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Posts Tagged ‘Money’

Is Quality Car Security A Waste Of Money?

July 18th, 2010 Monica No comments

Unfortunately in society today the chance of vehicles being broken into and vandalized or even being stolen is a sorry reality, although the numbers a coming down, the threat is always there. But we as car owners are still way behind the curve when it comes to the importance of protecting your car or its contents. Even though certain vehicles are more susceptible to being targeted by these criminals we all need to be aware of the threat of car theft.
Every time we park our cars we assume the risk of our vehicle being vandalized or stolen. According to statistics over two million vehicles are stolen annually which works out to a staggering one vehicle every 12 seconds. Car theft has evolved into a multi billion dollar industry mostly controlled by organized crime rings that work together to steal cars and fulfill underground orders for specific cars or car parts. In this day and age a stolen car can be stripped down and have all the parts separated and sold individually to bring in even more money than the actual value of the car itself!
One huge public misconception is that these car thieves are targeting high end exotic sports cars like those depicted in the film, “Gone in 60 Seconds”? If this is you, think again. If you look at the top ten most popular stolen car models, the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord accounted for the first eight of those spots and Chevy and Ford trucks took the last two spots. Now many will say it’s because these are the most often bought vehicles so the odds work out, but regardless of the reasons why they take the top spots, the key is to realize there is a higher demand for the most popular vehicle parts, period.
This is basically how the whole car theft process works; the auto theft ring gets an order for parts for a particular vehicle or vehicles which they dispatch out to their network of car thieves. Now once the order is taken the majority of car thieves have their sources and know exactly where to go to find a car like the wanted vehicle or parts. In most cases these car theft rings operate in particular areas for a length of time until it becomes too hot or risky for them and then they move their operation elsewhere. Some will work in random areas to ensure their “areas” don’t ever get too hot minimizing their time to pick, strip and get payment.
Now there are several cheaper auto theft and deterrent products on the market that might seem to be useful due to their popularity, like the bars that go on your steering wheel as advertised on TV, but this is pretty much a waste of time and money. Even a hopeless car thief with a cheap hacksaw can be through that in less than 30 seconds and have your car hotwired and on the move.
Many car companies are now adding auto theft or deterrent packages to their cars but generally speaking almost all of the factory systems installed on vehicles are useless. They are usually a small blinking light on the dashboard or just noise makers that are triggered by a stiff breeze and can be overcome or bypassed easily. How many times have you passed a car that was honking its alarm in a parking lot and you just chalked it up to someone bumping into it? The alarms that make noise when a thief gets close are just ignored.
Also, car thieves are getting smarter about it and will purposely set off the alarm two or three times just so the owner thinks it’s the wind causing the alarm, so they shut it off. That’s when the car thief leaves with your car without any resistance at all. Other car thieves I’ve heard of would take a cat and throw it on the car so the owner would come out and see the footprints and think it was just a cat. After a time or two of being awakened they just disabled the alarm. Car thieves are very well informed of how to cut the wires and bypass these basic systems as well, so no matter what system they use your car will be trashed or gone in a heart beat.
Car theft is a big money industry and it is quite possibly just a matter of time before you see it happening to you or to someone you know. Only you can decide if it’s important to pay the extra money to protect your investment and privacy. Obviously, we recommend getting a quality proven after market auto security system which combines several of the aspects above and maybe a glass break for additional coverage.
Also, if you ever do have the unfortunate situation of your car being stolen a system like Lojak.com can help police get it back within hours of it being reported. This setup will save you some cash on insurance up front and possibly a big headache and serious inconvenience down the road.

How to Save Money at Your Next Auto Auction

July 15th, 2010 Monica No comments

Car auctions are a place where you can get a good car for less than what you would pay at your local car dealership. But, you can easily end up paying more than what a car is worth if you’re not careful. The good news is that there are simple steps you can take to ensure that you save a huge amount of money at the next auto auction you attend.

The first mistake that many people make when attending an auto auction is not knowing the car’s worth. If you don’t know the value of the vehicle you’re bidding on it’s very easy to get caught up in a bidding way and end up over paying.

So, always make sure that you bring a Kelly’s Blue Book with you to every auto auction you attend and make sure you know how to use it. It is also ideal to use the car’s trade-in value as your target price. Anything significantly over that price is something that you should pass on, as there are plenty of other cars for you to bid on.

Another mistake people make is not fully inspecting the vehicle before bidding on it. Which is a mistake that can cost you hundred or even thousands of dollars. So, it is best to bring a mechanic with you to check the car’s engine, transmission, electrical system, etc. which can all be costly to repair. Also make sure that all of the vin number on the car match because non-matching vin numbers can be an indication of a stolen vehicle or one that was in a food or fire. Neither of which you would want to purchase.

