Buying or selling your car can be a challenging and time-consuming task. This is why we recommend multiple sources for a three step approach that will give you all the information you need to make an informed decision and make your buying or selling experience an easy one. We first recommend you become informed. Visit the sources below to find tips, tools and information on buying or selling a car. We then recommend that you get loan approval, a step that is often mistakenly left for the last minute. Once you've armed yourself with the best information, and loan approval, you'll be ready to start shopping for a new or used vehicle. We have listed several authorized online dealers below that you can visit once you are ready to start your shopping.

Become Informed:

Before you get started shopping for a new or used vehicle, we recommend that you become informed by visiting the following online resources. Please read below for a brief description of the information provided by each resource.

Carbuyingtips provides very useful techniques on how to buy a new or used vehicle, how to avoid dealer scams, as well as guidance in determining whether to buy or lease. They explain all the extra charges and hidden incentives that are used by dealerships to make more profit from their sale, giving you the information you need to pay a fair price for the vehicle of your choice. They also provide information about financing, insurance as well as tips on how to put your automobile for sale.

Edmunds provides very useful and valuable information on buying and putting a vehicle for sale such as dealer invoices, true market value (TMV) for the vehicle, vehicle specifications, consumer ratings and vehicle safety ratings. This is a great resource to narrow down your vehicle selection. You will be able to determine which vehicles meet your shopping criteria by manufacturers and price range. Here you'll find all the detailed information you need to decide which vehicle is right for you.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is probably one of the best resources when looking for information regarding vehicle safety ratings. They have the most up-to-date vehicle crash testing that we have been able to find on the Internet. It provides descriptions of all the crash tests performed on vehicles as well as crash test performance/rating and crash test result pictures for vehicles by manufacturer, model number, and year. Safety should be an important factor when making your buying decision. As such, we encourage you to compare the safety ratings on the vehicles that interest you. Remember, the insurance premium adds to the ongoing cost of driving the automobile, and it is directly linked to the vehicle's safety rating.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is also a good resource when looking for information regarding recalls on used vehicles. The database contains vehicle and equipment recall information dating back to 1966. The search engine works by submitting information of make, model, and year. We also suggest that you visit the manufacturer web page when looking for recall information for a vehicle type for completeness. It is important to be aware of the possible safety repairs that are needed for the vehicle that you will be purchasing.

Kelley Blue Book is another excellent source. We recommend you visit them to determine the market value of used vehicles. They provide the information that you need to determine a fair price when purchasing or selling a used vehicle.

You should visit all the sources above to help you make an informed decision.

Obtain Financing:

When purchasing a vehicle, financing is usually an afterthought for most consumers. However, we recommend that you get your loan approval as soon as you have determined what vehicle you would like to purchase and how much you are willing to spend. You gain "purchasing power" when you walk into a dealer with a check made out for the minimum amount that you are willing to spend, while keeping in mind the max dollar amount based on your research. The negotiating process with a dealer can normally be long and tedious if you don’t have the right information. All of this changes when you have the correct information regarding the vehicle value and a check made out for the minimum amount you are willing to pay. Don’t despair that you won’t get the automobile of your dreams, you must put your best poker face forward and tell them that you are ready to close the deal. Usually, if your offer is within reason it is not difficult to close the deal. If you must negotiate to close the deal, you can provide them with a separate check to make up the difference (think of it as a down payment). Below are a couple of web pages that we recommend when getting preapproved for financing.

Capitol One, formerly People First, is one of the online vehicle lenders that we highly recommend. The online application that you need to fill out is very easy, and the approval is provided the same day when the application is submitted during normal business hours. They mail a blank check to your home good up to the approved amount of the approved loan with your name and address printed on it. All you have to do is fill out the recipient information and dollar amount for your purchase. You are under no obligation until you use the check. You will find that they have very competitive interest rates when purchasing new and used vehicles.

E-LOAN is another online lender that we recommend for a vehicle loan. The online application process is very easy and quick to fill out. Once you are approved and have accepted the approval package, you will receive an Efund agreement good up to the approved amount that can be used at any franchised auto dealer. Fill out the Efund agreement with the purchase price and you are ready to do business. You will also find that they offer competitive rates for new and used vehicles.

Start Shopping for a New or Used Car:

Now that you know what you should be paying and how to avoid scams, you are ready to start shopping. When you are ready to talk to a dealer and get quotations for a vehicle, we recommend that you visit AutoWeb and Autobytel . When shopping for a used vehicle and you think that you have found the right one, make sure you run a Carfax Report on it.

AutoWeb offers no haggle puchasing for those that are not interested in negotiating with dealers. It let's you research the vehicle that you are interested in and buy it from one of their authorized online dealers. When getting quotations from these web dealers, you will need to fill out some information about your location in order to be contacted by dealers in your area. You can research prices on used vehicles, post your automobile for sale, or review their useful information regarding maintaining your vehicle as well as troubleshooting problems with your vehicle.

Autobytel allows you to research prices for vehicles and places you in contact with dealers in your area. Here too, you will have to fill out information regarding your location so that they can recommend dealers near your home. They also provide a service where you can post information about a vehicle that you are trying to sell. Researching your purchase with both of these online dealers will allow you to get competitive quotes so that you can make the best purchase possible.

Carfax Reports provides the information you need when purchasing a used vehicle. The report provides information regarding salvaged titles or mileage rollback. You can purchase a report for a single vehicle or you can purchase an unlimited number of reports for a month. We recommend that you purchase the unlimited reports for a month, if you will be looking at many vehicles while you are shopping, which is typically the case. All you have to do is enter the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), and the report is generated and shown on the screen in seconds. Don’t buy an automobile with hidden problems that may not be dependable and could possibly become a costly investment. Make sure to do the free check to determine available vehicle history records, Record Check.

Whether you are looking to purchase or just want to comparison-shop, you can find it online in the comfort of your home or office and save time and money. These are just a few suggestions that we have found helpful.

If in your Internet travels you find other sources that may be helpful to others please Contact Us. This way we can all benefit.

If you know of a way we can improve this site to make your visit more productive or if you simply want to shoot us a message and share your purchasing experience with us, please Contact Us. We would appreciate hearing from you. We value your comments and suggestions in making this a better resource for everyone. Remember money in your pocket is better than in someone else's.