Tag Archive for: car

Not Worth the Risk!

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The purpose of this article is to help you take pause and preemptively take note to never risk leaving your children or pets unattended in a motor vehicle.

We are all very busy and sometimes we multi-task to get more done. We urge you to skip multi-tasking when the safety of your children or pets is involved. Leaving your children or pets in your car while running in to grab something from a store may be a time-saver, but is it worth the risk of their lives? Haven’t you ever had something which should have take only 1 minute to complete take more than 10 to 15 minutes or longer? You say, “but the car is on and the Air Conditioner is on full blast!” What if it fails? Are you really willing to risk the lives of your children and pets on this “assumption”?

Death from heat isn’t the only threat that faces your children and pets. The news is full of stories of child and pet abductions which are all too horrific to imagine let alone read about on a constant basis. Again, is saving a few minutes really worth the risk, the gamble, you are taking? Are you willing to let those few saved minutes be the biggest regret of your life?

The simple take-away, Never leave your children or pets unattended in your car – EVER!

 

Buying a used car? Here are some tips.

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So you are in the market for a “new”, yet used car. Well, we at American Accord want to help protect you from a potentially costly mistake. We have compiled a brief list of tips to take into account before agreeing and handing over your hard earned money.

  1. The first tip when buying a used car is to determine your budget. This will help you narrow down your choices making you less susceptible to promotions and “deals”. This will also help you calculate your monthly payments, if financing. If you do plan on financing, consider getting a loan from your local bank. You may find that they may have lower interest rates when compared to the car dealership or manufacturer.
  2. Ask the right questions. When you meet with the owner, inquire about the car’s ownership history, maintenance and the current condition of the car. You may be surprised, but humans lie. We know you knew that but hopefully that sarcastic sentence will help remind you to double check someone’s claim. The owner may be gifted with a silver tongue turning a lemon of a car into lemon-aid. Write down the VIN number (usually located on the driver’s side door or dash) and you can get a report online for a small fee.
  3. Whether you are purchasing from a dealer or private owner, ALWAYS take the car for a test drive! During the drive, listen closely for any noises of potential trouble. It is a good idea to drive on hills (we know it is hard to do in Naples), highways and in stop-and-go traffic. You’ll get a better feel for how it drives and decide if you feel comfortable driving it.
  4. After negotiating a price, it’s time to close the deal. Before you negotiate (see tip 5 below), make sure the car is priced fairly. You can find out what it is worth on a vehicle valuation website such as Kelly Blue Book. After a price is set, you should never pay a private seller with cash. If something goes wrong and there’s no paper trail, it may be tough to get your money back. Along with the car, the previous owner should provide the title, a dated receipt for the sale signed by you and the seller and a spare key if available. Also make sure to research the rules in your state regarding how the seller should transfer the title for the vehicle to you.
  5. Call your American Accord insurance agent prior to committing to purchase and or taking possession of the car. What if making this purchase increases your insurance rate blowing your budget out of proportion? Don’t get caught off guard, know how much this new/used car will actually cost you each month. Once this suggestion is met, then it is time to inquire about the process to insure the new car.

From everyone here at American Accord – good luck and happy shopping!