So, it is possible for you to save a ton of money at the next car auction you attend. That is if you know the car’s worth and give it a through inspection. After that you’re well on your way to getting a great car at an excellent price.

 

Now that you know how to save money at any car auction, your next step is to find one near you, which can be painless by joining a car auction list. Visit MyCarAuctionReview.com for a reviews on the best ones

Categories: Cheap Car Auction Tags: , , , ,

How Much Money Should I Bring to an Automobile Auction?

July 15th, 2010 Monica No comments

I’m pretty sure that you’ve heard about the great deals you can get at an automobile auction. Whether you’ve looking for something to get you back and forth from school or work or a luxury car, you can find it at an automobile auction. One of the most frequently asked question by those attending a car auction is how much money should they bring. While this question is highly subjective, there are some ways to get a general idea of how much money you should bring to your next auction.

First, you should have an idea of what type of car you want to buy. The more specific you are, the better. If the auction you are going to has a website, go there and pick out a couple of cars that you like. If they don’t have a website, visit the auction site to view the cars a day or two before the auction starts.

Then, you’ll want to get your hands on a Kelly’s Blue Book. Use it to look up the cars you have picked out and find out how much they are worth, as well as their trade in value. Ideally, you’ll only want to bid up to or a little over the car’s trade in value. Otherwise, you might as well just go to a used car dealership and get your vehicle there.

You’ll also want to call up the auction house to ask about any taxes and fees that will be added on top of your winning bid. These fees are what catches a lot of people off guard and they end up not being able to to pay for the car they bid for.

In general, you can get a car from an automobile auction from anywhere from $500 to $50,000 depending on what type of car you’re looking for. So, in order to know how much money to bring with you, know the value of the car in addition to any fees and taxes you may be required to pay upon winning the auction.

 

Now that you know how to get an idea of how much money you should bring to a car auction, your next step is to find one near you. You can make it pain free by joining a car auction list.Visit www.MyCarAuctionReview.com for reviews on the best ones!

Buying a Used Car? Want to Save Money?

July 14th, 2010 Monica No comments

In the following article we will show you how to find and buy cheap used vehicles. Many people are not familiar that besides buying a used car from private sellers or through used car dealers, there is another opportunity to find great deals – public car auctions. Public or seized car auctions can provide you with excellent opportunities to buy a good second-hand car without spending too much money. What is a public car auction?

To be brief, various federal, state, and local government agencies regularly auction off surplus, unclaimed, and seized property, including cars. Banks also repossess vehicles from non-paying customers, and sell them through public auctions.

Since there are always so many cars and the costs for storage are enormous, the government agencies and banks are all interested in selling these cars fast and cheap! Therefore, they auction them all off.

Public car auctions are commonly used by many car dealers and resellers who buy up loads of seized cars and soon afterwards resell them for a huge profit. These auctions are real and take place almost every day in various parts of the country. All vehicle types, makes, and models are sold there – SUVs, coupes, sedans, vans, minivans, even convertibles.

But it’s not only car dealers that can take advantage of low auction prices. You can, too. Everyone is eligible to take part in these auctions – no license is required. Whether you want to buy a car to resell, or you are looking for a car for yourself or a family member, a public car auction is the best place to look for an affordable used vehicle. How to find public car auctions in your area?

Public car auctions of all types and sizes are held all over the country virtually every day.

You have two ways for locating these auctions in your area:

Saving Money With Repo Cars

July 9th, 2010 Monica No comments

Saving money for cars is a bit difficult but buying cars to save money is another thing. We are torubled by the idea that cars can cost us fortune. However repossessed cars changed the idea that buyng a car can let you save more money.

There are a lot of properties like automobiles, trucks, cars, motorcycles that are confiscated by any law violations about property disputes. This method of buying repo cars can even turn up your situation a little bit lighter.

Acquiring a repo car for sale from these bidding sites is just like any bidding process, wherein there is a starting bid and that the highest bidder is awarded the unit. The starting bid would also have to depend on the year model, the quality of the vehicle, and the mileage. You can choose particular units and inspect them thoroughly before posting a bid for them, but remember they are at an as-is condition of selling. If you can bring a mechanic along or somebody who is knowledgeable in checking the performance and condition of the repo car for sale, then it will be to your advantage.

A thing about purchasing a repo car for sale is that you do not get that devaluation when you drive it off from the parking lot, unlike buying a new unit. Sometimes, you can be lucky and have choices that are less than one year old that would cost much less than buying them new. The reason you do not have to pay for loss of value is because the person who first bought it has paid for it already.

Many vehicle brokers and dealers have been aware of these auctions for the longest time. This is actually a place where they get the ones that they sell cheaply and then make a big profit reselling them as used vehicles.

