PURCHASINGAPRE-OWNEDCAR
QuestionstoAskYourselfBeforePurchasing
• DoIneedacar?
• WherewillIbedrivingthecar?InDurham,aroundNC,acrosstheUS?
• ForwhatpurposewillIdrivethecar?Transporttowork,toclasses,traveling?
• Isitbettertousepublictransportation?Buses,taxis,vans,etc.?
• Woulditbebettertorent/leaseacar?(seerenting/leasinghandouts)
• Whyisitagoodideatohaveacar?
• Whyisitabadideatohaveacar?
• WhereshouldIbuyacar?
Ø Dealership:Moreexpensive,yetquickerprocess.Sometimeswithserviceagreementsandpaymentoptions.
Ø Privateseller:Lessexpensive,butmuchmoretimeconsuming.Noservicesincluded.
SomeLocalDealerships…Mostreliablecarscost$8,000andup
CarMax(Raleigh)
8520GlenwoodAve,Raleigh27612
919.783.9494
https://www.carmax.com/
Carsfor$10,000andup
AtlanticAutoExchange
TriangleAutoBrokers
3301NRoxboroSt.,Durham27704
919.220.9476
http://www.triangleautobrokers.com/
Carsfrom$5000-$10,000
2511GuessRd,Durham27705
919.416.9400
http://www.atlanticautoexchange.com/
Carsfor$8000andup
CasaCars
101HavensiteCt.,Cary,NC27513
919.389.5225
nowebsite
email:[email protected]
contactforpricing
MarkJacobson
4516DurhamChapelHillBlvd,Durham27707
919.490.1000
http://www.markjacobsontoyota.com/used-inventory/index.htm
Carsfrom$8000&up
ALotofCars(ownedbyformerDukegrad) PerformanceAcura(askforSylvesterHarrison)
3119NorthRoxboroStreet,Durham27704
1814Durham-ChapelHillBoulevard,ChapelHill27514
919.220.7155
888.742.6227
www.alotofcarsnc.com
http://www.performanceacurachapelhill.com/
email:[email protected]
Carsfrom$5000&up(takestimetolocate)
Carsfrom$3000-$9000
OtherPlacestoLookforCars…InDurhamtherearealotofcardealersonDurham-ChapelHillBoulevard,also
knownas“15-501Business”.Manyofthenewcardealersalsosellusedcars.Noneedforanappointment.
Hoursareusually9amuntil9pmMonday–Friday;9amuntil6pmonSaturdays;afternoonhoursonSundays.If
youtelladealertheamountyouhave,let’ssay,$5,000foracar,he/shemaytrytofindyouone.Itmighttake
time,though.
RecommendedPlacestoFindPrivateSellers
• I-Houseemaillistserv([email protected]),registerathttp://studentaffairs.duke.edu/ihouse/join-email-listserv
• DukeListsforallDukeaffiliatedpeople(http://dukelist.duke.edu/)–musthaveanetIDtoviewads
• Websites,includinghttp://raleigh.craigslist.org/,https://www.cars.com/,https://www.autolist.com/,and
http://www.autotrader.com/
• ClassifiedadsinlocalnewspapersincludingDurhamHerald-Sun(www.heraldsun.com)andRaleighNews&Observer
(http://www.newsobserver.com/)
Beforepurchasingfromaprivateseller,rememberto;
• LookuptheKellyBlueBookvalueofthecarbeforegoingtoseeit(www.kbb.com)orEdmunds(www.edmunds.com).
• LookattheConsumerReportsratingofthecar.BostockLibraryhasConsumerReportsintheReferencearea,oryoucansubscribe
online(http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/index.htm).
• AskthesellerfortheVehicleIdentificationNumber(VIN)andrunareportonhttp://www.carfax.com/.Thismaycostasmallfee
unlessyouknowsomeonewhoalreadyhasasubscription.
• Takethecartoamechanicforanevaluation.(Thecarownermaywishtocomewithyou.)
• I-HousehasalistofAutoMechanicsandtheirfeechargedtoevaluateausedcar.SeeAutoMechanichandout.
WhatquestionsshouldIaskaseller?
• Howlonghaveyouownedthiscar?Areyoutheoriginalowner?Whyareyousellingthiscar?
• Howmanymileshaveyouputonthecar?Whatisthetotalmileage?
• Whatrepairshaveyoumade?Haveyoubeeninanyaccidents?CouldIseethemaintenancerecords?
• Ifamechanicfindsaproblemwiththiscar,willyourepairitbeforeIpurchaseit?
WARNING:Donotbuyacarthatdoesnothaveacurrentinspectionstickerorlicensetags.Donotbuyacariftheownercannot
giveyouthecartitle.Donotbuyacarwithoutgettingitevaluatedbyamechanic.
