Car shopping can be exciting yet nerve-wracking. Between financing and finding the perfect car to fit your lifestyle, there are a plethora of decisions you’ll be expected to make when buying a new or used vehicle.

A vehicle is a big purchase you’ll use on a daily basis and will ideally keep for several years (or more), which is why it’s so important to feel confident in your choice. While it never hurts to browse a vehicle inventory online or walk through a dealership lot to learn about your options, it’s important to determine the answers to some key questions before making a final purchase decision.

Does A Vehicle’s Practicality Matter?

Your next car is likely to serve a specific purpose, like getting you to work, hauling your kids to school and extracurricular activities or running errands. Think about what that purpose is and how you plan to use the vehicle when deciding what type of car is more practical.

• Will you be commuting to work or puttering around town?
• How much space will you need to transport family or equipment?
• Will you need to tow a boat or trailer? 
• Do you drive off-road?
• Are local streets narrow and traffic heavy?
• Will the vehicle need to fit in a garage or driveaway?
• Do you anticipate spending a lot of time in the car?

What Is Your Ideal Budget?

Most car buyers in DC, Maryland and Virginia will likely look at financing their vehicle purchases. Applying for an auto loan means you’ll be expected to make regular monthly payments on your new car. Make sure those monthly payments are within your budget.

We are all guilty of loving the latest and greatest cars on the market. Just remember that they aren’t the most wallet friendly. Unless you’re planning to put a sizeable down payment on your new car purchase, you may want to consider a used vehicle. Buying a used car can help minimize your monthly car payment and allow you to purchase a nicer model than you could otherwise afford buying new.

Oftentimes, if you buy from a dealership, you can expect the certified used car you purchase to be in near-showroom condition. Not only are you getting a quality vehicle that’s been serviced by the dealer but you’re getting it at a fraction of the price of a brand-new car.

Are You Planning to Trade-In Your Current Vehicle?

If you are ready to part with your car and upgrade to something more reliable, trading in your old vehicle is a way to take care of everything all at once. When you buy from a dealership, you can apply your trade-in toward the purchase of your new car. The more money you can put down, the better your interest rate and the less money you’ll need to take out on an auto loan.

The team at Easterns Automotive can provide you with a fast and fair trade-in quote if you decide to sell your current car or trade it in.

Would You Rather Buy or Lease the Vehicle?

When you purchase a vehicle to own, you are financing the entire cost of the car (minus any down payment or trade-in). When you lease a vehicle, you are paying for the duration you have the car and the mileage you put on it. 

If you’re not sure which route would work best for you, ask yourself these questions:

1. Do you drive a lot? Leased vehicles usually have a limit on how many miles you can drive within your lease term. If you go over that limit, you typically pay additional fees.
2. Do you anticipate any major life changes within the next couple of years? If you plan on growing your family, you may want to consider getting a vehicle that will work for you during those important life changes. There are often fees involved if you decide to terminate your lease early.
3. Do you take care of your car? When leasing a vehicle, you are expected to maintain it. If you return a leased car in bad shape, you may be charged additional fees.

Although most car shoppers typically associate leasing with new cars, some pre-owned dealerships, like Easterns Automotive, allow car shoppers to lease used vehicles. Contact our team to learn more about leasing a high-quality pre-owned car, truck or SUV.

Buy or Lease Your Next Vehicle at an Easterns Automotive Dealership in Washington D.C. or Baltimore

When you’re ready to buy or lease a pre-owned vehicle, Easterns is here to help. We make financing and leasing easy and offer fair trade-in values.

At Easterns Automotive, we strive to offer our customers a personalized car buying experience. Shop online, in person or both by browsing our inventory online or visiting one of our locations in the Washington D.C. and Baltimore areas.

Even if your credit is less than perfect, we are committed to finding you a great auto loan. Learn how we can help by calling us at 877-867-0641.

Parting with a car that’s been with you through thick and thin can be difficult. Knowing its value, and how much its sale might offset the cost of upgrading to a better vehicle, could make the idea of selling it a bit more palatable.

There are a few online tools available that can give you an estimate of your car’s value. You’ll just need to enter specifics about your vehicle (mileage, age, etc.) and information about its condition.

If you want a fast, honest and accurate assessment of your vehicle’s worth, contact Easterns Automotive. Our team can give you a quick and fair trade-in valuation.

Now is a great time to sell. You might discover your trade in covers a large portion of the down payment for a used car, truck or SUV.

Three Online Estimator Tools for Used Cars

There are a variety of tools that allow you to get a rough estimate on your car’s valuation. However, the estimates you’ll get from these calculators are not guarantees or offers. You’ll still need to find someone (or a dealership) willing to pay that amount. Also beware of “free” estimators that collect your contact information to sell it or target you with future robocalls and spam emails.

