If you want your dream car, but not the price tag that accompanies this dream, you might consider purchasing a used model instead. Not only are pre-owned cars, vans, SUVs and trucks less expensive, they also cost less to register and insure in California. When buying a used car, it is important to keep the following close in mind.
Before any money changes hands, it is a very good idea to ask the person who is selling the vehicle to provide you with the Vehicle Identification Number or VIN. Then, you purchase a vehicle report from CARFAX which will list any accidents that the car has been in, as well as researching the correct odometer reading, the ownership history and much more.
After you have checked out the vehicle's history, you need to do your own investigation. This means you will look over every inch of the car, checking for indications of rust among other things.
Turn on the lights, check the signals, roll the windows up and down and ensure that all of the doors and the trunk lid and engine hood all open and close properly. Take a look at the fluids. Oil with white bubbles or a white hue indicates mechanical issues. Radiator fluid that appears rusty also indicates a problem. Be sure to look for fluid leaks, and if you really know very little about vehicles, take someone with you who does or hire a service to come and run a comprehensive check on the vehicle.
After all of the checks and a good test drive, you might be ready to purchase the vehicle. Once you pay, you will need to obtain the title, which the seller will sign over to you. You also need to ensure that the vehicle's registration fees are current and that the owner has verification of a current smog certificate. You will have a specific amount of time allowed in order to register the vehicle and update the title with your name.
Once you have transferred the title and paid the taxes, the joys of vehicle ownership will become a part of your life. This includes necessary expenses such as oil changes, insurance costs and yearly registration tax, not to mention the odd repair now and then. In addition, you will need to find a good smog test center in Berkeley where you can get your smog test certification, which is due every other year on most vehicles in Berkeley. Find a car smog certification center in Berkeley that offers appointments and a discount for booking your test online.
Before any money changes hands, it is a very good idea to ask the person who is selling the vehicle to provide you with the Vehicle Identification Number or VIN. Then, you purchase a vehicle report from CARFAX which will list any accidents that the car has been in, as well as researching the correct odometer reading, the ownership history and much more.
After you have checked out the vehicle's history, you need to do your own investigation. This means you will look over every inch of the car, checking for indications of rust among other things.
Turn on the lights, check the signals, roll the windows up and down and ensure that all of the doors and the trunk lid and engine hood all open and close properly. Take a look at the fluids. Oil with white bubbles or a white hue indicates mechanical issues. Radiator fluid that appears rusty also indicates a problem. Be sure to look for fluid leaks, and if you really know very little about vehicles, take someone with you who does or hire a service to come and run a comprehensive check on the vehicle.
After all of the checks and a good test drive, you might be ready to purchase the vehicle. Once you pay, you will need to obtain the title, which the seller will sign over to you. You also need to ensure that the vehicle's registration fees are current and that the owner has verification of a current smog certificate. You will have a specific amount of time allowed in order to register the vehicle and update the title with your name.
Once you have transferred the title and paid the taxes, the joys of vehicle ownership will become a part of your life. This includes necessary expenses such as oil changes, insurance costs and yearly registration tax, not to mention the odd repair now and then. In addition, you will need to find a good smog test center in Berkeley where you can get your smog test certification, which is due every other year on most vehicles in Berkeley. Find a car smog certification center in Berkeley that offers appointments and a discount for booking your test online.
About the Author:
Nolan Tornes likes blogging and sharing tips on auto maintenance. For further information about cheap smog test Berkeley centers or to find out more about smog test only Berkeley centers, please check out the Berkeley-Smog.com website now.