Buying Nissan Certified at Dirito Bros Concord

It’s true: I help friends buy cars from dealers. What professional from the car industry doesn’t do that?

In this case it was my friend Cynthia whose 1995 Honda Civic was just written off by her insurance company. Cynthia has a busy life and had no time to invest in the car buying process.

She called me, explained her tight budget, and asked for help. I did a Needs Assessment (see my book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW!) to determine if her initial request for help buying a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla could be expanded to other makes – especially ones that were less expensive in an effort to stay within her budget.

The budget was a problem. A new vehicle was out of the question, and a  pre-owned Civic or Corolla that fit the restrictive price requirements would have more miles than I could recommend.  This is where my experience selling used cars came in. I asked Cynthia if she would consider the Nissan Sentra.

Think Outside the Box

Buyers who prefer imports usually think of Honda or Toyota. Yet, Nissan is not just an import, but its quality, gas mileage, and low cost of ownership is within striking distance of the Big Two. And with pre-owned, you gain all those benefits for significantly less money.

Cynthia knew that I used to sell for a major Honda dealership. That fact added credibility to my statement, “There are a few sleeper models that most buyers don’t know about, but remain some of the best buys in the market place. The Nissan Sentra is one of those.”

Cynthia immediately got on her computer and did research through Consumer Reports. What she found confirmed my recommendation and she gave me the green light to find her the right car; in this case, a Nissan Sentra.

I got on the  phone with my friends in the industry: all in various levels of sales for major dealerships in the San Francisco Bay Area. We don’t beat around the bush: they tell me what they have and I see if I can match my friend with their car so everyone’s happy.

More than a Good Deal

I think most of the time when friends ask me for help buying cars they simply want to know they aren’t being conned and paying too much for what they think is a good deal. Who would have thought that my experience in the car business would come in so handy for my friends.

In Cynthia’s case I set out to get the best deal available. Part of getting a good deal on a used car is making sure the buyer is protected:

• has the car been fully inspected and deficiencies fixed (ask to see the actual inspection sheet the mechanic fills out).
• does it have a clean vehicle history report – especially no accidents (see previous article: CARFAX or AutoCheck).
• is there warranty left? Is an extended warranty available.

You can resolve all the above issues by simply buying a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicle. A CPO vehicle not only has to meet a higher standard to even qualify for CPO status, but all CPO programs are backed by the manufacturers – not the dealer – and require  the vehicle to  passed an extensive inspection process where deficiencies are fixed. You also get a manufacturer’s extended warranty.

This is the protection I wanted for Cynthia, and usually recommend for most of the friends I help. Vehicles don’t have to be certified, but it simplifies the process.

In the case of Nissan, the warranty only includes the power train (engine and transmission). I recommended that Cynthia get the optional WRAP service contract (bumper-to-bumper extended warranty) so she would have total protection for the next 4+ years and to 100,000 miles.

Hats Off to Jeannie Stang at Dirito Brothers Nissan

I regularly recommend to friends that they walk out of dealerships that don’t treat them fairly and with respect. However, I also tip my hat to the sales staff and dealers that go out of their way to be professional, courteous, and are great to work with.

Even after calling all my friends in the car business they couldn’t match the deal I found at Dirito Brothers Nissan in Concord. Their Nissan Sentra was certified and after back and forth calls with Sales Consultant Jeannie Stang and her Sales Manager Laura Fernandez, we quickly came to terms that I could recommend to Cynthia.

We didn’t waste time. Cynthia took BART to Walnut Creek. I drove from Berkeley and picked her up at the BART station and we drove the remaining ten minutes to the dealership. Jeanne (the sales consultant) was literally waiting outside for us. The car was freshly washed and literally just a few feet away. A quick test drive confirmed its condition (even better than we expected!) and we all moved inside to complete the paperwork. Simple. Fast. Efficient.

BTW, I asked for and received the vehicle history report and the actual mechanic’s inspection report of the car. When I needed the brake measurements interpreted (I wanted to confirm that both front and rear brakes had more than 50% life remaining) Paul Voskes, the Service Manager, came over and confirmed that both measurements were over 50%. He also answered other questions that arose in the moment. This was exceptional service!

