Vehicle History Report Service

How do I know I'm not getting ripped off when I take my car in for service or repairs?

2010-09-22T10:56:00.000-07:00

Short answer: You don't.

But according to Yahoo! Auto Tips, "The "rip-off" is really a lack of communication or a misunderstanding between the parties involved."

What do you think? Check out the rest of it HERE

Experian Automotive Expands Vehicle Data Service Offerings With Manheim and Cash4Gold Monetizes Gold for Consumers

2010-03-05T06:13:00.000-08:00

New vehicle history snapshot helps dealers make more informed buying decisions

SCHAUMBURG, Ill., March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Experian Automotive today announced that it has enhanced its vehicle data service offerings with Manheim, a leading provider of vehicle remarketing services. In addition to providing auction data to Experian's AutoCheck® reporting service, a free vehicle history snapshot will now be offered, giving dealers immediate access to potential vehicle condition issues on http://www.manheim.com, including OVE.com and Manheim Simulcast.
The AutoCheck snapshot features a quick and easy view of the potential issues in a vehicle's history, directly from online presale listings, and gives dealers the option to purchase full AutoCheck reports. Having access to this important vehicle history information helps dealers make better decisions in buying the right vehicles at the right value and gives their customers confidence that their inventories are safe and reliable.
"The combination of Manheim's data and AutoCheck's industry-recognized vehicle history reports will give dealers a new level of buying intelligence with quick, easy access to the information they need," said Scott Waldron, president, Experian Automotive. "Working with Manheim allows us to bring a consistent repository of reliable, auction-announced information to used-vehicle dealers."
As part of its renewed relationship with Manheim, Experian's AutoCheck will continue to incorporate Manheim's auction-announced information, such as frame or unibody damage, into its vehicle history reports. This information has been found to be among the most important aspects of a vehicle's history that used-car buyers want to know before making a purchase.
"Manheim is dedicated to providing its customers with the information they need to make smart vehicle purchases," said Nick Peluso, senior vice president of customer management, Manheim. "Building on our existing relationship with Experian Automotive helps ensure that dealers have access to the best information to determine the right vehicles for their inventories."

For a quick look in how Gold is being monetize to help Cash4Gold consumers, click here...http://www.cash4gold.com/newspr/press-releases/cash4gold-helps-consumers-monetize-unwanted-gold-following-valentines-holiday/

Wanda Sykes, AutoMotive Vehicle History and Cash4Gold

2010-02-26T06:06:00.000-08:00

Wanda Sykes is by far one of the funniest women in comedy right now and she always makes me laugh. She did a bit the other night talking about the Olympics and how the economy was so bad that maybe the Olympians will trade in their gold medals at
Cash4Gold for some much needed cash. Cash it in at Cash4Gold!

Take a look at this from Wanda Sykes about Cash4Gold

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/video/video.php?v=1137873145718&ref=nf

CASH4GOLD’S HAITI RELIEF EFFORTS GET BOOST FROM TOP HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITIES

2010-02-15T07:51:00.003-08:00

http://www.cash4gold.com/newspr/press-releases/cash4golds-haiti-relief-efforts-get-boost-from-top-hollywood-celebrities/

CASH4GOLD’S HAITI RELIEF EFFORTS GET BOOST FROM TOP HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITIES « Cash4Gold.com

2010-02-15T07:51:00.002-08:00

http://www.cash4gold.com/newspr/press-releases/cash4golds-haiti-relief-efforts-get-boost-from-top-hollywood-celebrities/

CASH4GOLD CONGRATULATES 2010 GRAMMY AWARD WINNERS, ESTIMATING MELT VALUE OF THE FAMOUS TROPHIES

2010-02-15T07:51:00.001-08:00

http://www.cash4gold.com/newspr/press-releases/cash4gold-congratulates-2010-grammy-award-winners-estimating-melt-value-of-the-famous-trophies/

Cash4Gold Announces Sponsorship of RCL Motorsports

2010-02-13T14:20:00.001-08:00

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cash4gold-announces-sponsorship-of-rcl-motorsports-84307532.html

Cash4Gold Estimates Melt Value of Super Bowl Trophy at $1,450

2010-02-13T08:03:00.000-08:00

World's Leading Mail-In Gold Buyer Congratulates the New Orleans Saints

Download image POMPANO BEACH, Fla., Feb. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Cash4Gold (www.Cash4Gold.com), the trusted industry leader in mail-in gold buying, congratulates the New Orleans Saints, who captured the 2010 Super Bowl title. Following the game, the victors hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy on the field in Miami before the energetic crowd and hundreds of millions of other people around the world watching on television.

http://alturl.com/erzn

Hollywood Celebrities Join Cash4Gold’s Haitian Relief Efforts

2010-01-18T08:59:00.000-08:00

Since the devastating earthquake in Haiti, Cash4Gold has undertaken a series of efforts to help support those impacted by the tragedy

http://www.cash4gold.com/newspr/hollywood-celebrities-join-cash4golds-haitian-relief-efforts/

