Benefits of HELP! NOW!
Why get my new book HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! This is what you’ll learn to do:
- how to prepare your car, including when an investment in fixing it up pays off
- price your car so you get everything coming to you – and not leave money on the table
- where to post your ad – start on free classified websites
- how to use free websites, including Craigslist, Kijiji, Oodle, and Backpage
- how to use premium sites, including AutoTrader and Cars.com
- how to create an ad that SELLS
- what pictures to take and how to take them
- how to record a video walk around – the secret sales tool that even dealers don’t know about
- how to SAFELY test drive your car
- how to negotiate like a pro
- completing the paperwork, including what needs to be in the bill of sale
- counting the money, including what to do if there is a loan against the vehicle
- the final checklist before you hand over the keys
Still not sure? Read the FREE sample chapters.
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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.
Sell Car Online Guide Available for First Time
For Immediate Release – November 30, 2009
The First Comprehensive Guide to Selling Vehicles Online Just Released
Berkeley, California, USA – L. James Johnson has announced that his new book, HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car – New Rules for Selling Your Vehicle Online! has just been released for download at www.BayAreaCarGuy.com.
Johnson describes HELP! NOW! as combining his New Rules for selling vehicles online with time-honored Best Practices from the car industry. He developed the New Rules while an Internet Manager for a major car dealer. The New Rules were designed to help dealers and private sellers move beyond Old School sales and marketing tactics that hinder attempts to use the Internet effectively when selling cars, trucks, and SUVs.
Johnson says, “Dealers benefit the most from the New Rules because many simply don’t understand that a new approach is needed to use the Internet effectively.” He goes onto say, “Private sellers will use both the New Rules and the car industry’s Best Practices for pricing cars, handling inquiries, performing a vehicle walk around, staying safe during the test drive, and negotiating price, to name a few.”
L. James Johnson joined the car industry late in life after a successful career in radio and TV Journalism. He later owned and operated three businesses simultaneously. Within six months of joining the car industry he attained top sales status. He had one of the highest Consumer Satisfaction Index (CSI) ratings in the district - above national average. After advancing to Internet Manager, James drew heavily on his experience in both business and Journalism to perfect the New Rules of selling cars online, which led to the publication of HELP! NOW!
This is the first time that a comprehensive A through Z guide to selling a car or truck online is available to car dealers or private sellers.
Contact:
L. James Johnson
Owner, www.BayAreaCarGuy.com
Berkeley, CA 94702
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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.
5 NEW RULES of Selling Your Vehicle Online!
Most used car buyers have been online before they ever walk into a car dealership. Car dealers have been forced to adapt (some kicking and screaming) – by building an Internet sales department, re-directing advertising budgets, and reconsidering how they price their vehicles.
Don’t tell them I said so, but many large auto dealers do a poor job of marketing their vehicles online. They know a lot about print advertising, but fewer buyers are looking in newspapers or auto/shopper magazines – and why bother? They’re out of date by the time they’re delivered. The cars pictured may have been sold before the paper went to press!
Many “old school” car dealers simply haven’t figured out the New Rules for effectively marketing their vehicles online. Unfortunately for them, they won’t get a second chance to create a first impression.
You Can Learn, Too!
If professionals are having a difficult time staying ahead of the learning curve, you shouldn’t feel bad if you are not clear on how to effectively sell your car, truck, or SUV on the Internet. It’s barely two years since I was asked to decipher the mysteries of online marketing, and to design the best method for selling used (my boss insisted on “pre-owned”) vehicles on sites like AutoTrader, Cars.com, Craigslist, and Kijiji. Luckily, it was a forward-thinking company that trusted me to experiment, knowing I’d make mistakes that we could learn from. How else to learn?
It took a year of trial and error to develop a clean, effective format for our online postings and ads. But that was only part of the learning curve. I discovered that there is a weekly shopping cycle specific to online buyers. Unless you time your ads correctly, much of your effort could be wasted. We also learned how important pictures and pricing are to attract potential buyers and complete the sale.
