CAR HUNTING
& GETTING YOURS DRIVER’S LICENSE
Driving in the
Students – Which is
best for you?
Should you rent, lease or buy a car? Here are some questions to ask yourself:
1. Why do I want a car?
2. What will I use it for?
3. How
long do I plan to be in the
4. How much money can I afford to spend?
Following is some information about renting, leasing, or buying a car:
· For short road trips
· For emergencies
· Your car is broken/being repaired
· You have visitors from out of town
· You don’t have a lot of money
· Short-term usage
LEASE A CAR
· You’ll be here for about 1 year
· For moderate use (there are mileage penalties)
· Transportation to and from your apartment/the university
· Don’t have to resell it when you leave
Be Careful Of:
Þ Higher insurance rates
Þ Read the contract and be familiar with its Terms and Conditions
· Typically smaller payments
· Shorter finance period
· Cheaper (cost, insurance, taxes)
·
Cost effective for students who plan to be in
the
· You can get a lot of use out of it
Be Careful Of:
Þ Does the car have a warranty
Þ Is it a good and reliable used car
Þ Read the contract
Þ Maintenance and upkeep
· The car has a warranty
· Low mileage
·
For longer stays in the
· Good resale value
Be Careful Of:
Þ Higher insurance rates
Þ Read the contract and be familiar with its Terms and Conditions
Þ Maintenance and upkeep
Þ Longer finance period
Ž Shop around and compare prices (GEICO, State Farm Insurance, Progressive.com, and Allstate, among others – you can check the Yellow Pages Telephone Book for more choices. Look under the heading “insurance”.)
Ž If you have a new car, get comprehensive insurance
Ž GET LIABILITY INSURANCE
Ž Some cars have higher insurance rates, in general: red cars, convertibles, trucks, SUV’s, sports cars (i.e. Mustangs, Corvettes, Porsches, etc.)
Ž Have one copy of your insurance card in your car AND one with you at all times
Ž If you’re renting a car, get the rental car company’s insurance
Ž Ask the salesperson to figure out the sales tax for the car
Ž
Pay your taxes within 30 days or you are subject
to legal penalties (including jail time) or ask about getting a Personal
Property Tax Waiver from
Ž This information is also used for filing your annual federal and state taxes
Ž Take the written test first then you’ll get a learner’s permit (you can practice only with a licensed driver in the car)
Ž Take the driving test
Ž Pay for your license ($7.50 for a 3 year license, and $15.00 for a 6 year license)
The nearest location to
Directions: Take
Go northeast on
Make a left into
The building will be past Petsmarts and will say “Dept. of Revenue”
Ž Always have your license tags current and visible
Ž You must pay to get new tags every year or two years
Ž If someone takes your license plates or tags, you have to pay to replace them immediately
Ž
If you moved to
Ž Do not get out of your car
Ž Present all requested documents when you are asked for them
Ž Remain calm and do not insult the officer; cooperate with the officer as best you can
Ž Keep your hands visible (e.g. on the steering wheel); don’t make sudden movements
Ž Don’t try to bribe the officer with money or anything else
Ž Make a note of the officer’s name, badge number, and car number/license
Ž Newspapers’ classified section
Ž The Internet
Ž TV and radio commercials
Ž Trading Times and Auto Mart
Ž Word-of-mouth
Ž Check the Internet (especially ConsumerReports.com – you’ll have to subscribe to the site, but many people think the $20.00 spent joining the site and the cost of information about your potential car can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. You can also use the site for more information about the quality of other products. Additionally, the library has the most recent edition of Consumer Reports’ Car Buyers Guide/Edition.)
Ž Check reviews of the car and know what the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) is
Ž Narrow your choices down to two styles of cars
Ž Talk to 2 – 3 dealers to see which of them will give you the best price for the car you want
Ž Ask about maintenance – how often, how reliable, how much is needed, how much does it cost
Ž USED CARS: check the mileage, the engine, and repair and upkeep history
Ž Read your car’s warranty information – is it bumper-to-bumper; can you get an extended warranty
Ž Is there a deductible that you pay for car maintenance at the dealership
Ž Ask about rebates: college student rebates, first-time buyer rebates, etc.
Ž Ask about financing for the car; choose the lower annual percentage rate over a rebate.
Acura www.acura.com
Audi www.audiusa.com
BMW www.bmwusa.com
Buick www.buick.com
Cadillac www.cadillac.com
Chevrolet www.chevrolet.com
Chrysler www.chryslercars.com
Daewoo www.daewoous.com
Dodge www.4adodge.com
Ford www.fordvehicles.com
GMC www.gmc.com
Honda www.honda.com
Hyundai www.hyundaiusa.com
Infiniti www.infiniti.com
Isuzu www.isuzu.com
Jaguar www.jaguar.com/us
Jeep www.jeepunpaved.com
Kia www.kia.com
Land Rover best4x4.landrover.com
For more information visit www.friendship7.org.
Lexus www.lexus.com
Mazda www.mazdausa.com
Mercedes-Benz www.mbusa.com
Mercury www.mercuryvehicles.com
Mitsubishi www.mitsubishicars.com
Nissan www.nissandriven.com
Oldsmobile www.oldsmobile.com
Porsche www.porsche.com
Saab www.saabusa.com
Saturn www.saturncars.com
Subaru www.subaru.com
Suzuki www.suzukiauto.com
Volkswagen www.vw.com
Volvo www.volvocars.com