I-House/Student Affairs
sn/July 2016 Handouts: PurchasingPreOwnedCar.doc
Howmuchwillbuyingacarcostalltogether?
• NCDrivinglicense
$32.00foreightyearsor$4peryear
• Insurance Varies($1200forsixmonthsformostinternationaldrivers)
• Title
$40.00
• HwyUseTaxandLicensePlates
3%ofvehiclepurchaseprice+$28(Tagsandadditionaltax)
• Inspection $30-$40
• Dukeparkingpermit Varies(seeparkinghandout)
WhatmustIhavetoregistermycarinNorthCarolina?
• NorthCarolinaIdentification(Driver’sLicense,Learner’sPermit,StateID)
• TitleofCar(Afteryouregisteredyourcar,keepitinasafeplaceathome.Donotleaveitinthecar!)
• MinimumLiabilityAutoInsuranceRequirements(keepanautoinsurancecardinyourglovecompartment):
o PropertyDamage
$25,000
o BodilyLiability $30,000foroneperson;$60,000for2ormore
WhatshouldIknowaboutcarmaintenance?
• Learnthebasicpartsofyourcar(forexamplevisitamechanic,readthecarmanual,searchwebsites).
• Havetheoilandoilfilterchangedevery3,000miles(5,000forsyntheticoil).
• Monitortheconditionoftiresandbrakesandhavethemadjusted/replacedwhenneeded.
• Getawrittenestimatebeforedoinganyrepairsatamechanicshop.
Triple-A(AAA)ortheAmericanAutomobileAssociation(www.aaa.com)
3505WestgateDr.Durham27707,Tel.919.489.3306OR5137NCHighway55,Durham27713.Tel.919.313.0195
• Emergencyroadsideassistanceforcarwrecks,flattires,keyslockedincar,andotherproblems
• Freemaps
• Hotelandcarrentaldiscounts
• Traveler’scheckswithoutextrafees
• Tripplanningadvice
HelpfulWebsites
http://www.carbuyingtips.com/used.htm
http://www.samarins.com/buying/index.html
Whatarethestepsforpurchasingacar?
1.
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7.
GototheDriver’sLicenseOffice(DepartmentofMotorVehicles,DMV)togetanNCStateID,Learner’sPermit,orDriver’sLicense.
ThereisaDMVlocatedinNorthgateMall,Durhamandoneat1704E.FranklinSt.,ChapelHill.Itwilltakeatleast10daystoget
thisID.AlsodonotapplyforthisIDuntilyouhavebeentoDukeVisaServicesANDinUSforatleast3days.
Startlookingatdifferentcars.Youcanaskthesellertobringthecartoyou.Whenyoufindoneyoufeelgoodabout,doaVIN
check.AlsolookatKBBorEdmundswebsite;withexactmakeandmileageofautoyoucangetanideaofthevalueofthecar.If
youstillfeelgoodaboutthecar,arrangefortheownertomeetyouatthemechanicofyourchoiceforanevaluation.Askthe
Mechanicforawrittenortypedevaluation.Youmayusethisevaluationwhennegotiatingapricewiththeseller.
Ifyoustilllikethecar,negotiateapurchasepricewiththeseller.Decideonmethodofpaymentwithowner(usuallycashiers
checkfromyourbank).
GowiththesellertoaNotaryPublic(canfindNotaryatabankorattheDMV).YoumustBOTHsigntheCarTitle.Yougivethe
sellertheCashiersCheck.He/shegivesyoutheCarTitle.Don’tgiveanymoneywithoutgettingthetitle!
PurchaseanAutoInsurancePolicy(refertohandoutonAutomobileInsuranceformoreinformation).Youcanalsoresearch
insurancewhileyouarelookingatcars;andyoucanpurchasetheinsuranceoverthephoneevenbeforeyouregisterit.
TaketheCarTitle,Mileage(fromcar’sodometer),PhotoIdentification(NCStateID,NCDLorNCLearner’sPermit),Proofof
Insurance(policystatement),andCashorChecktopayfeesandtaxestotheDMV.RefertotheRegisteringYourCarand
ObtainingAutoTagshandout.
Takethelicenseplateoffoftheowner’scarandhanditintotheDMV.ThereisaDMVlocatedinNorthgateMall,Durhamand
oneat1704E.FranklinSt.,ChapelHill.Putyournewlicenseplateonthebackofyourcar.Youwillneedascrewdrivertodothis.
Youarenowreadytodrive!SafeTravels.
I-House/Student Affairs
sn/July 2016 Handouts: PurchasingPreOwnedCar.doc