The Auto Industry is on an upward climb

2009-11-22T16:46:00.000-08:00

The auto industry is on an upward climb, impressively. The 12.9 percent increase in auto sales in October, compared to September is an excellent increase. The increase had been affected by the flooding that occurred but still this is a good sign for the Auto transport industry. It is significant that the banking institutions helped in getting more vehicles sold by offering easy to own finance packages too difficult to resist especially if you need an auto now.
The auto moving industry particular has a trickle down affect when the auto industry goes up or down. People are always moving from state to state or being transferred from a job and relocation occurs. Auto-Move.com works with local dealers across United States by partnering up with AutoNation to help consumers move specific vehicles.
Auto transport is important step of your re-location strategy. The key thing is to be prepared and find a strong company that you can entrust confidence to follow through and perform from start to finish.
The three keys to auto transport:
1. On time delivery of your vehicle
2. Checkpoint tracking – Where is my vehicle?
3. Premium Insurance to protect your vehicle – The Company should protect you.

Delivery is very important part of the strategy in your move. You want to make sure your company will have a checklist of items they will deliver to you before they pick up the vehicle and if they don’t you have a full refund of your deposit. Get references from the company and make sure they are not local but actually 3 to 5 reference you can talk to explain how your auto was moved and that auto transport company did their job.

Checkpoint tracking – Just because your vehicles gone should not mean you don’t know where it is, how about a GPS locator on the vehicle to let you know its travels. This is important because if you’re trailing your delivery you can make arrangements with the auto transport companies. This is also important if any situations come up that could delay your vehicles arrival.

Premium Insurance – is probably the single most important part of your auto move strategy. A reliable company on is bonded but will provide you insurance to protect you vehicle during transport. This is part of your cost but not something you should have to buy to protect your vehicle. If a company requests you to pay for this hang the phone up and do not use them to transport your auto. Your auto being transport is your second most important asset you own don’t just let anyone transport your auto.

SEMA Auto Shows 2010 Hurst Camaro comes alive…..

2009-11-22T16:35:00.000-08:00

The first 2010 Hurst Camaro from its 2009 SEMA debut to at the SEAM show. The Hurst Camaro was on display at the SEMA show from November 3rd through the 6th in Las Vegas. This Hurst was transported using a auto transport company. Auto-Move.com provides nationwide auto transport services, industry information, and industry news to dealers, corporations, and individuals moving cars across the United States. Auto-Move.com has an exclusive with AutoNation working with them on transport of high value vehicles.
The Hurst Performance has gone to great lengths to put together another winner of a special vehicle like the 2010 Hurst Camaro. Some of these modifications include: custom paint scheme, Hurst 20 inch wheels, BF Goodwrench tires, custom floor mats, Hurst Competition aluminum shift stick, Hurst Air-Speed rear spoiler, and Hurst graphics. We have no information on production numbers but we know one thing for sure that it’s a Hurst Camaro and it’s great to see that car on the road again living up to its potential.
Individuals, dealerships, and corporations use Auto-Move.com for a variety of reasons, including car shows. Each person or entity must choose the company that best fits their needs. “Our goal is to put trust in and confidence in our consumers. We understand the value of our clients vehicle, trust is everything when you’re transporting a person most important asset next to their home. Auto-Move.com is where trust and confindence meets the road in transporting a vehicle, said President Luis Molina, Auto-Move.com

Mail-in Gold Buyer Cash4Gold Expands International Reach by Bringing Its Service to Spain. Spaniards Can Turn Their Unwanted Gold into Cash with the World's #1 Online Gold Buyer.

2009-11-19T14:38:00.001-08:00

POMPANO BEACH, Fla., Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Cash4Gold (www.Cash4Gold.com), the world's #1 gold buyer from consumers, has launched its popular service in Spain. The company, which has serviced over 900,000 satisfied customers in the U.S., UK, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands, will help the people of Spain monetize their unwanted gold, silver and platinum items.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090727/LA52238LOGO-a)

Spanish residents will now be able to use Cash4Gold to trade their broken or unwanted jewelry for cash easily and privately. Customers will no longer have to travel to jewelry stores or pawn shops to sell their items.

"We are continuing our successful move into Europe with a Spanish launch and we look forward to providing our 100% satisfaction guaranteed service to Spanish customers," said Cash4Gold CEO Jeff Aronson. "As the leaders in the mail-in gold buying industry, we are proud to continue our international growth by offering Cash4Gold's safe, convenient and 100% satisfaction-guaranteed service to the people of Spain."

Cash4Gold accepts gold, silver and platinum items and pays customers based on the quality and quantity of precious metal contained in the item, also known as the melt value. This value is based purely on the actual precious metals contained in an item and does not factor in the decorative, artistic or sentimental value.

