Sorry it was so hard for you to find this page, we did it on purpose to weed out the huge number of people with questions who are too lazy to read the articles and expect me to re-type it for them. I get a lot of email daily and I do read EVERY one of them. In an effort to eliminate redundancy, I have the most common questions and their answers listed below. Please read them before you email me, it will save all of us a little time. This will allow me to concentrate my efforts on continuous improvement of this site as well as the other sites we own: BridalTips.com, DebtWizards.com, and BabyResource.com. Please be as brief as possible, no novels, and state just the facts.

Also on this page is a list of questions, that I refuse to answer, and will delete without any further reading, so PLEASE make sure your question does not fall into that category. If you don't hear back from me, it means your question was one of the stupid ones that I told you not to email me and I deleted it.

Please don't email me your monthly payment and say "Did I get a good price?". You are supposed to read this site, and educate yourself so you don't have to ask that question.

What questions should you email me?

• Questions not answered by the car buying, leasing or used car articles on this site.
• Comments, suggestions, good or bad about CarBuyingTips.Com.
• Business development questions.
• If you think you have been scammed, you can email me. Just make sure you have all the info like selling price, APR, tax rate, and all leasing info like cap cost, money factor, residual value. I can't help you without those numbers.

Common questions that people ask:

Q: Jeff, Dealer wants to sell me a car with 5,000 miles on it and says it's new. I say it's used, which is it?
States will legally call a car "used" once it has been titled to the first customer. It can sit on the dealer's lot and collect up 10,000 miles and still be called new. You are wasting your time arguing the point on this with your car salesman. The angle you should be using is this car has 5,000 miles on it, that's a lot of depreciation. Obviously the dealer is having a hard time unloading it, because it's still there on his lot costing him floor plan interest, and he's trying desperately to get you to buy it. Use this to your advantage when you haggle the price. I cover this scenario in more detail in Chapter 2.

Q: In negotiating the price for a USED vehicle, does obtaining the "invoice price" and MSRP price still apply?
No, Invoice price and MSRP and the formulas in our offer spreadsheet only apply to new cars, not used cars. For used cars, there is no invoice price because car dealers acquire used cars from people at a "trade in" price. The best way to determine how much to pay for used cars is to check how they have sold on eBay the last few weeks, and bring printouts with you to the dealer to support your offers on used cars.

Q: The dealer called me up 2 weeks after giving me a great interest rate and said to come back in, I did not qualify.
Welcome to the world of dealer financing. Often they lie to you about your credit score. This is why I tell everyone to get your financing lined up before you go to a dealer and avoid the trickery and headaches associated with car dealer financing. You should apply at top car loan web sites such as Capital One Auto Finance and HSBC Auto Finance. Once you are approved, your loans work first time every time, and there are no rate changes on you. For tips on other car dealer financing issues and scams to avoid, read our car financing chapter at: http://www.carbuyingtips.com/finance.htm

Q: I have a question regarding buying a car from rental agencies. Hertz, Enterprise, etc... Do you think it is good to purchase from rental agencies?
Sure! Keep in mind, a rental car is a used car, just like any other car. But we feel rental cars are probably maintained better than many privately owned cars, as they are kept in constant care and maintenance during use. But they do tend to have more scrapes on the paint. When you rent a car from the top companies, they are clean, and I have never had a rental car break down. The companies tend to take them out of service by 2 years of age, so you are getting a decent car. But all our rules for buying used cars still apply, because they are in fact used cars. Read more here: How To Buy Used Cars, No Scams.

Q: The salesman said he has to charge me sales tax before he takes the rebate off. He said it's the law. It just doesn't sound right, is it?
I'm not sure what each state requires, but it makes sense that states want you to pay taxes on the rebate as well, they want their piece of the action. You'll have to consult with your state's department of revenue.

