Credit, financing, trade-ins and the stuff dealerships would rather not spell out. Written for people in Houston, East Texas and anywhere I deliver.
Steven’s 2027 Chevy Tahoe Z71 4x4 walkaround: what the listing shows, what to check on a three-row SUV, and what to line up before you finance.
Read itTDI added auto data on Oct. 15: why policies are declined, canceled or not renewed, by ZIP. What Texas car buyers should know.
Read itBLS: used-car CPI +0.7% in September, −1.5% year over year; Manheim wholesale −1.1%. What Houston buyers should focus on.
Read itCFPB: auto-loan inquiries often count as one within 14–45 days. How Houston buyers should compare APR and term.
Read itCox’s Dealertrack index hit 107.1 in September 2026, highest since 2015. More approvals, and longer terms, for Houston buyers.
Read itTexas dropped most safety inspections in 2025, but Harris and nearby counties still require emissions tests. What that means when you buy.
Read itBuying a car with someone? Texas lets co-owners sign Form VTR-122 so the survivor owns the car if one dies. Who can sign and how it works.
Read itThe FTC’s Oct. 8 proposed settlement with Greenway Auto Group targets advertised prices below real prices and fake prize mailers. What to check before you shop.
Read itThe IRS deduction covers up to $10,000 of interest on loans for new, U.S.-assembled, personal-use vehicles. Used cars and leases don’t qualify.
Read itTDI: Texas requires at least 30/60/25 liability, lenders require collision and comprehensive, and an existing policy usually covers a new car for about 20 days.
Read itFTC and NICB tips for Texas buyers: flood signs to look and smell for, what NICB VINCheck can and can’t show, and why an independent mechanic matters.
Read itTxDMV’s Lemon Law page: what’s covered, the four-times, safety-hazard, and 30-day tests, the six-month filing deadline, and the $35 complaint fee.
Read itCox Automotive’s Oct. 5 read: low-mpg vehicles are depreciating fastest, 40+ mpg vehicles are holding value, and loan rates rose. What it means for Texas buyers.
Read itUnder Texas HB 718, licensed dealers issue metal general-issue plates at delivery. What TxDMV tells buyers to keep in the vehicle—and how that fits a careful purchase.
Read itCFPB guidance when auto payments slip: contact the lender fast, get agreements in writing, and weigh refinance or sale options before repossession risk grows.
Read itFTC: manufacturer warranties and optional service contracts differ. How Texas buyers can compare coverage, spot “warranty expiring” scams, and keep add-ons off autopilot.
Read itFTC consumer guidance: pay for an independent mechanic’s inspection before you buy a used car from a dealer. History reports miss many mechanical problems.
Read itFTC staff say the advertised car price should be the walk-in price, including mandatory dealer fees. How Texas buyers can use the September 2026 FAQs on the lot.
Read itOwe more than your car is worth? The FTC and CFPB explain how negative equity gets rolled into a new loan, what it costs, and four steps to take before you trade.
Read itEvery used car on a dealer lot should have an FTC Buyers Guide. Here's how to read it, what "As Is" means, and why promises belong on the guide.
Read itThe FTC says scammers are cloning real dealership websites to take upfront payments for cars that don't exist. Verify the dealer, see the car, and never wire-only.
Read itBefore you hand over money in Texas, run the VIN through TxDMV’s Title Check. NMVTIS brands like salvage, junk, and flood are worth knowing early.
Read itAPR, term, add-ons, trade-in, and many fees are negotiable. Taxes and title fees are not. A plain-English checklist from Steven Wilson.
Read itCheck the APR, finance charge, amount financed, total of payments, and total sale price before you sign. A plain-English guide from Steven Wilson.
Read itTexas private-party used cars: tax is greater of price or 80% SPV. Soft /start—no invented lenders or approvals.
Read itSales tax is 6.25% of the price minus your trade-in; title, registration and the doc fee add a few hundred more. On a $30,000 car expect about $1,970–$2,230 total.
Read itThere's no required amount: some buyers put $0 down, others need money down to get approved. Here's what each $1,000 down actually does, and why your trade-in counts double in Texas.
Read itEIA Sep 22: US regular $4.478; Houston $3.863. Budget pump + payment—soft /start, no approval guarantees.
Read itCox weekly: Aug typical new payment $770; loan rates +~20 bps in two months. Soft Texas buyer guide—national averages ≠ your standing.
Read itDealertrack CAI: 31.3% of Aug loans >72 months; neg equity 57.4%. Soft Texas buyer guide—structure ≠ your payment.
Read itCox August new inventory: 2.68M units, 73 days’ supply; affordable under-$30k ~54 days. Soft Texas buyer guide—inventory ≠ your payment.
Read itManheim mid-Sept wholesale −1% to 206.2. Soft Texas buyer guide: wholesale is not your payment—start with a soft standing check.
Read itYes. Buy online with free Texas delivery and nationwide options outside Texas. Start in ~20 seconds with no credit check yet—no approval guarantees.
Read itYes. Live inventory is on the site, and filmed units include walkaround videos and full tours—so you can see the actual car, not a stock photo, before you commit.
Read itAmber Renee may not realize how much she taught me. Growing Kramer in Livingston—a town of about 5,400—and building a rare social reach for a store that size. Honored to call her friend, mentor, and boss.
Read itSame day, you typically find out where you stand—what you are approved for, what the monthly is built from, and what would move the number. Timing is typical, not a guarantee of approval.
Read itStarting here does not pull credit yet. Name and contact first; the full application — and credit check — comes afterwards.
Read itNo credit history is still financeable. First-time buyers are a normal part of this — here is how the first step works and what a same-day standing actually is.
Read itUsually yes. One dealership turndown is one set of lenders — not the whole market. Why shopping a different lender network can still produce a different answer for Houston and East Texas buyers.
Read itInflation stayed at 3.4% heading into the Sept. 16 Fed meeting. Here is what that means for auto APRs—and how to shop the rate you can actually get.
Read itA private sale usually brings a higher price, but in Texas a trade-in lowers your sales tax. Here's the break-even math and when each option wins.
Read itID, insurance, and payment for everyone; pay stubs and proof of address if you finance; title, payoff and keys if you trade in. Here's the full Texas checklist and what the dealer files for you.
Read itYes. Bad credit is not a wall — it is a price. How Houston and East Texas buyers get a same-day standing across a wide lender network, starting with a 20-second step and no credit check yet.
Read itTwenty seconds to start, and a real answer the same day.