3 Tips Every New Car Owner Should Follow

There is nothing more exciting than your first few weeks of car ownership, mainly because you’re happy that you’re finished with the car buying process.  Nobody would blame you, buying a car can take a lot of time and money.  You spend weeks pouring over different car manufacturers, makes, and models, then you spend time scrimping, saving, and building up your credit so that you can finally enjoy your car of choice.  You may not be actively shopping for a car, but your car work isn’t through just yet.  As owner of a new or used car, there are a few things you should be doing after you get your vehicle of choice.

Make safety your priority

You never know what will happen when you’re driving any car, let alone a new car you aren’t familiar with.  Accidents and car repairs are simply a part of car ownership, and you need to be prepared for them.   Rain, snow, and really any kind of messy weather could make driving conditions unsafe, and a blown tire can seriously mess up your schedule.  Always a few emergency supplies in your car, like spare tires, road flares, and flashlights for an emergency.  You may also want to look into getting an AAA membership or an OnStar System; they can come in pretty handy in an emergency.  Don’t forget to include essentials like ice scrapers and snow brushes in your trunk.

Keep a close eye on your car

Every car drives and handles differently, and you should do your best to get know everything you can about your new car.  Drive in places that you know to get to learn about how your car accelerates and brakes and be sure to keep an eye on gas gauge to see when you need gas.  Know your car's make and model, and ensure you know how to put air in your tires, replace windshield washer fluid, how to change your oil, and how to handle general car maintenance tasks.  All of these things will help make it easier to see when something is wrong with your car, and can help take away some of your initial new driver’s anxiety.

Talk to your insurance agent

Did you drive an old car that you didn’t have much insurance coverage on, and now have something that’s newer, a bit nicer looking, and will probably be used for a while?  If so, you may want to increase insurance coverage on your car to give it more protection in case of an accident.  Contact your provider and see what your options are.  You may even be able to negotiate a lower rate if you’ve had an accident free year.  If you were lucky enough to buy one of the certified pre owned cars in NJ, your warranty could help lower your insurance rates. 

Why Your Next Vehicle Should Be Certified and Pre-Owned

When looking for your next vehicle, you have a lot of options available. If you have the money for it, you could decide to buy a brand new car for the first time. If you're short on cash, you may be leaning towards buying a used car in order to save money. Lately, you've probably heard a lot of people talking about the benefits of owning a certified pre-owned car and there's a reason for this. Certified pre-owned cars have become increasingly popular in New Jersey in the last few years, and they are often the best way to get a reliable and long-lasting used vehicle. There are a number of benefits to owning a certified pre-owned car and we, at Gentilini Motors, are here to explain some of the most important ones.

Assured vehicle quality

The main reason that some people are hesitant to buy used almost always has to do with quality. After all, nobody wants to invest in a vehicle only to end up with a lemon. Admittedly, there are lemon laws to protect consumers from this problem, but most people still don't want the hassle. A car you buy should work right for a long time without problems – and buying certified helps you to ensure this. Certified pre-owned vehicles at our dealership have to pass a stringent 172-point inspection by certified mechanics, which means that they are much less likely to be faulty.

Extended warranty protection

There's nothing worse than buying something, discovering that something is wrong with it, and then not being able to do much because it is no longer under warranty. Our vehicles include a manufacturer-backed limited warranty, which means that you are protected if (for some reason) your car is acting up. In addition to the basic warranty, our Certified Pre-Owned program also includes limited powertrain coverage. These offerings mean that any vehicle purchased in this program is virtually risk-free.

Affordable financing and interest

When compared to buying a car, certified pre-owned cars are worlds cheaper when it comes to financing and interest rates. A great deal of the monetary value of a car is lost in the first three years of its life, while its actual driving value remains pretty nearly intact. What this means for you is that even a year-old car will have a big chunk of change taken out of the asking price, with no discernable change in the condition of the car. This all bodes well for you getting a good deal on financing, with low interest rates.