Dollars and Cents

Buyers who negotiate the deal over the telephone or via email are always nervous until they see the final figures on paper.

When Jeannie brought over the paperwork everything was exactly as agreed – to the penny. And Jeanne and her boss Laura Fernandez  worked quickly to get us into the Business Office to complete the final paperwork. It was there that  Greg Corbett, the Finance Manager, was quick, professional, and a genuinely nice person to deal with. Again, no surprises.

Driving Away

After Cynthia and I left the Business Office, Jeannie took us out to the Nissan Sentra where she handed over the keys and answered any last minute questions on its use. And even though she wasn’t required to do so, when we were in the business office Jeannie took the car to a gas station and brought the gauge to over half as a simple courtesy to Cynthia. This kind of service really stands out.

We were in and out of the Dirito Brother’s Nissan Concord dealership in 2 hours and 10 minutes. When I was in car sales the average customer stay was at least 3 1/2 hours and often extended beyond 4, and even 5 hours. Two hours seemed miraculous.

As I drove away I contemplated my experience with this dealer: my time working with Jeannie Stang and Laura Fernandez on the telephone could not have been better. Our experience at the dealership itself rated a full 10 out 10. All the staff were great: courteous, professional, and down-to-earth people who were pleasant to work with.

Most importantly, Cynthia was thrilled to have received the deal she got and was just as thrilled with the car itself. What a pleasant surprise that it was in even better condition than we expected.

I was also reminded that not all car dealerships are created equal. Unfortunately, the industry’s negative image is earned through bad behavior. As an insider to the car industry it was my direct experience that Dirito Brothers Nissan Concord and Jeannie Stang are on par with the best dealerships and sales staff I have worked with. Such good behavior deserves recognition.

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L. James Johnson’s new book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! New Rules for Selling Your Vehicle Online! is available for download at BayAreaCarGuy.com.

AutoCheck or CARFAX?

Anyone who buys a used car and doesn’t check its vehicle history report is asking for trouble.

As an Internet Sales Manager I used both major vehicle history reports: CARFAX and AutoCheck®. Both serve a purpose, but in this economic downturn it’s important to save money. That being the case, the best buy is the one that is better known in the auto industry, yet less known by private sellers: AutoCheck®. This is one situation where my position as an industry insider comes in handy.

On Dec 28, 2009 I found these prices online following a price increase by both companies:

• Single Reports
  • AutoCheck® $24.99
  • CARFAX $34.99

• Multiple Reports
  • AutoCheck® $39.99 – Unlimited
  • CARFAX $44.99 – Maximum of 5 reports

If you choose the single report package you can save 40% by buying your vehicle history report from AutoCheck®. (34.99 – 24.99 = 10 divided by 24.99 x 100 = 40%)

Other Benefits of AutoCheck

Speed is Crucial

As an Internet Sales Manager for a major dealership, we once took in a trade that came up with a clean report when we initially ran the vehicle history. However, a month later when I went to sell the car we ran a new vehicle history report that indicated an accident.

The dealership I worked for had a policy of NOT selling used vehicles that had been in an accident – period!

The result was that I lost a sale, the dealership lost a customer, and the customer was put through a process he was justifiably disappointed over, all because the speed at which the accident appeared on this vehicle history was not as fast as it could have been. A quicker turn around could have saved us all a lot of grief.

This is an example of buyer beware. No vehicle history report will catch every incident and this is another reason to have your own mechanic check out used cars prior to purchase. Want more examples? Below are two investigative journalism reports on the negative aspects of some vehicle history reports:

Shorter U.S. TV station report

Longer Canadian TV report

Speed is crucial, and it’s another reason for purchasing AutoCheck® because they deliver accident information faster. And you get twice as many number of accidents in your report when compared to CARFAX.

And just like CARFAX you get:

• available information on accidents, odometer rollback, lemon vehicles.
• a list of the number of previous owners.
• a buy back program is available.

