| If you are in the market for a new car make | | | | for negotiation. One very intelligent way I |
| sure you go through the right steps before | | | | have heard of people using their CARFAX |
| making a purchase. Finding a car that is | | | | report to get a lower price is noting the |
| right for you is the first step, and of | | | | date the car's lease ended and how long the |
| course you need to find financing. The next | | | | car has been sitting on a dealer's lot since |
| step is checking out the used car to make | | | | the expiration date. No dealer is trying to |
| sure it is in good shape before buying. The | | | | sit on a car, rather it is sitting because no |
| most reliable way to check a car's history is | | | | one else would buy it for that price either. |
| to obtain a CARFAX report and then have a | | | | Now you have the control and can offer any |
| trusted mechanic check it out. | | | | price you deem fair. |
| | | | |
| So what is a CARFAX report you ask? Using | | | | Despite the countless advantages a car |
| each vehicle's title and VIN number, CARFAX | | | | history report from CARFAX offers, it is not |
| compiles a detailed car history report on | | | | completely foolproof. Thieves will be thieves |
| every vehicle manufactured after 1981. A car | | | | and so they are always searching for a way |
| history report will tell you all kinds of | | | | around the law and how not to get caught. |
| information such as: previous accident | | | | Odometer fraud still happens and closely |
| reports, lemon history, emissions inspection | | | | looking at a CARFAX report will only tip you |
| history, the previous use of the vehicle | | | | in the right direction. Also, accidents with |
| (rental, taxi, etc) whether the title was | | | | damage totaling less than $1000 often go |
| salvaged and so much more. | | | | unreported, and thus will not appear on the |
| | | | vehicle report. Something else to keep in |
| Many used car buyers quickly dismiss the | | | | mind is that VIN numbers were not available |
| thought of buying a CARFAX report because of | | | | on vehicles made before 1981, and thus a |
| the money, but let's get real, the $25 spent | | | | CARFAX report would not be useful. |
| on a quality vehicle history report is the | | | | |
| best investment you will ever make. There are | | | | In addition to obtaining a detailed vehicle |
| thousands, no probably millions, of drivers | | | | history on a used car, it is also a great |
| who wished they had spent the measly $25 to | | | | idea to have a trusted mechanic give a car a |
| look into a car's history instead of spending | | | | thorough inspection. Most auto shops have a |
| thousands of dollars on a car that has a | | | | list of items to look for in a used car to |
| damaged history, salvaged title, or is even a | | | | ensure they are in good condition and as |
| lemon! | | | | advertised. A quality mechanic will certainly |
| | | | notice any damage to the car that may have |
| It truly is unbelievable the amount of | | | | gone unnoted in the vehicle history, and will |
| history CARFAX is able to report to you on | | | | allow you to make an informed decision before |
| each vehicle. The vehicle history will report | | | | buying a used car (another investment that is |
| if the car has been stolen, salvaged, or | | | | well worth it in my opinion.) |
| auctioned. It will also alert you if the car | | | | |
| has been flooded (or even registered in a | | | | It seems safe to say that spending $25 for a |
| flood disaster area), been in an accident | | | | thorough report on a used car would be well |
| (the report will even show if the airbags | | | | worth the money in the long run. CARFAX |
| have been deployed), totaled, deemed a lemon, | | | | reports offer an array of information that |
| and how the car has been used (taxi, lease, | | | | will prove helpful in making a decision on |
| rental car, government, or certified | | | | whether or not to buy a used car. In fact, |
| pre-owned.) In addition to accident reports | | | | the vehicle history report could even help |
| the vehicle history will give odometer | | | | you negotiate a fairer price on the car of |
| readings throughout its history, alert you to | | | | your choice. Don't try and cut corners |
| vehicle recalls, the number of previous | | | | because the consequences could be costly. |
| owners, where the car was purchased and sold, | | | | |
| service records, and show the car's standard | | | | Jake Newberry is a salesman for NuStar |
| equipment and associated reliability ratings. | | | | Motors, a used cars Sacramento dealer. Jake |
| | | | knows firsthand that taking a few |
| Knowing the history of a car you are buying | | | | precautionary steps before buying a used car |
| is fantastic information to protect the buyer | | | | can save you money in the long run, and he |
| from paying too much for a damaged vehicle, | | | | recommends a CARFAX report to all used car |
| but another great advantage of a CARFAX | | | | buyers. |
| report is that it gives you solid evidence | | | | |