How to Avoid Buying a Car that's Been in a Serious Accident

"I had to get the paint touched up because of a scratch." "It was just a minor accident, nothing more." "They deemed it a total loss, but the damage wasn't bad at all." These are excuses you might hear when you're shopping for a used car. It might be true, or it might be a cover-up for a car that's been in a serious accident.That's a mess you don't want to get into. A car that's been in a serious accident almost never ends up the same after repairs. But how can you avoid buying a car that's been in a serious accident? How can you tell the difference between a minor fender bender, a cosmetic repair, and a major collision? Here are a few tips.

Five Expensive Truck Repairs to Avoid

No one said owning a truck was going to be cheap. In the past decade or so, new trucks have lower maintenance costs than they used to. As pickups continue to climb in popularity, there are more used ones available to purchase. But when you buy a used truck, there are potential problems that can exist if you haven't bought from a reputable seller. And these truck repairs - well, they can break the bank.With truck ownership, you can expect truck repairs from time to time. You're using it as a work vehicle or an off-roading machine, and the added stress can wear things out faster. But if you encounter one of these five truck repairs, you might want to reconsider the fix. It's going to be expensive.

What's Wrong With Your Fuel Mileage?

It always seems like you're stopping at the gas station. You've been passing it off as the cost of owning a car, and it is. No matter which make or model you drive (unless it's electric), your vehicle is going to burn through fuel. It's just how it works. But there's a point when your car is burning more gas than it should, and you've noticed you aren't getting decent fuel mileage.You can't look past it anymore. You need to figure out what's wrong with your fuel mileage. Here are a few things you can have checked to find out why your fuel mileage has tanked (pun intended).

The Winners for Edmunds 2018 Best Retained Value Awards

One of the sure things about buying a car is that it's going to depreciate. There are no two ways about it - as it ages, you rack up the miles, and it develops little issues, it's not worth as much anymore. But some vehicles retain their value better than others. When the time comes to sell it, you won't take as much of a depreciation hit. And that's what the Edmunds Best Retained Value Awards are all about.

When Are Used Electric Cars Coming?

It's been all over the news for the past couple of years. Car makers say that they're going to be electrifying most or all of their vehicle fleets. That's great news for the environment, isn't it? Manufacturers such as Volvo, Volkswagen, Tesla, Ford, and General Motors are just a few that have committed to electrified vehicles within the next five to ten years. So when does that mean we'll see used electric cars on the lot?Don't worry, it's going to happen in time. However, used electric cars aren't going to be overly common for a while yet.

Where Can I Find Good Used Cars for Sale Near Me?

The struggle is real. You need to buy a car and there are literally thousands around you to choose from. The problem is that you don't want to buy just any old car. You want to find a good pre-owned car - one that's going to last you. What's more, you want to buy it from someone you can trust and that will take care of you after you buy it. If you're searching 'good used cars for sale near me', you should click on CarUp KC.

Signs Your Car is Overheating

Kansas City gets hot in the summer! You have a bunch of ways to beat the heat for yourself. You could go to the beach with the family, or go for ice cream at one of the many popular stops. Perhaps you'd prefer air conditioning which you'll find in abundance at a movie theater. You have ways to cope with the heat. Coincidentally, so does your car. It's been built with systems to regulate the heat...but you still need to watch for signs your car is overheating.Like you, the systems to regulate temperature can fail. It can lead to serious medical conditions in people. Likewise, in your car, it can lead to devastating mechanical failures.When the temperature starts to spike, keep an eye on your vehicle. Here are signs your car is overheating.

Choose one of these Five of the Most Dependable Used Cars

It's time to buy a car for the family, and you'd rather not spend your money on a car that's going to break down. Reliability is one of the most important factors for family car buyers, and for good reason. You don't want to leave your spouse and kids stranded at the side of the road. You also don't want to spend tons of money on repairs if you don't have to. You'd like to choose one of the most dependable used cars on the market if you can.J.D. Power publishes a study annually on the most dependable cars. We've chosen the top five family cars from their 2018 Vehicle Dependability Study. It's a list of vehicles three years old that consumers have said are reliable. Here they are.

When Do You Need Air Conditioning Repair?

It's coming... The hot, humid summer weather everyone is waiting for is just around the corner. In Kansas City, few things are more enjoyable than a day spent outdoors in the heat. But when it's time to come home from the Kansas City Royals game or the beach, you don't want that same heat in your car. You want cool, dry air that's going to make you comfortable. But your car might need an air conditioning repair.Do you remember last year when your car took a little longer to cool down? Recall when your windows took forever to clear in the rain in the fall? And when you were defrosting your car in the winter, remember how long it took for your windshield to thaw? It's probably because your air conditioning isn't working as well as it used to.

Stay Away from Branded Title Cars, and Here's Why

Natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey happen almost every year. Tornadoes and flooding, accidents and fallen trees, auto thefts and vandalism are a fact of life in the United States. And in all of those situations, there are cars, trucks, and SUVs involved. When a vehicle is badly damaged, the insurance company typically calls it a total loss. It receives a branded title and is eventually auctioned off.But what does a branded title mean anyway? Essentially, it's a designation on the car title that indicates the vehicle has been an insurance write-off in the past. The person or company who owned it was paid the car's value and the insurance company took possession of it.But that might not mean the end for branded title cars. Many are bought, fixed up, and sold once again for people to drive. Next time you're driving, look around: there are probably branded title cars driving the same road as you, and you don't know it.