Category Archives: Godwin Motors

Sales Tax

Vehicle Sales Tax Increase in South Carolina on July 1, 2017

A notice to Godwin Motors customers:

South Carolina currently charges a vehicle sales tax of 5% with a maximum of $300 on the sale or lease of motor vehicles, boats, aircraft, and motorcycles. This SC sales tax cap of $300 has been in place since 1984. Both Georgia and North Carolina have since removed this cap. Georgia charges the sales tax on vehicles, which is 7 percent in most counties, while North Carolina charges a 3 percent highway use tax.

South Carolina will change this cap to $500 on July 1, 2017 costing you an additional $200 to purchase a vehicle. This can be as much as $9 per month if you are financing your purchase.

The time to act is now! If you purchase a vehicle before July 1 you will enjoy up to a $200 savings.

Have you purchased from Godwin Motors in the past? Did you know about Godwin Motors loyalty program? We lower your interest rate by 3% with each consecutive purchase. That is on average a savings of $600 when financing with us. What does all this mean to you? Purchase a new to you vehicle from Godwin Motors before July 1, 2017 and save up to $800.

View our inventory on the web at www.godwinmotors.com, give us a call at 803.252.8774 or stop by our West Beltline Blvd. lot. Let us help you.

Sources:
http://www.scnow.com/news/state/article_9462e73e-8732-5b7e-9aff-25b2d2a9b2f2.html
https://dor.sc.gov/tax/max-tax

It’s a popsicle party!

IT’S A POPSICLE PARTY AT GODWIN MOTORS IN COLUMBIA Celebrating the dealership’s 35 years in business

Godwin Motors of Columbia will celebrate 35 years in business by serving up 350 hand-made popsicles to families on Thursday, October 1st from 4:00 – 5:30pm at their dealership, 4032 West Beltline Blvd Columbia, SC 29204.

Families can drive up and choose a strawberry or oreo pre-packaged, hand-made popsicle, per person, handed to them in their vehicle. La Paletta Bar, a local small business also owned by a former employee of Godwin Motors, will be providing the popsicles. Popsicles will be provided first come, first serve until they are gone.


“We wanted to celebrate with the families who have supported us throughout the past 35 years, but also be good stewards of the socially distant times right now,” said Luke Godwin, General Manager and Owner of Godwin Motors. “Our dealership and service center would not be here today if it wasn’t for our customers who put their trust in our company for their car buying and service experiences.” 

Godwin Motors will also donate two vehicles to The Cooperative Ministries’ Auto Program as part of their 35 year celebration this fall. To date, Godwin Motors has donated eight vehicles over the past two years.

To contact Godwin Motors for a statement, please call (803) 252-8774 and ask for Luke Godwin.  www.godwinmotors.com

2016 Toyota Sequoia vs 16 chevy suburban

Compare the Toyota Sequoia vs. Chevrolet Suburban

Compare the Toyota Sequoia vs. Chevrolet Suburban

Are you looking for a full-size SUV, but you don’t know what make or model to purchase? Love the Tahoe, but it’s a bit too pricey. You may want to look at a few other models like a Chevrolet Suburban or a Toyota Sequoia. Each provide exceptional power and interior capacity, as well as impressive styling and tech. Here I will provide you with some information and thoughts from professionals on their take on the vehicle.

Safety and Warranty
The Suburban and Sequoia are matched when it comes to basic safety amenities. Both include features like full airbag systems, traction and electronic stability control, available blind spot warning systems, and daytime running lights. The Suburban comes with OnStar connectivity. The Suburban also has available safety features that the Sequoia doesn’t offer. These include crash imminent braking, full-time four wheel drive, collision warning, hill descent control, and cross-path warning. The Sequoia Limited has six airbags, but the Suburban 1500 LT is missing the driver’s lower airbag. Both have the usual brakes and child door locks that comes standard. The Sequoia has rollover resistance which is 1.7 times safer than the Suburban.

Fuel Efficiency and Cost
Whether you choose the two-wheel drive or all-wheel drive option for your new large SUV vehicle, the Suburban has the edge when it comes to fuel economy and range. The Suburban offer a fuel economy of 13 city mpg /17 highway mpg, while the Sequoia achieves up to 16 city mpg/23 highway mpg. You’ll also be able to go longer between fill ups with the Suburbans larger fuel tank capacity, which holds 4.6 additional gallons. The 2017 Suburban 1500 LT has a reasonable price ($45,795), while the 2017 Sequoia Limited is more expensive ($55,240.)