Developing New Rules for marketing used vehicles online increased our sales volume, and we drew buyers from farther and farther away. Customers regularly drove two, three, and, in one case, five and a half hours one-way just to check out a car we’d posted. And virtually every customer who drove that distance bought the vehicle they came to see.
Think about it. What would entice someone to drive eleven hours round trip to look at a used car?
James explains, other than great Photos, what is needed to have an effective online ad.
The New Rules
1. Bold Headline
First, the subject line has to grab attention away from all the competing ads – and for some models there may be hundreds posted.
2. Detailed Information
The text must be clear and concise, specifying all the information a buyer cares about in order to determine if your vehicle is worth the time to look at.
3. Personal Touches
Personal touches will sweeten your posting – information that only someone who cared about the vehicle would know. These make the seller seem trustworthy. Emphasize the positive AND tell the truth about the condition of the vehicle.
4. Specific Photos
Seeing the features and accessories that your buyer is looking for will catch her attention.
5. Video Walk Around
Finally, the secret weapon that induces someone to drive eleven hours is the video walk around. It’s a simple tool I love to use, even if my customer’s in the neighborhood, and it’s easy to put together. It builds an enormous amount of trust and rapport between buyer and seller, providing a load of information quickly. I know the video walk around sealed the deal for my buyers even before they came over to see the car. There’s a step-by-step guide on creating your own walk-around in Chapter 10.
HELP! NOW!
My new book HELP! I Gotta Sell My Car NOW! walks you through the 5 NEW RULES of selling your car online. I provide a step-by-step guide for selling your car online, including:
- price your car so you don’t leave money on the table
- what sites to choose, and how to market your car for FREE
- which photos do you take and how do you shoot them
- handling inquiries and test drives
- how to negotiate like a pro
- handling the paperwork and counting the money
Your time and money is on the line. Learn from the pros – learn the NEW RULES of selling your car online. HELP! NOW! is on the way.
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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
- AutoCheck®
- Multiple Reports
- AutoCheck®
- CARFAX $44.99 – Maximum of 5 reports
- AutoCheck®
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
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®
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 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/.
Why I Love Honda Certified Used Cars! Part II
Yesterday I gushed about the many reasons I love selling certified Honda vehicles – at least I did while I was an Internet Sales Manager at a local Honda dealership. Now that I am the Internet Sales Manager at Michael Stead’s Hilltop Ford I still sell pre-owned Hondas, and we have program where we offer more protection for our customers than the Honda program. Today – part II of this article:
What is the POWERTRAIN? The powertrain is the engine and transmission – considered to the two of the most expensive parts of the vehicle to fix if serious problems arise.
What is the NON-POWERTRAIN? Everything on your vehicle other than the engine and transmission. The non-powertrain warranty is often called the “bumper-to-bumper” warranty.
Why is the NON-POWERTRAIN WARRANTY so important? Each year more vehicles depend on computerized components. This can include maintenance monitoring programs, navigation systems, and electronic stability assist programs. These provide great convenience, safety, and access to technology. When problems arise, it can be expensive to diagnose the problem, or to even swap out computerized components. That’s why having the non-powertrain warranty extended to 7-years/100,000 miles is so important: to make sure that, for example, computer or electrical problems will most likely be covered.
PRICING: Have you noticed that virtually all manufacturer’s certified vehicles cost more than non-certified ones? This is because the dealer pays the manufacturer a fee when a vehicle is certified. The vehicle also must meet certain requirements, and go through an extensive inspection process with any deficiencies repaired. This added cost is going to be passed along to you, which is why certified vehicles are generally more expensive. It makes sense: A certified vehicle has added costs, but also has added value. These are passed along to the consumer with a higher selling price.
PURCHASING OPTIONS: At Hilltop Ford we offer two purchase options with most pre-owned Hondas. You can buy a Honda with only the remaining manufacturer’s warranty, if any. Or, buy your Honda with our PremiumCare Extended Service package. Let’s see how these two options compare when applied to a specific Honda Accord that we currently have in stock. (Details and pictures of the vehicle at http://hilltop-ford-lincoln-mercury.ebizautos.com/detail-2008-honda-accord_ex_sedan_4d-3786487.html.)