Cash4Gold customers enjoy an extremely easy customer service experience. First, consumers request a pre-paid and insured Refiner's Return Pak, either through the Cash4Gold website or by calling the toll-free hotline. The envelope is sent directly to the customer's home or place of business, whichever they prefer. The items that contain gold, silver or platinum are placed into the pre-paid and insured envelope and sent in the mail. The package arrives at Cash4Gold's state-of-the-art processing facility where it is appraised by the company's trained and certified professionals.

After the appraisal is completed, Cash4Gold then sends a check to the customer or directly deposits the payment into their bank account. The payment method is selected by the customer. In the event that a customer decides they would like their items returned for any reason, they can contact Cash4Gold within 12 days to have the items returned at no cost. This is part of Cash4Gold's 100% customer guarantee.

in reference to: Cash4Gold – Sell Gold Jewelry, Get Fast Cash for Gold – Sell Jewelry Online « Cash 4 Gold (view on Google Sidewiki)

Cash4Gold Values New York Yankees World Series Hardware at $7,750

2009-11-05T07:50:00.000-08:00

Congrats to the Yankees and thier fans....

Affiliate Marketing and Anthony Morrison

2009-11-03T19:41:00.001-08:00

Affiliate Marketing expert Anthony Morrison came out with a new book and I found a great new site that is promoting his book. The woman is new to the business but it will be fun to watch someone grow there business from scratch, check it out.

www.200kgirl.wordpress.com

Remember go for it and never look back because the past never gets you success the next day does.

Vince

Cash4Gold is Melting Gold Baby in Germany !!!!

2009-10-22T06:56:00.000-07:00

http://cash4gold.blogspot.com/2009/10/cash4gold-heads-to-germany.html

Red Flags to look out for when you buy a used car

2009-10-21T08:29:00.000-07:00

1. The dealer or owner of the vehicle has no service records. If you a person who takes care of their car you will have the service records on the vehicle so it shows the care and quality of the car they drove. Beware of the person has no records. ----if it is a junky car, you just buy at your own risk.

2. Does the dealer or private owner display a vehicle history report?
This is a HUGE sign and you must now run away....if the dealer or private owner does not have a Carfax or Autocheck report don't even waste your time and bother with talking with them because you're just asking for trouble. It is $20.00 and if it is a dealer he should have both. AutoCheck works with 75% of the auction houses in the US and it is important to pull both reports because we want to make sure the car is clean and is ready to drive with no major issues.

3. Will they let you drive the vehicle or get an inspection report?
The dealer will but most private owners will just let you start the car and look it over. Call the private owner and ask if you can drive the car with them when you get there, if they say no then don't go, BAD SIGN. Tell them you're bringing a friend who is a mechanic to help you look over the car, any hesitation on the private owners part is a very bad. If you're buying a car on eBaymotors then get a inspection report if it is on a dealers lot. It might be difficult to do it through a private owner unless you do it during the auction period and you're local. I would only buy a car through eBaymotors if the dealer or private owner has a rating of 97% or better because then you're taking a huge risk.

These are some of the big issues you want to look at when purchasing a used vehicle. Life is not perfect and things change in the auto industry everyday. Not all dealers are bad, just don't let them rush you into anything. Have a plan before you go out and search and remember that you lead the sale don't let the dealer or private owner lead you; you're the one driving the vehicle going forward and you have to happy with your purchase.

Thousands Enter Cash4Gold Contest for Chance to Win Tea With MC Hammer and UK Celebrity

2009-10-19T09:36:00.001-07:00

It's Hammer Tea Time, melting Gold Baby

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/thousands-enter-cash4gold-contest-for,1004221.shtml

MC Hammer is a big Twitter fan and uses it to help flood victims

2009-10-16T10:39:00.001-07:00

http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/2009/10/15/mc-hammer-is-a-big-twitter-fan-and-uses-it-to-help-flood-victims/

Exclusive ---MC Hammer Strikes Gold

2009-10-16T10:33:00.000-07:00

http://www.celebritygoodlife.com/blog/2009/10/exclusive-mc-hammer-strikes-gold.html

Hammertime in the Cash4Gold Vaults

2009-10-15T10:36:00.001-07:00

Check this out, great link and story.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cash4gold-confirms-plans-for-dance-party-in-the-vaults-at-company-headquarters-with-the-legendary-mc-hammer-64368867.html

Used Cars, the new way to buy?

2009-05-09T10:05:00.000-07:00

With all the uncertainty in today's economy more and more people are reluctant to by new and our buying used cars at a very high rate. Now more than ever it is very important to make sure you check out the car you're going to buy. Don't fall into any traps or be misled by salesmen just trying to make a sale. They're good salespeople out there in the car industry that are very honest and good people to deal with when making a car purchase.

