Car Title Check

First Car

Date: Apr 19, 2005
Contributor: Lonnie Amoroso

Buying first car is big step

Be sure your teen takes part in the shopping process

Summer job prospecting recently drove my college freshman son into the car-shopping mode. I went along for the ride.

Since he would be purchasing his first set of wheels with the cold hard cash out of his own pocket, I felt the need to provide some shopping input.

First things first, we talked about what kind of car to buy. My 19-year-old wanted something new and flashy.

Here was the parental proposal: Focus on an older car that was low on price but high on dependability, safety and gas mileage.

We also discussed how every dollar trimmed from the asking price would stay tucked in his bank account for down the road.

That’s when he discovered a make and model he was interested in sitting just a couple of blocks from our house. It was time to take the kid car plunge

Like so many things, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to shopping for a used car. Whether you’re kicking the tires on the dealership lot or on the neighbor’s driveway, one of the best ways to teach young drivers about the costs and responsibilities of owning a vehicle is to immerse them in the shopping process.

Here are some of the steps we followed, including a few pointers from resources on the Internet, including www.cars.com:

• Research, research, research.

Figuring out the best deal on a car doesn’t require you to be a gearhead. I confess I don’t know the difference between a muffler and a carburetor (though I think my teen does), but I try to do my homework before any big-ticket purchase.

• Turn the research over to your teen.

What’s the car’s asking price, and how does it compare to the market value, as listed in sources such as the Kelley Blue Book and the National Automobile Dealers Association guide? Are there comparable models for sale? What’s the safety, repair and theft track record? How does the car hold up in satisfaction surveys?

There are resources aplenty for used cars. Check out Consumer Reports’ April issue (or go to www.consumerreports.org). Web sites such as www.cars.com, www.edmunds.com and www.bankrate.com have pricing information and tips on what to buy and what to avoid. Talk to friends who drive similar models.

• Interview the seller.

If this is a private purchase and you’re not going through a dealer, gather information up front in a phone interview before even arranging a test drive. Why is the car being sold? Are you the original owner? Does the car have any special features, like a custom stereo and sound system, or tinted windows, that have been added?

Ask to see the maintenance records — is the oil changed regularly and the tires rotated?

• Know the history.

Ask the owner for the vehicle identification number — every vehicle has one on a metal strip on the dashboard.

Using the VIN, go to Web sites such as www.carfax.com or www.autocheck.com to check out the vehicle’s history. For about $20, the reports will identify major accidents or big problems that have been reported. Caution: Not everything gets reported.

• Take a test drive.

Pull into a spacious parking lot and test the brakes and steering. Practice parking for maneuverability. How are the sightlines? Take the car on the highway and up steep hills to gauge acceleration and handling. And while you’re behind the wheel, check the interior.

• Get an insurance quote.

This is a key step that’s often overlooked until after the sale. Find out how much it would cost to insure the vehicle. Is your teen driver carried on your policy, which will save you buckets of money, or is he or she on a separate policy? Will there be collision and liability coverage?

• Find a trustworthy mechanic.

Have a pro inspect the vehicle — he should test-drive it and put it on the rack to check the undercarriage, engine and body. Ask if he’s had similar models in the shop for repairs and how frequently. Expect to pay from $25 to $100 for this service, according to Cars.com.

• Negotiate the numbers.

Repeat after me. Nobody expects to get their asking price. It is, after all, just that. If your teen is taking the lead on the negotiating, he or she should come armed with some facts from your research and mechanic’s inspection.

And try something more persuasive than the “my parents won’t let me pay more than ...” line.

• Handing over the money.

Is it your cash or your teen’s? Are you taking out a loan, and if so, have you shopped around for the best rate and terms?

• Final paperwork.

Before you rest easy, there’s the final bill of sale to sign, the titling, registration and (perhaps) plates to deal with, along with sales tax to pay. If your teen is paying for the car, insurance experts suggest placing their name on the title with one parent’s.

As for our car quest, my son has an agreement to buy a 5-year-old, midsize sport-utility vehicle that gets 18 mpg. It has only 38,000 miles on it, is equipped with two air bags, has good brakes and an awesome stereo, and is big enough to handle all his gear on college commutes.

Aside from new tires, I’m hoping his additional cash commitments will be minimal over the next year.



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