TOMMORROW – I get into exact costs using the example above.
To see the entire article click here.
The 8 Biggest Mistakes – #8
Buying a used car can be one of the most stressful things that you’ll do this year. Yet, here are specific steps to:
- make the buying process easier
- ensure you get more than a good deal
- find a vehicle that will last you for years to come
I have compiled a list of the most common mistakes my customers have made when buying used cars. Making any one of these mistakes can cost you hundreds – even thousands of dollars more than necessary. Finally, you can get ahead of the learning curve and buy your next car with confidence.
Mistake #1 – Not test driving early in the buying process.
Mistake #2 – Not checking the CARFAX report.
Mistake #3 – Not looking at the vehicle inspection report.
Mistake #4 – Ignoring fuel consumption.
Mistake #5 – Ignoring Certified cars (CPOs) or extended warranties.
Mistake #6 – Don’t comparison shop.
Mistake #7 – Not buying from a reputable dealer.
Mistake #8 – Not following your intuition.
I find it amazing how my customers blurt out their previous car buying experiences – including all the mistakes they have made. Here are a few examples:
STORY #1 – Denzel C. told me that he knew as he was driving the car away from the seller’s house that he had made a mistake. His intuition was confirmed a short time later when he discovered that the car he just bought had been in a serious accident which damaged the frame. He wished he had not over-ruled his gut feeling. He also told me that from now on he would have his mechanic check out all private sales vehicles that made his short list.
STORY #2 – Ahmed S. told me that didn’t trust his last sales person, but bought the car anyway. It turned out that the sales person wasn’t telling him the whole truth about the car’s history. Ahmed told me that he now listens to his intuition in those situations. He also learned to read the vehicle history report before signing on the dotted line.
Life’s Lessons:
- research all the factors that concern you
- test drive early in the process
- read the vehicle history and vehicle inspection reports
- ask yourself, “Is this the car for me?”
- listen to the answer – your intuition
- if you are really sure – take action
- always contact me if you have questions
Good luck, and for goodness sake, try to have fun in your car buying experience.
L. James Johnson Internet Sales Manager james@BayAreaCarGuy.com www.BayAreaCarGuy.comThe 8 Biggest Mistakes – #7
Buying a used car can be one of the most stressful things that you’ll do this year. Yet, here are specific steps to:
- make the buying process easier
- ensure you get more than a good deal
- find a vehicle that will last you for years to come
I have compiled a list of the most common mistakes my customers have made when buying used cars. Making any one of these mistakes can cost you hundreds – even thousands of dollars more than necessary. Finally, you can get ahead of the learning curve and buy your next car with confidence.
Mistake #1 – Not test driving early in the buying process.
Mistake #2 – Not checking the CARFAX report.
Mistake #3 – Not looking at the vehicle inspection report.
Mistake #4 – Ignoring fuel consumption.
Mistake #5 – Ignoring Certified cars (CPOs) or extended warranties.
Mistake #6 – Don’t comparison shop.
Mistake #7 – Not buying from a reputable dealer.
I work at Michael Stead’s Hilltop Ford. There are a lot of small used car outlets in our area. It is heartbreaking to hear the nightmare experiences of buying a used car somewhere else.
STORY – An unemployed Brenda walked onto our sales lot one day. She told me a sad story about her last car buying experience: Less than a month after buying her used car from a small used car dealer the transmission broke down. It turns out that she hadn’t checked either the vehicle history report or the vehicle inspection report prior to buying it. Instead, she took the salesperson’s word that the car had been fully checked out.
She soon discovered that it would cost $3,500 to get the car running again. She didn’t have the money. She asked the dealership to fix the car but they refused. Brenda tried to sell the car to get out from under her remaining bank loan. But the dealer hadn’t completed the paperwork to give her a clear title. Without the title she couldn’t sell the vehicle.
