In short, the answer is yes, but it is a case of buyer beware, or renter. Whether the trip’s for business or pleasure, if a rental car is needed, quality is a must. So in the case of getting a car, cheap must equal affordable, but operable. Cheap should never equal garbage in the case of a rental.

Keeping the need for quality in mind, finding good deals on decent rental cars is more than possible. Cheap cars can come from smaller rental car companies, those that lease scratch-and-dent models and even bigger name companies that offer some great deals.

The best way to find the best prices in rental cars is to shop around. Sounds simple, but it’s true. No matter what your destination is, if there is an airport or other mass transit station, there should be rental companies around. Most of these will have their own web sites set up or at least good listings in phone books.

Check out those web sites and make phone calls. Look for companies in the location you’re intending to go. Sometimes you can even get free quotes online, which makes comparison shopping quick and pretty darn easy, too. Don’t settle for the first price you get quoted if cheap is in order.

Don’t forget that smaller companies may offer better rates. Check these out in the place you intend to visit. Remember though that sometimes these places only have service in the general area. This means a car picked up at Point A must be returned to Point A at the end of the rental period. An arrangement of this type works very well for a family trip or even a business trip that’s staying fairly localized, but it won’t do much good for the traveler who wants to drive a rental to their destination, enjoy a vacation and then fly back home.

Read the fine print on the different web sites you check out. This is important to understand what kind of guarantees the companies offer. If you’re calling them, specifically ask.

Scratch-and-dent rentals can often save some money, too. These shops generally are pretty small and localized. Be sure the company’s regulations fit in with your trip and do check with the company’s local better business bureau for any major complaints. A rental wreck can be a great way to save cash, but if the “wreckage” goes beyond some minor cosmetic issues, the car might be a problem even for a short rental.

In general, when looking to rent a car, it’s a good idea to be certain you know what you’re getting into. Check around and shop prices, but remember your vacation or your business trip will be riding on the wheels, so a good car is an absolute must.

Cheap rental car companies can be found. As long as they are reputable, too, you should be in good shape.

#1 Resource

Discount rental cars.

carrentalautodotcom

Shopping for car alarms can be a little tough though. There are a number of different devices on the market that offer one form of protection or another. The prices vary greatly. The high-end devices can even track a stolen car to its current location and lower end options simply lock steering wheels. Some may be more effective than others in scaring off the professional thieves, but any type of alarm or lockout device is better than none.

In the car stealing game, law enforcement will say that anything that adds even seconds onto the time it takes a thief to steal a car will help turn them to the next car in the lot. That’s right, just seconds can count. The idea is that if another mark is easier to hit, the thief will move on to it instead. While this isn’t always so, any type of deterrant is really better than none.

As you shop for a car alarm, you’ll find there are a ton of different options available. Here are the two major types of systems:

* Passive alarms: These automatically turn on when the ignition is off and the doors are closed. If the car is opened incorrectly, i.e., without the key or the ignition is forced, an alarm will sound.

* Active alarms: These must be manually turned on by the user. The problem here is the user may forget.

Both types of alarms can come with a number of different features, depending on the alarm purchased. They can include such things as door sensors, motion detectors, air horns and more. The idea behind them is to make enough noise to scare off a would-be thief.

Some alarms and anti-theft devices even come with a tracking mechanism. Although more expensive than simple air horns, these devices can and do prevent a stolen car from making it to a chop shop. Think of it as a personal homing device for a car and you get the idea.

Alarms can be very simplistic or extremely complicated. No matter the type that’s purchased, remember they must be turned on to work. The idea is to deter – to make your car look less attractive to thieves than others in the lot. It sounds harsh, but it’s a dog-eat-dog kind of world out there. Just look at news headlines or police blotters and you’ll see.

Even a simple steering wheel lock is better than nothing, but to truly present a problem for thieves, more complex systems with horns, tracking devices and battery backups should be considered.

Buying a car alarm should be almost as important as buying the car in some locations. Considering the alarm protects a big investment, it only makes sense. Plus, alarms can provide some good discounts on insurance, too.

#1 Resource

Car alarms.

housealarmsworkdotcom

Used cars can be found in a couple of places. You can first start out by reading your local newspaper. A newspaper will usually have hundreds of used car listings. All you will need to do is read through them and find the ones that catch your eye the most. At this point you can simply go and check out the ones that you like.

