You may find it difficult to find a reliable car for a good price; however, a used car may be your best option.  There are hundreds of pre-owned vehicle models that offer good reliability.  Many of these are also affordable, fuel-efficient and safe.

Vehicles with improved reliability have made pre-owned an appealing option.  Another good thing about purchasing a used car is that the depreciation impact is reduced.  Also, insurance rates are usually less expensive, and it is easy to find used car warranties.

According to the Consumer Reports “Best of the Best” car list, certain cars have showed good performance in road tests and have been above average in reliability for several years.  This list includes models from BMW, Honda, Buick, Infiniti, Mazda, Lexus, Nissan, Porsche, Toyota, Volvo, Acura, Pontiac and Subaru.

Their “Worst of the Worst” list includes vehicles that have had several years of below average reliability.  These models include Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Volkswagen, Dodge, Kia, GMC, Jeep, Land Rover, Chrysler, Chevrolet, and Mercedes-Benz.

Consider buying a used car that has proven reliable for several years.  Also, buy an auto warranty to protect your investment so you can have peace of mind.

It is a big deal to pick out a car for your teenager.  You have to consider finances, but safety is the most important factor, especially if you are buying for a new driver.  It is a fact that half of the deaths among teen’s ages 15-17 are the result of a vehicle crash.  So, parents where do you start?  Do your homework to make a good decision.  Keep these important things in mind.

Look for a car that is affordable.  Of course, your teenager will want a new, cool car, yet it may not fit into your budget.  So, consider a used car that is certified.  Study the pre-owned vehicle market so that you don’t get taken advantage of.  Also, research costs for insurance and used car warranties.

The most important factor to consider is safety.  The most risky thing that your teen will be doing every day is driving.  A smart choice would be to find a car that has safety features like anti-lock brakes, and electronic stability control.  These have been found to reduce accidents.  Also, your teen’s car should have airbags and head restraints that are adjustable.

Reliability is a key factor.  Avoid cars that have high mileage.  Also, have the vehicle inspected to make sure it is sound mechanically, and the safety components are operating.  However, no matter how reliable a car seems to be, you never know when you will need to pay for repairs.  This is why it is important to have used car warranties.

You might not be able to afford that new sports car that your teenager desires, but you can find something that will suit his needs, as well as yours.  Do your homework and make sure you are wise about making a purchase.  And most importantly, buy an auto warranty to protect your wallet in case of unforeseen expenses.

One trick that people use to sell a used car is to detail it until it looks brand new.  However, beware, a motor that is steam-cleaned won’t fix a gasket that is blown.  This is why it is important to purchase an auto warranty.

Having said that, dealers that are reputable typically won’t try to sell vehicles with big issues, for fear that they’ll have to fix them down the road.  If you test drive a vehicle that doesn’t make awful noises and feels pretty good, chances are it is fine.  Dealers don’t like to sell junky cars.

In any case, it is still a smart idea to have a trained professional take a look at your vehicle.  If the dealer claims the vehicle was inspected by it’s mechanic, request to view the paperwork.  If the dealer can’t produce them, make sure an outside technician sees the vehicle.

Also important, is to check that the car has a clear title and that it hasn’t ever been in a big accident.  You can tell the dealer to go on Carfax or AutoCheck to confirm this.  Both of these sites have a fee to trace the car identification number for odometer and service registrations, and accidents.  However, often dealerships will check the vehicles on their lot free of charge.

Typically, it is safe to buy a used car from a dealership; however, it never hurts to take these quick steps to ensure you don’t get a lemon.  In addition, used car warranties will give you peace of mind in case you need repairs.

Used car buyers need to be aware of a common scam; odometer fraud.  This is the act of rolling back the odometer on a car.  This deceives buyers into thinking a vehicle has fewer miles than it really does.  It is estimated that this crime leads to sales of around 450,000 vehicles every year.

Also alarming is that digital odometers are easier to meddle with than traditional odometers.  There are ways that consumers can protect themselves against odometer fraud.

First of all, request to see the car’s title and make a comparison between its mileage and the car’s odometer.  Also, compare the mileage on the car’s maintenance records with the odometer on the vehicle.  In addition, sometimes there are stickers with maintenance records on doorframes and windows.

Next, you should ask for a Carfax History Report on the vehicle to see odometer discrepancies.  If the person selling the car doesn’t have one, you can order one online with the vehicles VIN number.

Finally, check to see that the odometer gauge numbers are all aligned.  If they aren’t aligned, or if they move when you tap on the dash, you may want to think twice about buying.

These tips can save you from buying a car that has been tampered with.  However, you never know the true history of a used car.  This is why used car warranties are a good idea to protect you against unforeseen repairs.

Regardless of the year or make, one of the biggest investments people will make is a vehicle.  Buying a used car is a great way for consumers to save some money.  However, risks can be higher, which is why an auto warranty should be purchased for the car.  Fortunately, there are ways that buyers can recognize the difference between dependable used cars and lemons.

The safest thing to do is to have the car that you are looking to buy checked out by a licensed mechanic.  However, there are some things that you can do on your own.

For instance, bring a soft magnet from your refrigerator to determine if there is damage underneath a new coat of paint.  You can run the magnet all along the fenders and doors, which are steel.  If it seems that the magnet won’t stick, there is probably a type of body filler under the paint.

Also, examine the inside of the vehicle for stains from water.  If the car was damaged in a flood, it could mean trouble in years to come.  You also want to look at the wear on the pedals of the vehicle.  It should be consistent with what the mileage claims to be.  If there is low mileage, there should be little wear on the pedals.

Don’t forget to examine the tires of the vehicle, too.  If you see wear on the outside edges of the tires, the car is probably out of alignment or might have components that are worn-out.