Q: My lease is ending soon, what do I do? Can I just walk away? Is the residual buyout value in my lease negotiable?
Yes you should just return the car and walk away. Residual values are normally not negotiable, but some leasing companies will haggle. Your residual value is normally your purchase price. Don't forget there is also a purchase option fee, usually around $300. Read my Leasing Dilemmas chapter and it covers lease end choices: http://www.carbuyingtips.com/lease5.htm

Q: I tried the car quote services you recommended but they would not give prices. They merely referred me to the same dealership and instructed me to ask for the salesperson in charge of "Internet Sales."
That does happens sometimes, it's not the end of the world. Some dealers are afraid if they give you a quote via email that you won't go visit them, and instead keep on shopping. No big deal. Keep in mind what is happening though, you are being sent to a fleet manager instead of a lot salesperson. So hopefully you'll get treated better. Either visit them and talk a good price, or move on to the next source. Just because they don't reveal the price until you get there does not mean you'll get a bad deal. Lots of businesses with good prices like Costco Wholesale, for example, refuse to give prices over the phone.

Q: It's the fall season, and next year's models are out now for the car I want, but none of the web sites show pricing yet for it? Where can I get this information?
Try the FightingChance.com web site, they might have it.

Q: I see a "Destination Charge" on the invoice. Is this legit? Is it a dealer prep scam?
Destination Charge is the shipping charge, we all pay it, and it is a legitimate charge. It has nothing to do with dealer prep.

Q: Your site is great for cars, but what about MOTORCYCLES?
A lot of people ask us this question. I know nothing about motorcycles, but my friend Marvin's site MotorCycleTips.com.

Q: Where can I get a VIN decoder?
Many people ask this. The software to decode a VIN is prohibitively expensive. Some car fan pages can decode a VIN only on one particular car. But one good benefit of the AutoCheck Vehicle History Report is that part of their report includes a VIN decode on the car including the model, options, year, engine size and type, drive train info, country of manufacture, EPA gas mileage, etc.

Q: When is the best time to buy a new car?
A lot of people ask us this question and the answer is not as intuitive as you think. Click Here To Find The Answer.

Q: Jeff, I tried the car buying sites you recommend but they emailed me back saying they don't have a member dealer in my area. Why is that?
Because they don't have a member dealer in your area. Who knows why there is not a member dealer for your car. I've seen it happen in rural areas and in big cities, but it is improving as the companies sign up more dealers. Ask THEM why, not me.

Q: Jeff, tell us more about CarBuyingTips.com. When did you start it, who are you, and what are your qualifications?
Read the About Us page, where you'll see our mission statement, my biography, all about the history of CarBuyingTips.com, my qualifications, and more.

Q: Jeff, where can I lookup car prices, dealer invoice prices, and rebates?
Try the FightingChance.com web site. Also try the Edmunds or KBB. Keep in mind they control the data, it's free, so once in a while you might not see a car listed, you know, the same problems you see on all the other free car pricing sites.

Q: Jeff, my dealer won't take my Capital One Auto Finance or HSBC Auto Finance online car loan bank draft. They said these sites bounce checks and take too long to pay the dealer so the dealer won't take their check. What can I do?
The finance manager is either lying or wrong. If you bring your own financing, they get no commission for selling you a car loan, so they lie and say the checks bounce, or they tell you Capital One Auto Finance takes too long to pay. But upon Capital One Auto Finance receiving all required documents, the dealer should then deposit the draft check. Some stupid dealers deposit the check before they have the OK to do so, and naturally the check will not cash. As long as the lender Capital One Auto Finance receives ALL required docs from the dealer, there is no problem. If documentation is missing which happens a lot, they have 3 days for the dealer to provide them the information. If the dealer does not provide the missing information (i.e. proof of insurance, copy of bill of sale) Capital One Auto Finance the lender cancels the check. So it's the dealers fault, not anybody else's.

Q: Jeff, the quotes that dealers are giving me show advertising fees some are $400 to $900. Is this legit?
It's a big controversy. Some dealers charge it, some don't. Read up on advertising and all other fees in Chapter 3.