If your newspaper is not giving you what you need go online. There are many car sites that specialize in providing used cars to the general public. Sites such as vehixdotcom offer many different options for the person who is looking for a used car. You can browse thousands of cars in your area within a matter of minutes. This will allow you to maximize your time, and ensure that you do not miss out on any good deals that may be available.

Another good place to search for used vehicles would be in a swap/buy/sell guide which can be picked up in various local establishments wherever newspapers are usually sold. These guides have extensive listings that include all sorts of cars perfect for any price range, and with a wide variety of models one can find almost any model vehicle they have in mind.

Used cars are taking over the car industry, and it appears that this trend is going to continue. If you are in the market for a car, consider buying used. You may be able to save yourself thousands of dollars on your next car purchase.

S. Stammberger is the editor of Cheap
Luxury Cars. Learn where and how to get the car of your dreams for the price of your dreams.

There are many reasons for this, not the least of which is the rising cost of new cars which have become too expensive for many people.

If you can cool off the desire to have a brand new car and wait a couple of years you can save a ton of money. The biggest depreciation in vehicles is during the first two years. You can drive a two year old BMW for the price of a new Toyota. All you have to do is be a little more vigilant and make sure that the pre-owned vehicle has all the safety features that you need and want. Most vehicles over the last few years have been pretty aggressive in adding safety features.

You definitely want to have the basics like dual airbags and anti-lock brakes not only because of safety but also due to the fact that it will save you on your car insurance. Some vehicles even have side and rear airbags.
You can find a good quality two year old used vehicle with less than 35,000 miles that will look like a brand new one and have way more features than you could afford in a brand new car. Remember my BMW vs. Toyota example?

When buying a used car pay close attention to the wear and tear of the interior. I have found from experience that people who take good care of the interior of their car as well as keeping the exterior protected also take good care of the vehicle mechanically. If you run across a vehicle with torn seats, stained carpets and the like, I suggest you pass on it.

Always take a good look at the tire tread wear. You are not only looking for worn tires but also uneven tread wear which can indicate an alignment problem. When you road test the vehicle take your hands off the wheel for a second and see if the vehicle drifts. Pop the trunk and make sure that there is a spare and that it is in good condition as well.

Watch out for serious damage and paint work. It is easy to spot with a close eye. If body panels don’t line up properly there is a good chance it has had parts replaced. In addition to having a mechanic look the vehicle over mechanically and checking the fluids, lights, belts, charging system, and AC you can also have them put it on a lift and check the underneath of the vehicle for any frame damage repair.

Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. Get patented car care products from shineyourcardotcom

When buying a car from an individual the responsibility for being sure that they vehicle is sound mechanically is totally on you. I highly recommend that you take the vehicle to a mechanic to give it an inspection before you buy. It will be money well spent. If the owner has a problem with this, don’t bother dealing with them. Anyone who is honest will not have a problem.

Another key issue to look out for when buying from a private party is whether or not the vehicle has a lien, which means that someone else actually has claim to the title due to money still being owed on it. If you buy a vehicle unknowingly that still has an open lien you may have to pay of the loan to obtain the title. This is another one of those areas where you have more protection buying from a dealer as they are required by law to ensure there are no encumbrances on vehicles they sell.

Be sure that you are dealing with the actual owner of the vehicle. Check their name against the title of the vehicle as well as their driver’s license. Also be sure to ask for any repair bills and records of maintenance. This is especially crucial for high end vehicles such as Mercedes, BMW, and Lexus where the value of the vehicle is substantially tied to its maintenance record.

Remember that when buying a vehicle from an individual you are taking the risk that you could be buying from someone who has rebuilt a wrecked car, replaced an engine or transmission, or even rolled back the odometer. Usually you can tell if the odometer has been rolled just by looking at the numbers because they will be uneven.

With the recent hurricanes on the Gulf Coast another issue to watch out for is flood damage. Individuals can get away with selling you a flood damaged vehicle where dealers are liable for doing so.
You have to make the decision on whether or not the risks are worth the gain of saving a little money.

Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. Get car care products to keep your car looking new from shineyourcardotcom