Tips On Buying a Used Car - Protect Yourself From Fraud

By Nicholas L Smith

Buying a used car can save you a great deal of money. However, unlike new cars, used cars sometimes have operational problems that may not be immediately apparent. Sellers of used cars sometimes try to hide these problems in order to make a sale or convince you to pay a higher price. For this reason, it is important to take caution when you shop for a used car. Below are some tips you can use to protect yourself from scams and other potential problems and be aware should any issues arise, you have consumer protection rights under applicable laws.

1. Watch out for Warranties

Many used car dealers will encourage you to purchase an extended warranty on the vehicle you buy. However, purchasing a warranty from a dealer often costs more than it is worth. Before you agree to an extended warranty, shop around and make sure that the dealer's price is fair.

2. Always Put it in Writing

If you plan to buy a used car, don't make any agreements unless you and the dealer have both signed applicable paperwork. Without an ironclad document backing up the arrangement, the dealer can change the terms at any time.

3. Ask for Identification

Some scammers may be attempting to sell cars that do not belong to them. To protect yourself, you should always ask to see identification when you purchase a used car from a private seller. Before you pay, make sure that the name on the seller's ID matches the name on the title.

4. Learn about the Vehicle

Before you buy a car, research its history. Websites like Auto Check or Carfax can provide you with information about a vehicle given its identification number. Valuable information may include the car's actual mileage, major accidents, the number of owners and whether or not the vehicle has a salvage title. Consumer protection law does not allow any changes to the vehicle's odometer as well.

5. Take it for a Test Drive

When determining how well a car runs, don't take the dealer's word for it. Ask to drive the car a reasonable distance before you agree to purchase it. While driving the vehicle, look for signs of potential issues like brake failure or poor maneuverability.

6. Seek Legal Advice

If you think you may have been the victim of a scam, seek advice from a consumer protection attorney. Certain consumer protection laws exist to prevent consumers from losing money as a result of a bad transaction. For example, if your seller violates a contract that you both sign, a consumer protection attorney can help you recover your losses. Consumer protection attorneys may also be able to help you if a seller refuses to honor a warranty, sells a car that doesn't belong to him or lies about a vehicle's condition.

There are laws that protect our consumer rights. It is important that we know our rights to avoid being taken advantage of. Get free answers to your consumer law questions from real attorneys

New Vs. Used Car Performance Parts: Which Way to Go?

By Rakshanda Naz

Maintenance is to the car what food is to the body. For a motor vehicle to function properly, it needs constant maintenance. The maintenance takes the form of cleaning and replacing worn out parts with performance accessories. Car accessories are subject to wearing out. When automobile accessory wears out, you are supposed to replace it. The replacement can be with new car performance parts or with used ones. Sometimes you can change vehicle parts before they wear out if you plan to replace them with high performance accessories.

Why Your Car Needs Performance Parts?

Car performance parts are not ordinary vehicle accessories; they are parts that will completely transform your car. As the name suggests, the car performance parts highly improve the performance of your automobile. This performance is in form of speed and mileage. If you are a fan of fast cars, then you need to replace your vehicle's ordinary auxiliaries with high-grade performance accessories. In addition, if you drive for long distances and want to drive for long distances without stoppages caused by car breakdowns, you need good quality car performance parts. With the necessary parts installed, you will not only get to where you want to get fast enough, but you will also get there without stoppages caused by breakdowns. Examples of performance accessories are turbo kits, right wheels and exhaust pipes.

New Vs. Old Car Performance Parts - A Comparison

When replacing vehicle ordinary auxiliaries with car performance parts, a good number of people go for used spares. They do this as they deem the used accessories cheap. By buying used automobile spares, you have the guarantee of getting original accessories at relatively low prices. The only problem with used car parts is their short life. Remember that these spares were once used in another car and were removed from that car probably due to some fault. When you buy used parts, they may not last for long in your car. In the end, these used parts will be more expensive than they seemed.

New car performance parts are relatively expensive. Though expensive, the new auxiliaries serve you for long. Once fitted in your vehicle, you will go for long without the need for replacements. The main risk with new parts is the risk of buying counterfeit accessories. If you are not careful, you might end up buying fake accessories. Careful shopping will help you get original parts.

Why You Should Settle For New Car Performance Parts?

With new parts, you can be sure of a continued high performance for your car. You will go for a long time without the worry of the parts wearing out. The parts may seem relatively expensive as compared to used parts but they are not, considering the period they will serve you.

When trying to improve the performance of your vehicle, try to settle for new parts as they will not only improve the performance of your car, but will also serve you for long. The longer the auxiliaries serve you, the more you save in terms of repairs and maintenance.