Tag Archives: auto insurance

paying car insurance

Car Buying Mistakes that Can Make Your Insurance More Expensive

When buying a new or used vehicle, most people are looking at the car itself and its features. They generally aren’t thinking about how much the vehicle will cost to insure, that is, until they call their insurance company. Some cars are more expensive to insure than others, so it’s smart to consider insurance costs before buying a car, not after. 

Let’s check out some car buying mistakes that can raise the rates of your auto insurance for the duration of time you own your vehicle. 

Buying a Car Lacking Safety Features 

When insurance carriers set their premiums, one of the things they look at is the risk of collision. If a vehicle has good safety features, such as collision avoidance technologies and plenty of air bags, the chances of having to pay out a large claim are lower. Therefore, the cost of insurance is lower, too. 

On the other hand, if a car is lacking essential safety features, the chances of something going wrong is greater. As a result, insurance rates are higher. As you shop for vehicles, pay attention to the safety features that are included. They can lower your auto insurance – and save a life. 

Purchasing a Car with an Accident History 

Another thing that insurers track is the accident history. A car that has a history of being involved in accidents is going to cost more. 

For the buyer, it’s not exactly easy to know the accident history on every vehicle unless you pull a report. But we do recommend checking the accident history on a car before you buy it, as well as obtain several different quotes for auto insurance. 

Buying a Car that’s More Likely to be Stolen 

Some cars are more likely to be stolen by thieves than others. If you own one of these cars, your insurance will be more expensive. Insurers have to charge more because they typically provide coverage for stolen cars as long as the buyer has comprehensive coverage. 

And, if you think that the chances for your car being stolen are slim, think again. In 2020, there were over 810,000 vehicles stolen. One of the main ways that cars are stolen is from drivers who leave their keys in the car. 

Not Comparing Auto Insurance Quotes 

A lot of buyers aren’t aware that they can compare auto insurance quotes on different vehicles before making a selection. If you’ve narrowed down your options, ask your insurance provider to run a quote for each vehicle. This way, you can determine how much you’ll be paying each month for insurance. If one car is a lot cheaper to insure, this can be your deciding factor. 

If you’re on a tight budget, keeping these four factors in mind will help you trim your auto insurance rates. To shop for affordable vehicles, visit RepoFinder.com today. Once you’ve narrowed down your search, reach out to your insurance company and have them run a few quotes for you! 

recently sold repo car

5 Things to Do After Buying a Repossessed Vehicle

Bringing home your repossessed vehicle for the first time is a wonderful feeling! By this point, you’ve probably spent hours upon hours searching for the best repo cars, doing your research on each one and placing bids. 

Now that you have your car, the work isn’t done yet. Repossessed cars were previously owned by someone, and that someone may have neglected their car while they weren’t making their payments. To ensure you can drive safely in your new car, here are five things you’ll want to do after buying your repo. 

1. Transfer the Title and Registration 

The title is a legal slip that shows who the owner of the vehicle is.The seller should be able to process the title and perform the title transfer between you and the previous car owner. You can also apply for plates and registration on your own through your local DMV. This is an important process that must be completed before you do anything else with the repo. 

2. Get Insurance 

The next thing to do is insure your new car. If you already have auto insurance, all you need to do is call your agent and let them know of your new vehicle. If the car isn’t added to your insurance policy and you get into an accident, you’ll have to pay out of pocket for the repairs. And, if you don’t have insurance, work with a broker online or in person to find the most affordable car insurance. 

3. Clean Your Repo 

Your repo belonged to someone else, so you’ll want to give it a good cleaning. Banks and lenders are not car dealerships, so they don’t clean the repos when they come to them. You can choose to have your repo professionally cleaned or you can do it yourself. It all depends on the condition your car is in and your budget. 

4. Perform Repairs and General Maintenance

Some repos need a lot of work and others need none. Again, it depends on the vehicle you bought and how much you spent. Sellers try to make note of the repairs the vehicle will need, but you’re also buying the repo as-is. This means that whatever problems the car has, you will inherit. At the very least, check the oil, change or rotate the tires, change all the filters and replace all other fluids. 

5. Review the Owner’s Manual 

Lastly, look over the owner’s manual. If your car doesn’t have one, you should be able to get one online. The owner’s manual contains basic information about the car so that you can determine the correct tire pressure, recognize the lights on the dashboard and schedule routine maintenance. 

To find the best repos at great prices, shop with RepoFinder.com today. We have a huge selection of repossessed inventory, including pickup trucks, motorcycles, sedans, SUVs, minivans and more.