Autos | Rent2Buy Blog

Rent2Buy Autos Update

January 10, 2011

Posted by Sandie under Autos, Rent2Buy Website

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We’ve been getting a lot of questions about when Rent2Buy Autos will be up and running. The answer is soon, very soon. In the meantime, you can go to the Rent2Buy Autos page and sign up to be notified when items are added to the site. The alert will let you know as soon as any updates are made to the page.

Click here to see all of our previous posts related to autos, including a glimpse at what the new Rent2Buy Autos page will look like and in-depth explanations of the various transactions types you will be able to use such as rent to buy, rent to own, lease to buy and make an offer.

Remember the Rent2Buy site is about all 4 search options : rent to buy, rent to own, lease to buy, and make an offer to a dealer. You can search specifically for each kind of transaction, or explore them all! This means there are four entirely different options available for how to structure your transaction.

The rent to buy transaction is short term, and all about giving you an opportunity to ‘try it before you buy it.’ The rent to own transaction is more long term and entails monthly payments over a longer period of time until you eventually own your vehicle. Lease to buy is similar to rent to own in that you make a monthly payment over a period of time; the difference is that with lease to buy, your payments are smaller, and there is a large balloon payment at the end of your transaction if you want to purchase the vehicle. If you decide not to purchase it, you can return the car at the end of the lease term and you do not need to make a final balloon payment. The last option is to make an offer to a dealer. This means setting your own parameters in terms of how long you would like to rent the vehicle and how much you are willing to pay to do so. The make an offer option allows you to make an offer to a dealer and then work out an agreement that is suitable to you both.

If you’re looking for more specific information about buying a car, read about the pros and cons of buying a rental car or take a look at our advice on how to find the vehicle that’s right for you.

How to Buy a Car: Finding the Right Vehicle

January 10, 2011

Posted by Sandie under Autos

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If you’re reading this post, you are probably in the market for a car. Even if you’re not looking to buy a car right now, the following information will certainly be helpful the next time you are. When deciding on a make and model, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Make sure to take into consideration things like your personal financial constraints, any loyalties you may have to certain car companies, the amount you’ll use the vehicle and what kind of driving you’ll be doing, the resale value, and any specific features you want your car to have. Before you begin your search, ask yourself these questions:

How much money do I have to spend on a car? Before you begin your car search, think seriously about how much you are willing to spend on a vehicle. You should have a price range in mind before you begin your search. This will help you stay within your budget and make sure you are not wasting time looking at cars that you cannot realistically afford. Depending on the type of transaction you use to purchase your vehicle, the payments you will make will differ. When coming up with a figure for how much you are willing to spend, think about the monthly payments you can afford if you’re going to lease the vehicle, the down payment you can afford, how much you can afford if you want to make a lump-sum payment, etc. Also take into account gas and maintenance costs when making your decision; figure out how much you can afford to spend on top of the price you are paying for the vehicle, as some cars will require a higher quality of gasoline or more expensive repairs.

Do I have any brand loyalties? Before beginning your search, ask yourself if there are any particular auto brands you prefer over others. Do you like American cars, Japanese cars, or German cars? You may not have a preference at all, in which case you can skip the rest of this paragraph. If you do have a car company that you favor, make sure you think long and hard about whether this preference is going to allow you to make the best choice possible when it comes to deciding on a new vehicle. If you know you want a Volvo, then that narrows things down a bit. But if you don’t have a specific preference for one company over another, you will leave yourself with a wider range of options to choose from.

How am I going to use my vehicle? Make sure you think about how you are going to use your vehicle. Do you have a family? Then you need to factor in the amount of space you want. If you’re going to be helping out with carpool every week, you need to make sure you have enough seats in your car. Are you a hockey mom? Make sure you have enough room in your truck to fit all of the hockey gear you’re going to be lugging around. Are you going to be taking long trips? Think about the level of comfort you will want when driving for several hours straight. Or maybe you are just going to use your vehicle locally. Think about traffic patterns. Do you spend a lot of time sitting in traffic? This should affect your decision as well. You might want to consider a Prius or something like it if you know you’re going to be sitting in traffic for a large part of your commute every day. Do you live in an area that gets a lot of snow? Make sure you’re looking at cars that will be able to get you back up your driveway at the end of the day. You get the picture.

Does the resale value matter to me? If you’re thinking long-term and you know you intend to sell your car, think about the re-sale value. Some cars lose value faster than others. Think about the wear and tear that the vehicle will experience while in your care as well. You will have to weigh the importance of buying a vehicle that retains its value when you go to sell it with the importance of buying a vehicle with the ability to function as you need it to.

