The Best Time of Year to Buy a Car: Mistakes to Avoid and Savings to Grab
Back in the 1980s, car salesmen used to keep a little calendar on their desk marking the "graveyard months" for new car sales. November and December were gold. ...
Trade-In vs. Private Sale: Which Actually Puts More Money in Your Pocket?
My friend Marcus texted me last week with a panic in his message: "Dude, I'm getting rid of my 2019 Honda Civic. Should I just trade it in at the dealership or ...
Certified Pre-Owned vs Used: Which Is the Better Deal for You?
What's the Difference Between Certified Pre-Owned and Used? About 40% of car buyers walk into a dealership with no clear idea whether they want a certified pre...
8 Ways to Spot a Flood-Damaged Car Before You Buy (Don't Get Stuck With Water Damage)
You're scrolling through listings on a Tuesday morning, and you find it: a 2019 Honda CR-V, one owner, $16,200, way below market. The photos look clean. The mil...
Do You Really Need Gap Insurance? A Pacific Northwest Driver's Guide
Gap insurance is basically financial protection for when your car gets totaled and you still owe money on it. Most people think they don't need it. Most people ...
Why You Should Get Pre-Approved for a Car Loan Before Shopping (And 9 Mistakes You'll Avoid)
The Pre-Approval Mistake That Costs Buyers Thousands Back in 1980, the average car loan took 36 months to pay off. Today, it's 68 months—and some stretch past ...
7 Red Flags When Buying Used Cars Online: A Dealer's Data-Driven Guide
Most online used car listings are missing the exact information you need to make a smart decision, and dealers know it. I've run this lot for twelve years, and ...
How to Read a Vehicle History Report Like a Pro: The Budget Buyer's Guide
Back in 1989, a used-car dealer in Arizona named Copart needed a way to sell salvage vehicles to a wider audience. They started using phone lines and fax machin...
Certified Pre-Owned vs Used Cars: Which Is Actually the Better Deal
Certified pre-owned vehicles are almost always the better deal than used cars, and I say that as someone who's bought exactly three CPO cars and learned the har...
How Your Credit Score Actually Affects Your Car Loan Rate: The Numbers That Matter
You're sitting in the finance manager's office on a cold January morning, coffee growing lukewarm on the desk, and suddenly the number on the screen doesn't mat...
Trade-In vs. Private Sale: Which Gets You More Money (And Why)?
Most people think trading in their car at a dealership is just easier, so it's automatically the right move. They're wrong. The truth is more complicated than t...
Trade In vs. Private Sale: Which Option Actually Works for Your Schedule
Myth #1: Trading In Always Means You Get Screwed on Price Back in the 1950s, trading in a car was basically the only way to upgrade. You'd roll into the lot in...