Here are some ideas to help you buy your next used vehicle:

First research the car you're going to purchase via ebaymotors, Autotrader.com or Cars.com.
Once you narrow your vehicle down to at least 3 to 5 choices call the dealer directly and ask about the vehicle, get a feel for being comfortable about the dealership and the salesperson who might ultimately be dealing with on your purchase.
Make sure the salesperson asks your questions about the vehicle. Be prepared, talk about the mileage, where did the car come from, (this important to know if it came from an auction or trade in) remember at least 80% plus of the cars out there go through some form of auction. This is not bad but don't let them tell you any different. The final question you should ask is "tell me about the car", a good salesperson will get to know the cars on the lot, the ones who don't will sell you anything about the car. The more informed the salesperson the better it will be for the both of you during the transaction.
Ok, you have your choices, now run a AutoCheck and Carfax vehicle history report. DO NOT RELY ON ONE REPORT, I REPEAT, DO NOT RELY ON ONE REPORT!! Both companies are very good but believe me you want to make sure you're getting what you paid for. What is $30.00 when you're spending possibly $5,000 to $50,000? Too many people will take the salesperson word and then get shafted later on, DO YOUR HOMEWORK and you will be very happy with your purchase.
Lastly, go to Consumer Reports and Edmunds to make sure you have all the information on your vehicle to make sure they're no recent call backs or issues that are not published about the vehicle you want to buy. bot sources are very good for getting the right information.
You ready to make your way to the dealership or private party you're buying the vehicle from, bring your information with you, DO NOT SHOW THEM THE INFORMATION. You need to put yourself in the driver seat and control the conversation on what you want out of the experience. If you're prepared then you will know right away if the salesperson is leading you down a path that will make you feel uncomfortable. You did the research, you like the car, get what you want out of the experience.
Make a fair offer, don't go in there thinking you're gonna get $1000 or $2000 off a used car. Salespeople are paid on how much they make off the cost price of the vehicle. So, if the retail price is 10,599 figure you have anywhere between $500 to $700 to play with, now some people may read this entry and think I am full of it but I am confident to know you have at least that much to play with in a vehicle or a bit more. I have gone to auctions and seen a car for instance, like a 2005 Ford Taurus with 30,000 miles sell for $6K at a auction and then go to a lot for $8,995. Ok, that is $3,000 dollars more but remember a good dealer will make sure the car is fixed, cleaned up and ready for sale. After is all said and done most likely will have $1000 to $1500 left in the car. So be smart and be fair on your side as well.
Finally, you both agree on a price now comes the extras, warranties, rust protection and service. Forget Rust protection, the biggest scam out there, wax your car three times a year and you will be fine. Extended warranties, get on if you close to 36,000 miles. If the car has 10,000 miles on it wait and either buy one later from the dealer or go to an aftermarket company. Edmunds or Consumer Reports can recommend one company. If the car has of 50,000 miles on it, get one, especially if you're financing the vehicle. If they are service on the car, it's your call most people will go to a local mechanic or Jiffy Lube but if you feel good about the dealership stick with them and go to know the service manager.

I hope this will help you buying your next vehicle, just remember to stay informed and be prepared to make the right choices to make your experience a good one.

Vince Virzi, spent over five years in the vehicle history business and continues to monitor the used vehicle business to provide you with good information to make your car buying experience a great one!

Eye On Atlanta: Crashed Cars For Sale Carfax vs. AutoCheck

2009-04-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

Almost every one of us will buy a car, possibly even several cars in our lifetime. It's one of the largest purchases many of us will make and there are a few folks in the automotive industry who breed fraud, deceit, and there are some dealers who will do just about anything to make a sale.
CBS Atlanta News’ had a hidden camera investigation to reveal how one of the most trusted sources of information on car accidents, is being used by dealers to deceive customers into buying cars that have been involved in major crashes.
In some cases, they're unsafe to drive. Shocking to say the least and that Carfax would actually meet with the the CBS affiliate and then try to act like this is a good report. Both companies are very good, but over the last three years AutoCheck has made great strides in protecting the consumer and putting the buyer in a great position to know everything about a cars history. AutoCheck works extremely well with all of the Auto Auctions across the country. Remember, most of the cars you see on the road today at one time or another have probably been through an auto auction. Shop smart and be aware and make sure you pull both reports.