But unlike CARFAX, AutoCheck® has another benefit, which is something I haven’t used so I can’t recommend it one way or the other:

• An AutoCheck® Score, which allows you to tell how a vehicle measures up against others of the same make and model at a glance.

Remember that no vehicle history report is perfect and getting any pre-owned vehicle inspected by your mechanic is always a good idea. Of the two, the better buy is AutoCheck®

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L. James Johnson’s new book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! New Rules for Selling Your Vehicle Online! is available for download at BayAreaCarGuy.com.

The links I provide are often affiliate links that I receive a commission from if you click thru and purchase a product. I appreciate the support as this allows me the resources and time to develop my website (www.BayAreaCarGuy.com) and funds the development of my next book. See my video explanation at http://bayareacarguy.com/sell-car-online-thanks-for-the-click/.

Sell Car Online – Thanks for the Click!

The links I provide in on this website and in my new book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! are often affiliate links that I receive a commission from if you click thru and purchase a product.

The truth is, I appreciate the support, as this allows me the resources and time to develop my website (www.BayAreaCarGuy.com) and funds the development of my next book.

So, if you click thru and purchase products, thank you. More in my video below.

James Johnson explains why clicking thru affiliate links is important.

HELP! Me Buy My Car – A New Service

Car dealers have a bad reputation for a good reason. During my dealership career in Internet Sales, I listened closely to my customer’s intense, even harsh opinions about car dealers. Guess what? Their intensity was an appropriate reaction to the way they had been treated.

My customers not only wanted the best deal possible, they wanted to know that they weren’t being conned, manipulated, or made a fool of.

Yet a mistake can cost you hundreds, even thousands of dollars more than necessary. And what is even scarier for most buyers is the fact that this is after the actual price of the car is determined. See more below under Negotiate the deal.

Real HELP! for Car Buyers

As I began to offer my HELP! Me Buy My Car service, it made significant changes in people’s experience at the dealership. From saving money to feeling empowered by knowing they were finally getting more than a good deal. Here’s one person’s  remarkable experience.

Help is on the Way

• Needs Assessment. As a preliminary service (no extra charge!) I can provide a “Needs Assessment” to help you determine which is the right vehicle for you.

• Find the vehicle. Once you’ve determined which vehicle you want, I perform a search in your area and provide a short list of dealerships where it’s available.

• Negotiate the deal. I have two basic rules for buyers when purchasing a car from a dealer:

1. Never begin your vehicle search by walking in the front door of a dealership.
2. Don’t be sucked into believing that negotiations are done once you establish the price of the vehicle.

I contact the dealers on the short list and negotiate your best deal. The price of the vehicle is only the beginning. Most buyers relax and effectively go to sleep once the price of the car is negotiated. Big mistake!

Where circumstances dictate that I an unable to pre-negotiate all price points (i.e. you may not be able to line up financing ahead of time), I educate you so you are empowered while at the dealership – in control because you are informed and confident. And if issues arise, I’m only a phone call away.

• The price of the vehicle is the first of five points where the dealer can make a profit. That’s why dealers can sell cars at invoice (and in some cases, below invoice) and still stay in business. In fact, they can more than make up their profit margin in the four remaining profit points.

That’s why I negotiate the “deal” and not just the “price” of the vehicle. I make sure you stay safe during the entire car buying process. Based on your specific circumstances, I pre-negotiate as many remaining areas of concern as possible. Handled incorrectly, these can cost you hundreds, even thousands of dollars more than necessary.

HELP! Me Buy My Car

Do you want real HELP! with your vehicle purchase? Would you like to make sure that you get more than a good deal – and you know it!

Finally, be the driver’s seat and in control when you walk into the dealer’s showroom. Have your deal pre-negotiated on the exact car you want. Take the worry and fear out of this car buying experience, while getting a great deal and saving tons of money.