Power and Payload
If your goal is to tow and haul cargo, the Suburban has a clear edge. The Suburban’s maximum trailer towing rating exceeds the Sequoia by 900 pounds. The Suburban’s standard and maximum payload capacities are both 1796 pounds. The Sequoia is rated at 1250 pounds standard and 1350 pounds maximum. The Sequoia Limited is fairly powerful with a 381 Horsepower at 5,600 RPM, while a suburban has a 321 HP 5,400 RPM.

Passenger and Cargo Capacity
The Suburban offers optional seating for nine passengers, whereas the Sequoia is limited to eight seats.
The Sequoia Limited’s standard folding rear seat will get you extra cargo room; not available on the Suburban 1500 LT.

Both SVU’s give drivers access to the power, performance, and interior capacity they want. Your needs determine which one is the better choice for you. If you need seating for up to nine and the towing capacity to haul a small house, the Suburban might be a good choice for you. If you still want plenty of room for eight and additional horsepower to the rear wheels, the Sequoia might be the right choice. Which one would you choose?

History of Buy Here Pay Here Car Financing

History of Buy Here Pay Here Car Financing

Are you in the market to purchase a car? You have the money, a steady paying job, but not the credit. So you ask a friend for some advice about buying a car. According to your situation, they recommend you to purchase and finance your vehicle from a buy-here-pay-here (BHPH) car dealership, but you have no idea what that is.

BHPH is a method that car dealerships use for people who have little, no or even bad credit. It’s a one-stop shop process where the dealership is also the finance company. BHPH originated in the early 1970s during the savings and loan crisis. Unemployment was escalating and the economy was still in transition from a production based economy to a service based economy. As the prices of vehicles began to increase in relation to income, vehicles became unaffordable. In result, the start of the buy-here-pay-here dealerships were born.

So what does that mean to you? What are your possible benefits?

Godwin Motors has been a BHPH independent dealership since 1985 and is now the oldest buy-here-pay-here in Columbia, SC. Our motto since 1985 has been to provide a quality vehicle with unparalleled customer service. That means, we treat every customer like family. Godwin Motors has always gone the extra mile for their customers helping them out along the way. Our customers come into the dealership to either make payments, get oil changes or new brakes, look at new vehicles, or even rent a car for a weekend trip to a family reunion in the Lowcountry. It is not uncommon to have a client come to purchase their third vehicle, or for a second or third generation buyer to purchase their first car. Here are a list of benefits of buy-here-pay-here dealership, but especially Godwin Motors.

  • Finance approval
  • Test drive and paperwork can be done in as little as one hour
  • Payments made with Godwin Motors
  • Not a large out of town corporation
  • Godwin Motors reports to Equifax to help build client’s credit when payments are made on time.
  • Large selection of quality vehicles types:
    • Sedans
    • Coupes
    • Trucks
    • Crossovers
    • Vans and SUVs
  • Financing for bad or no credit with steady jobs and income
  • Current bankruptcy (with court approval)
  • Past bankruptcy and repossessions can be financed

history of BHPH, you should be ready to start looking for your vehicle. Godwin Motors has new inventory weekly and has a quick and easy purchasing process. So if you’re worried about your credit or that repo you may have had 5 years ago, don’t forget at Godwin Motors, We Finance You, Not Your Credit.

Halloween Trunk or Treat:

Halloween is less than one week away and our four and a half year old daughter has been ready since October 1st. This year she has chosen her costume to be Owlette – a PJ Mask character on Disney Jr. She loves that the costume is red, a superhero and has wings. She has already tested the costume out about twenty plus times running around the house. Her sweet innocent happiness that shows through her smile is, I think, what us parents hope for each day. At Godwin Motors we know how important our children are to all of us, and we hope you will join our family this coming Saturday, October 29th for our 2nd Annual Trunk or Treat Customer Appreciation event from 1:00-3:00pm. The event is open to the public with face-painting, crafts, refreshments and Halloween treats for the kids. We can’t wait to see the smiles!
Family picture on halloween

2016 Chevrolet Malibu exterior front white

Buy here, pay here car dealership near Columbia SC

Benefits of buying from a buy here, pay here dealership

Car shopping is never as simple as finding the car you are looking for and picking it up. Financing can be one of the most-stressful parts of the car-buying process. Godwin Motor seeks to make the car financing and car purchasing process as easy as possible. We are a buy here, pay here dealership, which gives us multiple advantages over conventional dealerships. There are many benefits of buying from a buy here, pay here dealership. Read the rest of this entry >>

