Owning a vehicle in NoVA

[CaliTerp07]

Originally Posted by GoHokiesGo

Are you getting your quotes using their online estimates or are you actually calling an agent to get your quotes? If it's only online, don't put 100% faith into those quotes. Your best bet is to actually call up your local agent and have them actually pull your driving record and info to give you an accurate insurance quote.

Not necessarily. I bought my insurance completely online, never talking to a person. It matches the online quote exactly.

OP, I've had Geico, USAA, and now Progressive, and have been satisfied with all of them. Every year or two I do a quote comparison and see if anyone is drastically cheaper than another. If I can save a few hundred a year, I'll switch. Some people say you get treated better if you cause an accident and you've been with a company for many years as opposed to my strategy, which may be true--but I hedge my bets and opt to save money in the present.

[bmwguydc]

For a used vehicle, I would have an independent inspection. Carchex comes to the car to provide an inspection, which can be much easier if dealing with a private party sale, so you do not have to drive off in their car for a couple of hours to have the inspection performed.

Integras, its replacement -- RSX, and Civics were popular with the tuner crowd, so be aware of one that has been modified, since it's not one that you would want to own. It can be problematic to decipher some of the modifications, especially if they were not originally performed by a specialist.

If buying private party, you will also have to go to the DMV for tags, and to register the vehicle in your name. The owner should not, and most likely would not, allow you to drive off in the vehicle with their tags on it. You can meet at the DMV to take care of that paperwork if you purchase from an individual. It's also possible to register at a DMV select office. Here's a link to the DMV's registration page: Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles

Talk to your insurance agent about the coverage that you need, since the minimum level might not be appropriate for your financial situation, especially if you have assets that you need to protect from potential litigation that could result from insufficent coverage. Remember, there are some expensive cars on the road, that can easily sustain thousands of dollars in damage from a relatively minor accident, and not be totaled, because of the value of the car.

[mptesta]

My deductible for comp/collision is set at $500. I have a 2010 vehicle, bought new. Is it more feasible to raise the deductible to $1000?

[oneasterisk]

Originally Posted by mptesta

My deductible for comp/collision is set at $500. I have a 2010 vehicle, bought new. Is it more feasible to raise the deductible to $1000?

It depends. Do you have the money and are you willing to part with $1000 to make a claim so you can save a some money on the monthly premium? How much would you save on your monthly premium by raising your deductible?

[mptesta]

I would be saving $50 from going to $1000, from a $500 deductible.......

[oneasterisk]

Is that $50 a month or $50 for the year? $50 a month is $600 a year. So in a little less than 2 years, you could save enough equal to what your new deductible would be. You could then sock that money away in preparation for a rainy day.

Now if it's $50 a year, then to me it wouldn't be worth it.

[mptesta]

it is $50 every six months...so $100 a year. I guess I'll keep it at $500 then....

[Winter2010]

Originally Posted by zeelandia

Hi,

Somehow I have been able to go most of my life without owning a vehicle. However, a new job has taken me by storm and a new vehicle looks to be a necessity in my near future. Question, how do I go about doing so?

1. Get insurance.
2. Buy car.
3. Do VA emissions and safety expection.
4. Put gas in it and drive off.

Insurance is mandatory in VA, correct? How much is the yearly cost of insurance for the average 30 year old?

I have a question. Where are you moving from?

1) Go with Geico. They are one of the cheapest in VA, if not the cheapest. Car insurance is cheap in VA compare to other states.

2) Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla are both great choices. Stick with those two.

3) Some gas stations or car repair places like Midas, etc. do them. At some gas stations, the cost of safety inspection is less than $20 and for emission is around $28. Safety inspection is yearly and emission is once every two years.

4) Um... yeah. Put gas (number 87, the cheapest) in the car and drive off.

You need to do oil change every 5,000 miles or so. Do it at Midas or some oil change places. It's usually less than $30. If you have a Honda or a Corolla, that's basically all you need and ensure that the tires are in good shape. You usually won't encounter major problems. Oh, drive carefully and safely.