Q: Jeff, Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book don't have all the option pricing for my car, and they don't list rebates that I know are there? Why is that?
How the heck should I know? You should be asking them, not me, I don't run their sites. Their car pricing data is free, and you get what you pay for. Sometimes new models are not listed for several months. If you want accurate car pricing and rebate packages, you have to buy accurate reports like the Fighting Chance Package.

Q: Jeff, what do you think of the GM Employee Purchase Programs, or similar type "discount programs" offered to GM suppliers, family, associates, or Ford or Chrysler Employee Purchase Programs?
Every single person who has ever emailed me about their experience with this non-sense, including GM employees, has all been bad news. Supposedly there is a discount, but keep in mind if you are a GM employee, that means nothing to a salesperson at a dealership, which is a privately owned business. To them you're just another person walking in off the street, and now you want a discount? Many GM employees have told me the price was not good, or the dealer piled on tons of worthless extras to make up for the low price, or just made up some excuse why they cannot give them a discount. No GM employee has ever written us to say they got a good deal under that program. I have received reports from people getting good deals on the Ford A Plan. My advice? Whether you have some sort of discount or not, follow the 7 chapters of How To Buy A New Car & Avoid Scams and do exactly as directed. If the "Employee Discount" or "A Plan" or "Whatever Plan" price is not in line with what you should be paying based on what you learn in the 7 chapters, then it's time to negotiate. My guess is that you will be negotiating almost every time.

Q: Jeff, I need info on Conversion Vans and their pricing, got any tips for me?
Yes, I cover that in Chapter 3, just search for "conversion vans"

Q: Jeff, the dealer wants me to buy a demo loaner car. He swears it's a good deal. How do I know if it's a good price?
I cover that in Chapter 2.

Q: Jeff, does the dealer have to show me the invoice price if I ask to see it? Why won't he show me?
They are not required to show you their invoice. Many dealers don't want you to know what they paid for obvious reasons. But no problem, just look them up on the car pricing sites we review here. It's the same price for all dealers.

Q: Jeff, I think the dealer is trying to scam me with their extended warranty. Got any tips?
Yes, read our guide on Extended Warranty Buying Tips and Scams To Avoid. It covers everything you need to know to buy a warranty, avoid scams, save hundreds or even thousands of dollars, how to tell if a warranty company has the ability to pay your claims, warning signs, traps to avoid and more.

Q: Jeff, I need info on used cars, got any tips for me?
Yes, we have 2 articles online that teach you everything you need to know about buying and selling used cars, so try these 2 links:
How To Buy A Used Car OR How To Sell Your Used Car.

Q: Jeff, you talk about Residual Values on leases, but where can I get these residual numbers?
Seek and ye shall find. Read the section on Finding Lease Residual Values. It also reviews leasing software used by state attorneys to convict crooked car dealers.

Q: Jeff, you mention MSRP a lot. What does that mean?
Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price. It's the selling price that car makers suggest dealers sell a car for. It provides them with a ton of profit, but often the "street price" can end up being lower. Saturn always sells at MSRP, no one will get it cheaper for you.

Q: Jeff, where can I get information on Recreational Vehicles, RVs, campers, etc?
Right here. Read our section on RV & Camper Buying Tips and Scams!

Q: Jeff, I tried to print you site out but the printer cuts it off, what can I do?
The web stinks for trying to print out documents, but here's a few tricks you can try. METHOD #1: In your browser, save the page you are looking at to your hard drive by doing a "Save As", and select ".TXT" as the file type. This also wipes out pictures. On your computer, you can then open the file using any text editor or Word. But sometimes navigation bar text shows up too, so you may need to weed out a bit. METHOD #2: While browsing a page, just cut and paste the page text into Word and print it out. Personally, I think you should just bookmark the site because I'm always changing the content and adding new research, tips, and scams, so it's a waste to print it. Do not post any of our content on other web sites. You can link to it, print it out for personal use, but don't steal our content and post it elsewhere. I've already had several sites shut down for it, I don't give up, I get better all the time, and I win every time.