Stuck, she let the car sit in its broken-down condition. Because she no longer had reliable transportation to get to her job, she was fired. When she walked onto our sales lot and asked me for help she was out of work and desperate. We went to work to get her help with her non-working vehicle, and did everything possible to get her into another car. Unfortunately, Brenda was not able to get approval on a second car loan, and the last I spoke with her she was going back to the dealer to try and resolve the numerous outstanding issues. It was a sad and unfortunate situation.
INSIDER INFORMATION – Buying from a reputable dealer will help you feel comfortable and safe in your used car purchase.
One reason that I work for a major dealership is because of the high standards and transparent dealings. I will:
- provide a free vehicle history report
- show you the vehicle inspection report
- explain warranties and the Ford Certified Pre-owned vehicle (CPO) program
- explain the Stead Certified Pre-owned Vehicle Package w/Warranty Wrap
- help you find information online
- for convenience you can even complete your credit application online
- invite you to test drive the same car more than one
There is a reason why I work where I do – and why I sell used car to my friends and neighbors – and they still like me afterwards.
And there is a reason why my friends and neighbors recommend me to their friends – and friends of friends, and so on.
See the next article in this series:
Mistake #8 – Not following your gut instinct.
The 8 Biggest Mistakes – #6
Buying a used car can be one of the most stressful things that you’ll do this year. Yet, here are specific steps to:
- make the buying process easier
- ensure you get more than a good deal
- find a vehicle that will last you for years to come
I have compiled a list of the most common mistakes my customers have made when buying used cars. Making any one of these mistakes can cost you hundreds – even thousands of dollars more than necessary. Finally, you can get ahead of the learning curve and buy your next car with confidence.
Mistake #1 – Not test driving early in the buying process.
Mistake #2 – Not checking the CARFAX report.
Mistake #3 – Not looking at the vehicle inspection report.
Mistake #4 – Ignoring fuel consumption.
Mistake #5 – Ignoring Certified cars (CPOs) or extended warranties.
Mistake #6 – Don’t comparison shop.
It’s easy to find the best price on the vehicle you want by using the Internet. I use AutoTrader.com and Cars.com to discover which vehicles are available, and their price. I can narrow my search to any ZIP code in the country. LemonFree.com is also useful.
INSIDER INFORMATION – Decide which features and benefits have the most value for you, and then comparison shop. Price is just one factor to take into account.
For Example:
- If you have a long commute, a car with lower miles has greater value than one with higher miles.
- If you drive your children to and fro, a roomier minivan or SUV is important to you – but getting one with side curtain air bags may be life-saving and therefore worth more.
Here are other features and benefits that can affect you paying more – or less – for a vehicle:
- condition of the vehicle (and therefore lower or higher service costs in the future).
- added factory options or after-market accessories (but only if YOU value them).
- remaining original factory warranty, or the cost of an extended warranty.
- whether it is a Certified Pre-owned (CPO) vehicle (having its own extended warranty saves you the cost of buying one.
Price is important but it is not the only factor to take into account. Remember that each pre-owned vehicle is “one-of-a-kind.” It is your job to decide which combination of features – benefits – and price hold the most value for you.
See the next article in this series:
Mistake #7 – No buying from a reputable dealer.
The 8 Biggest Mistakes – #5
Buying a used car can be one of the most stressful things that you’ll do this year. Yet, here are specific steps to:
- make the buying process easier
- ensure you get more than a good deal
- find a vehicle that will last you for years to come
I have compiled a list of the most common mistakes my customers have made when buying used cars. Making any one of these mistakes can cost you hundreds – even thousands of dollars more than necessary. Finally, you can get ahead of the learning curve and buy your next car with confidence.
Mistake #1 – Not test driving early in the buying process.
Mistake #2 – Not checking the CARFAX report.
Mistake #3 – Not looking at the vehicle inspection report.
Mistake #4 – Ignoring fuel consumption.
Mistake #5 – Ignoring Certified cars (CPOs) or extended warranties.
