Even if it weren’t the season of giving, the holidays are actually a great time to buy a used car, since dealerships like ours at Vinart are rolling out the holiday promotions and some of the best prices as we take last year’s cars off the lot.

Get Ahead of the Game – Most folks are so busy during the holidays that they say they’ll put off the car buying until the beginning of the year. That means that there are fewer people out on the lots, and much better deals to be made.

Holiday Deals – We do holiday deals every Christmastime, and those deals can mean huge savings that allow you to get the car you’ve always dreamed of as a Christmas present! Or, if not you, someone you know and love, who is well deserving of the pick-me-up a certified used car can give them. You could give the gift that keeps on giving – and the deals we offer will help make it happen.

End of Season – In addition to those holiday deals, we’re clearing last season’s offerings off the lot to make way for the new 2010 models. This is an ideal time to get a certified used car that’s in great shape, perfectly maintained – just not the brand-spanking new off the conveyer belt model. If you’re simply looking for a great looking car for a great price, and you could care less if it’s the very latest thing, then this is an ideal time to shop.

There are lots of reasons to give a car this holiday season, and the pricing is the least of it. Many people would say it’s an extravagant gift, but having a car at your disposal is one of the most practical necessities of our lives these days. Without reliable transportation, it’s much harder to pick up your children, visit the people you care about, or even get to your job – that is, if you have a job. If you don’t, having wheels can make the difference in getting a great one. After all, if you can’t reliably get to a job in the next town over, then you’re missing out on tons of opportunities that might be perfect for you.

A car is far more than a luxury. It’s a gift that gives year-round. You, and the people you love, deserve that this holiday season. So Merry Christmas to you. We’ll see you on the lot.

According to the study, you can expect to find an average discount of about 7.1 percent today off the sticker price. During the rest of the year, you can only expect about a five percent discount off the sticker price.

One of the reasons that used car dealers are offering Black Friday discounts is to draw consumers to their facility. With everybody out shopping for iPods and other great deals, dealers need a reason to draw buyers to their lot in hopes of getting a great bargain. In addition to that, we are also coming to the end of the month and used car dealers are trying to reach their “end of the month sales quotas.” As a result, today is like the “perfect storm” to save money on buying used cars.

With all the money you are saving at those department stores, you can afford to put a sizable down payment on a quality used car today. Do it while you can enjoy the above-average discounts!

• Kelley Blue Book is based in Irvine, California.
• “Blue book” and “blue book value” are trademarked references and they are synonymous with the market value of cars.
• The company began as the Kelley Car Company in Los Angeles in 1918. At the time, it was just another car dealership. It was founded by Les Kelley, a businessman born in Arkansas. He employed his 13-year-old brother, Buster.
• To buy inventory, Kelley would send around a list of various cars and the price he was willing to pay for each car. After awhile, this became a source of pricing for used cars in the LA area.
• The first KBB was published in 1926. It began to flourish as a trusted source for used car prices following World War II.
• KBB’s website was launched in 1995.

Those are just a few facts about the Kelley Blue Book publication and how it came to be. Consult it before buying used cars and you may save hundreds or thousands of dollars on your purchase!

One reason that dealers are running short on used cars is because some manufacturers stopped their leasing programs years ago. That means fewer vehicles are coming back from leases and going into the used car market like they used to do. The “Cash for Clunkers” program also cleared out many dealers and about 700,000 of the trade ins were destroyed rather than resold on the lots.

Another major reason for the shortage is that consumers are looking to the used car market for better deals. Some consumers want to pay cash for their vehicle rather than be stuck with a monthly payment. When they buy a used car, they can do that.

If you’ve been considering a used car, get to your dealer today while there are still some available!

Get Pre-Approved
Before you start shopping for a used car, go to your credit union or bank to get a loan. After considering your financial situation, the financial institution will tell you how much they can loan you and how much they will charge you for interest.

Consider Your Needs
When deciding what type of car to purchase, be realistic about your needs. Are you looking for something with a lot of cargo space for camping on the weekends? Or are you looking for something that is fuel-efficient for those everyday commutes to work? Answering questions like these will help you determine what type of car to purchase so you can narrow down your list.