Q: Jeff, do you have any cool car crash pictures?
Yes I do, you sicko pig! See my Disaster Of The Month Archive. It's got some great crash photos. Feel free to send me yours as well.

Q: Jeff, I tried to open one of your spreadsheets, but Excel says "invalid format", why is that?
Because you're a not paying attention. To bring everyone playing along at home up to speed on this, we have a free download area:

Only problem is, we clearly state that you MUST HAVE Excel97 or later, and that older versions of Excel will not open these files. We've tried converting to older versions, we've spent hours on it, but it's completely unusable, it can't be done, give it up! If I can't make it happen, no one can. We still get idiots who are in denial and not paying attention and wonder why it won't load into their medieval 1992 version of Excel 4.0. If you get the error message described above, it means you do not have Excel97 or later. If you don't have Excel at all, try http://www.openoffice.org, whose downloadable application will read Excel files.

Q: Jeff, where can I lookup rebate, holdback, and factory to dealer incentives?
Free sites may not always have up to date information, especially when new models come out. The site we like the best is the Fighting Chance Package.

We get tons of questions from Canadian buyers who can't find dealer cost. Finally, Canadians can now get Canadian car prices as well as the dealer invoice price, and rebates. At last, salvation for our friends to the north. As long as you are getting a quote that's comfortably below MSRP, that's the best you can do. Be sure to also read our section on Car Buying Tips For Canadians.

Q: Jeff, do you get paid by any of the companies you recommend on CarBuyingTips.com?
Yes we do. I'm what you call a real world consumer advocate. I don't like to just dispense vague and generic advice like consumer interest groups do. I like to go one step further and review each business that we recommend, telling you how to get the most out of them, and what's in it for you. Keep in mind that although they pay us, I would not recommend a site that I thought would not do good by you. There are some well known companies that are not mentioned here because I don't think they are very good. If you don't see them here, they probably are not worth it. Before you claim that I'm just in it for the money, keep in mind that 80% of this site in it's current form was already up and running at my own expense, long before we had our first advertiser, long before I knew what an affiliate program is. So if I'm recommending a particular company, I'll join their affiliate program so we can get paid for posting their links on our site. Remember, we pay a lot of money for you to reach us, you don't pay a cent. You did not get here by accident.

Q: Jeff, I just got ripped off by my car dealer, who can I complain to?
Your friends, your coworkers, maybe even the state attorney general, or a local TV consumer advocate reporter.

Q: Jeff, I just got screwed on my interest rate by the dealer, what do I do now?
Don't email us! Do something about it. Click here to visit Capital One Auto Finance where you can refinance your loan immediately at rates as low as 6.95%. For more detailed information about refinancing, click here to visit our refinance section.

What happened to 1SourceAutowarranty?
Are they bankrupt? Are they out of business? What's the deal? For the latest status on 1SourceAutoWarranty and your claims, we have an information center with all the latest info for you. Click Here To See The Latest Status On 1Source AutoWarranty. It has instructions and contact numbers for you, and information for you on 1SourceAutowarranty, and how you can file your claim to get reimbursed through the insurer.

OK, now you can email us! If you did not find an answer to your question above, then email me here. Please tell us how you found out about us, it might guarantee your email gets answered. Please, no questions about undoing your car deal. I'm sick of those emails. There is no law requiring dealers to take back the car regardless of any unfortunate issues on your end. I don't respond to those questions. A deal is a deal. You would not like it if a dealer changed his mind on you. Please Note: I may keep your email address on file to send out a newsletter to you at a later date. This is a one time email to you and you don't have to unsubscribe from it. I don't give out your email or sell it to anyone, as I fully respect your privacy and would never allow anyone to spam you. If you do not agree to this, then please do not email me.

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