Your car is your dream, let’s make it true!

“This was my First car! It was the first car I ever purchased, I bought it in the year 2000.I loved that mind boggling ‘new car smell’. I can still sense it. There is something special in this car. I had installed the baby seat for my son Ian. Oh my! I just love this car!”    John cried into tears when he saw his 57th birthday present –an old Ford Focus.

Who said that happiness comes with a new car only? Tina gifted her husband John a 1998 Ford Focus. It’s been 13 years since their first car was damaged in an accident. But she found the car her husband was passionate about, through Soloautos.

Situation 2 -

Most of the students cherish their drive to the school behind the wheel of a ‘beater’. After all it’s better to have a ‘beater’ than having no car at all. That drive through the school years and venturing out into the ‘world’, necessitates owing a ‘real’ car. Well it does, for most of the folks. Then everybody is not lucky enough to have extremely generous and wealthy parents who would gift their grad a brand new sports car. And for all those, a used car that still looks new and is dependable is the best bet.

At Soloautos, you will find a huge range of used cars and trucks. It provides the best used car dealership for Texas residents. Soloautos provides credible and detailed information about the various car dealerships as well as a whole lot of other information like – car reviews, photos and videos.

Soloautos offers a unique feature for the site users – ‘Live Content Feed’. With this, you can select your own favorite classified listings that will be displayed on your website or bog- whatever you choose. Widget size, relevant category, region and appearance of the widget can be customized as well.

Buying a Used Car in Houston

It has been a year and half since I left Texas A&M, and started working in a car dealership in my hometown of Houston. I had to leave the university to support my family really. I was in the sports team, but my academic achievements were not as good as I wanted them to be. Plus I had incurred huge debts due to student loans and what not. Though I did not have any prior experience in selling cars, I quickly learned the ins and outs of the business. I was also surprised to see that a lot of the customers preferred used cars to new ones. So I will share the following tips that people can follow before buying used cars in Houston.

•          Go for newer models

It is preferable to look for a model that is still in sale. Although some buyers may purposefully set out to buy a vintage car, buying a car model that is still in sale can ensure that the customer doesn’t face problems while getting car repaired or finding spare parts.

•          Check that engine

Make sure that you check the engine of the car to evaluate its condition. You cannot judge the wear and tear incurred by the engine by seeing how many miles the car has travelled. If you aren’t sure of what to look for when inspecting the engine, take a mechanic along with you.

•          Check service history

Go through the car’s service log to see how well the previous owner took care of the car. Check the service log to determine the regularity with which the used car was serviced and to also see if the car’s been involved in any major accident or has displayed any serious mechanical fault in the past.

•          Verify documentation

When buying a used car in Houston, make sure that you check all necessary documents including the original registration papers and insurance papers.

•          Go for a test drive

Take the car for a test drive. It would help you ascertain if there are any problems with the suspension, brakes, gears, steering wheel and lights.

•          Dents and other damage

Inspect the used car thoroughly to insure that you make the best deal. Check for dents, inconsistencies in body paint and any other signs of physical damage to the car.

Buying a used car requires a keen eye and attention to the tiniest of details. Make sure that you pay a fair price for the car. If the deal sounds too good to be true, double-check the car’s service log, documentation and physical condition.

How to avoid being a victim of VIN cloning

The quest for a used car can lead to getting a well-maintained model for a price considerably lower than the original. Lower insurance costs and reduced registration fees are other factors that make the purchase of a used car so much more tantalizing. But buying a used car is also fraught with the risk of becoming a hapless victim of common car scams, one of which is ‘VIN cloning’.

What is VIN cloning?

VIN cloning refers to an intricate scam that involves stealing a car, taking a VIN or Vehicle Identification Number from a car of a similar make and model and using it to make fake VIN plates for the stolen car.

If you are sold a stolen car, you are paying money for something that is not, technically, yours. If your vehicle is discovered to be stolen, it will be confiscated and you’ll be left with nothing but resentment and a faint chance of recovering the money lost if the laws in your state require a faulty car dealer to pay up for selling a stolen vehicle.

How can you safeguard yourself from VIN cloning?

When buying used cars, you can take certain steps to ascertain that you aren’t buying a stolen vehicle.

• ·        Ask for a vehicle history report

Once you have access to a vehicle history report, tally the current odometer display with the reported mileage. Multiple registrations in different locations over a short period of time should raise a red flag.

• ·        Check the VIN in multiple locations in the car

Check that the VIN plate on the dashboard, driver’s door sticker and car frame match with each other and do not display any signs of tampering. Also, see if the VIN on the car matches with the vehicle history report and service history documents.

• ·        Be wary of unbelievably low prices

If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Beware of prices lower than what other car dealers are asking for the same make and model. Ask a qualified mechanic to check the car for signs of VIN cloning if you are doubtful.

Buying a used car, whether in Houston, Texas, or other US cities, requires you to be vigilant and skeptical. No one wants to be a victim of a scam and there’s no reason that you should be one. Using a reputable website for buying used cars can also serve to scaffold you from a sour experience. SoloAutos is a website that helps residents of Houston and other Texas cities find used cars available with authorized car dealerships and credible car owners. The site only lists used cars in Houston that have passed a benchmark test for legitimate ownership, maintenance and performance.