1. Kelley Blue Book (KBB) is one of the most popular online estimators on the market. It asks for details about your car (i.e., model, make, year, condition, etc.) and bases its estimate on the information you provide.
2. Edmunds is a competitor to KBB. Their claim to fame is coining the concept of “true market value.” They use more in-depth criteria (i.e., cosmetic damages, car accident history, etc.) to determine the worth of a used car. Their calculator uses real-world dealership transactions to show you the average price paid for used cars near you.
3. NADA guides, created by the National Automobile Dealer’s Association (NADA), are very similar to KBB and Edmunds. The difference is they focus on a vehicle’s wholesale price, current market price and the demand for cars for sale near you.

What Information Will You Need to Get a Proper Used Car Estimate?

In order to get an approximate estimate for your used car, you will need to provide relevant information and specs about your vehicle, as well as details about its condition.

Have the following information on hand before you get started:

• The year, make and model of your vehicle (this information can be found in the owner’s manual)
• The vehicle’s color and features/upgrades (i.e., leather upholstery, heated seats, sunroof, custom sound system, etc.)
• The condition of the vehicle (it’s best to be honest about the condition to avoid overestimating)
• The vehicle’s mileage (this can be found by reading the odometer on the dashboard)

How Do You Interpret the Estimate Once You Get It?

Once you’ve inputted the necessary information into the online estimator tool, they usually provide a few separate measures of your vehicle’s valuation.

• Trade-in value is what a dealership might give you for your vehicle if you trade it in. It’s usually the lowest price you will be offered for your car, but there are potential tax savings if you decide to go this route. You might also avoid additional seller fees or repair hassles, as dealerships like Easterns will usually take your trade in as is.
• Private resale value is the estimated amount you would likely get for your vehicle if you sold it directly to a private party. This would be your car’s listing price on any resale marketplace. Read our blog about private sales (and the risks you’ll face) for more information.
• Dealer resale value is the estimated price the dealer will list the vehicle for after you sell it to them. It’s often higher than the trade-in or private resale value. The higher price is due to the time and money the dealer will need to spend on inspecting, repairing and cleaning the vehicle to prepare it for resale.
• Certified pre-owned value is what a dealer would list the vehicle for after a professional inspection and an included limited warranty. This is typically higher than the dealer resale or trade-in value.

Selling Your Car in Washington D.C. or Baltimore

Take your time collecting and comparing your vehicle’s estimates before deciding which route you’d prefer.

When you’re ready to sell your used car in Washington D.C. or Baltimore, get in touch with Easterns Automotive. We offer a quick and convenient process for selling or trading in your vehicle. Our auto group also has an expansive inventory of pre-owned vehicles to choose from if you’re looking to make a trade in.

Give Easterns a call at 877-867-0641 or visit one of our eight dealerships today for more information.

If you’re not finding the ideal pre-owned vehicle near you, you might be tempted to expand your search to neighboring communities. This is especially common in places like Washington, D.C. where residents of the metro area could be living in Virginia or Maryland. It’s not at all uncommon for D.C. car shoppers living on the Maryland-side to purchase a vehicle in Arlington or Alexandria, or vice versa.

While it is not against the law to purchase a vehicle in another state, there may be some extra hoops you need to jump through in order to complete the purchase.

What Do You Need to Buy a Car in a Different State?

1. First and foremost, you’ll need to search for used cars online to determine if you’ll be buying out of state.
2. If you’re buying from a private seller, you should try to find a CARFAX report or the vehicle’s accident history. At Easterns, we openly post all CARFAX info on our inventory, so you don’t have to spend time digging for it.
3. Car shoppers purchasing from private sellers in another state should strongly consider taking the car to a trusted mechanic for an inspection prior to finalizing the purchase. A pre-purchase inspection can help you avoid buying a lemon. All Easterns vehicles undergo thorough inspections and a Multi-Point Quality Certification prior to resale. 
4. Ensure the vehicle can pass all safety and emissions requirements in your state. Every vehicle sold by Easterns can pass Maryland and Virginia emissions testing.
5. Check with your insurance company to confirm whether your vehicle will be insured under your existing policy or if you will need new coverage immediately after purchase.
6. Pay all required sales tax on your vehicle in your home state.
7. After paying all necessary state sales tax, get the vehicle titled and registered in your home state. (If you buy from Easterns, we can help you handle the logistics and ensure you have a temporary title and registration to legally drive the car home.)