HELP! Me Buy My Car $477

HELP! Me Buy My Car – Jan’s Story

Car dealers have a bad reputation for a good reason. During my dealership career in Internet Sales, I listened closely to my customer’s intense, even harsh opinions about car dealers. Guess what? Their intensity was an appropriate reaction to the way they had been treated.

When I began offering my HELP! Me Buy My Car service, it made significant changes in people’s experience at the dealership. Here’s an example from the very first time I helped a friend who needed advice on the spot. Watch the video version, or read the story below:

James tells of the first time he helped a friend buy a car from a dealer.

In Jan’s words:

I called James directly from the dealership, while the professionals waited for me to sign the contract to purchase my first new car in 11 years. They told me I was getting a good deal but something didn’t feel right. Even though we were on opposite coasts, I knew of James and his reputation in the auto industry for being honest, upfront, direct, and successful.

James asked me questions until he was clear about my needs, my budget, my trade, and my experience with this dealership. Next, he got my salesperson on the telephone and in just a few minutes determined that the dealership was not only giving me a very bad deal financially, but they were using manipulative sales practices that he considered unethical. I remember he asked me, “Do you really want to buy a car from a dealer who treats their customers like that?” Well, no!

When I saw what was happening through the eyes of a car industry insider, I knew that the knot I’d been feeling in my stomach was like a neon sign flashing “Don’t Trust This Dealer.” James confirmed what I knew deep down to be true.

I asked James what I should do. He told me to simply walk out of the dealership. I did, despite the protests of my salesperson and his manager. Then, as if to further earn their bad reputation, the Manager refused to return my driver’s license and car keys until I listened to a last ditch sales pitch. Uurrghhh! By the time I got out of there I was both stunned and angry. But at least I was out.

What happened next still amazes me. James contacted another dealer and made sure the car I wanted was in stock. He interviewed a member of the sales staff over the telephone to confirm that this dealership would treat me fairly and above board. He then negotiated the price of the new car and my trade and emailed me a detailed price breakdown of everything that was agreed upon. He also let them know he was only a phone call away should any problems arise.

When I walked into this dealer the next day I simply handed them a print out of James’ figures and we went about completing the sale. It was easy and stress-free. I didn’t have to play my Ace card by calling James.

Incredibly, James saved me $2800 on the price of the new car and what I was allowed for my trade compared to the deal I almost made with the first dealer. My total savings were over $3,000 when I add the savings James provided on the extras I purchased in the business office when completing the paperwork.

Saving money was only part of the benefit. The insecurity and apprehension I experienced at the first dealership compared to the confidence and empowerment I felt at the second one. The difference between the two was profound and had to do with the trust I had in James’ level of expertise and knowing that he was on my side. I was also completely confident that I was getting an honest and fair deal.

There is a post script. A few weeks ago, a friend who has lived in New York City for many years just got his driver’s license. He needed to buy a new car but had no idea where to begin. He knew nothing about cars, dealers, or how to negotiate. This time I was the one who confidently recommended dealer #2. My inexperienced friend not only got a great deal on his car but also had a very good experience buying it there.

James took me from being naive, inexperienced, and stressed out about buying a new car – afraid I’d be conned and feel stupid – to confidently recommending a dealer based on my actual positive experience.

Thank you, James, for helping me to finally feel empowered while working with car dealers, and for saving me thousands dollars.

Jan J.
Health Industry Consultant
Connecticut

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L. James Johnson’s new book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! New Rules for Selling Your Vehicle Online! is available for download at BayAreaCarGuy.com.

backpage.com – An Up and Coming Classified Website!

We all know that Craigslist is the towering giant among free online classified websites. Over 50 million unique visitors land on Craigslist each month making it the 8th largest website in the U.S., and the 24th largest in the world.

Does this mean that you should rush out and post your car, truck, or SUV only on Craigslist? The answer depends on where you live. Classified websites offer a local approach for selling to local buyers. This means that Craigslist is not the leader in all U.S. markets. In fact, it comes in number three in some markets.

One of the up and comers giving Craigslist a run for their money is backpage.com.

