August 2017 - Euro Automotive

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Month: August 2017

What Should You Do for a Car Title Transfer in Texas?

Posted on | 29 Aug 2017 By Anita Gaal

A vehicle title transfer involves switching the title from one owner to the next. This is not strictly in buying/selling situations, but also when a car is given to someone, donated, or part of an inheritance. Car title transfers can be tricky, and the procedure varies from state to state. Furthermore, depending on whether you are a buyer or a seller, giver or receiver, you have differing responsibilities. Dallas, Garland, Arlington, and Fort Worth, TX areas have the same guidelines to follow in title transfers, but without the help of a professional it can get confusing—there are a lot of steps to follow and prepare for. Generally if a car dealership is involved then they take care of the title transfer process for you; however, if a dealership is not involved in the process, then you will need to follow a series of steps to make sure your title transfer goes smoothly. Here are some guidelines to follow when attempting to transfer a car title in Texas.

Basic knowledge in car buying

Buying a car from a non-dealership party doesn’t have to be stressful, but without the proper knowledge it can seem overwhelming. First, if you are buying the car, then you will need to make sure that the seller fills out the information on the back side of the title paper—this includes their signature, binding them to the sale. These are relatively simple questions that shouldn’t take longer than a few moments to fill out. While Texas guidelines state that both the buyer and seller should meet at the DMV to go through the process at the same time, it is not necessary or binding.

Complete the application process

Next, you must complete the Texas application for a car title; both the buyer and the seller must provide their signature on the application, and it is the seller’s responsibility to notify the DMV that the car was sold (usually this can be done easily online). Each state’s application varies slightly, but the information is relatively the same. You must have insurance for the new vehicle and have proof of that insurance before you hit the open road—this is standard for any state’s guidelines. The title transfer generally costs a minimal fee of around 30 bucks, but the entire process may be slightly more costly if you need to have multiple inspections performed on the vehicle. Usually the extra cost is well worth it; although a car may look good on the outside, you could end up saving yourself from buying a total lemon. Whenever you feel unsure of your ability to check out what’s under the hood of a car, you should enlist the help of professionals with more automotive expertise.

Check the documents

It is a good idea to have the car inspected by a professional, but you can ask that the seller give you copies of the most recent automotive work done and/or have a full inspection performed before signing the title over to you. If you feel like having your own inspection performed, generally it’s a good idea to have this done before the title transfer is complete, in case there are significant issues with the vehicle after all, and you do not wish to buy it anymore. Dealerships and automotive professionals alike usually recommend a pre-purchase inspection; it is a good way to know what you are getting into. Finding a trustworthy automotive shop to perform a pre-purchase inspection that can also help you with the title transfer is a great way to go—they can help you every step of the way, and make recommendations on the smoothest way to transfer the title.

Pre-purchase inspection with ‘Euro Automotive’

If you need help transferring the title of a vehicle, or would like to have a pre-purchase inspection performed, stop by Euro Automotive to meet their staff; they exceed dealership expectations in customer service as well as price. The Garland, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington areas have given Euro Automotive an outstanding reputation in the community for their low prices and excellent quality work. Stop by Euro Automotive to learn more about their expertise and approach to automotive education; they take pride in their relationship with their customers and want to make sure you leave their shop feeling informed about title transfers and the importance of pre-purchase inspections.
Car Pulls in One Direction? 3 Things You Shouldn’t Ignore

Posted on | 12 Aug 2017 By Anita Gaal

In Dallas, Garland, Arlington, and Fort Worth, TX, areas the need for reliable transportation is apparent in our daily lives. The first signs of car trouble can be daunting, making it awfully appealing to simply ignore them or try to forget they exist. Staying on top of maintenance schedules and paying for repairs can become costly and time consuming; however, when things go wrong with your car it can only increase the need for maintenance and repairs, costing you more money in the long run when you don’t partake in preventive maintenance for your vehicle. One of the most common symptoms of inadequate maintenance is uneven wheel alignment. Off-center alignment can also be due to an impact or as the result of an issue with the suspension. More importantly, wheel alignment affects the other parts of your vehicle like tire wear and gas mileage. If you are having issues with the alignment, there are several signs that you should not ignore. Here are 3 of the most apparent symptoms of poor wheel alignment that should never go overlooked:

It can be fixed with a wheel alignment

If you notice that your steering wheel is noticeably pulling oddly in one direction, you may have issues with the alignment. It is important to test this out on a flat, open road; streets generally are not flat or straight inherently, but they are cambered and rounded so that water can run off the sides into drains and keep from pooling in the middle of the streets. It may be normal for your car to slightly pull in one direction, depending on the road—so make sure you pay attention to how noticeable the wheel pull is and in what conditions it is most apparent. This can usually be fixed with a wheel alignment, unless there are other issues with the suspension.

Off-center steering wheel

Another symptom of failing alignment is an off-center steering wheel. As previously mentioned, most streets are not perfectly level; you should take this into account when examining the centeredness of your steering wheel. Ideally, when the car is parked the symbol in the middle of the steering wheel should be mostly even and level. If you notice that the steering wheel is not returning to center after a turn, or one hand seems slightly higher on one side even though they’re in the same position on both sides of the wheel, then you should bring your car in to a trusted automotive shop for an inspection—it might be time for an alignment.

Uneven wear in tires

Lastly, but certainly not least, if your car is in need of an alignment you may notice uneven wear in your tires. The tires on your car say a lot about where you have been, but mostly about what is going on with your car. Uneven tire wear is troubling for a number of reasons, and can point toward any combination of issues. For instance, the issue could be related to inadequate tire pressure or suspension impairment. However, if the uneven wear is due to alignment issues, you may notice specific wear patterns on the outer or inner rim of the tire—this usually indicates that the tires are being worn oddly because the wheels are not aligned properly. Unfortunately, wheel alignment has a chain effect on the other parts of our car—when tires become affected by poor alignment, it can wind up costing you exceedingly higher amounts in tire replacements and repair bills.

Take help from a trustworthy mechanic

Preventive maintenance is critical for the everyday driver; keeping your car at its best performance level will help you to not only enjoy your car more, but it will put your mind at ease. When your car is kept in good condition, you can feel comfortable relying on it. If you have concerns about your alignment or tire wear patterns, stop by Euro Automotive; their reputation in the areas of Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, and Garland Texas is outstanding for their excellent customer service and automotive expertise. They specialize in European import vehicles such as BMW, Mercedes, and Porsche, making their knowledge and skill set at the highest standards possible in automotive communities. Check out their website, or stop by their facility to meet their friendly staff and schedule an appointment.