Most people, before buying their first car will research car buying tips in order to maximize their trip to a dealer or used car salesman.  Common sense is your best car buying tip.  As long as you remain firm about what type of car you want and the protection you want on it, you will prevent the possibility of being sold a car you don’t want or protection you don’t need.  Reading all documents, including the fine print is absolutely necessary to ensure that you can hold the seller accountable for faults and other issues that might arise from the purchase of this car.

Do you really want a car?  It may seem like a silly question, but if you decide a week after you have bought it that the car will be too expensive or you do not need it, you are out of luck.  Unless the dealer allows you to have a cooling off period, you are most likely stuck with the car and cannot return it.  There is no legal option to force the dealer to take the car back and if you are unsatisfied with your buying decision.  There are limited exceptions in some states which gives consumers time to consider their financing options or have a paid return option.  Do not rely on these laws; it is better to be sure the car is what you want before committing to buy it.

The warranty protects your car against damages and defects by guaranteeing the repair of parts and cost of labor to fix the car.  Full warranties will cover all of these costs, while limited warranties will cover a capped amount or percentage.  Understanding the limits of the warranty you are getting on the car is important to determining what you may pay in the short and long term to keep the car operational.  Not all cars come with warranties and some may have the typical rights of a warranty, implied or otherwise, waived by selling the car “as is.”  Although you have the protection of lemon laws, understand that if the car breaks down a week after you’ve bought it, it is not a lemon.  Only substantial damages, excessive repair bills and frequent repairs can classify a car as a lemon and help you get your money back.

You will be faced with the decision to buy a service contract.  In fact, many car buyers do purchase a service contract.  A good service contract offers piece of mind and allows the car owner to perform necessary maintenance or repairs for a lower cost.  This is similar to a warranty but usually only offers a discount on the cost of parts and labor.  Usually your warranty will be sufficient to avoid buying a service contract right away.  If it is not, you may want to take the service contract option, so that you may supplement the warranty.  When buying the car, ask if you will be offered the service contract after the warranty expires.  In addition, study the terms of the contract and ensure it covers essential services and repairs the car may need.  Also, determine who will enforce the service contract, especially if the entity you are buying the contract from ceases to exist.

If you want peace of mind when figuring out how to buy a car, you should research the seller, either through independent reviews or by consumer protection agencies, such as the Better Business Bureau and state authorities.  These entities will keep records of complaints against business and many patterns of unsatisfied customers should flag a prospective buyer of the potential for a less than favorable transaction.  The less reputable the dealer, the less credence you should give to promises that the cars are “certified-pre-owned” or that the warranty is particularly suited to your needs.

Make sure you can identify the following things in the financing agreement:

– exact cost of the car

– annual percentage rate

– the number of payments to be made

– fees for financing for the amount that you will be financing

– how much the car will cost you, when factoring for financing options and interest.

Worse than sticker shock is paying for what seemed like a low-priced car, only to be paying exorbitantly for that car for years with a rising interest rate and never ending payments.  Therefore, when a dealer offers “no money down payments” and other inducements to buy, understand that you will pay more in the long term due to interest.  Financing may be right for you, but understanding how much financing will cost is important in buying a car.

All cars in the United States must be registered with the local Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent in your state).  With the internet, you may check the history of any vehicle, especially any used car for sale.  In researching the history, you will find a record of accidents and other issues with the car that are not readily apparent through a cursory inspection of the car.  Let the vehicle history affect your decision to buy the car.

Generally, you will be given the right to have an independent mechanic check the vehicle.  If this is available to you, having the vehicle inspected before buying is an important step in ensuring you are not facing hidden costs at a later date.  Test drives are also a common way to inspect the vehicle.  Test drive the vehicle when you can to determine how well the car works and if you are comfortable committing to buy that vehicle.  Neither inspecting nor testing the vehicle will lead to an increased chance of making a poor decision.

Before you buy a car, you must understand how leasing works in order to determine how the value of your car will depreciate and if you are getting the best deal when financing your car purchase.  Leasing is the typical alternative to buying a car outright and in times of economic contraction, where low-interest financing is not available, leasing has grown tremendously as an option for car buyers.  Before leasing a car, it is important to understand in full the terms and conditions of the lease, its cost to you and the value of the car you are leasing.  

Incomplete information in any aspect of the leasing a car process will put the potential buyer at a disadvantage and ensure the deal will not be in the buyer’s interest.

MSRP – Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price is the base cost of the car, before fees, taxes and other costs of the sale.  Additional features to the car are reflected in the MSRP.  

Negotiated price – you are not always paying the MSRP when buying or leasing a car.  You may come to an agreement with the dealer that involves certain additions, terms or agreements that lower this price.  You will need this figure when determining if you should lease the car.  You may be able to negotiate some dealer fees, but you will not be able to negotiate state and local fees.  Taxes, rebates, fees and other credits are not reflected in the negotiated price.