I like working with backpage.com because I have an affinity for my local San Francisco Bay Area alternative weekly. backpage.com is owned by the original alternative newspaper, New York’s Village Voice, but your ad may be displayed along with classified ads from the back of many local papers including my SF Weekly, the LA Weekly, City Pages (Minneapolis), and the Seattle Weekly.

backpage.com online ads are free, but you have the option of paying a fee to add your post to the local, printed newspaper and to post online in multiple cities.

I recommend using Craigslist as a strategic site to post your online vehicle ad, but don’t forget about backpage.com. Remember the “mud on the wall” theory:

You never know when that last post on some obscure website will generate a phone inquiry about car.

Be smart and begin with the largest, high-traffic sites in your area, but why not use as many free sites as you have time and energy for. That includes backpage.com. After all, it’s free, right!

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L. James Johnson’s new book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! New Rules for Selling Your Vehicle Online! is available for download at BayAreaCarGuy.com.

CARFAX or AutoCheck?

As an Internet Sales Manager I used both major vehicle history reports: CARFAX and AutoCheck®. Both serve a purpose, but in this economic downturn it’s important to save money. That being the case, the best buy is the one that is better known in the auto industry, yet less known by private sellers: AutoCheck®. This is one situation where my position as an industry insider comes in handy.

On Dec 28, 2009 I found these prices online following a price increase by both companies:

• Single Reports
  • AutoCheck® $24.99
  • CARFAX $34.99

• Multiple Reports
  • AutoCheck® $39.99 – Unlimited
  • CARFAX $44.99 – Maximum of 5 reports

If you choose the single report package you can save 40% by buying your vehicle history report from AutoCheck®. (44.99 – 34.99 = 10 divided by 34.99 x 100 = 40%)

Other Benefits of AutoCheck

Speed is Crucial

As an Internet Sales Manager for a major dealership, we once took in a trade that came up with a clean report when we initially ran the vehicle history. However, a month later when I went to sell the car we ran a new vehicle history report that indicated an accident.

The dealership I worked for had a policy of NOT selling used vehicles that had been in an accident - period!

The result was that I lost a sale, the dealership lost a customer, and the customer was put through a process he was justifiably disappointed over, all because the speed at which the accident appeared on this vehicle history was not as fast as it could have been. A quicker turn around could have saved us all a lot of grief.

This is an example of buyer beware. No vehicle history report will catch every incident and this is another reason to have your own mechanic check out used cars prior to purchase. Want more examples? Below are two investigative journalism reports on the negative aspects of some vehicle history reports:

Shorter U.S. TV station report

Longer Canadian TV report

Speed is crucial, and it’s another reason for purchasing AutoCheck® because they deliver accident information faster. And you get twice as many number of accidents in your report when compared to CARFAX.

And just like CARFAX you get:

• available information on accidents, odometer rollback, lemon vehicles.
• a list of the number of previous owners.
• a buy back program is available.

But unlike CARFAX, AutoCheck® has another benefit, which is something I haven’t used so I can’t recommend it one way or the other:

• An AutoCheck® Score, which allows you to tell how a vehicle measures up against others of the same make and model at a glance.

Remember that no vehicle history report is perfect and getting any pre-owned vehicle inspected by your mechanic is always a good idea. Of the two, the better buy is AutoCheck®

——————

L. James Johnson’s new book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! New Rules for Selling Your Vehicle Online! is available for download at BayAreaCarGuy.com.

The links I provide are often affiliate links that I receive a commission from if you click thru and purchase a product. I appreciate the support as this allows me the resources and time to develop my website (www.BayAreaCarGuy.com) and funds the development of my next book on how to buy a car from a major dealer. See my video explanation at http://bayareacarguy.com/sell-car-online-thanks-for-the-click/.

Escrow.com – Be Safe!

Unfortunately, fraudulent escrow services have been popping up online. All of them say they are reliable and licensed, however, don’t accept just any escrow service recommended by the buyer or seller you are dealing with.

Escrow.com

is one the first escrow services that emerged in response to the growing trend of online buying and selling in the 1990s by providing much needed safety and security. They acted as a middle-man protecting everyone’s interests.