Having dealership locations in both Virginia and Maryland allows us to make the process of purchasing a vehicle easy for people living in either state, greatly simplifying the process for car buyers.

The Disadvantages of Buying a Car Out of State

Aside from the distance between you and the car, there are a few drawbacks and considerations to keep in mind when looking to purchase a car in a different state.

• It’s harder to physically see it in person and test drive the car before committing to buying the vehicle.
• Distance and being in a different legal jurisdiction can make fraudulent behavior easier for scam artists. Beware of fraud and vehicles that sound “too good to be true.”
• Each state has its own emissions compliance, sales tax, registration and insurance requirements. As an auto group that operates in both Virginia and Maryland, Easterns Automotive makes the process of purchasing a vehicle far easier for car shoppers in both states. 

Is It Worthwhile to Buy a Car Out of State?

There are potential advantages to purchasing a car in a different state:

• The used car inventory available to you is much larger when you expand your search to a second state. Your chances of finding the perfect preowned vehicle will be higher.
• You may end up finding a more affordable vehicle.

Trust Easterns Automotive with Your Car Search in Virginia or Maryland

Easterns Automotive’s wide selection of pre-owned cars is easily accessible for residents of both Maryland and Virginia. We are committed to providing our customers with a hassle-free, convenient car buying experience — whether you are shopping in person or online.

Browse our inventory of used cars or visit one of our eight dealerships. Give Easterns a call at 877-867-0641 for more information today.

Buying a pre-owned vehicle is a large purchase that comes with some important financial decisions. It’s typical for most car shoppers to finance their purchases with auto loans. If you’d rather not go through the car loan process, you might be wondering whether it’s possible to buy a car using a credit card.

The truth is there is nothing that legally prohibits you from doing so, but some dealerships may limit the dollar amount on credit card purchases or may not accept credit cards altogether. If a car dealership does accept a credit card payment, it could be a feasible option for paying some or all of the down payment.

Like any large credit purchase, buying a car with a credit card might allow you to quickly acquire something you need right away. However, it can have a negative financial impact in the long run if you’re not careful.

It may make more sense to inquire about vehicle financing through Easterns Automotive before you resort to purchasing a car with your card.

What Can You Expect from a Car Dealership That Accepts Credit Cards?

Not all car dealerships will accept credit card payments. The ones that do will most likely have restrictions on the use of credit cards and may charge you transaction processing fees. While a credit card might be a necessity or convenience for you, it costs the dealer money to accept credit card payments.

The credit card fees a dealership is charged vary, but it’s usually around three percent of the transaction. For example, if you used a credit card for a $3,000 down payment on a vehicle, the dealership might be charged a $90 processing fee. They will likely pass this fee on to you. 

Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Used Car on a Credit Card

• Credit card interest rates are often much higher than used car auto loans. While each bank uses different interest rates for consumers, it’s no secret that auto loans tend to be cheaper in comparison to the interest rates of most credit cards. If you find a credit card with a zero percent APR promotional period and you’re able to pay off the balance before the period ends, then you can, in theory, pay no interest to finance the vehicle during that time. However, this still doesn’t change the fact that the dealer will most likely charge you the transaction processing fee.
• You will need to have a high credit limit. Whether you are looking to buy the car outright or put a sizeable down payment on a credit card, you must ensure you have a high enough credit limit. You can call your bank to request a credit limit increase and they may approve it if your account is in good standing. Also, be aware of your credit utilization (the percentage of your credit that is currently being used). If it goes too high, your credit could be at risk.
• Always notify your credit card issuer before making any large purchases. It’s good to get in the habit of contacting your credit card company to let them know that you will be making a sizeable purchase. This tells them the charge isn’t fraudulent and you should hopefully avoid any transaction delays.

What Are Your Other Options for Financing a Used Car?

If you will be unable to pay off your credit card balance as soon as it’s due, then it may not be the best financing choice for you. The good news is you have many other pre-owned car financing options:

• Apply for an auto loan (interest rates on auto loans are much lower than credit cards)
• Use a loan co-signer (this is a great option if your personal credit score is too low to qualify for a loan)
• Trade-in your old vehicle and put that money toward a down payment
• Use some (but not all) of your cash savings for the down payment

Let Easterns Automotive Help You Finance Your Used Car Purchase

Searching for a pre-owned vehicle in Washington D.C. or Baltimore can be tough. Easterns Automotive is here to help you find a car you will love — and a reasonable auto loan.

For the last 30 years, car shoppers have relied on Easterns to help them build good credit and finance their used car purchases.

Give Easterns a call at 877-867-0641 or visit one of our eight dealerships for more information on the pre-owned vehicles we have in stock.