How MATS Works in the U.S.

MATS is a ministry who operates very much like a car dealership. We are able to locate almost any vehicle almost anywhere in the country.

Because of our operation model, we are able to operate on very low margins. There are two main reasons why we are able to significantly beat prices of dealers in your area:

• We have almost no overhead costs (land, buildings, etc.)
• We carry very little inventory and therefore avoid depreciation and interest costs that can add thousands of dollars to a dealer's cost of a vehicle.

Primarily MATS International gets vehicles three different ways, each having their own advantages depending on the situation:

• Our small inventory- if you are within driving distance of Indiana, this is a good option. The main advantages are that we can personally account for the condition and mechanical quality of the vehicle. This is the only viable option for a high-mileage vehicle.
• Purchasing from another dealer- the two main advantages to this are that the vehicles are bound to be in excellent condition because they are currently for retail sale, and we know exactly how much the vehicle will cost. We are also able to find out more details because we can speak directly with the dealer.
• Auction- MATS uses two auction networks that have auctions located in cities all across the country. We are able to purchase vehicles at these auctions (by use of an online broadcast) and have you drive there and pick them up. The main advantage to this is simply price. You are buying a vehicle at slightly higher than wholesale and well below retail.

F.A.Q.

How does the process work?

Once we know the range of vehicles that you are interested in, we will give you a list of the different ones available at the auctions or dealers near you. At a minimum, this information will include year, mileage, exterior and interior color. The best thing is to be as flexible with these details to allow us to buy you the vehicle with the best value. After the vehicle is purchased, the paperwork and a temporary license plate will be mailed to you. In addition, a temporary receipt/buyer's order will be emailed to you to allow you to take care of insurance and financing (unless you'd like us to help with financing). At this point, please mail us a check for the total amount due. If you are financing with us, please mail a check for the amount of your down payment. We are happy to do your financing for you with our bank network or you may finance on your own in your area. After you receive the permanent paperwork and temporary license plate, you will then be able to go to the auction to pick up the vehicle.

How does the pricing work?

Based on past auction data and information on what these vehicles are selling for in your area, we will be able to predict the auction price to within about a $500 range. In most cases, we will be right in the middle of that number. In some cases, it can go to the top, and in rare cases, even higher. We just need to know when you want us to stop bidding because it is no longer the best offer. On a dealer owned car, we can tell you exactly how much it will cost.

How can you ensure the quality of the vehicle?

The first thing we do is read a pre-auction inspection report that will tell us any dents, dings, or scratches on the vehicle and their severity. The inspection also gives an overall rating of the vehicle's condition. We do not buy any vehicles that are below average. Also, almost every vehicle that we buy sight-unseen is still under factory warranty. Therefore, if there is an unseen mechanical problem, the manufacturer will fix the problem at no cost to you. Lastly, if you desire additional protection, we have warranty options listed below.

I've heard that vehicles at auctions are junk. Is this true?

This is a common misconception, primarily because small local auctions can be that way. However, almost all of the vehicles that we purchase are coming straight out of rental or lease and are low-mile, well maintained, low risk vehicles. You may not know it, but these are the exact vehicles that end up on the lot of your local car dealers. The only difference will be that they may have had a few small dent repairs and will be charging around $1500 more than we will.

What details will I know about the car?

In addition to the basics mentioned above, we would be happy to provide a detailed options list and any dents reported on any vehicle that you are particularly interested in from the original list.

Am I able to see/drive the vehicle before purchasing?

If you are buying something from our inventory in Indiana, of course you can. But if we are getting it at another dealer or at an auction, you cannot. On some of the vehicles, we can get pictures, but you have to be a dealer to go into the auction.

What if I pick it up and something is wrong with it?

If the vehicle is under factory warranty, any mechanical issue will be fixed by any dealer of that manufacturer. As far as condition, we counsel people to be prepared to spend $200-300 reconditioning the vehicle. Considering that you're most likely saving over $1000 by purchasing this way, this is still well worth it. Most people pick the vehicle up and spend only $5 on a car wash and are completely satisfied. However, some find it necessary to get the vehicle detailed (around $100) or take it to a paintless dent repair shop (approximately $50/dent) to remove a few dents. If damage is more significant than $300 and we were not aware of this, we will work with you to get the issue resolved. In the end, we will ensure that you are still better off financially by choosing MATS over your next best option. If the vehicle is an absolute disaster, you will not be forced to purchase. In our history, we have yet to have this happen!

What kind of warranty options do I have?

MATS International always strives to give our ministry customers the lowest possible price on any vehicle. However, we also understand that customers want to have confidence that they are getting the highest quality vehicle possible. This, of course, is a difficult combination if MATS is to maintain financial solvency as a non-profit ministry.

For this reason, we have developed a new warranty policy that we feel is in the best interest of both the ministry buyer and MATS. We have developed a list of warranty options that are available on almost any vehicle:

• Factory Warranty - This is by far the best available option. In almost every case, we do almost everything we can to get customers into vehicles that have at least some factory warranty remaining. Most vehicles are 3 year / 36,000 miles, but some now have 4 year / 50,000 warranties. In this case, any car you buy from us or pick up at an auction is covered bumper-to-bumper at 100% of any problems. The major things not covered by most factory warranties are: brake wear, tire wear, or accident damage.
• Auction Warranty (if you are picking up directly at an auction) - For $100 for 7 days or $125 for 14 days, an auction will offer MATS a warranty against major mechanical issue and even frame damage discovery (from a previous accident). If you are picking this vehicle up at an auction and it's NOT covered by a factory warranty (and we haven't inspected it), we would highly recommend at least getting this option.
• Extended Warranties - MATS can sell you an extended warranty from one of a number or reputable warranty companies we work with.
• MATS 30 day 50/50 warranty (<80k miles) - All vehicles that MATS sells that are out of factory warranty but have less than 80,000 miles come with a 30 day / 1,000 mile "good faith" warranty. In other words, if something breaks on the vehicle (or was broken when you got it and we missed it) within 30 days, we will in good faith work together to resolve the issue and will cover ½ the cost of the repair. Operating on very small margins as we do prohibits us from making the same kind of promises a regular dealer can, but we certainly want to make sure that at the end of the day, you were better off going through MATS than any other source. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer a warranty on vehicles w/ 80k+ mileage.

At what point am I financially committed to a vehicle?

After you give us the word to purchase the vehicle on your behalf.

Can I buy an inexpensive/high mile vehicle at an auction that isn't close to Indiana?

You can, but we strongly recommend against it. This would certainly be a way to get a high-mile vehicle for a lower price than you could elsewhere, but we could not vouch for the mechanical quality whatsoever. If you are willing to take on 100% of the risk, we are happy to purchase for you.

Am I required to pay sales tax?

You will pay Indiana sales tax (6%) and will receive a credit for the amount paid when you go to the BMV to register and pay tax in your state. If your state's sales tax is below 6% we will issue a document stating you did not take delivery in Indiana and therefore avoiding Indiana sales tax. You will then pay the full amount of your state's sales tax when you register. If your state's sales tax is higher, you will be required to pay the difference when you register.

• For example, if you purchase a $10,000 vehicle and live in OR (0% sales tax), you will pay $0 to IN and $0 to OR.
• If you live in CA (8% sales tax), you will pay $600 to IN and $200 to IN.