One way to find good deals and auction sites is through the Internet. You may be able to search for a certain vehicle, make, and model of your choice at places that are convenient and close to you. You are can also browse both government and public auction databases for availability and auction dates, both within the local area or around the state. There are several government institutions that have impounded vehicles, but they may choose a central office for disposal alone.

Consider this well and do a little research before hunting down that repo car for sale because coming prepared and knowing what to look for will save you not just a lot of time, but a lot of money as well.

Categories: Repo Car Auction Tags: , , ,

Buy Repo Cars ? Buying Government Repossessed Cars Can Save You Money

June 26th, 2010 Monica No comments

Sure, you want to own a brand new car and yes, you have dreams of driving a Mercedes, a BMW, or that simply to-die for Lamborghini. You’ve probably worked day in and day out just to save enough money to buy that special car. But sometimes, life just isn’t fair, and no matter how hard you try, you still can’t afford to have that luxury or sports car you badly want.

Well, don’t fret just yet. There’s one way you can get a branded, decent car for a much cheaper price. You can buy repo cars.

Thanks to the quick spread of information, more people are now turning to buy repossessed cars or seized cars. The Internet is home to a lot of sites that offer you information on where to buy this kind of cars. Where, indeed, you ask? At government car auctions.

The government confiscates property – land, houses, cars – all the time. These pieces of property were owned by criminals or people who failed to pay their bank loans. Since the government does not really need such property, and the cost of storing and maintaining them is high, the government through its many agents and banks sells the property.

And to make sure that they can get rid of the property right away, they sell them for a very minimal price. Most of the property they sell are up-scale and brand-new.

In fact, it is not uncommon to buy a repo car at more than 90% off the market value price. Some of the cars are still in brand new condition having been driven for less than a year.

There are many websites online that lists the latest seized car auctions in your neighborhood. Some will even show you the cars that are being auctioned saving you time. Once you have decided on the car you want, then proceed to the repo car auction.

Salvage Cars | Buy Salvaged And Save Money

June 23rd, 2010 Monica No comments

Many people have the wrong idea about salvaged cars. They are viewed as being junk. While salvaged cars don’t have the best reputation, understanding how they got that way may turn your thoughts around.
Cars that have been given a salvage titles are those that the insurance company claims would cost more to repair than the car is worth. However, it’s mainly based on the estimated value of the vehicle so for example if you own an older truck that was in mint condition before that deer jumped in front of you and caved in your front end, the insurance company may figure the truck is not worth it to repair. Having been in this situation myself I can assure you it was definitely worth it to me to repair my truck!
So, what can happen is often times the car will be issued a salvage title instead of a regular one. This type of title is meant to protect buyers so that they know the vehicles history and are aware of any potential problems. If this happens it can be well worth it to keep the car even if it gets a “totaled” report. Many times the car can be rebuilt depending on the original damage.
Many people love to fix up cars as a hobby or business. If you’re looking to get into rebuilding cars, salvage cars are an excellent way to get started. You can often repair the car or take the parts to build a new car.
If you don’t own a salvage car then another option is to buy one at auction. Salvage auctions are a fun place to buy because they give you access to great cars at often very cheap prices. These auctions provide a function that helps the buyer, seller, and even the environment! If you’ve never considered buying a salvage car to rebuild or even use as parts then you’re missing out on a great thing. You can buy a wrecked but repairable car or truck, usually saving thousands over a non-salvaged car at an online auction. There are many great vehicles out there just waiting for you to fix them. Whether you use the vehicle for its’ parts or to repair it and make it drivable again, a salvage car can be a great investment.
No matter if you’re buying for yourself or to resell the car, there’s a huge potential to save a lot of money and make money too. Keep in mind, there are some vehicles that are no longer worth anything, but there are others that are worth their weight in gold. If you rebuild the car to exact specifications then you can expect the car to pass the inspection with flying colors.
There are many individuals who specialize in rebuilding salvaged cars as a hobby or to resell the vehicle to make money. Before buying a salvage title vehicle, whether it be a car or truck, either to keep for yourself or to sell it, it’s vital that you check with your local DMV to find out what the requirements are for putting a salvage auto back on the road. Every state has different laws so it’s important to know what your state requires before making an investment.
Buying a car from a salvage auction is a great way to save money and even make money if that’s what you’d like to do. You’ll also be doing a great thing by reusing resources that are already there. Many people lose out because they are scared to invest in a car with a salvaged title. Their loss is your gain as you come out with a restored vehicle that will last you many years at a great price.
I personally own a salvage title car and it’s been running great for the near 7 years I’ve owned it. I saved about $5,000 compared to other cars of the same make, year and model. Another added benefit is my yearly DMV registration fees are about one quarter the cost of a non-salvage vehicle!