Are there certain features my vehicle must have? Not every cars will have all of the features you are looking for. If you want certain bells and whistles you are going to have to tailor your search to meet those criteria. It’s important to set out knowing which features will make or break your decision. If there are certain options you know a car must have in order to meet your needs then you need not waste time looking at vehicles you know do not have these characteristics. But make sure to think long and hard about which features will truly sway your decision. Would you turn down the perfect car that has everything you want except the brown leather seats you so desire happen to be tan? Make sure you know what you want but don’t be too closed-minded. Remain reasonable in your expectations and you will be sure to find a car that suits your needs.

Remember, finding the right vehicle can be challenging. But if you follow the guidelines above and take some time to think about your preferences and constraints, you will be sure to find a car that both fits your needs and that you can feel good about.

Let us know if you found this post helfpul. If you have any additional questions you want answered, please don’t hesitate to ask us! Join our discussions on facebook, leave us a comment on our blog, or get at us on twitter.

New Series on Rent2Buy Blog: ‘How to Buy a Car’

January 7, 2011

Posted by Sandie under Autos

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Looking to buy a car but totally at a loss for where to start? Hopefully we can help you out by offering a few guidelines for your car search and giving you a look at some of your options.

This post begins a series of blog posts to help you throughout the car-buying process, whether it be choosing which car to buy, deciding whether you want a used or new vehicle, or determining where to buy it.

Stay on the lookout for future posts in our ‘How to Buy a Car’ series. We encourage you to share your questions about the car-buying process by joining our discussion on facebook or leaving a comment on our blog. We want to hear from you!

Posts in This Series:
How to Buy a Car: Finding the Right Vehicle

Pros and Cons of Buying a Rental Car

January 4, 2011

Posted by Sandie under All Things Rent To Buy, Autos, Rent2Buy Website

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There are a lot of options available to those looking to buy a car. One of these options is to purchase a used rental car. Purchasing a car in this manner has both pros and cons that consumers should be aware of before they make a decision as to what type of vehicle to purchase. We’ve outlined some of the main pros and cons of buying a rental car below. It’s up to consumers to carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages of purchasing this type of car and decide whether or not it’s an option they want to explore

Pros of Buying a Rental Car

Price: One of the most significant benefits of buying a used rental car is the price. Rental cars are usually for sale for a lower price than what you would find elsewhere for the same vehicle with comparable year and mileage.

Recent Model Year: Rental vehicles for sale are typically only a few years old, usually from one or two model years back. You’re guaranteed to find a relatively new car complete with the latest features and safety equipment.

Try It Before You Buy It: Some programs give you the option to try out a rental car before you buy it. This way, you can take some time to familiarize yourself with the vehicle and get an idea of whether or not it’s right for you. Instead of the typical 5-minute test-drive where you can barely make it around the block and back, many rental car companies allow you to try out the car for a few days before making your final decision.

Less Hassle: Because the rental company takes care of the tedious aspects of the transaction, including paperwork, title, and loans, you don’t have to worry about the logistics of the purchase yourself.

Warranty or Money-Back Period: Most companies offer a short-term warranty on the vehicle and/or a money-back period. This allows you to fix any problems that become immediately apparent and give you a little cushion in case you change your mind.

Well-Maintained: Rental car companies service their vehicles as recommended by the manufacturer. They always want a top-quality and well-functioning fleet in operation, meaning any car you purchase is sure to be taken care of when it comes to regular inspections and maintenance. You can rest easy knowing that any and all problems with the car while under the company’s purview were fixed immediately.

Cons of Buying a Rental Car

Limited Selection: When you’re picking out a rental car, your choice will be limited to the cars available in that rental company’s fleet. Though this is the case when searching for used vehicles in a specific rental company’s inventory, the Rent2Buy autos section will offer a kind of virtual auto mall, with comparative shopping so you can compare price and selection between various companies.

Basic Vehicles: The vehicles in a company’s fleet are typically very standard, without too many bells and whistles. If you are looking for specific features that do not come usually come with the standard package, you may need to do a little more searching within the company’s fleet or reconsider buying a rental car.

Car Was Driven: Many people believe rental cars are driven especially “hard,” with less care than if the car actually belonged to the person driving it. This may be true in some cases, but certainly does not apply to every vehicle. You will have to examine the car yourself and determine whether you can live with the wear and tear the vehicle has seen.

