A good recipe always starts with two things – good ingredients and solid prep work. Don’t believe me? Ask a professional chef. The recipe for paying off your vehicle is not all that different. Ingredients You will need: Your monthly payment amount Your monthly payment due date The funds to make your payment on or before the due date A payment method A clear understanding … Read More
Author: Linda Steil
The good, the bad and the real deal of used car shopping
Let’s talk used car shopping. I know, I know. Yuck. But let’s do it anyway, just for a little while. Have you added a driver to the family and are now looking to add a vehicle as well? Or maybe you’ve been thinking about getting something that gets better gas mileage to use for your daily commuter. If so, it’s a good time to get … Read More
The “right” vehicle for the first-time car buyer
As a first-time car buyer, one of the most difficult decisions can be choosing which vehicle to purchase. Truth be told, not knowing which vehicle to purchase isn’t limited to just first-time car buyers. Almost anyone can have this dilemma! Unfortunately, there is no cookie-cutter formula to follow. Deciding on a vehicle is a personal decision and the choice you make should be as unique … Read More
Should you buy your leased vehicle? How to decide
Two and a half years ago, you walked into the dealership, fell in love and drove home in your shiny new car. The lease contract payment fit your budget perfectly and the plethora of lease-end options were very appealing. Now, with only a few months left, the time has arrived to research those options and determine which works best for you. Financial Aspects When considering … Read More
Can you return a leased vehicle early?
A common myth of leasing is that, once you sign a contract, you are committed to the vehicle until the terms of the contract are completed. The truth is, you can turn in a leased vehicle early. You can also trade the vehicle, sometimes also called a lease-buyout and sale. Is it better to fulfill the terms of your lease contract? Yes. But sometimes circumstances … Read More
What is a disposition fee on a Lease Contract?
In a previous post on how auto leasing worked, one of our “Terms to Know” was Disposition Fee. It was defined as: “Charged by some lessors for the privilege of returning the vehicle and walking away; the cost is spelled out in the Lease Contract, so you will know upfront how much it will be.” Simply put, the disposition fee is charged by the lessor … Read More
Dodge Grand Caravan saves the day
Upon returning home from a recent trip, my husband and I hit a deer. Everyone was fine, so no worries there, but our vehicle did not fare so well. Still a solid eight hours from home, with a vehicle that was nowhere close to drivable, two large dogs and up to our ears in items we were transporting back from my parents’ house, we needed … Read More
How does negotiating in auto leasing work?
There’s a common misconception that the auto leasing process is not negotiable. While leasing can be significantly different from traditional financing, when it comes to negotiations, the two are quite similar in certain ways. For example, the price of the vehicle and your trade-in, if you have one, are frequently items you can negotiate. Trade-in value Let’s talk about your trade first. You need … Read More
How does auto leasing work?
An auto lease is where you pay for the use of a vehicle for a certain amount of time determined by your contract. Once the Lease Contract is completed, the vehicle is returned. But how does auto leasing work? If you’ve purchased a vehicle using traditional financing before, lease can be quite different. There are some terms to know and factors to consider when trying … Read More
To warm or not to warm your vehicle – you decide
You’re dressed and ready for work. To start your morning, you probably showered, had some breakfast, checked on the news (possibly the weather) of the day and now it’s time to hit the road. Coffee and computer bag in hand, you head for the door. But first, you stop to put on your coat, hat, scarf and gloves. Why? Because it’s FREEZING outside. The weather … Read More