http://www.cbsatlanta.com/investigates/19086976/detail.html

Air Bag Fraud - The Hidden Danger

2009-04-03T11:19:00.000-07:00

Air Bag Fraud: The Hidden Danger
(NAPSI)-Guarding against air bag fraud-when a damaged air bag system is replaced with a nonfunctioning "dummy" air bag-could help used car shoppers steer clear of danger.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that about half of fatal accidents with nondeployed air bags involve cars that have missing or faulty air bags. Additionally, industry experts caution that as many as one out of every 25 previously damaged vehicles inspected had nonfunctional air bags.
Understanding The Threat
Dummy air bag systems are often stolen or salvaged units and may not match the particular make and model of your car. Victims of air bag fraud have even reported finding paper towels, packing peanuts, old shoes or virtually anything else that can fill the hole left by the missing air bag. Many of us assume the air bag will be there when we need it, so most victims don't know they've been scammed until it's too late.
Staying Safe
Fortunately, there are ways to protect yourself:
• Ask for or order a Carfax Vehicle History Report to check for salvage or junk titles, accidents in the vehicle's past or "air bag deployed" notations. If any of these red flags shows up, the air bag may have been deployed and you should have it closely inspected. Remember, even if it remained undeployed, the air bag system may still have been affected by a crash.
• Take the vehicle to an ASE- certified air bag mechanic for inspection prior to purchase to ensure a properly working air bag system.
• Turn on the ignition. The air bag indicator light should appear momentarily and then go out. If the indicator light remains on or flashes, this may indicate that an air bag system problem exists. Take the vehicle to a qualified mechanic for further inspection.
• If the air bag light never comes on, it's highly likely the air bag is missing and the bulb has been removed. Air bag lights may also not come on if the previous owner had an on-off switch installed. If you face this situation, ask the owner or dealer to provide a copy of the NHTSA letter authorizing the switch and have the air bag turned back on.
For more information and a free air bag deployment report, visit www.carfax.com/airbag.

What to do when you get a lemon car?

2006-08-06T20:23:00.000-07:00

Always document their case. Obtain copies of warranty repair orders, keep notes of who they talk to, what is said, and dates and times. Put your complaints in writing and keep a copy of same. In any written correspondence, always explain how burdensome it is to return the car to the dealer for repairs and that the reliability that the consumer thought he was getting has been shattered. Any written correspondence with a dealer or manufacturer should be certified mail return receipt requested.

Manufacturers often claim the following in response to lemon law or warranty claims:
Not the right # of repair attempts - As stated above, the lemon laws often define lemon-mess in terms of number of attempts to repair. The manufacturers claim that they have not had the requisite number of tries to repair. They rely on the fact that the consumer does not have repair orders for all the times that the consumer has brought the car into the shop. They rely on the fact that the repair orders have different items fixed each time showing that they have not fixed the same thing.

Consumers should respond by requiring that dealers always give them a warranty repair order. At least one state requires that the dealer give to the consumer a warranty repair order. Consumers should also argue that these unwritten visits are attempts. Georgia requires that the dealer state on the warranty repair order how long the car was in the shop. The consumer should make sure the warranty repair order says this. At the very least, the consumer should keep a contemporaneous memo of the events stating who he talked to, what his complaints were, the mileage at the time, and the length of time the car was in the shop.

Defect never existed or not the same defect- Often, the repair history doesn't identify the problem-i.e. every repair order tries something different to fix the problem.
The consumer should respond by saying that he always complained about the same problem. The consumer should insist that his words be written down. The service manager writing something different down, or attempting to fix something different each time strengthens the consumers case because it shows the defect could not be or was not repaired. The consumer should be careful to accurately state what the problem is and make sure the service manager write it down. Replacing different parts doesn't mean different things were fixed. the inference should be that fixing different things without fixing the problem proves none of those was the problem.

The consumer should obtain copies of the manufacturers records which categorize repairs. All repairs that fall under the same category on the warranty reimbursement paperwork should serve as strong evidence that the defect was the same. The consumer should argue that the replacement of parts raises a strong inference that they were defective.

Finally, the consumer should obtain copies of the manufacturer service bulletins. These bulletins contain a description of problems, proposed repairs, and sometimes information that will assist in proving substantiality of the defect.

Further, the national Highway Traffic Safety Administration will send a computer printout of all reported problems for a model and year. Write NHTSA, Technical Reference Division, 400 Seventh St., S>W>, Washington DC 20590.

The defect is not substantial- The manufacturer in a revocation case will argue that the defect is not substantial and the consumer should not be allowed to revoke.

The consumer should look at cost of repairs. This information will have to come from the manufacturer or dealer records since most warranty repairs will not cost the consumer anything. Assume the manufacturer paid the dealer or dealers $1,500.00 to fix a $12,000 car. This should be considered substantial. The consumer should look to the vitalness of the defective part. the consumer should look to the number of attempts to repair. The greater the number and the greater the length the car was out of service, the more substantial the defect. Finally, the consumer should argue that his faith in the vehicle is shaken. He simply is not confident that his car is reliable. It is, in his eyes, a lemon.
Manufacturers often claim driver neglect or abuse- The manufacturer may claim that the consumer has abused the vehicle and that is why the vehicle is defective. Our favorite case involved a young couple that purchased a Toyota four wheel drive pickup. The couple went four wheeling. There was a problem with the power of the truck eventually necessitating the tearing down of the engine. the consumer was unhappy and wished to revoke acceptance of the truck. The manufacturer claimed that the truck's engine had gotten wet (an abuse) and it was therefore not responsible for the repairs. The consumer's obvious reply is that four wheel trucks are made for four wheeling and every country boy knows that water and mud will splash when you go four wheeling.