Relatively High Mileage: Depending on the year of the car and how much it was driven, rental cars may have relatively high mileage. This is not always the case, as each vehicle is different, but you may want to pay attention to vehicle mileage when conducting your search.

Less Warranty Coverage: The warranty on the vehicle you purchase will be different from company to company. Some certified pre-owned car dealers offer big warranties that you will not find when you purchase a rental car. This is something to consider when making your decision.

Now that we’ve addressed some of the pros and cons of buying a rental car, we want to know what you think. Does purchasing a rental car have to be a tradeoff between the benefits and drawbacks outlined above? Or can you find a rental car in good condition and with reasonable mileage at a good price?

Please share your stories and experiences if you have ever purchased a rental car or thought about exploring the option. Join us on facebook and share your thoughts.

Happy New Year from Rent2Buy!

December 31, 2010

Posted by Sandie under All Things Rent To Buy, Announcements, Autos, Real Estate, Rent2Buy Website

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Tonight when the clock strikes midnight, we’ll begin a new decade. The last ten years have been filled with ups and downs, economic instability and uncertainty. With the beginning of a new year comes the hope that the next decade will be better than the last.

At Rent2Buy, we have big plans for 2011. Besides continuing to improve and update Rent2Buy real estate with new homes and expanding our inventory, we will also be focusing on new areas.

In 2011 we will be launching Rent2Buy autos. The autos section of the site will provide comprehensive car listings and will allow users to search for vehicles using our comparative shopping model. The ability to compare rent to buy inventory which comes out of the rental car industry will allow consumers to make educated decisions based on all of the options available to them. We will have rent to own (owner financed), buy here – pay here,and lease to buy inventory. On top of this we will have regular inventory on which consumers can make an offer to a dealer or another individual.

We will also be expanding and improving the Rent2Buy ‘Stores’ section as well, bringing in inventory in new categories and increasing the amount of stores we have on the site. Stores can be opened by an individual or can be operated by a business or company. We will continue to encourage anyone with items they’re looking to rent or sell to list their items on the site, and encourage businesses to open stores with comprehensive listings of their inventory.

We’ll keep you posted on what’s new with Rent2Buy as we continue to expand and improve our platform. Enjoy the last hours of 2010, and look forward to an even brighter 2011.

Happy New Year from the Rent2Buy team!

A Sneak Peek at Rent2Buy Autos

December 20, 2010

Posted by Sandie under All Things Rent To Buy, Autos, Rent2Buy Website

2 Comments

The autos section of the Rent2Buy site will be up and running in 2011. So, we thought it’d be a good idea to remind you of what the new autos section of the site will look like.

You can enter a make, model or zip code in the search bar and search the site this way. You have the option to search for rent to buy, rent to own, lease to buy, or make an offer autos. You have total control of your search, and can design your search based on the type or types of transaction you desire.

After you have made your search and the search result is displayed, it will be shown just as it is in the slide above. A list of autos will be displayed, along with a picture of each, specifications, pricing, and the rental agency with which each is associated.

The blue tabs listed across the screen above the auto search results break down your search into various categories. You can display all listings at once, just rent to buy listings, just rent to own listings, just lease to buy listings, just make an offer to dealer listings, or just make an offer to owner listings. Next to each type of listing, there will be a number in parentheses, indicating how many results this type of search yielded.

Users can check or uncheck the various boxes on the left side bar in order to tailor their search results to their specific needs. You have to option to choose between airport or non-airport locations, and select from different car classes, rental agencies, car makes, car options, and more.

We’ll keep you posted with updates about the new autos section on Rent2Buy and info to help you make the best decision possible when it comes to renting or buying a car.

Thinking About An RV? Try It Before You Buy It.

December 14, 2010

Posted by Sandie under All Things Rent To Buy, Autos, Rent2Buy Concept

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At American Adventure RV, you can try out an RV before you buy it. The Rent to buy program allows you to rent a camper or motor home, try out the “RV” experience, and decide whether or not you want to buy it. Up to 100 percent of the rental price can be applied towards your purchase of the RV.

The rent to buy discount that you receive can be applied to all of the rental units listed for sale and owned by the company. Seasonal discounts on RVs are available at the season’s close; you can end up with a great opportunity to try out the RV before you buy it, AND buy it at a discounted price.

Steps:

Rent a pop up, travel trailer, or motor home
Decide on the unit you’d like to purchase
Come up with the money for the unit (American Adventure RV takes care of the rest)

Using a rent to buy transaction in this case lets you try out an RV for a while and decide if it’s something you want to buy. If you don’t want to buy, you can walk away, no pressure. If you do, you can be sure you’re making an informed decision about what you want from your RV. AND you can feel confident knowing that 100 percent of your rental price is deducted from the money you put towards your purchase.