Considering a reliable, quality used car? Call or contact us at Gentilini Motors for more information on our Certified Pre-Owned program today!

Should You Buy a Certified Pre-owned Car or New Car?

Many prospective car buyers in the Garden State will question whether or not they should buy a new or used car. While new cars offer the highest level of safety and performance, they are also much more expensive. Still, some will ask whether you can put a dollar value on peace of mind as a used car is more likely to come with issues. This is where a certified pre-owned car could make the difference.

What Does Certified Pre-Owned Mean?

Car manufacturers have factory certification programs in place to provide car buyers with affordable, but high performance vehicles. In order to achieve this, they have in place a point system inspection where they examine the automobile. The point system usually includes a checklist of 100 points or more. If there is a problem with the automobile, they will fix it before it goes to the lot and is certified pre-owned.

What Kind of Vehicles Are Certified Pre-Owned?

Because of the scrutiny involved with the inspection process, manufacturers will only choose the cream of the crop. Most car makers will have a set of criteria in place based on mileage and year to narrow the field. You can typically find automobiles of all types and makers that are certified pre-owned at your local dealer.

Should You Buy a Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle?

According to a Kelley Blue Book survey, those who are looking for new cars are typically the ones who purchase a certified pre-owned vehicle. This is because certified pre-owned vehicles are usually more expensive than non-certified used models, and used car buyers tend to rank affordability as their number one concern. Still, many certified pre-owned vehicles are priced affordably, so used car buyers shouldn't dismiss purchasing one right away.

New car buyers who want the safety, performance and dependability of a new vehicle but are looking for affordability as well should consider a certified pre-owned vehicle in NJ. All factory-certified vehicles will come with a limited warranty, so dependability isn't a concern. In addition to that, they are thoroughly tested, so you might have the safety and performance of a new vehicle at a much more manageable price.

Pre-owned for Peace of Mind

Buying a pre-owned vehicle can seem like a difficult process. Before certified pre-owned programs were instituted by dealerships and manufacturers, trying to save money by buying a used car was seen as a risky move. However, in the past few years, buying used has become not only safer, but sometimes even preferred. And when working with top-notch, respectable dealerships such as Gentilini's, the process only becomes easier.

What makes buying pre-owned so exceptional? There are many reasons that it can make more sense for you, from the cost, warranties, and financing options to the long life of the vehicles today. However, if you are unsure of what to look for, here are some things to consider when talking to a used car dealer:

àHow does inspection work, and what parts of the vehicle have been specifically examined? Are inspections up to manufacturer's standards?

àDoes your car model of choice have any manufacturing issues or concerns? If there have been issues, find out if the dealership has dealt with the situation accordingly.

àAlso, remember to ask about the details of the vehicle warranty—have all major (more costly) repairs been taken care of? How long will the warranty extend and what does it cover?

àDoes each car come with a vehicle history report? The best dealerships will provide them online or in-person, but you can type in the VIN number at CARFAX and find them independently, as well.

àDo you have an old vehicle? How much is it worth? Even $500 or $1,000 will be helpful when put towards your new car, and will keep your payments lower if you finance.

àHow much has the vehicle in question depreciated? Vehicles lose a significant portion of their value during the first few years and, as most used cars are at least a couple of years old, you can neatly avoid the most costly period of ownership.

In addition to asking these questions, make sure to review all possible resources during the buying process. For instance, you can check out the value of your potential vehicle, the specs, safety information, etc., at sites such as TrueCar.com, Kelley Blue Book, or Intellichoice. These companies have revolutionized the used car market, the buying process, and the legitimacy of pre-owned vehicles altogether. Coupled with Certified Pre-owned programs, these reference sites and guides make used cars a safe, smart choice for any buyer, and take a great deal of the worry out of the process.

Buying used allows you to get the car you want at a price you can afford. However, purchasing a car is always going to be a big decision – one that should be considered carefully. By shopping for certified pre-owned cars in New Jersey, you can get the most for your money, and a vehicle that will last you for years to come.