Our favorite defense is "there all like that" or "that's normal". Our client, a gentleman farmer, purchased a Ram Tough Dodge Ram Charger pickup with a turbo charged Cummins diesel engine. He had serious problems with a vibration in the rear end. After several attempt to repair, the dealer and the customer approached the service manager. The service manager, not realizing the consumer was the owner, told the dealer to advise that SOB owner that it was a truck, not a Cadillac. The consumer should smile with delight if this ploy is ever used.

This content came from www.defect.com

Your Key to a Good Used Car By Philip Reed

2005-12-21T13:59:00.000-08:00

You're shopping for a used car when you think you've hit pay dirt. It's a '95 import with low miles. It drives great, and the price is right. When you question the owner about the car's history, he says he bought it from a used car lot only two years ago.You're about to write a check when you have a troubling thought: This deal seems too good to be true. Maybe something's wrong with the car that they are keeping hidden. Who owned the car before? Is there any damage or problems you should know about?At one time there was no way to check a vehicle's history. Buyers could only go on the evidence in front of them, basing their decision on the mechanical condition of the car. But computer technology has made it possible to use the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to reveal a car's possibly checkered past.Vehicle history reports can be ordered from a number of Internet companies. The first company to offer this service is Carfax, which, as the name suggests, began faxing used car reports as early as 1986. Now, the Fairfax, Virginia-based company accesses 4,400 different information sources and a database of more than 2 billion records to compile reports that are e-mailed almost instantaneously to customers. Users can also get a free Carfax Safety & Reliability Report that includes key make and model level information when ordering the unlimited Carfax report option."We literally have every car on the road in our database back to 1981," said Carfax Vice President of Marketing Scott Fredericks. He notes that 1981 was when the U.S. government accepted the VIN as a standard tracking code for a vehicle's history. "Think of the Carfax as the DNA of the car — the Carfax report never forgets."Vehicle History Reports — A Growing FieldWhile Carfax seems to be the leader in this new field, there are many other companies vying for the consumer's business. Many of these companies draw on similar sources for their information and present the data in a compiled report at competitive prices. Carfax charges $19.99 for a single report and $24.99 for an unlimited number of reports for one month.Consumer Guide has taken the process one step further. Vehicle history information is drawn from the monster database of Experian (with 1.7 billion records) and coupled with Consumer Guide's repair information."What we do that is unique is marry the Consumer Guide data to [vehicle history reports] on the fly," said Grant Whitmore, general manager. "We also track trouble spots for year, make and model for that vehicle." While the information doesn't pertain to that specific vehicle, it gives a buyer a general picture of the car's reliability and the replacement cost of parts, should something go wrong."If you are selling your car, you can buy the report and show it to the potential buyer," suggested Consumer Guide Product Manager Robin Kowalski. "This will show [consumers] there isn't some sort of wreck that they weren't aware of."Consumer Guide launched its Vehicle History Reports February 22, 2001. Whitmore declined to give specifics about the number of reports that have been ordered but said, "It's been extremely popular."Odometer Rollbacks If you order a report from Carfax, your report is broken into nine categories: report summary, vehicle specifications, accident check, mileage accuracy check, lemon check, ownership check, recall check, warranty check and vehicle history details. The different pieces of the report are summarized in a table that may flag problems. Details are listed later in the report.Most importantly, Carfax provides an independent check of a vehicle's history. While the odometer of a used car might show that it has only 55,000 miles, the Carfax might indicate that the odometer readings at key events in the car's history — emissions tests or title changes — don't match up.For example, the report might show that a certain vehicle was smog-checked in December 1999 at 55,000 miles. But then, when a change of title was issued two months later, the odometer reading was recorded as being 45,000 miles. Obviously, there was some kind of foul play here.The number of miles a car is driven directly affects the price of the car. Therefore, a seller has a strong incentive to rollback the odometer. Each excess mile a car is driven — over the expected yearly average of from 12,000 to 15,000 — reduces its value. Therefore, turning back an odometer 10,000 miles can increase the sale price of the car by $600.In another situation, a person might be ready to return a lease car and be faced with paying $2,000 in mileage penalties to the dealer. A quick trip to a "spinner" — someone who turns back odometers — will save them a lot of money. In this way, dealers are defrauded, and so is the next person who buys the car."Folks think because [the odometer] is digital, it is harder to rollback," Fredericks said. "But it's not. Anyone with a laptop [and the right software] can plug into the car's computer under the hood and do it." He added that some estimates have shown that 40 percent of lease cars have been involved in some type of scam.Title Washing & Curb StoningAnother scam detected by Carfax is called title washing. This occurs when "state X might not recognize titles from state Y," Fredericks said. "People who are unscrupulous will take bad cars and move them into that state. This happens every day."But a Carfax report tracks the car as it crosses state lines. If a car has been "branded" in another state — with a salvage title, for example — this will be revealed on the report. Salvage titles are assigned to cars that have been considered a total loss by insurance companies. However, the car might still run and be drivable. Still, having a salvage title significantly reduces the car's value.Curb stoning occurs when a dealer has an inferior or damaged car he can't sell on his lot. He gives the car to a salesperson to sell through the classifieds, as if it were a private party sale. However, a Carfax report will show that the title recently changed hands and may reveal that it is a lemon or an otherwise branded car. Fredericks recommends being suspicious if the seller's name is different from the name on the title.Edmunds Test-Drives CarfaxWhile we were writing this article, Carfax gave us an account to run a number of vehicle history reports. In many cases, reports were run on cars that were known to have salvage or lemon titles. Carfax reports caught those problems and flagged the pertinent information.As a test case, we entered a VIN number for a '98 Corvette we knew had been branded as a lemon. Sure enough, the Carfax report clearly flagged the problem by stating: "LEMON LAW VEHICLE Repurchased by manufacturer."In other cases, we ran reports on cars we knew little about. In one instance, the report noted a "potential odometer rollback." Looking closely at the vehicle's file, however, it appeared the source of the rollback alert was probably a clerical error at a smog inspection station. Everything else about the car's history lined up."One of our fundamental tenets is 'Data authenticates data,'" Fredericks said. "This means that the more data sources we collect, the more verification we receive about the vehicle's history — including odometer rollbacks."In another case, an Edmunds employee's husband was considering buying a '95 Acura. He test-drove the car and felt it was in good mechanical condition. However, after running a Carfax report, it was discovered that the car was given a salvage title in 1996 and, several years later, a junk title (a junk vehicle is one that was reported to the DMV by an individual or a dismantler as having been dismantled). When the seller was confronted with this information, they said, "Oh yeah, I thought I told you about that."In yet another case, an Edmunds editor ran the VIN number of a car she had owned several years ago. It was the only report that was returned listing an accident. It read, "Accident reported involving left side impact with another motor vehicle." Fredericks explained that Carfax receives information from law enforcement sources reporting accidents. If a car is totaled in an accident, a salvage title is assigned. But prospective buyers will still want to know about minor accidents. In this way, they can find out if the damage was properly repaired.Consumer Guide's Whitmore said their reports also list accident reports, usually if they were serious enough to cause damage to the car's frame.The Dealer's AngleCar dealers have also found the Carfax reports valuable. In many cases, a dealership will run a report on a car that a customer brings in as a trade-in. The Carfax report allows them to protect themselves from accepting a branded car, one that would be difficult to resell. Additionally, dealers can generate Carfax reports on the vehicles they are trying to sell. In this way, shoppers don't have to take their word for the vehicle's history — the information is being provided by an independent source.What Does the Future Hold?With the increased speed of data communications, the amount of information about vehicles will increase in the coming years. Both Carfax and Consumer Guide hope to tap into service and repair records in the near future. Then a consumer can see if a car was maintained according to the manufacturer's requirements before purchasing it."We are working on [getting service records] now," Fredericks said. "That's our next big frontier."

