Cars have been the best invention ever!
They have brought a greater change in our life than any of us could ever
imagine. Our lives are altered and our social existence has undergone a
great change because of the four-wheels. And, well what has been at the
centre of everything? Detroit. It is the city in which the dream of
automobiles was conceived.

Since the establishment of Ford Motor
Company by Henry Ford, Detroit has never paused. The Hockey town has
steadily grown from a sleepy residence to the hub of sleek cars.
Detroiters are known all over the world for their love of car. Their
passion for cars can be seen by the huge turnout in the ongoing 2012
Detroit Auto Show.

When automobiles are your passion, you want
nothing but the best. This article is an attempt to help you get that
best car. It will give you a detailed explanation of making the perfect
car purchase.

New or old- car buying can spell trouble if done
haphazardly. So, let\'s set the ball rolling and begin our journey of
buying a splendid automobile.

How Will You Bring It Home?

There\'s no such thing as a free lunch. You have to pay for each and everything. And, cars are no different.

Buying
a car is not like ordering Jet\'s Pizza. You need to think a lot more
and prepare a budget. You must understand that a car requires huge
commitment on your part. Several expenses will have to be borne. Not
only the cost of car, but there are other expenses like registration and
title fees, State taxes, insurance, fuel, maintenance, etc.

Make
sure you don\'t have any major expenses coming up? If so, you will have
to save on it and making a decent down payment will become difficult.
So, take a wise decision.

Old or New Is like Smokes and Mirrors

The
question of choosing an old classic or a sparkling new beauty can be
clearly declared as the dilemma of the millennium. If you have simply
loved the new 2013 Acura RDX or the Ford Fusion at the Auto Show, you
can think of buying a new car. A new car means high investment in the
beginning. But, it will definitely have lesser maintenance cost in
future.

If you are someone who believes that cars tell a story,
pre-owned cars is your option. The Motor City provides you several
alternatives when it comes to used cars. Detroiters simply love cars and
experiment buying several different makes and models. This means people
sell their cars every year. With the beginning of the Auto Show, there
are higher chances of trade-ins so that people can buy cars that were on
display. This makes the best time to buy a used car as there will be
high supply of used cars and on the other side, less people will be
asking for it. This puts you in the commanding position. You can
negotiate more fiercely.

Detroit is blessed with four distinct
seasons. You need a car that can combat the cold and stormy winters and
the occasional summer down pour. So, choose a car that is well suited
for all seasons.

The Detroit household\'s median income for
2005-2009 was $ 29,447 (U.S. Census Bureau). This means monthly income
comes to something around $2400. If you consider all expenses of rent
and utility, there will still be $200- $ 400 which can be spent on
monthly payments. So, you must set your eyes on a car that is well
within this range.

New or old- it all depends on your choice. The clearer you are; the easier it will be to narrow down your choices.

How To Cherry Pick Your Car?

While
selecting a car, you must do a thorough research. Ask your friends.
Also, read expert comments and reviews about a particular model.
Websites like the autofocusdetroit.com, detroitnews.com and freep.com
can help you with new developments in the automobile industry.

Hedge
your bets by selecting few cars. If you choose just one car and it
doesn\'t have a good history, you will have to make a fresh start.

If
any of the chosen cars is a pre-owned, make sure that you get its VIN.
Check its history. If it\'s been salvaged, it\'s better to stay away from
it. Also, ask your trusted mechanic to check it.

Last But Not the Least

Once
you are sure about your car, all you need to do is get it registered at
the Detroit SOS Branch Office. The city follows laws of the State of
Michigan. Here\'s a list of offices located around the Rock City.

1. SOS Branch Office
550 Washington Blvd.
Detroit, MI 48226

2. SUPER!Center Branch Office
3046 W. Grand Blvd.
Detroit, MI 48202

3. SOS Branch Office
8717 Joseph Campau Street
Hamtramck, MI 48212

4. SOS Branch Office
7760 W. Vernor Highway
Detroit, MI 48209

5. SOS Branch Office
14301 Woodward Ave.
Highland Park, MI 48203

Most
branches are open on weekdays from 9 to 5. On Wednesdays, the office is
open from 11 to 7. This is only true for those located outside the city
buildings. You must remember that the SUPER! Center and PLUS offices
are open for more hours.

You will have to get the vehicle\'s title
within 15 days of the purchase. Late registration fees are $15. Title
transfer fee is $15 and you will also have to pay 6% use tax.

Applying
for the title requires you to have the proof of vehicle ownership and
valid identification. The Michigan Law and Federal Law require the
disclosure of actual odometer reading while transferring or assigning
car title. You can avoid it if your vehicle is not self- propelled, is
older than 10 years, or weighs more than 16,000 pounds.

If you
want to buy a new license plate, a valid Michigan no fault insurance
certificate is required. It will be fun to choose your plate from
several designs. If you have 1984 model or a newer vehicle, license
plate fees will be calculated as a percentage of the MSRP. If it\'s older
than that, the fee is calculated by taking into account the weight of
vehicle.

You also have the option of transferring your old
license plate. You will need your current valid registration and title
of the new car to which you want to transfer the plate. This will cost
you $8.

You will go to the SOS office without a car to your name,
but will leave with your dream car. So, this is how the car buying
process can be done.

Don\'t wait anymore to drive your dream car.
Allow yourself the privilege of a car and revel yourself in the glory of
a city that breathes and thrives on cars.

Best of Luck!