe to drive make sure you drive it with the windows open and closed. Make sure you don’t hear any noises that seem uncommon. If you do find any potential issues and you are not sure what they are make sure to have a qualified mechanic look the car over before you complete the purchase. While driving, make sure to pay attention to the brakes. Do they feel like they are working properly and stopping the car efficiently? If not, they may need to be addressed and that could help you as any other problems found, in negotiating a better purchase price.

5. Last, but certainly not least. Asked to have the vehicle inspected by a mechanic or shop of your choice. If there is any resistance to having the vehicle inspected run, don’t walk away from the vehicle as is a telltale sign there are going to be issues found.

Once you have found the right vehicle and have made a purchase it is a sound financial decision and great idea to purchase a quality used car warranty. An auto warranty can protect you from the inevitable major or minor repairs that you will face down the road. There are few reputable companies that will allow you to purchase coverage directly, excluding the dealer and their profit, at wholesale pricing. A great place to start is Auto Advantage Inc.

CAR WARRANTY VS CAR INSURANCE

The mere mention of “car warranty” and “car insurance” brings this one word to mind: protection. Given that definition, you might be forgiven at first for thinking that warranty and insurance are the same. However, those two advocate distinctive characteristics as far as consumer protection is concerned in regards to their respective coverages. As a matter of course, you must avoid confusing between the two concepts.

Despite having seemingly similar names, car warranty and car insurance deal with a mixed variety of things. Nonetheless, what has long been established is the fact that both tools provide diverse ways on protecting you and your car the way you want it. Put simply, car warranty and car insurance come in a variety of protection packages, all of which targets specific components pertinent to you and your car’s safety.

You can best differentiate car warranty and car insurance respectively through these two concepts: car parts and accidents. Car warranty provides protection in the event when any of your car’s components fails without any fault from your end. Car insurance shields you from any unwanted one-time costs arising from accidents. This article discusses a comparative approach to distinguishing between the two tools.

A car warranty thus serves as a safety net against those circumstances previously mentioned. Standard coverage for vehicular damage caused by defective car parts – in the absence of any external force of course, merits the advantage of a car warranty. Essentially, automakers specify a sufficient warranty period for your car and specific car parts, which allows you to take advantage of free repair and replacement throughout its duration. In the event any of your car parts break down without your fault during the warranty period, you can use your car warranty to have your repairs and replacements done free of charge. But those warranties only last so long, which is why you should then invest in an extended warranty for your car to further your protection against unexpected car repairs. With an extended warranty, you are able to get discounted repairs, which is better than paying the full price. Less money to be spent, means that you won’t lose your mind when you get that bill.

CAR INSURANCE: ANTICIPATING THE UNKNOWN

Accidents happen just when you least expect it. Chances are, your car may be exposed to countless opportunities of being written off the more you use it for commuting. From road mishaps to damage from natural disasters, your car confronts numerous chances of encountering accidents. That should leave you with no room for complacency, given that one-time payments for repair and replacements can derail your budget in the long run.

To save yourself from the financially-disastrous effects of car accidents, consider a proper car insurance package that best suits you and your car. Through reasonable payment terms for premiums, a car insurance affords you with sufficient coverage that allows you and your car to recover as you claim what is due to you. Compared to shelling out money for expensive repairs, car insurance provides you with the convenience of having your insured car taken care of by your insurance provider, particularly in cases where your insurance package involves a specific service center. Additionally, car insurance also helps cushion the financial consequences of damaging another car in an accident, as it provides you with cover as you compensate for repairs. The fact that you cannot exactly anticipate the frequency of accidents happening to you and your car makes car insurance an essential investment.

CONCLUSION: WHICH IS A BETTER INVESTMENT?

Car ownership means so much more than purchasing your own car – it involves the need to invest in various protective instruments, as in the case of both car warranty and car insurance. Both tools allow you to have optimal protection against the financially-disastrous effects of car parts defects or accidents on the road. Depending on the scope of your coverage for each tool, you may choose to go for just a car warranty, car insurance, or both. We highly suggest having both, as you can never know what will go wrong. Insurance is a must, but a warranty is just as important for the normal wear and tear you’re your vehicle undergoes from commuting you to your various locations. Ultimately, investing on these tools makes you the biggest beneficiary, which is why your wise and informed discretion is crucial in making this decision. It’s best to be proactive and protected, because life can throw you curve balls and sometimes it throws things at your car.

There are many extended car warranty programs to choose from but it can be a bit tricky to find a “reputable” plan to suit your needs. The best way to choose a reliable extended car warranty program is to find a company that makes the following criteria…

1. Make sure the company is in business for 10 years or more. This assures you that they are not only in the business of selling coverage but also successfully paying claims.
2. You want to choose a company that has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and perhaps more importantly, is accredited by the BBB which holds them to a much higher standard of excellent business practices and customer service.
3. You want the warranty program to be directly underwritten by a US-based insurance carrier holding at least an A rating with an industry rating service such as AM Best or Standard & Poors. This will assure you that if any part of the claims administration process fails the underwriter will directly pick up all claims if needed.

There are also many different levels of coverage available for your vehicle. These levels are Power train, Major Component Plus, High-Tech Component, Component Type Bumper-To-Bumper, or Exclusionary Bumper-To-Bumper coverage. Depending on the age and mileage of the vehicle all or most of these levels could be available. It is important to look through the different levels of coverage for any companies you are considering side-by-side to make sure that you are purchasing the best coverage available for your needs. Do not rely on plan names such as Platinum, Elite, or Gold as they do not always correctly define the level of coverage you are purchasing. Some less than reputable companies will take a very basic plan and label it with a very fancy name. You want to look at the actual list of what is covered to make sure you are getting what you’re paying for.

All in all, an extended car warranty is an excellent investment and can save you thousands of dollars over the term of the coverage. To begin researching the different types of coverage you can visit Auto Advantage and see what the choices are. It is a great idea to fill out the quote request form and let them send you the specifics including coverage details and pricing.