A New Age in Used Car Buying

2005-06-07T14:08:00.000-07:00

For years consumers knew only one way to buy used car, through the newspaper. The landscape has dramatically changed over the last five years. The smart internet consumer has all the tools at their fingertips. Not only can you utilize the print media but you also can bring the two together. Searching for a used car should be simple.

One company has it done right and has the most concentration of vehicles in one spot on the internet, AutoTrader.com.

AutoTrader.com, a parent company of Cox Communications has been showing people how to buy used vehicles the right way for 5+ years. When you get to the home page you have the ability to start to searching by utilizing a “Quick Search” or a “Power Search”. Quick search sends you directly to the “Find Your Car” page. Here you can pick make, model, year, and new, used, certified, price range, distance and your zip code. Very simple and easy to use.

Power Search gives you the ability to get more granular with your selection of a new, used or pre-own certified vehicle. You can pick body style, three different makes, price range, mileage, year range, zip, area of distance from your zip code, engine, drive, transmission, doors, fuel and color. Wow, it may sound a lot, but if you have a specific vehicle in mind AutoTrader can find this vehicle for you.

The next stop in the process is viewing your selection on AutoTraders “Search Results page”. This page will give you aggregate results of the vehicle you looking to view. It displays a vehicle picture, with a brief description of each vehicle and a vehicle identification number or vin number. The vin number will become an important part of your decisioning process because it will give you a history of the vehicle you’re considering. Once you decide on a vehicle just click on it and you’re on the way to an even better experience.

The “Vehicle Detail Page” is the mastermind of AutoTraders CEO, Chip Perry. Mr. Perry who worked in the newspaper business developed this easy to understand ad on a vehicle by taking the elements of a good newspaper ad and exploding it to virtual car ad on steroids. The vehicle detail page will display the price, the year, make and model at the top of the page. It will give you pictures, a way to get a loan on the car before you walk into the dealership and it will give you the history of the vehicle, for a fee, to help you make the right decision.