If you have any doubt about the buyer or their form of payment, use an escrow service. But not just any service. is one of the oldest, most reliable online escrow services available.
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L. James Johnson’s new book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! New Rules for Selling Your Vehicle Online! is available for download at BayAreaCarGuy.com.

Online Escrow Services – Be Safe

Selling your vehicle online yourself can put extra money in your pocket. But when it comes time to get paid for your vehicle, safety is a primary concern.

Do you accept a personal check? Not on your life!

What about a cashier’s check? These used to be safe, but unless you confirm its authenticity with the issuing bank, I recommend that you treat cashier’s checks like personal checks: wait for funds to clear (a week or more) before you release the vehicle to the buyer.

I understand that waiting a week before completing a deal is not practical for most people. That’s why I recommend using an online escrow service. The following is from my book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW!:

An escrow service acts as a middle-man, holding the money until the loan is paid off, then releasing funds in a safe manner.

These services are reasonably priced, especially when the fee is split between buyer and seller. They offer a level of safety that is priceless.

There are online escrow services that protect both buyer and seller, but you have to be on guard against fraudulent ones. Do not accept just any escrow service recommended by the buyer. When in doubt, use a reliable and licensed escrow service.

Escrow.com

I recommend Escrow.com. This is one of the first escrow services that responded to the growing trend of online buying and selling in the 1990s by providing much needed safety and security. They acted as a middle-man protecting everyone’s interests.

If you have any doubt about the buyer or their form of payment, use an escrow service. But not just any service. is one of the oldest, most reliable online escrow services available.

has the recommendation of the BayAreaCarGuy!

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L. James Johnson’s new book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! New Rules for Selling Your Vehicle Online! is available for download at BayAreaCarGuy.com.

Auto “Bill of Sale” Now Available Online

When selling a vehicle privately it’s best to have a Bill of Sale if your state DMV requires one or not. This is from my new book: HELP! I Gotta Sell My  Car NOW!:

A Bill of Sale makes the sales transaction explicit by identifying what is for sale, any conditions attached, and the price.

To make sure you get it right (a mistake here can be costly in more ways than one), it’s actually easier to download an attorney prepared Bill of Sale online. For a small fee, you can get a professional document that has been specifically designed for your state. Go to Find Legal Forms for an Auto Bill of Sale.

Find more tools for buying and selling vehicle on my website at www.BayAreaCarGuy.com/tools.
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L. James Johnson’s new book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! New Rules for Selling Your Vehicle Online! is available for download at BayAreaCarGuy.com.

Angie’s List – Be Confident When Dealing with Local Companies

After working as an Internet Sales Manager for a major car dealer, I discovered that you can’t trust everyone in the car business. In fact, it’s buyer beware. This holds true when selling your vehicle online.

How do you discover the best place to:

• Get a pre-purchase inspection of your vehicle?
• To detail your car?
• Or get it serviced?

You don’t want to make a mistake or leave money on the table when selling your vehicle. So don’t make a mistake when working with local companies. Learn from others who have gone before you. Angie’s List. is a great resource for finding out who to work with – and who not to.

Angie’s List – Find local consumer reviews on everything from getting your car inspected, detailed or serviced, and from painters and plumbers to mechanics and movers.

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L. James Johnson’s new book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! New Rules for Selling Your Vehicle Online! is available for download at BayAreaCarGuy.com.

The Video Walk Around

The Walk Around Video

The video walk around is the secret weapon that brought me serious customers when I was an Internet Sales Manager for a major auto dealer. It was rare for someone to make a long drive after viewing a video walk around and NOT buy the car. The video and your prior conversations will make the sale. Buyers usually make the trip to simply confirm the details and pick up the car.

HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW!

Use the video walk around examples on my website at BayAreaCarGuy.com/video, in conjunction with my book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! where I provide a step-by-step guide on how to create your own effective walk around (a great selling tool for so many reasons!) that may also make you a star on YouTube!

