A stock photo of a person breaking into a vehicle.

Stealing car radios has become outdated, thieves find new target

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Posted in Tips and Tricks

Why do people steal catalytic converters? 

Thieves have been breaking into other people’s automobiles since automobiles were first created. Many of us have had to deal with the violating feeling of knowing a stranger has been inside of our property. Car radios, easily seen valuables and the vehicles themselves continue to be popular targets of criminals. But over the last couple of years, these people are targeting a new component, the catalytic converter. So, why do people steal catalytic converters? Well, the answer is pretty simple, it is a valuable piece of equipment that is actually very accessible and easy to remove if the thief knows what they are doing. Our team thought it would be helpful to understand this phenomenon and provide you with advice to prevent having your catalytic converter stolen. Let’s take a look at what they came up with.  Read the rest of this entry >>

police car

Driving behavior, not vehicle color plays the biggest role in getting pulled over

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Posted in Tips and Tricks

Do red cars get pulled over more often? 

There are few harder decisions to make when buying a vehicle than picking out its exterior color. This is especially true when there is more than one buyer in the mix. During this occasionally laborious process, one of the questions that often gets asked is, ‘Do red cars get pulled over more often?’ We have to admit, this is one of those automotive things that a lot of us at Carizma Motors believed was true. However, we have recently learned this is actually not the case. A recent insurance industry study has quickly and clearly dispelled this as a myth and our team is very excited to share what they learned. Let’s take a closer look.  Read the rest of this entry >>

car insurance

Car insurance might be required but it doesn’t have to be expensive

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Posted in Financing, Tips and Tricks

How can I make car insurance less expensive? 

When someone is in the often arduous process of buying a vehicle, they must come to terms with their entire financial situation. Certainly, the price of the vehicle is important, but it isn’t the only number to consider. Buyers certainly need to understand annual maintenance costs, monthly fuel costs and, of course, insurance. Maintenance and fuel costs can be controlled a little bit by keeping up with oil changes and driving as efficiently as possible. The cost of insurance can also be mitigated if you know where to start. If you’re wondering, ‘How can I make car insurance less expensive,’ the financial wizards at Carizma Motors are here to help. Before we start, it is important to note: We are not licensed insurance agents. Your situation is unique to you. Consult a licensed agent for more specific information.  Read the rest of this entry >>

used car lot

Let us help get started on buying a used car, truck or SUV

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Posted in Tips and Tricks

Tips for Buying a Used Car 

Buying a car isn’t something that should be an impulse purchase. The team at Carizma Motors is here to help people through the hardest parts of the process, including finding financing. Over the years we’ve found the best tips for buying a used car almost always center around education and solid financial planning. Carizma Motors is a buy here, pay here dealership, meaning we really focus on people with less-than-perfect credit situations. However, we still encourage people to get their credit situation as cleaned up as possible before buying a vehicle. If you’re completely lost about where to start your journey toward buying a pre-owned vehicle, give these videos a watch and make an appointment with one of our product experts today to have any additional questions answered.   Read the rest of this entry >>

Automotive fluid leaks are a sign of bad things to come

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Posted in Tips and Tricks

What is leaking from my car? 

There are several different kinds of fluids necessary to run a vehicle. When one or more of those fluids start appearing outside of the vehicle, that is almost certainly a sign that something bad is happening. If you’re wondering, ‘What is leaking from my car,’ the automotive experts at Carizma Motors are here to help. For the most part, the three most common fluid leaks will be motor oil, engine coolant/antifreeze or transmission fluid. Knowing what you’re looking at can help you figure out the problem and how difficult or expensive it will be to repair. Let’s take a look at some information that you might be interested in knowing.  Read the rest of this entry >>

car in snow

Buying snow tires might seem tempting right now, but read this first

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Posted in Community, Tips and Tricks

Should I buy snow tires for my car in Texas? 

Texas is a wonderful state filled with great people. However, we are not set up for snow. If our northern friends want tips for beating hot, humid days, we can help. Drop a few inches of snow and ice on us and we are unprepared. After dealing with a week of these nearly unprecedented conditions, a lot of people have been asking us, ‘Should I buy snow tires for my car in Texas?’ This is an interesting question because snow tires are absolutely outstanding at doing what they are designed to do. However, given the general infrequency of meaningful snowfall in Texas, going this route might be overkill. Our team did a little homework to be able to give people the best possible information on this subject. Let’s take a look at what they found.  Read the rest of this entry >>

A stock photo of some people completing a deal.

A co-signer can be useful, but there are risks to be aware of

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Posted in Financing, Tips and Tricks

What does a co-signer do for a car loan? 

Very few people are going to be able to come up with several thousand dollars to buy a car, truck or SUV. Most Carizma Motors customers are not only coming to our dealership with the goal of buying a new (to them) vehicle but also looking for the most affordable financing options available to them. One of the ways someone with a low credit score can find a loan is to have another person with a higher credit profile act as a co-signer. So, what does a co-signer do for a car loan? A co-signer isn’t a character reference. Someone acting in this role is essentially promising to take over the payments if the primary borrower falls behind on the load. Let’s take a closer look at a few other helpful pieces of information.  Read the rest of this entry >>

fuel tank

Look, just keep your tank as full as possible, trust us

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Posted in Tips and Tricks

Why is it bad to drive on an empty gas tank? 

Hopefully, vehicle owners understand the importance of oil changes and regular maintenance in the 21st century, even if their cars might have been built in the last one. While cars, trucks and SUVs are more reliable than ever, there is still a hidden danger that lurks under the surface. So, why is it bad to drive on an empty gas tank? Well, the number one reason is that, eventually, you’ll get stranded somewhere inconvenient and possibly dangerous. A close second is that repeatedly running your gas tank to the bottom could cause major damage that will result in very expensive repair bills. Let’s take a closer look at some things you should know.  Read the rest of this entry >>

used cars for sale

You can avoid buying a lemon if you know what to look for

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Posted in Tips and Tricks

What should I look for when buying a used car? 

Carizma Motors is a pre-owned vehicle dealer. Each car, truck, van or SUV in our inventory is inspected to make sure it is as safe and reliable as possible. That sort of thing should be at the top of your list when deciding where to buy a vehicle. If you do decide to go out on your own and buy through a private sale, there are some things you should know. If you’re now wondering, ‘What should I look for when buying a used car,’ you’re in luck. Our most important tips include making sure you always look at a car during the daylight; examine all the sheet metal seems to make sure they are even and in line and finally sit in the car and use your nose to find troubling smells like mildew. These videos will help you come up with a checklist. Anyone with additional questions should contact a Carizma Motors product expert today.  Read the rest of this entry >>

car trade-in

Put yourself in a position to get the most for your trade-in

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Posted in Tips and Tricks

How do I boost the trade-in value for my car? 

Most people coming to Carizma Motors will be trading in their current vehicle to help them purchase their next one. We want to give you the best deal possible if you’ll be going this route and our team has come up with a few ways to answer the question, ‘How do I boost the trade-in value for my car?’ Depending on your current vehicle’s condition, you could have quite the hill to climb. However, the good news is that most of these things are pretty simple and may only require a little bit of money to be spent getting ready for the trade-in appraisal. Let’s take a look at a few things you might want to know.  Read the rest of this entry >>