View my YouTube video, “How Can I Sell Used Cars to my Friends and They Won’t Hate Me Afterwards?” to see how my friends and I have remained friends after they purchased pre-owned vehicles from me. It’s a pretty simple formula – I first make sure that our cars are checked out mechanically, and then I try to make some form of warranty available so my friends are protected when problems occur. Here are some different scenarios:
- My mechanics have fully checked out every pre-owned vehicle before it is offered for sale, and every major component of every car has past muster. Then:
- My friends buy a vehicle with remaining original factory warranty.
- My friends buy a Ford Certified Pre-owned vehicle (CPO). These cars not only meet a higher standard, but Ford significantly extends the warranty at no extra charge.
- My friends buy a Stead Certified Pre-owned Vehicle Package w/Warranty Wrap. This pre-owned vehicle meets a higher standard AND comes with an extended warranty.
- My friends buy an extended service contract to cover any future mechanical problems.
By following these steps I know that my friends won’t be mad after they purchase a pre-owned vehicle from me.
INSIDER INFORMATION - Cars, trucks, and SUVs have thousands of moving parts. It is unreasonable to believe that they won’t break down. No matter how well a vehicle is checked out by a mechanic, or looked after by it’s owner, problems will eventually arise. One of the reasons that I work where I do is the Ford Certified Used Car program – it is one of the best in the industry. I also work for the Stead Automotive Group, which demands that every pre-owned vehicle meets a higher standard, and we have the vehicle inspection and history reports to prove it.
Did you know that part of the requirements of the Ford Certified Used Car program and the Stead Automotive Group is to replace tires or brakes if 50-percent of their life isn’t remaining? Vehicles must also pass a minimum 150-point inspection by our mechanics.
Certified programs and extended warranties can get complicated – even confusing – especially when comparing one manufacturer’s program to another. Need help? I have a special CERTIFIED section on my website that will answer most of your questions. it also compares the many manufacturer’s CPO programs with the Stead Certified Pre-owned Vehicle Package w/Warranty Wrap. The Stead CPO package can often save you money while providing a more comprehensive warranty when compared to most manufacturer CPO programs. It’s a win-win situation for my customers. I’m also happy to answer any questions that you may have. Email them to james@BayAreaCarGuy.com
See the next article in the series:
Mistake #6 – Don’t comparison shop.
The 8 Biggest Mistakes – #4
Buying a used car can be one of the most stressful things that you’ll do this year. Yet, here are specific steps to:
- make the buying process easier
- ensure you get more than a good deal
- find a vehicle that will last you for years to come
I have compiled a list of the most common mistakes my customers have made when buying used cars. Making any one of these mistakes can cost you hundreds – even thousands of dollars more than necessary. Finally, you can get ahead of the learning curve and buy your next car with confidence.
Mistake #1 – Not test driving early in the buying process.
Mistake #2 – Not checking the CARFAX report.
Mistake #3 – Not looking at the vehicle inspection report.
Mistake #4 – Ignoring fuel consumption.
If you are looking for a commuter car and are concerned about rising gas prices, don’t get sidetracked by a car you can’t afford to drive day-in and day-out. Pay attention to the gas mileage of each vehicle that makes it onto your short list – and compare.
INSIDER INFORMATION – Know the MPG rating for each car you are looking at.
I use www.fueleconomy.gov to get accurate gas mileage figures on any pre-owned vehicle. It’s a user-friendly, federal government website. However, beginning with 2008 the EPA rating changed the way it estimates MPG. It now takes into account:
- faster speeds and acceleration
- air conditioning use
- colder outdoor temperatures
This means that every 2008 model has a lower MPG. This website can give you the old rating – or convert to the new ones. Be sure that you compare the cars you are interested in “old rating to old rating,” or “new to new.”
Of course, the your actual mileage will vary based on traffic conditions, driving habits, and where you drive.
See the next article in this series:
Mistake #5 – Ignoring Certified cars (CPOs) or extended warranties.