In HELP! NOW! I teach you how to:

• prep your car
• find a location
• the equipment you’ll need
• how to script your walk around – including what features to SELL
• how to create a general video for everyone
• how to create a video for a specific buyer
• the mechanics of shooting your video
• how to upload to the Internet
• much more

Creating your own video walk around and posting it on YouTube is both fun and easy. Want to see what one looks like? View my video walk around examples by visiting the Video page at BayAreaCarGuy.com.

Find more tools for buying and selling vehicle on my website at www.BayAreaCarGuy.com/tools.

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L. James Johnson’s new book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! New Rules for Selling Your Vehicle Online! is available for download at BayAreaCarGuy.com.

Is A “Bill of Sale” Needed To Sell Your Car?

Did you know that in most states a Bill of Sale does not actually transfer legal ownership of your car to the new buyer when you sell it privately? For those states, the actual transfer is done through the DMV.

However, some states require a Bill of Sale for a private deal to be completed. In my new book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! I recommend that you complete a Bill of Sale if your state requires one or not. Here is why:

A Bill of Sale makes the sales transaction explicit by identifying what is for sale, any conditions attached, and the price.

HELP! NOW! also outlines what a Bill of Sale should include in case you want to take a stab at it on your own:

• The vehicle identification number (VIN)
• year, make, and model
• odometer reading (mileage)
• date of sale
• purchase price
• be sure to include the phrase “sold as is,” unless you have agreed to something else
• names and addresses of buyer and seller
• signatures of buyer and seller

To make sure you get it right it’s actually easier to download an attorney prepared Bill of Sale online. For a small fee, you can get a professional document that has been specifically designed for you state. Go to Find Legal Forms for an Auto Bill of Sale.

Find more tools for buying and selling vehicle on my website at www.BayAreaCarGuy.com/tools.

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L. James Johnson’s new book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! New Rules for Selling Your Vehicle Online! is available for download at BayAreaCarGuy.com.

Best Cars For Under $10,000!

Cars.com recently published an article entitled, “The Best Cars for $10,000.” I was surprised to see that Ford models made up exactly half of their list.

Cars.com has put together some extremely useful consumer oriented articles. In this one, they list their choice of mostly pre-owned vehicles that you should be able to buy for less than $10,000. They also provide the reasons why each vehicle made the list. 

Here is a brief summary in the order the article listed them:

1. 2009 Nissan Versa — Safe, good gas mileage, roomy for a sub-compact, and best of all – price.
2. 2005 Ford Escape — Reliable, good gas mileage, safe (look for one with side-curtain air bags), lots of models to choose from.
3. 2005 Ford Five Hundred — Very roomy, good gas mileage, well-equiped with features. 
4. 2005 Ford Freestar — 3rd row seat, mostly reliable, and try to find one with side curtain air bags.
5. 2005 Ford Taurus — Reliability and a great crash test rating. Offers two v6 engines.
6. 2005 Hyundai Tucson — Lots of safety features for the money, reasonable gas mileage, and reliable. 
7. 2005 Hyundai XG350 — Luxury car with a soft ride, reliable, safe – though disappointing gas mileage.
8. 2004 Ford F-150 — Reliable, safe, leads its class. 
9. 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe — Reliable, safe, but disappointing gas mileage for both the 4 and 6 cylinder models.
10. 2004 Mitsubishi Outlander — Lots of power, reliable, safe. Be sure to pass on the lesser LS model.

We can thank Kelsey Mays and Joe Wiesenfelder for the article. It is particularly useful in this period of economic uncertainty when many Americans are postponing major purchases – or, for example, choosing to buy a pre-owned vehicle instead of a more costly new one.

Mays and Wiesenfelder caution the reader that “The used-car market is wildly unpredictable.” They mention this in connection to price confirming that you may get a better or worse deal that what they describe. 

Read the entire Cars.com article here. 

If you are looking for a pre-owned vehicle don’t forget to download my report, “The 8 Most Common Mistakes Used Car Buyers Make and How To Avoid Them!” It’s a free download on the right side of this page.