Jeff Neilan
1226

OK, you’ve finally gotten through the front end part of buying your car. You have worked hard done some tough negotiating and feel like you have negotiated a good and fair deal on your car purchase and trade-in. Now it’s time to head into the dealer’s F&I (finance and insurance) department and go through the formality of signing the financing paper work on the back end of the deal.
You may have noticed a couple of terms: front end and back end. I used these terms to illustrate a point to you. From a car dealer perspective there are two distinct parts (profit centers) to each deal. The front end of the deal is the new car price, your trade in, any dealer add on’s that they got you to buy with your new car, etc. All of this, most everyone is indeed familiar with. The second part of the deal, the back end, is not a place to let your guard down. The back end is the F&I department. The F&I manager is every bit as responsible for making sales numbers and profit margins as everyone else at the dealership and they are sales people NOT financial advisers and their purpose is to help maximize the profit on the deal.
Don’t assume that you are going to be offered the best possible interest rate you can get by the F&I manager. Quite the opposite! Adding a point or two (or more) to your contract interest rate above what you qualify for is a serious profit maker for the dealer.
Also keep in mind that all of your hard work negotiating your deal on the front end has been by in large verbal and perhaps a handshake. True, as a result, you may have a signed buyers order or worksheet that the salesperson and or manager have signed off on, but it is in the F&I department where all of this gets put into contract form.
Stay focused. Some dealers and salespeople may even imply that in order for the deal to get approved, you have to finance through their finance department. You don’t. In fact, if you have done your homework and found a better financing offer, you should take it. At the very least, you know what numbers you qualify for, and as such you should ask the car dealership to try to better what you already have.
Read the contract. Sound so basic, but most people don’t. Don’t just assume that everything that you negotiated with the dealership on the front end will make its way to the back end of your car deal. If you’ve had a long day negotiating to get the price you want, don’t give it all back in the F&I department by getting lazy at this very crucial time.
Without question, the single biggest mistake car buyers make is failing to prepare. That, and setting your expectation that car buying and the negotiating process within can take at best several hours to accomplish. Know that you are going to be at the dealership for a while can help you stay energized and focused. Do your homework. Know your credit score. Get your financing pre-approved and see if the dealer can beat what you already have. Be familiar with all the areas of potential sales and profit that the dealer can potentially land. Know what extras (if any) you will and will not pay for. Make sure the contract in the F&I department reflects all the negotiations that you have worked to accomplish before hand. Then, finally, remain on your toes and don’t drop your guard once in the F&I department.