Knowing what to look for in a used vehicle will bring you peace of mind about your purchase.  Also, know that used car warranties will allow you to save on costly repairs that may be unforeseen.

If you want to buy a cheap, older car, Car-Auction may be your best bet.  This is an auction website for seized cars where you can buy seized cars that are inexpensive. In fact, you can find vehicles that are up to 90 percent off of retail prices.

There are some important tips that you should know before buying a vehicle on a seized car auction site.

First of all, you need to do your research.  You want to make sure you are actually getting a good deal. You are purchasing the car ‘as is’, so do your homework.  Seized auto auction sites don’t offer an auto warranty, so you need to buy one somewhere else.  After all, you want to be covered in the event of a breakdown.

Also, make sure you buy a car that has all of its paperwork available.  You will want to check the vehicle’s repair record, safety ranking, and mileage before making your purchase.  You can find this information on-line or from consumer magazines.

If possible, take the car for a test drive.  There is no other way to get a real feel for how the car runs.  This will also let you see if any repairs need to be made.  If so, you might be able to negotiate a deal.

An inspection is also a necessity.  A licensed mechanic will be able to give you information about the car that couldn’t be detected on the test drive.

Buying from a seized car auction can be an ideal way to save money.  However, beware.  Make sure to buy used car warranties to protect your investment.  After all, you never know when your vehicle might require repairs.

If you’re dreaming of purchasing a new vehicle, but can’t afford the high payment, you’re in luck. You can switch out your car without going into debt. To get more value for your money buy pre-owned.

The second that a new car rolls out of the dealership, it drops in price. In fact, you will lose around 25 percent of the price of the car in the first year, and the value drops drastically as the years go by. A rule of thumb for people to consider is that a 3 year-old vehicle is worth half of its sticker price. So, if you’re considering a vehicle that is a ’08 for $50,000 realize a ’05 is worth $25,000.

Americans trade in their automobiles every 3 years. Coincidentally, there is a large pool of quality pre-owned vehicles. There is a great deal of cars with less than 30,000 miles on them that are only two years old. They are practically new. This, and an auto warranty, should eliminate the fear of buying used.

To get the best deal on a pre-owned car, educate yourself. On the Internet you can find out the worth of a used car, and the cost for a dealer to buy it. With used cars, make sure you purchase used car warranties to protect your car in the event of a breakdown.

Nexteppe Business Solutions has just launched a campaign to introduce dealerships to mobile marketing. This is an add-on to the multi-media advertising that already exists. Mobile marketing allows dealers the opportunity to increase interaction with their customers. It also promises to increase sales and revenue in this tough economy.

Predictions say that this year’s sales will be down to approximately 15.6 million. This is a significant decline from 17 million in 2005. Used car sales and parts will be crucial revenue for dealers this year. Since car dealers are expecting new vehicle sales to be down, they are emphasizing selling used vehicles via their websites. Many consumers are doing their initial research online to find used cars and used car warranties.

Nexteppe believes that mobile marketing is a great opportunity that allows dealers to contact people who are interested in buying a vehicle. It is predicted that approximately 78 billion text messages will be exchanged every month in 2008. Customers seem to be receptive to communicating in this way and appreciate the up to date information.

Dealerships will use mobile marketing in several different ways to engage customers via cell phone. They will provide used and new vehicle inventory on a mobile website. Also, customers can arrange to receive text messages when there are updates on inventory. Finally, customers can be reminded of maintenance schedules.

The Internet has offered consumers’ endless opportunities to purchase used cars and used car warranties. Yet now, according to Automotive News, approximately 4,000 car dealers that cell GM’s used cars will be listing their inventory on the popular website eBay Motors. The dealers will be able to list for free. This could totally alter the business of used cars.

GM has many different vehicles that will be listed on the site. These include Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Pontiac and Oldsmobile cars. Although Cadillac, Saab, Hummer, and Saturn have different certification programs, they will also be listed on the site.

The eBay website has just over 10 million users who will be able to view the used inventory of GM dealers. This program will become even more of a draw to consumers and dealers if additional manufacturers decide to put their used inventory on the site as well.

GM and eBay Motors are still working diligently to complete the site. However, GM already has their inventory posted on over 300 websites, such as AutoTrader.com and Cars.com.

Consumers can now search for a used car without ever leaving their homes. Also convenient is that motorists can shop around online for used car warranties that protect their investment. The Internet offers drivers a full range of opportunities.

Buying a car can be overwhelming, yet, keeping a car can even be worse.  Enticing television ads and the lure on the web can make it hard to resist buying a new car.  However, during this difficult economy, it makes sense not to give in to temptation.

In America, people find it hard to stay with a car for over five years.  But with a few common-sense tips and an auto warranty, an unnecessary car purchase can be avoided.

First, make sure that the current car you drive is small and Japanese.  For instance, the Honda Civic is a sure thing.  It may get a little rust, but it won’t die.  And even though driving a Tercel from ’92 may not get you a date on Friday night, it’s reliability will make you not want to give it up.

Second, do lots of research.  This is actually a great method to prevent buying a car.  Searching the Internet for the cars in your price range will overwhelm you with too many options.  Also research used car warranties to protect the car you have.

Finally, focusing on a specific model and make is a good tactic.  This is especially good if that model hasn’t been produced for at least a decade.  The odds are very slim that you will find that car on the market with less than 300,000 miles.

So, what do you do if you still desire a new car after weeks of research?  What if your old Civic is pulling you toward the dealer?  Just remember as soon as that new car gets off the lot it’s value will drop instantly.  Keeping your clunker is your best bet.