The 8 Biggest Mistakes – #3
Buying a used car can be one of the most stressful things that you’ll do this year. Yet, here are specific steps to:
- make the buying process easier
- ensure you get more than a good deal
- find a vehicle that will last you for years to come
I have compiled a list of the most common mistakes my customers have made when buying used cars. Making any one of these mistakes can cost you hundreds – even thousands of dollars more than necessary. Finally, you can get ahead of the learning curve and buy your next car with confidence.
Mistake #1 – Not test driving early in the buying process.
Mistake #2 – Not checking the CARFAX report.
Mistake #3 – Not looking at the vehicle inspection report.
Don’t take the seller’s word that the car you want to buy is in good condition. Lives have been changed – and not in a good way – by taking someones word for this (see Brenda’s story, Mistake #8).
The dealership I work with uses a 150-point checklist to guarantee that every major component of every vehicle is inspected before it is offered for sale. A detailed checklist and a competent mechanic guarantee that most deficiencies are fixed before the car is sold.
Why spend $15,000 on a vehicle and not know that it needs a $4500 transmission job, or $600 for brakes? How do you protect yourself from making these kind of mistakes?
INSIDER INFORMATION – A vehicle inspection report is a basic, inexpensive tool that every used car buyer should use.
If you are buying a car from a private party have your mechanic perform a pre-purchase vehicle inspection. Most mechanics are familiar with this process and will charge you $100 or less. They can quickly tell you about any problems and the cost to fix them. You’ll need to factor these results into your buying decision.
STORY- A seller is asking $9800 for their low mileage 2007 Chevy Aveo. Your mechanic says it needs a $550 brake job. Show the seller the report from your mechanic and demand $650 off the asking price. That will compensate you for both fixing the brakes AND the time and effort to take care of a problem that the seller should have already fixed.
Reputable automobile dealers will gladly show you their vehicle inspection report. You save the effort and cost of getting one from your own mechanic.
RED FLAG – If a dealer refuses to show their vehicle inspection report:
- they may not have inspected the vehicle themselves
- they may be trying to hide something
Be ready to RUN – DON’T WALK – to the exit.
See the next article in this series:
Mistake #4 – Ignoring fuel consumption.
The 8 Biggest Mistakes – #2
Buying a used car can be one of the most stressful things that you’ll do this year. Yet, here are specific steps to:
- make the buying process easier
- ensure you get more than a good deal
- find a vehicle that will last you for years to come
I have compiled a list of the most common mistakes my customers have made when buying used cars. Making any one of these mistakes can cost you hundreds – even thousands of dollars more than necessary. Finally, you can get ahead of the learning curve and buy your next car with confidence.
Mistake #1 – Not test driving early in the buying process.
Mistake #2 – Not checking the vehicle history report.
Why a vehicle history report? These reports have become indispensable tools for the used car buyer because they provide specific details about the vehicle’s history that every prospective purchaser should know. We use two different brands – CARFAX and AutoCheck. They will tell you:
- if it was ever in an accident or had a salvaged title
- if it was damaged by Katrina, Ike, or another natural disaster
- if it was a lemon buyback
- if its mileage was falsified by rolling back the odometer (these things happen!)
- how many owners it has had (a 1-owner vehicle generally has more value)
- in which city and state the vehicle has been registered, serviced, and sold in
Some People Prefer A Car To Be Local – For example, if a car has spent time on the east coast or in snow country then undercarriage rust may be an issue (sorry, I wrote this in northern CA where snow is not an issue). With a CARFAX or AutoCheck report you can actually monitor where a car has been.
INSIDER INFORMATION – A vehicle history report is a basic, inexpensive tool that every used car buyer should use.
If you are purchasing a car from an individual you may believe you have to buy a report for yourself. However, you can ask the seller to provide a CARFAX report. That’s a good faith gesture to prove that the car has a clean vehicle history.
Any reputable dealer will provide a free vehicle history report on any vehicle in their inventory. If a dealer refuses to show you the vehicle history then run – don’t walk – the the exit. Don’t invest in a vehicle without knowing its history.
See the next article in this series:
Mistake #3 – Not looking at the vehicle inspection report.
