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| If you do not see an answer to your question, feel free to contact us through our feedback form. |
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General FAQs
| Who is Automotive.com? |
Automotive.com is a company that makes the car buying experience
easier and less expensive. We simplify the buying process by helping you
research your car, check actual prices, get quotes online and arrange for a
test drive – all at your own convenience from your personal computer, day or
night, at work or at home. We can also help you save money with selling your
car or with our other automotive services such as financing, insurance and
extended vehicle warranties. If you know what you want, you can instantly get a
price quote; quickly if you are still researching, you can find information on
any car and browse by make, type or even price.
When we started Automotive in 1996 we had a mission – to invent a better way
for you to shop for a car. We did this by following one simple rule: always put
the customer in control. So, if at any time after you’ve used our site you have
suggestions or just want to make a few comments, feel free to send let us know.
Click
here for our feedback form.
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| How is Automotive.com different from the other car buying sites on the Internet? |
Customer Oriented
We’ve spent a great deal of time listening to your suggestions and have
improved the car-shopping process by focusing on you, the customer. Based on
your suggestions we’ve created what we feel is the easiest way to shop for a
car on the web. We let you tell us what you want and then we find a dealer that
can service your request.
Local Presence
Even though we are a national company, we recognize that car-buyers often want
to know they can contact someone locally. Automotive.com is unique in that we
work with a select group of the most trusted local dealers and work closely
with them to make sure that there is always someone there to service you
before, during, and after the sale.
Competitive, No-Haggle, Fast Quotes
Customers told us that they wanted to see the real prices up front. So, we
designed a Web site that provides you with an instant actual price for the car
of your choice. And because we don’t have commissioned sales representatives,
you’ll get actual vehicle prices that reflect the true invoice price.
No Compromises
Because Automotive.com has one of the strongest sourcing networks of any car
buying website, you don’t need to compromise on important factors like color or
sub-models. Just choose your sub-model and color and we’ll deliver pricing
direct to you from a local dealer. |
| Can I get a car quote no matter where I live? |
| Currently, Automotive.com services the US market only. We have
complete coverage in all major markets nationwide and most rural areas in the
US. Some manufacturers however do not service rural areas particularly
higher-end vehicles but we are expanding these regions often. |
| What types of vehicles does Automotive.com offer? |
| Automotive.com offers new cars from all the popular manufacturers
in all makes and models. We offer a full range of vehicles including compact
cars, sedans, minivans, SUVs and pick-up trucks. We currently do not however
service high-end vehicles or exotics. |
| Where does Automotive.com get so much car information? |
| We get our data from several trustworthy sources in the auto
industry. They include Jato Data and Stronghold – two leading providers of car
data and New Car Test Drive – a leading source of car reviews. We also continue
to add new providers that value accuracy and objectivity as much as we do. |
| Who do I contact for more help? |
| Still have questions? Automotive.com has a team of customer care
representatives that are available online. Click here for our feedback form. |
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| Car Buying FAQs |
| How does Automotive.com work? |
| Automotive.com has built one of the largest sourcing networks of
any car-buying Web site. And thanks to our many dealer partnerships, you’ll be
sure to get the car you want without the hassle of driving from dealer to
dealer. Now getting your car is simply a matter of telling us what you want and
we process your request and deliver a price quote from a local dealer. |
| How do I find the car that’s right for me? |
| At Automotive.com, you have access to a complete listing of the
standard features, specifications, option packages available, review and more.
Not sure which car you would like to buy? No problem! We also have a special
area for you to compare cars and check pricing. So with all this information,
you can be sure to find the car that’s right for you. |
| Does Automotive.com provide auto financing? |
| We work with a vast network of lending institutions and dealers.
After you have submitted your car quote request, you can tell us how if you
need to finance your new vehicle (loan or lease), and if you’d like, you can
simply fill out a finance application online. We can help you refinance you
existing vehicle also. |
| What if I have a trade-in? |
| Automotive.com can help you with your trade-in whether you would
like to sell it yourself or arrange a trade-in with a Automotive.com dealer
partner. Interested in selling your car you can list it FREE at Automotive.com.
Click here to list your car on
Automotive.com. |
| What happens after I submit my price request? |
| After you submit your price request, a servicing dealer will
contact you within 24 hours via email, answer any questions you may have and
discuss options and special requests you may have. At this time, they provide
you a quote, help manageyour trade-in (if you are interested) and make
arrangements for a test drive. |
| What about test drives? |
| You can test drive a car at any dealership in our network, without
any obligation. You can also visit a dealership without scheduling an
appointment through Automotive.com. After you’ve test driven the car you want,
come back to Automotive.com to check out the different options packages
available and do some price comparisons. |
| How do I register my new car? |
| At Automotive.com it’s easy. If you live in the same state in
which you buy your car the local dealers fill out all the paperwork and have
the final registration and license plates mailed to you. How is that for easy! |
| What happens if I have problems with my car after I buy? |
| All new cars come with their original manufacturer's warranty. If
you have a warranty-related problem with your vehicle, you can take your car to
any authorized service center for help. |
| Does Automotive.com provide any insurance information? |
| We work with the top online Insurance Companies to provide auto
insurance quotes and policies. Click here for an Insurance Quote. |
| What factors affect my insurance premium? |
| Several factors affect your insurance premium these include: level
of coverage, age, gender, zip code, marital status, driving record, make and
model of car, vehicle theft rate and vehicle safety. |
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| Financing FAQs |
| How do I arrange for financing? |
| We can help you arrange for financing whether you need to borrow
money to purchase your car or whether you want to lease your car. We even can
re-finance you existing car loan at Automotive.com. Simply complete a secure
online finance application before or after you have chosen your car and we will
process your request. |
| What are my Financing options? |
Loan: Our loan providers consist of the largest financing
companies on the web. If approved the financing institution will mail you a
draft check that you can use to pay for your new car purchase. If you prefer,
you can also arrange for a loan through your local bank or credit union or use
our service to compare rates.