Steven Anderson
680

I need a car. I’ve been a pedestrian for too long. I need information. I’ll hop on the web. Search for “car buying guides.” Whoa! Over 15 million sites/pages! Refine my search. “Free first time car buyer guides” and narrow it down to only 4 million. That’s about as refined as I can get right now. Look over the first page of my results, chose some links with names I recognize. Open some pages. Lots of interesting articles. Let’s see if I can pull together a cohesive list.
What type of vehicle do I need? Notice I wrote “need” not want? I want a cool car, but this is a major investment and cool doesn’t really last that long. Do I buy new or used? What kind of driving am I really going to be doing, and in what kind of conditions? How much can I reasonably spend for monthly maintenance? How much can I spend on a loan or lease payment? Should I buy from a dealer, an auction or private sale? How’s my credit rating? Where should I buy insurance? Lots of questions to answer, and probably some I haven’t included here.
Before you search for that cool car,” decide exactly what your needs and wants are. Don’t buy what you want, buy what you need. Don’t get into a cash bind because you spent more than you can really afford because the “cool” factor fades fast but those monthly payments continue. Review your budget to determine how much you can really afford. That means not only the car payment, but insurance and an estimate of your monthly maintenance (gas, oil, etc.)
Check your credit so you have an idea of what type of loan you can qualify for. Decide on a firm price (payment or full-purchase), because dealers and salespeople will be doing their best to get more out of you. Be firm and stick to your dollar amount. If financing, decide on a realistic maximum payment you can make. If possible, check with your bank to see what type of loan you qualify for.
With the internet, it’s now much easier to compare vehicles. Take the time to check out some websites that offer information about vehicles and compare. Don’t just rush out and buy the first car you see. Remember, your vehicle is a major investment and unless you can change vehicles every year, this car will probably have to last you 4 or 5 years. Be choosy. Look at the pictures, sure, but READ the information. Check to see if the dealership offers web discounts (that is, if you buy from them they will offer some discount for using the web).
Educate yourself about vehicle pricing. Dealerships have to make a profit; otherwise they would not be in business! Simple economics. Dealers will negotiate, but YOU have to be prepared as well. The dealers and salespeople know their bottom line on any vehicle. Again, check the web for information regarding pricing. Ask family and friends to help you learn about vehicle pricing. There are many factors that most people don’t even know about.
Make certain you qualify for insurance. Check out your state’s department of motor vehicles website and learn the minimum insurance necessary. Check around the web and you’ll find many major insurance companies with rate comparison features. Use those resources. Be very aware that your past driving record will affect your rates, but also if you are a first time buyer, be ready for slightly higher rates to begin with. After all, the insurance company is really gambling on your not making any claims against the insurance. Think about the type of driving you will be doing and review the “extras” offered by the insurance provider. Also, the type of vehicle you are looking to purchase will affect your rates as well. Older cars usually mean less safety features, so rates will be higher. Your vehicle insurance is just as important as your health insurance.
A short note here about car dealerships (and not just the new vehicle showroom guys). I personally have not had good results buying from a private seller. Way too many variables and basically no recourse if something isn’t right. Dealers have certain rules and restrictions they must comply with, such as title registration time limits, the lemon law, and the “buyers remorse” (3 day changed my mind) rules. Dealerships must be licensed and follow the laws; private sellers often don’t. Dealerships also can provide a wider range of options than a private seller. Go to your state motor vehicle or department of licensing website and educate yourself. What you don’t know can hurt you.
Also, there is a list called the Customer Service Index (or something similar) which each car maker maintains for dealerships. The ranking indicates who a dealership satisfies customers not only in sales, but also in service. Basically, go to the manufacturer’s website, search for customer service index and then navigate the website to find that manufacturer’s criteria for a great dealership. Yes it takes time, but this is a major investment. Family and friends can help here as well.
Once you have decided what type of vehicle you want, and which dealerships you want to check out (always try at least 2 dealerships, don’t just settle on one!), take someone with you, preferably someone knowledgeable about the vehicle you have chosen (a family member or friend you feel comfortable with). That person will probably ask some questions you didn’t think of! I’m a wimp when it comes to negotiating, but my hubby isn’t, and he knows about cars. I let him do most of the questioning, even though I was the one purchasing the car. Believe me, it helped, because he asked questions I really never thought about.
Last, but certainly not least, TEST DRIVE THE CAR! Sounds simple, but it is very important. Just because you found what looks like the car of your dreams, it may still not be right. You need to be comfortable behind the wheel, your sight lines should be clear, you should be able to judge your surroundings based on the size of the vehicle, and you should be able to find all those little areas of vehicle maintenance you can do yourself.
Remember, a vehicle is a major investment. It should be chosen with care and deliberate thought. There a many factors to consider and, ultimately, you are the one that has to pay for any mistakes in your choice.

Abdul Martin
398

Motorcycle insurance is extremely important. Its not only a good coverage should anything happen it s a good investment.
For the best insurance for your motorcycle always enquire about insurance before you buy the motorcycle. There have been cases wherein the buyer has found himself unable to insure after buying the motorcycle. Living in a very high crime rate area, too young and very expensive machines are the few reasons.
A motor insurance company provides excellent insurance options. But look for a specialist motorcycle insurance agent or company and you will do just fine.
Remember getting full coverage on a motorcycle is expensive and often only reserved for bikes of high value.
Make sure your motorcycle insurance covers

Liability coverage
Collision coverage
No-fault coverage
Service coverage
Uninsured coverage and
Passenger coverage

