Recommended Sites, Services, and Information
Even if you plan to lease your car, your payment is based on the discounted or negotiated price of the vehicle. The lower the price, the lower your monthly lease payment.
Although called "buying" services, these online companies don't directly sell or lease cars. Laws require that all new cars must be sold by traditional dealers. What the companies do, however, is get dealers to lower their prices for the services' customers in exchange for the additional business.
When you specify the kind of car you want, a dealer in your area will quote you a pre-arranged discounted price. If you like the price, you can visit the dealer and sign your lease or loan papers based on that price. They can do this because it eliminates the normal sales process and salespeople who would normally have to be paid commissions. CarsDirect, one of the services listed below, actually handles most of the paperwork and details to eliminate dealer hassle. Customers love it.
Do these car quote services get you the absolute best prices for your lease or purchase? Sometimes, sometimes not. If you're a skilled negotiator and are willing to spend additional time haggling, you might get a better price maybe. But most people find the prices satisfactory and like not having to waste time arguing the deal.
Canadian viewers can get Canadian car price quotes from CarCostCanada .
The following are the top buying/pricing services on the Internet. We especially like InvoiceDealers and Edmunds because they'll have already worked out agreed-to low prices with local dealers. We also very much like CarsDirect for their direct service — no need to visit a dealer until you pick up your car. For best results, get car quotes from them all, compare their offers, and select your best deal. And then there's TrueCar, which is different than all the rest with their guaranteed prices.
CarsDirect is unique in that they show you their quote price right on the website. They also have a low-price guarantee, which may explain the fact that many of the people we've talked to seem to think this service offers the best prices. They also handle the paperwork of your lease or loan via mail so that all you have to do is go pick up your vehicle at a local dealer. These are benefits that no other service offers.
InvoiceDealers is a no-nonsense auto pricing service that lets you simply specify the vehicle you want and request your price quote fast and easy. If you don't need to do a lot of research and know what you want, this site works great. Their vehicle configurator is incredible, showing MSRP and dealer invoice prices on each option you add to the vehicle. Since they work with dealers for all brands of vehicles all over the country, you're pretty certain to get a competitive price from them.
Edmunds is the recognized leader in online car pricing information. Their web site is one of the most frequently visited by automotive consumers who are doing research before they buy or lease a new or used car. On this one web site, you can get all the information you need about the vehicle you are interested in, and get free price quotes from dealers in your area that work with them.
TrueCar is a complete car pricing research site. You get not only MSRP and dealer invoice pricing for the car you want, but you also see what other buyers in your area are paying for that car. If that was not enough, they also give you an even lower price guarantee — often below dealer invoice price — that you can take to a local dealer that will honor that price without the usual haggling and stressful game-playing.
Automotive.com provides competitive, no-haggle, price quotes for those who want to see the real prices up front — an instant actual price for the car of your choice. And because they don’t have commissioned sales representatives, you’ll get actual vehicle prices that reflect the true invoice price. Automotive.com has one of the strongest sourcing networks of any car buying website, you don’t need to compromise on important factors like color or sub-models. Just choose your model and color and they’ll deliver pricing direct to you from a local dealer.
Lease Transfers / Short-Term Leases
There are some modest fees but the cost will be significantly less than other methods. Just be aware that not all lease companies allow such transfers, but you'll be told this by the service. We recommend the following services.
For maximum exposure, if you are a "seller" use more than one service to list your car. This helps get your listing in front of more people and reduces your wait time before you find a buyer. If you are a "buyer" check out all the services to find just the vehicle you want.
PriceaLease is another lease transfer company we can recommend. Their excellent web site is chuck full of information about how lease transfers work and what you can expect. If you are a lease "seller" they make it easy for potential "buyers" to find your vehicle, allowing them to search in a variety of ways. When a match is found, they handle all the paperwork..
