-Buying from a Bonded Auto Dealer
 
Conover, NC - The sagging new car industry got a brief boost this summer thanks to the Obama administration’s “Cash for Clunkers” program. Consumers bought almost 700,000 new cars and trucks from late July through most of August. 
 
A post-program slump has hit some dealerships, but there are burgeoning signs of life in some sectors of the industry while many used car dealers are posting record years. Bruce Roffey of Village Motors in Conover, NC said that this year will probably be the companies best in a decade. “It’s about working smart, taking care of your customer base, and offering a better value proposition.”
 
“We have started to get little rumblings that maybe the consumer isn’t quite so flat on their back, that they have been responding to some of the incentive programs.” Rebecca Lindland, an automotive research director at IHS Global Insight, recently told Reuters.
 
For savvy consumers, there are some fantastic deals to be had on both new and used vehicles. But it’s also a good time to be cautious. Shoppers looking for that perfect car, truck or crossover need to do their homework and ensure they’re working with a legitimate dealer. In his Special Report - Eight Keys to a Better Deal (available free at VillageMotors.com),  Roffey puts twenty years of practical experiance marketing and selling used cars in Conover, North Carolina to work to help protect the retail buyer. Among the many valuable tips in his Special Report, Roffey says that finding a reputable dealership is critical.
 
One simple way to measure legitimacy is to make sure the auto dealer is professionally bonded. Dealers are required to post surety bonds with the state – these mandatory bonds ensure consumers and taxpayers are protected against financial harm in the event the dealer engages in illicit or illegal activity. 
 
Here’s a brief run-down of why he says consumers should purchase cars from adequately bonded agencies:
 
-Protection
Auto Dealer Bonds, often known as MVD bonds, ensure auto dealers comply with all applicable local and state laws.. These bonds also protect consumers against fraud – for example, if a dealer misrepresents merchandise or utilizes unethical business practices. Consumers wronged by bonded dealers can file a claim and recoup potential losses.
 
-Authority
Surety bonding companies scrutinize the financial health of dealerships before issuing bonds. In most cases, dealerships are on the hook to pay any claims filed against their bond. But there are rare times when the surety company winds up taking a loss and covering a payment for a newly bankrupt outfit. Either way, consumers have certainty that losses will be covered because of the surety company’s guarantee.
 
-Verifiable
Anyone can claim to be “licensed and bonded,” which sounds impressive and reliable. The reality is that consumers shouldn’t take anyone’s word for it. Auto dealer bonds are filed with each state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. Consumers can check with the agency to verify a dealer’s claims about proper bonding. 
Consumers should always conduct thorough due diligence before making a critical purchase like a new car or a home. Investigating the licensing and bonding of an auto dealer or real estate broker is a simple yet crucial step. To learn more about surety bonds, visitwww.suretybonds.com <http://www.suretybonds.com> .

About The Author: Bruce Roffey has spent the past 19+ years trying to  change the landscape of the car business and the bruised reputation of car salespeople all over the country. He is also the author of “Eight Keys to a Better Car Deal”. A consumer guide to buying used cars. (Downloadable free at www.VillageMotors.com.) Bruce is an active member of a Leedom and Associates Twenty Group, a gathering of the top Independant Dealers from across the country. He has participated in many automotive, finance, and compliance related courses of study and siminars, is an active member of the Carolinas Independant Auto Dealers Association, serving on the North Carolina Legislative Committee, and is a respected member of several online Professional Dealer discusion groups. Bruce is often called upon for his vast experiance and expertise in all things internet and social marketing. Bruce has lived a few hundred yards from Village Motors in Conover with his wife Angie and their two sons, Chad and Chandler, assorted dogs and cats, a bird, some fish, and a guinea pig, since 1990.