Car-Buying Resources

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By Selena Maranjian (TMF Selena)
January 13, 2003

Q. What are some good online resources for studying up on the car-buying process, as well as researching and buying cars?

A. There are many (really -- many).

For extremely detailed and easy-to-read information on how to save a lot of money, check out our How to Buy a Car content. Then move on to the many other resources that are just a click away.

Here are some sites where you can research details on specific cars, as well as get general advice and information: CarsDirect.com, Edmunds, Autobytel.com, MSN Carpoint, Autoweb.com, and Autosite.com. You can also check out Consumer Reports, which is a for-pay site, costing about $24 per year. It can be well worth it, though, since it features a wealth of information on all kinds of other products.

Look up the crash test results of vehicles you're considering at National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, CrashTest.com, and HwySafety.org.

For info on car loans and leasing cars, there are many sites to visit. Just a few samples: LeaseSource, Bankrate.com, PeopleFirst, eLoan, The Automobile Association of America, GE Auto.

If you're considering a used car, drop by CarFax for a vehicle history report on your potential new wheels. Also consult the Kelly Blue Book for new and used car prices.

As you prepare to buy a car, don't forget to get tips on car insurance! Here are some of many sites with information on car insurance: Insure.com. InsWeb, Progressive, GEICO, State Farm, LowerMyBills.com, and The Automobile Association of America. We at the Fool have an Insurance Center, too.

Finally, there's a lot of car-related media to check out. The Car Talk radio show has a website, as does Motor Trend, Car and Driver, AutoWeek, and Automobile.

If you have any questions on the car-buying process, ask them on our Buying and Maintaining a Car discussion board. There are surely some other good resources that I've failed to include here, so if you know of any, share them with us on the board.

If you have any questions, thoughts or opinions on this column, share them with others on our Ask the Fool discussion board.

This question and answer is adapted from The Motley Fool Money Guide: Answers to Your Questions About Saving, Spending and Investing. For answers to this and 499 other common money questions, check it out -- it's a handy resource.