Tag, title, registration, documentation fees – some fees reflect taxes levied by local authorities and cannot be avoided, although some fees, such as documentation fees, may be capped by local law.  Other fees, such as the destination charge are mandatory as this reflects the cost to move the vehicle from the factory to the dealer.  Be aware of which fees are mandatory and which are avoidable before agreeing to lease a car.  An important distinction in leasing is that fees are paid up front and are not financed.

Lease acquisition fee – you will typically be assessed a fee by the dealer to acquire a lease on a car.

Down payment – by making a down payment, you reduce the principle owed on the car, decreasing the long term cost of the car that would accrue due to interest.

Trade in – the cost of leasing a car can be modified if you trade in your current car to the dealer.  Determine if the dealer offer on the trade in value of your car is worthy before agreeing to include a trade-in as part of the leasing agreement.

Rebate – dealers may offer a rebate for certain options or as a promotion to induce you into buying or leasing a car.

Tax break – you will need to be familiar with the tax laws in your state.  Some states do not tax motor vehicles at all.  Other states will assess tax on monthly payments only rather than the sale price of the vehicle.

The money factor is the interest on the lease and it is not always disclosed by the dealer during a leasing arrangement.  The money factor can be multiplied by 2,400 and this will give you a ballpark estimate of the interest rate collected by the dealer for leasing the car.  For instance, a money factor of .000750 is equal to an annual percentage rate of 1.8%.  The lower the money factor (also expressed as lease factor, lease rate or factor) the better the lease deal will be.  One’s credit rating will have a large impact on the money factor available with the best rates available to those with a spotless credit rating.

Those considering leasing a car will find the use of an online lease vs. buy calculator a useful tool in determining if they should lease a car.  These are widely available and can be found through a reliable search engine.  The typical lease calculator will factor terms MSRP, deduction, interest, and can sometimes provide you with a comparison of the cost to you in terms of leasing or buying.

This is the value of the car after the lease has expired and will help you determine if you intend to buy the car, trade in the vehicle or sell the lease before it is up.  You should research how much the car will depreciate and what the residual value of the car will be at the end of the lease before agreeing to lease a car.  Mileage will have an effect on the value of the car after the lease is up.  If you know you will be using the car heavily, negotiating a higher limit on the annual mileage allotment will prevent you from being penalized later, as per the terms of the agreement.  The higher the residual value of the car at the end of the lease arrangement, the lower the monthly payments you will have to pay on the car.  The smaller the gap between initial cost and lease end value, the lower payments will have to be made on the lease.

Unlike a loan, a longer lease is not necessarily as disadvantageous as a typical loan.  It is advisable to pick a lease term as long as the warranty for the vehicle, which will protect you during the leasing period against faults and accidents.  Therefore, you may have a long lease on a vehicle with a long warranty.  Foreign models also tend to depreciate less, which means at the end of the lease, the car will be worth more than its domestic counterpart after a similar term.  Lease terms are typically expressed in months, generally in increments of a year (36, 48, 60 months) but odd terms may be used to have you come in at another, less busy point of the year at the end of the lease.  Short term leases are generally more expensive than longer term leases, owing to the fact that cars will depreciate rapidly during the first 24 months after they are sold.  A car usually retains only 34%  of its initial value after five years.

In order to obtain a Washington permit or licensing, you will need to work with the Washington State Department of Licensing.  Minors as young as 15 may receive permits if they are enrolled in a driver’s education class.  They do not need to pass the practice permit test for Washington.  Minors that are not in driver’s education and are 15 and a half can obtain an instruction permit by passing the practice permit test.

You will need to provide proof of identity but will not need to show residency in Washington, unless you do not have a Social Security Number.  Parental consent will also be mandatory for those under the age of 18.  The fees associated with licensing and testing can be paid by cash, check or credit card, although some DMV locations will not accept credit cards for payment.

The fee for the knowledge test is $20 and this fee is charged every time the test is taken.  Another test can be taken 4 hours after you fail the first time.  To avoid multiple failures, you must study the Washington Driver Guide, which will contain all the information you need to pass the practice permit test for Washington.  The practice permit test in Washington is conducted on computers and has 25 questions.  You will need to get 80% correct in order to pass and receive the instruction permit.

permit practice test Washington/practice permit test Washington

To receive a learner’s permit in West Virginia, you will need to go to the DMV, which is an agency of the West Virginia Department of Transportation.  When applying for the permit, you must show your birth certificate, social security card and two proofs of West Virginia residency.  You will find additional information on the identification requirements at the DMB website.

You will be able to find a practice permit test for West Virginia at the DMV website.  There were be 20 questions and an answer key is provided.  These questions will be similar but not the same as the questions on the actual knowledge test.

The Driver’s Licensing Handbook is also a useful tool to help you pass the practice permit test for West Virginia.  You may find this online at the DMV website in addition to a Spanish and Japanese translation version.  This document will contain all provisions necessary to understand typical licensing requirements as well as the requirements of the Graduated Driver’s License.  All of the information that will be tested on the practice permit test for West Virginia can be found in this manual.