Read Reviews of Various Cars
Don’t just choose a used car because it looks nice or because it drives well. Read reviews about it before making your final decision. There may be recalls on that particular model or there may be some other common problem that other owners have had with it. Reading the reviews could save you a bunch of headaches in the future.

1. Clean it inside and out. A clean car is worth more than a dirty one. You will make a better first impression if it is washed and cleaned. This also gives the appearance that you took good care of it during the time that you owned it.

2. Make sure it runs properly. If you have to push or pull your trade-in to the dealer, you probably will not get much for it unless they are running a special. Fix some of the less costly repairs to get it running as good as possible without sinking too much money into it.

3. Don’t mention the trade-in until the end of the negotiation. The trade-in should not be part of the financing process. Once you have negotiated the price on your next car, mention the trade-in and negotiate a price for that next.

These are just a few simple things you can do to maximize your car’s trade-in value. If you can get a good deal with your trade-in, it’s a win-win situation.

• Take notes on the issues that you notice. This helps ensure that you don’t forget something when you are talking to the mechanic about what needs to be fixed.
• Describe any unusual sounds or smells that you notice when driving. Also, describe any unusual feelings like vibrations. Describe the driving conditions that make the vibrations, smells or sounds occur.
• Note the side of the vehicle that has the problem. Is it the passenger’s side? The driver’s side? Front or rear? Or do you notice the problem all over?
• Bring any copies of recent service procedures done to your used cars. This may help the mechanic pinpoint the problem quicker.
• Ask the mechanic about anything that you do not understand. If they use jargon you cannot understand, ask them to explain it to your satisfaction.
• Read the bill carefully and question anything you do not understand. You should know what you are paying for just so you have peace of mind.

Use these tips and you will feel more comfortable when you take your used cars for repairs.

1. Lower costs – Used cars often cost a fraction of the price of a brand new car. This is because used cars have depreciated about 20 percent in their first year on the road.
2. Comparable quality – With certified used cars and automakers improving quality, many used cars are nearly as good as their new counterparts.
3. Less depreciation – When you buy a used car, the vehicle has already suffered its largest depreciation. As such, you are not paying for that depreciation because someone else has taken that financial hit.
4. Vehicle history reports – With the popularity of vehicle history reports, you can find out the history of the used car to put your mind at ease. With one of these reports, you know several facts about the used car you are buying, including the number of previous owners, any major damage it has been through and if it was ever flooded.

These are just a few things you can benefit from when you purchase used cars instead of new ones. Check one out today and you’ll see that they are just as good!

The American Automobile Association, or AAA, started a campaign this week designed to help lawmakers pass a texting ban in all 50 states in the next four years. The group wants to bring awareness to new research while also showing how the texting ban in California has had a positive impact on the roads in that state.

“Texting while driving poses obvious safety concerns because the user not only takes their eyes off the road, but they also take their hands off the wheel. Texting is simply not an activity that can be done safely while driving,” explained Catherine L. Rossi, the manager of public and government affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic.

Eighteen states currently ban texting while driving. Two other states prohibit teens and new drivers from texting behind the wheel while other states simply ban handheld cell phone usage when driving.

Don’t get caught texting on your cell phone when driving your used cars regardless of where you are. Just because a state does not have a law against it does not mean it is safe for you to do it.

Call a Tow Truck
If your engine is overheating, you definitely do not want to try to drive it home. The best thing to do is to call a tow truck and have your car towed to a service station or home.

Diagnose the Problem
If you choose to have your car towed to your home, diagnose why your car overheated once everything cools off. There are several reasons a car may overheat. Was it low on engine coolant (antifreeze)? Is the thermostat working properly? Is the fan operating? These are the three main reasons for overheating and they are easy to diagnose. However, there could be other problems such as a malfunctioning radiator or some gunk clogging up the radiator or the hoses. If you are not sure how to fix the problem, have a mechanic perform the repairs. An overheating engine is not something you want to fool around with.

Your quality used cars will last you for many years if you take care of them properly. Don’t let an overheated engine diminish the life of your used cars before getting as much out of them as you can.