Another valuable coverage is Bodily Injury Liability. Bodily Injury covers other people’s injury or death that you are responsible for up to the limits you purchase.
Medical and Uninsured Motorist are also available. Medical covers medical costs to you and your passengers injured in an accident. Uninsured Motorist covers injuries to you and your passengers when the other person in the accident is at fault but does not have insurance or does not have enough insurance.
For progressive motorcycle insurance and ATV insurance provides free online motorcycle insurance quotes and ATV insurance quotes via Progressive Direct.
motorcycle.progressive.com/
motorcycle.progressive.com/
Now in case you have met with an accident should you meet a lawyer and the answer seems to be yes.
But there is a classification in law, which differentiates between simple injuries and grievous hurt.
If you are looking for motorcycle insurance for a small period please read all the short-term policies.
Here are some insurance companies we recommend
Accidents claims solicitors
Cover girl insurance
So already insures then its time for a quick ride.

Jeremy Conner
87

JC Custom’s Web Site Launched!
Searching the web and still can’t find the automotive product’s your looking for? What about finding answers to difficult questions concerning general repair issues as well as restoration techniques? You can find all this and more at our new site.
JC Custom’s provides users with a wealth of information on products ranging from engine components to insurance quotes, and even detailed reports on past vehicle history.
Newly installed forum’s allow you to ask questions and get the answers you deserve, and if you like showing your ride to the rest of the world you can do that to.
Also if your worried about having bad or no credit we have links that can provide you with fast and easy loans, even buying a car online has never been simpler.
We also carry a large range of original and after-market parts for the North American Consumer, but we also carry import parts as well.
Having trouble finding that hard to reach destination? JC Custom’s provides you with a number of services allowing you to search maps and atlases from around the world, and the detail these maps can provide is phenominal.
Ineterested in buying a magazine subscription? JC Customs has a large selection of automotive and motorcycle magazines to suit your needs, from Imports to trucks, domestic and hot rod’s.
Thanks for taking time to read this article and checking out the new site.
Jeremy Conner
Owner, JC Custom’s.com

Derek Gardner
705

It costs a lot to get car insurance. No one would argue on that. Without one it would cost you more to drive if you had an accident. Still, you don’t want to pay too much for it. So how can you save money on your car insurance premium?
Check several insurance companies. Don’t fall for the headline that says they got the best insurance deal in town. Find out for yourself by shopping around. It would be to your advantage to compare at least 3 quotes.
Find out how the prospective company is doing financially. Does the company have any complaints against them? What is their reputation for customer service? A good indicator of this could be seen on your initial visit. For example, did they take time to answer your questions or did they try to cut you off fast? Taking note of these things could save you some regrets later on.
Check insurance costs for the car you intend to buy. Your premium will be based on the particular cars sticker price, repair expenses, overall safety record, as well as potential theft possibility. Consider features that reduce the risk of injury or theft, such as daytime running lights or anti-theft equipment. Because the car insurance company may offer you premium discounts for a car with those features.
Consider paying a higher deductible. It may sound odd. But if you increase your deductible from $300 to say, $500, the cost of your collision and comprehensive coverage would be reduced anywhere from 15 to 30 percent. A $1000 deductible would save you even more, perhaps more than 40 percent.
Reduce coverage on your older car. The rule of thumb is to multiply your premium by 10. If your car is worth less than that total, think about dropping collision and comprehensive. You can check your cars value online at www.kbb.com.
Insure your home and car at the same company; you may get a reduction in your premium. And if you have more than one car, that may also get you a reduction. Don’t be afraid to shop around.
If you drive far less miles than the average driver, ask about Low Mileage Discounts. The car insurance company may offer you for low-mileage discounts.
Other discounts may also be available. If you have no accidents or moving violations for a number of years, you can get a discount. A defensive driving course may also win you a discount.
Remove unnecessary items from your policy. Many lenders will attach items like roadside help to your loan package. This is a good thing, but most car insurance companies already offer this on a full coverage policy. You need full coverage when financing a new car.
As you can see, there are quite a few options for getting that premium down.
A final word; what works for you over the next few years may not work later, depending on your situation. Don’t be afraid to be an alert consumer and reconsider your needs on occasion.