Lease: If you would like to lease your vehicle, Automotive.com will work with
one of our dealer associates to identify your best leasing options. After you
best option has been identified, you can lease your vehicle from our dealer
associate.
Cash: Paying cash for you new vehicle may save you money by eliminating
interest, lease expenses and more negotiating power.
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| How do I decide whether to take out a loan, arrange for a lease or buy my vehicle outright? |
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Borrowing |
Leasing |
| Length of Loan or Lease |
Loans are generally between 36 and 72 months |
Leases are generally between 24 and 60 months |
| Ownership |
Your
payments go to paying off the car (similar to a mortgage). At the end of the
loan period, you own the car. |
You don't
own the vehicle. Unless you decide to purchase the car, you must return it at
the end of the lease. Your payments are similar to the rent you would pay for
an apartment. |
| Up-Front Costs |
Up-front costs usually include down
payment, taxes, registration fees, and other minor charges. This amount is
usually larger when compared to lease. |
Up-front costs usually include first
month's payment, a security deposit, a down payment, taxes, and registration
fees among others. These costs are usually less than the up-front costs of
purchasing. |
| Monthly Payments |
Monthly loan payments are based on
the total purchase price, plus interest charges, taxes and other fees. They are
usually higher than monthly lease payments. |
Monthly payments are calculated
based on the vehicle's depreciation during the lease, rent charges, taxes, and
other fees. They are usually lower than monthly loan payments. |
| Insurance Requirements |
Full comprehensive and collision insurance is required in addition to your state's liability requirements. |
Higher levels of insurance coverage are generally required than with an installment loan. |
| Early Termination |
No additional charges unless outlined in your loan agreement. |
You are responsible for any early termination charges outlined in your lease agreement. |
| Vehicle Return and Back End Charges |
When you pay off the loan you keep the car. |
You need to return the vehicle at the end of the lease. There might be some end-of-lease charges. |
| Future Value |
If you decide to sell or trade in
the vehicle at the end of the loan, the value of the vehicle will be based on
its mileage and condition. |
The leasing company bears the risk
of the market value of the vehicle at the end of the lease. You have some
responsibilities to keep the vehicle in good condition. |
| Maintenance |
You are responsible for the maintenance of the vehicle.
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You are responsible for the maintenance of the vehicle during the lease. |
| Mileage |
No limit. However, the higher the mileage, the lower the resale or trade-in value of your vehicle. |
Most leases have a maximum number
of miles you may drive. Usually there are additional charges if mileage on the
vehicle exceeds the limit at the end of the lease. You can get a higher limit,
but this may increase the monthly payments. |
| Excess Wear |
Like mileage, the higher the wear, the lower the resale or trade-in value of your vehicle. |
Like mileage, most leases limit the
wear on the vehicle during the lease. If the lessor believe that there is
excessive wear on a vehicle at the end of the lease, you may need to pay
additional charges. |
| End of Term |
At the end of the loan, the vehicle is yours to keep. |
At the end of the lease, you can
decide to: return the vehicle, return the vehicle and lease another one, or
purchase it for the residual value of the vehicle |
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| Thoughts about buying: |
| If you have the money available, it may make sense for you to buy
your car without any type of financing arrangements. The advantages are that
you own the car immediately and have maximum flexibility over when to sell or
trade-in your car and how many miles you can drive on it. The downside is the
"opportunity cost" for your money. In other words, if you kept that cash in
your account (instead of using it to buy your car), you could be earning
interest on your money. Instead, all that money has been invested in your car.
If you take out a loan, you will owe the interest on the loan, but your cash
will be earning interest. It is worthwhile to think about the % return you are
receiving on your cash relative to the % interest you will be paying for your
loan. |
| Can I take advantage of special manufacturer rebates and financing programs? |
| Periodically, vehicle manufacturers will offer special rebate and
financing incentive programs. You can take advantage of these specials when you
place an online price quote with Automotive.com. We help you by providing you
with current rebate & financing programs the details once you select a
vehicle you are interested in. |
| How do "trade-ins" work? |
| We can help you with trade-ins. Once you select a new replacement
vehicle you are interested the dealer will schedule a time you can stop in at
any dealer to finalize a trade-in estimate. If you trade your car in, the
dealer purchasing your old car must complete his or her own valuation based on
specific attributes and the condition of your vehicle. Additional factors such
as vehicle condition, and local market conditions can also affect the value of
a trade-in pricing. |
| What can I do to lower my monthly payments? |
Extend the term of the loan or lease
Put more cash down
Purchase a less expensive car
Find a lower interest rate
Improve your credit Lease |
| I drive a lot. Can I increase the mileage allowance on my leased car? |
| Yes. You can ask to have the mileage allowance increased on your
car, but this will impact your monthly payments. Generally you will save more
by increasing the mileage allowance upfront rather than by paying the excess
mileage charge at the end of the lease. However, having a higher mileage
allowance will increase the depreciation of the car, which will also act to
increase your monthly payments. |
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