Consumers now have the ease of looking for a car right at their fingertips, but AutoTrader gives you everything you need to walk in the dealership, with a loan in hand, the vehicle history report on the car or truck and the ability to have an inspection on the car.

The three issues that hold up a sale on a vehicle is the loan, the inspection and the vehicles history.

Let’s look at the loan process. It can be very tiresome when you're in a dealership if you don’t have your financing with you. Consumers think dealers are bad, dealers are not bad, the process can be bad and this is what frustrates a consumer. Having your loan in place is the first rule of buying a used car. Not everyone is going to qualify for 0% financing, so be smart get a loan check from Capital One, Lending Tree or another finance institution before you walk through the door of any dealership. Again, AutoTrader has made it very easy for you to do this by having button right under the ad to get your financing done.

Vehicle inspection, why? Why not, it’s not because where not a trusting soul, it’s because you want the security and comfort to know the previous owners took care of the car. If you’re going to invest five thousand or eighty thousand dollars on a vehicle, pay the average price of an inspection of $99.00 to $349.00. The car might look great, the dealer took care of it, but no one is perfect. Dealers do a great job of certifying cars and they’re great warranties to put comfort in your mind, just be smart, inspect it and feel good about your purchase.

The last portion of our experience at looking at used vehicles on AutoTrader is a vehicle history report, vin check or car history report (these are most widely used terms in the search engines). The vin number will tell you the history of a car. It will tell where the car was titled and registered. If it had the basic emission inspection by the state. Was it a stolen car or a salvage car or worse in a flood. The vehicle history is important because you don’t want to buy a vehicle that has been involved in an accident and been declared a junk or salvage. This will not only effect your re-sale value it will effect how you feel about the car. Vehicle history reports are there to assist your decisioning process and make you feel good about your vehicle before you see in person and after you have purchased the vehicle. The great thing about vehicle history is the insurance policy, that’s right an insurance policy on the data that is provided on the report. If the data is wrong they will purchase the vehicle back and you will then not be stuck with a bad vehicle, now that’s insurance!

Shopping online for vehicle will make your experience of buying a car easier and less stressful. A great automotive site like AutoTrader will give you the tools to make the right decision.

So sit back, enjoy the ride on the Internet freeway, you have the tools to a stressful free experience of buying a used car.

Consumers take precautions when buying a used car

2004-11-10T07:43:00.000-08:00

Consumers Take Precautions When Buying a Used Car, get a Vehicle History Report.

Buying a used car from a dealer or private party car can be risky. How do you know the car you’re purchasing doesn’t have any title defects or other problems? What if the car you’re buying had once been stolen or salvaged, damaged in a flood, fire or accident, has had an odometer rollback, or was once used as a taxi or rental?

Dave Nemtuda, a seventeen-year automotive veteran and director at Experian Automotive, provides some expert advice to consumers to help them protect themselves and their wallets when purchasing a used car:

Be Prepared and Well Informed. Scour the Internet to uncover as much information as possible on each car model and year you’re considering. Some model cars may be known to suffer from transmission or suspension problems after a certain milestone. Ask the seller detailed questions and don’t be afraid to show your knowledge of the car.

Check the Car’s Vehicle History. Checking the vehicle’s history is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself. An AutoCheck Vehicle History Report, for example, pulls data from multiple sources, including State Department of Motor Vehicles, auto auctions and dealers, and tells you if the car has been stolen or salvaged, suffered from major accident damage, or has experienced odometer tampering, among other hidden title defects. You can enter a car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) at http://www.trafficmatt.com/auto/auto-products.htm to purchase a detailed vehicle history report for the car.

Look for a Vehicle History Provider that Insures the Title of the Car. While you can purchase a vehicle history report from several providers, Experian AutoCheck is the only company that provides an insurance policy that will buy back the car for up to one year if a major hidden title defect is not disclosed on a "clean" vehicle history report, subject to the policy’s terms and conditions. First American Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, underwrites AutoCheck with Buyback Insurance, which ensures you superior protection at no extra cost or risk.

Ask Someone Knowledgeable to Inspect the Car for You. Oftentimes we find ourselves about to purchase a car, yet we know little about cars. Ask a knowledgeable friend, relative or a reputable outside expert to help you inspect the car prior to purchase.

Carefully Review Paperwork. You should carefully review all paperwork, especially when buying from a private owner. Make sure there are no registered liens against the vehicle and check with the vehicle registration authorities to make sure the car is being sold by the person who holds the actual title. Also, inquire about any dealer warrantees that might be transferable so you can take advantage of available protection.

Educating and protecting yourself gives you confidence and peace of mind in your used car purchase decision. A little work up front will go along way in defending you against costly repairs down the road.