Man inspecting the car

New Year Maintenance Checklist

A new year can bring a fresh start, resolutions, and new goals. Whether you are going to eat healthier, save more money, or find more time for family, you have mapped out some sort of plan on how to do those things in 2020. Just as we want to take care of our bodies and maintain a healthy lifestyle, our vehicles need the same kind of attention. The start of a new year is the perfect time to review a maintenance checklist for your vehicle. A checklist will help you schedule maintenance throughout the year and budget for some of the pricier items your car or truck may need. Then you can stick to “being a better car owner” this year!

No Hassle Maintenance (3-6 months)

Car maintenance doesn’t mean you have to go to a mechanic. Some of these items are things you can do yourself and are hassle-free. Here are some maintenance items you should check every 3-6 months:

Ensure Your Horn Works: There are people that never use their horn and would never know it wasn’t working until they needed it. Honk your horn ever so often to ensure it works.

Check for Fluid Leaks: Simply checking your garage floor or driveway for fluid puddles or stains can indicate a fluid leak.

Check Headlights for Damage: Make sure both headlights are working properly and make sure there are no cracks or darkened areas.

Check Tire Pressure: Newer cars have tire pressure monitoring systems that will alert you if your tire pressure goes below the expected level. If you have an older car without a TPMS, you can check with a tire pressure gauge or stop by a gas station that has one. It’s a good idea to check your tire tread and sidewalls at the same time.

Windshield and Wipers: Examine your windshield for any cracks and replace your windshield wipers if needed. Your washer fluid will need to be topped off as well.

Check Coolant Level: Add more if necessary.

Oil & Filter Change: Changing your oil and oil filter every 3,000 miles keeps your engine running smoothly.

Maintenance Matters (6-12 months)

Your owner’s manual can be a good guide to specific procedures and provide you with a vehicle repair list, but you’ll need to make sure to get these checked off your list every 6-12 months:

Brake Inspection: Don’t take chances with your brakes! Get them checked even if there aren’t any signs there’s something wrong.

Examine Your Spare Tire: Have you checked to see if you even have a spare tire? If you do, check the condition of the tire for any damage.

Check All Fluid Levels: This includes oil, coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, windshield wiper fluid, and power steering fluid.

Detail Your Vehicle: If you’re not in the habit of cleaning your car regularly than you’ll need a full detail (inside and out). This will help maintain the value of your car.

Polish Windshield and Headlights: You don’t realize how much dust and grime get layered onto your windshield and headlights. You’d be amazed at how this can reduce your visibility at night and in the rain.

Rotate Tires: You want to make sure your tires are wearing evenly to reduce damage and last longer.

AC Inspection: Don’t sweat it! Help keep your system running smoothly and operating efficiently.

Check It Off Your List

The experienced team at Godwin Motors has all the knowledge and the training that they need to operate on your vehicle and help you check these items off your list. We can do it all from oil changes, brakes and tires to transmission diagnosis. If you don’t know if it’s time for a bigger service item, like replacing an engine or timing belts or a tune-up, give us a call and we’ll be glad to let you know when to schedule that service. Head into the new year with a new appreciation for your vehicle!

Handshake

Buy Here Pay Here Financed Vehicles Columbia SC

Everyone has different circumstances. We understand that here at Godwin Motors, but we also understand that a lot of people require transportation to get to work and other necessary locations. If you’re in the market for a buy here pay here financed vehicle in the Columbia SC area, consider browsing our inventory, because we understand your circumstances better than most. Read the rest of this entry >>

Godwin Motors dealership in Columbia SC

Godwin Motors donates another car to Cooperative Ministry’s Autos for Opportunities

Godwin Motors used car donations Columbia, SC

Many of us have gone through the struggles of living paycheck to paycheck. It’s a difficult battle and can be overwhelming when you need to find a way to travel to and from work. Vehicles are expensive, especially on a limited budget. Our Godwin Motors family continuously strives to give back to the Columbia, SC community and provide quality, affordable vehicles to shoppers throughout the area. As a proud supporter of the Cooperative Ministry’s Autos for Opportunities program, our team is thrilled to have helped another one of our neighbors in need. Read the rest of this entry >>