You must be at least 15 years old to receive a permit and demonstrate that you have at least 20/40 vision with or without corrective lenses.  Parental consent is also required for minors to obtain their permit.

permit practice test West Virginia/practice permit test West Virginia

To receive a learner’s permit in Wisconsin, you will need to go to the DMV, which is an agency of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.  When applying for the permit, you must show your birth certificate, social security card and two proofs of Wisconsin residency.  You may also have to show proof of legal US residence.  You will find additional information on the identification requirements at the DMV website.  Any person 16 and older may have a driver’s license in Wisconsin but parental consent will be required at all stages of the licensing process.

You will be able to find a practice permit test for Wisconsin at the DMV website.  There were be 20 questions and an answer key is provided.  These questions will be similar but not the same as the questions on the actual knowledge test.  the actual test will measure your knowledge of traffic rules, sign and driver safety.

The Wisconsin Motorists’ Handbook is also a useful tool to help you pass the practice permit test for Wisconsin.  You may find this online at the DMV website in addition to a Spanish and Hmong translation version.  This document will contain all provisions necessary to understand typical licensing requirements as well as the requirements of the Graduated Driver’s License.  All of the information that will be tested on the practice permit test for Wisconsin can be found in this manual.

permit practice test Wisconsin/practice permit test Wisconsin

Among the unique features of the Nevada DMV is a live updated customer wait times chart that is updated frequently.  This allows anyone that intends to take the practice permit test in Nevada to plan their trip to the DMV accordingly.

The minimum age to become a licensed driver in Nevada is 16 as long as parental permission is secured at the time off application.  The teenager will need to pass the permit practice test in order to qualify for the road test to earn their license.  Those applying for the first time will need evidence of a social security number, as well as evidence of full legal name and date of birth.  All documents presented in this process but be original and certified.

Like other states, the testing will consist of vision tests, practice permit tests for Nevada and skills testing, commonly referred to as the road test.  Testing can be conducted in either English or Spanish, depending on the needs of the applicant.  The test may also be conducted by paper or electronically, depending on the location you choose to take the practice permit test for Nevada.  The cost of the instruction permit will be $22 after you successfully complete the test.

The Nevada driver’s handbook can be downloaded directly from the Nevada DMV’s website and will be available in both English and Spanish.

If you need legal advice and assistance, contact Nevada lawyers.

The Minnesota Driver & Vehicle Services will be your resource for passing the practice permit test for Minnesota.  A class D instruction permit for Minnesota will be valid for two years and will cost $12 plus a $1.75 technology fee.  

In order to pass your permit practice test for Minnesota, you should consult the Minnesota Driver’s Manual.  Here you will learn all the information you need to apply for an instruction permit and also all information that will be on the written practice permit test for Minnesota.  

You will need to be at least 15 years old to apply for an instruction permit.  If this is the case, the 15 year old applicant will need to have a certificate of school enrollment and must be enrolled in a driver’s education program.  Those that are 16 years old will need certification of completing a driver’s education course in order to qualify for a road test to become a licensed driver.  All minors will also require parental approval in order to take the permit practice test for Minnesota.  The test is free the first two tries but the third and fourth tries will cost $10 as a penalty for failing the first two attempts.

You will only be allowed to take the knowledge test once a day and you must receive a score of at least 80% in order to pass.  The test may be given on a computer at which point you may select another language or use audio assistance to have the questions read to you.

permit practice test Minnesota/practice permit test Minnesota 

If you are searching for “buying a junk car,” one probably assumes that you are trying to unload a junk car.  There are many businesses and organizations that will gladly buy your junk car, under certain conditions.  In order to maximize the value of your junk car, be sure you are aware of the market value of the car, the relative price of components that can be salvaged from it and if you might want to donate the car.  Therefore, when it is time to find someone to buy a junk car, having this information in mind will help you maximize what you will get in return.

Some charities will ask you to donate a junk car as an alternative to finding some to buy the junk car.  The charities will then dispose of the junk car and use the proceeds for charitable purposes.  If you do this, you may be able to claim the donation on your taxes.  Bear in mind however, that you will only be able to claim the saleable market value of the car, not the original value of the car.  This of course will be very little, if the car is indeed a junk car.  However, if the charity will haul the junk car away at their expense and it frees you from the burden of the junk car, you may want to consider this option.

Most national junk car buyers will have local affiliates that will tow away the junk car after you have made the appropriate arrangements with the national buyer.  When contacting the nation buyer, you will usually have to provide the make and model of the car as well as the year of manufacture.  You will leave contact information so you will be contacted with a quote for your junk car.

It is against the law to sell any car, even a junk car, as long as there is a lien against it.  You may not sell a perfectly working car out of spite or revenge and you will be subject to fines and penalties for violating federal law.  The title and the car must remain in your possession until the lien and other debts that the car secures are resolved.  You will not be able to use the proceeds from the junk car to settle the debt.

Almost all large junk car removal services will pay for removal of the car through a towing service.  You should not have to pay to have the car towed away if a company is buying your junk car.