TakeMyPayments was founded in 2000. Since then, the company has become a leading marketplace for lease transfers and has consistently expanded its services. The company's mission is to provide lease transfer advice and information for interested sellers and buyers and to provide outstanding customer service and support. Canadian services are also available.
Extended warranty companies are generally much easier to deal with than car manufacturers, and offer a variety of protection plans and prices. And you can get your repairs done just about anywhere.
- Has been in business for years and written thousands of policies
- Has a proven customer track record
- Has substantial assets
- Is accepted by car dealers, banks, and credit unions
- Offers a variety of coverage plans
- Fully explains their plans with details, not just vague promises
- Offers a detailed written copy of their terms and conditions
- Covers all 50 states
- Has a money-back guarantee
Endurance Vehicle Protection is one of the nation’s leading providers of vehicle service contracts with thousands of satisfied customers to prove it. They’ve cut out the middle man to save consumers money. They offer a 30-day money back guarantee and their protection plans are accepted at any licensed mechanic in the US or Canada. Endurance is proud to be a certified member of the Vehicle Protection Association. Get a free extended warranty quote from Endurance.
Your credit history and credit score directly affect what you pay when you finance or lease a car or apply for any kind of loan. It even determines what you pay for auto insurance.
Unfortunately many people's credit histories contain errors and outdated information. You should review your credit reports and know your credit score to make sure you're getting the best rates when you buy or lease.
Get your current credit information from one of the recommended online sources below. These companies also provide credit monitoring services so that you don't have to continually review your credit reports and scores. They automatically notify you when your credit information changes.
Equifax is a major credit bureau that lets you see and review your credit reports and credit scores online. Your can also ask them to monitor your credit information and alert you when anything changes. They also offer a fraud protection service as well.
Online companies such as those listed below make it quick and easy to get and compare car insurance quotes mulitiple insurance providers at the same time. They work with all the major providers are are hungry for your business. If you see a quote that you like, you'll be signed up and saving money within minutes.
Esurance is one of the most recognized car insurance companies due to their clever TV commercials. They are a relatively new company, formed in 1998, but have since become one of the fastest growing insurance companies in the country. They are innovative, value their customers, and work hard to provide excellent service. Get a quote from them to find out for yourself.
InsureMe is an established and popular car insurance company, having been around since 1993. They have a network of thousands of participating insurance agents and companies across the United States, including in your neighborhood. Once you complete their online form, they match your profile to as many as five providers who will provide you free rate quotes that you can compare and choose from. Remember, you are not obligated to accept any of the offers.
AARPprovides attractive auto insurance rates through The Hartford for its members. So, if you're over 50 years old, join AARP if you haven't already done so to take advantage of this respected program. They not only have a great insurance package for seniors but the web site also contains a video defensive-driving course that, when completed, provides even more discounts on your insurance premium.
Below are convenient links to Edmunds' pages for research on specific vehicle makes and models:
MSRP / Invoice Prices |
Trade-in / Used Prices |
Sell Car |
| Edmunds CarsDirect CarCostCanada |
Kelley Blue Book NADA Guides Edmunds CanadianDriver |
Autotrader eBay Motors Craigslist |
Incentives / Rebates |
Holdbacks |
Interest Rates |
| CarsDirect Cars.com CarCostCanada |
Edmunds CarCostCanada |
Bankrate CarCostCanada |
Auto Reviews/Ratings |
Auto Safety/Recalls |
For Canadians |
| Edmunds MSN Autos JD Power |
NHTSA Center for Auto Safety Highway Safety |
CanadianDriver CarCostCanada QuebecLeasing |
Auto News |
Consumer Sites |
Magazines |
| Automotive News Autoweek Cars.com MSN Autos |
Federal Trade Commission State Lemon Laws Better Business Bureau Consumer Reports |
Motor Trend Car and Driver Road and Track Automobile |
Automobile manufacturers' websites are excellent sources of vehicle specifications, model comparisons, photographs, promotional incentives, and even paint and fabric colors. Lots of eye-candy and marketing glitz, but short on pricing information. |
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