To better understand the specifics of how the American Adventure RV rent to buy program works, check out their site.

Rent2Buy Unveils Virtual Auto Mall

September 30, 2010

Posted by Sandie under Announcements, Autos

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Rent2Buy.com, an online marketplace to rent or lease products with the option to buy, announced plans to launch the Rent2Buy Virtual Auto Mall in January 2011.

With the Virtual Auto Mall consumers, who are in the market to purchase a used rental car, can visit one online location and view inventory for sale from a variety of rental car companies in their area. The inventory appears in a search results matrix similar to results screens on Expedia, Orbitz and Kayak.

“The Virtual Auto Mall marries Rent2Buy’s unique ‘try-before-you-buy’ concept with a traditional auto mall,” says Moti Kahana, founder of Rent2Buy.

The Rent2Buy system allows participating rental car companies to list units for sale that are still on rent, therefore avoiding the traditional fees and time associated with a traditional auction sale. In turn, car shoppers have the option to buy the vehicle and apply the rental fee to the purchase, or simply pay the rental rate and walk away.

“Car dealers in a traditional auto mall benefit from the ability to pool resources, while the concentration of inventory and variety of brands make the auto mall a car buying destination,” says Kahana. “This type of marketing alliance empowers dealers – or in this case, rental car companies – to sell more cars with less money spent on marketing.”

If the Rent2Buy concept does not fit a particular sales situation, sellers have other solutions to offer the customer, such as rent-to-own, lease-to-buy or “make an offer” arrangements.

For more information, contact Moti Kahana at (888) 386-6660 or info@rent2buy.com.

To view the original article in the Auto Rental News, click here.

Rent2Buy Autos Search Result

September 20, 2010

Posted by Sandie under Autos, Rent2Buy Concept

4 Comments

The following image is what the search result will look like for Rent2Buy autos.

There is a section at the top of the page that lists the top offers from the main rental car companies. You have the option to choose the type of vehicle you are searching for from the drop down menu, and take a look at the top offers from the rental car companies listed in the chart.

After you have made your search and the search result is displayed, it will be shown just as it is in this slide. A list of autos will be displayed, along with a picture of each, specifications, pricing, and the rental agency with which each is associated.

Rent2Buy 2011 Automotive Marketplace: Virtual Auto Mall

September 8, 2010

Posted by Sandie under Announcements, Autos, Rent2Buy Concept

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Coming in 2011, Rent2Buy will be the online marketplace providing you with access to rental inventory in your area. On Rent2Buy, you will be able to compare and see available inventory in and around your zip code. The new Rent2Buy automotive section will enable you to make educated decisions about who you want to do business with by allowing you to choose which rental car company you want to rent to buy from.

The rent2buy automotive platform will allow you to compare pricing between rental companies. You can then make an informed decision about which company you want to use to ‘try it before you buy it.’

The image below is what the Rent2Buy search result page will look like. We’d love to hear your feedback!!

The Rent2Buy automotive marketplace is, in essence, a virtual auto mall. Auto malls come about when car companies set up stores near each other so that they can defer the cost of getting you, the customer, to visit their location. The same goes for the online marketplace. The Rent2Buy automotive site will showcase various rental car companies. These companies want to have their inventory searchable on the Rent2Buy platform so that they can best reach you; it benefits rental car companies to be listed amongst all competing companies. You, the customer, also benefit from the comprehensive online listing of all rental car companies; all of the information and inventory you need to make the best possible decision about which car to try before you buy is right at your fingertips.

For rental car companies, having their company listed on the Rent2Buy site means less money spent on advertising and trying to drive customers to their own site. Like an auto mall, it allows them to spend less money on marketing overall. Instead of one company spending more money, every company can spend less on marketing but get more traffic because everybody is helping in a joint marketing effort.

Rent2Buy Blog

Rent2Buy Autos Update

How to Buy a Car: Finding the Right Vehicle

New Series on Rent2Buy Blog: ‘How to Buy a Car’

Pros and Cons of Buying a Rental Car

Happy New Year from Rent2Buy!

A Sneak Peek at Rent2Buy Autos

Thinking About An RV? Try It Before You Buy It.

Rent2Buy Unveils Virtual Auto Mall

Rent2Buy Autos Search Result

Rent2Buy 2011 Automotive Marketplace: Virtual Auto Mall

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