Questions we get asked before people drive out

The seven that come up most on the phone and at the gate, answered the way we would answer them standing on the lot in Clovis. If yours is not here, call (559) 420-8300 and ask.

Do you tell me if a car has a salvage title?

Yes, before you ask. Every car we list states its title status — clean, salvage or rebuilt — before you ask. Carfax is available on request. Six of the thirteen cars we have ever listed carried a salvage or rebuilt title. It is not a rare footnote here — it is a normal part of the conversation, and we would far rather have it at the start than at signing.

Can you finance a car with a salvage or rebuilt title?

Most banks will not lend on a salvage title at all, so ask us before you assume the answer is no. What we can arrange depends on the car and on your situation, and we will not put a number on it before we have talked to a lender about you specifically. You can start a pre-approval online with basic details only — no social security number and no credit pull to begin — and somebody here will call you back with your options.

Do you buy cars that do not run?

Yes, most weeks. Dead engines, failed transmissions, salvage certificates and cars that have not moved in years are ordinary here, because we run the repair shop that would have to fix them. We look at the car in person rather than quoting from a form, and we pay what we quoted.

Can you find a specific car if it is not on your lot?

That is what the car finder is for. Tell us the make, model, year range, mileage ceiling and budget, and we work the dealer auctions, wholesale channels and our own trade network to find it. A refundable $500 deposit starts the search, and it comes straight off the price of the car you buy. If we cannot find a car that matches what you asked for, you get every dollar of it back. Most searches take about 1 to 3 weeks, depending on how specific your car is.

Do you have any cars under $5,000?

No, and we never have. The cheapest car we have ever listed was $5,499, and we have never had anything under $5,000. Below that around here you are generally looking at private-party sales, cars well past 200,000 miles, or something with a fault the seller has not mentioned. If that is a firm ceiling, buy privately and pay us to inspect it first.

Do you do towing or roadside assistance?

No. RALS does not tow and does not do mobile or roadside repair — everything we do happens in the bay at 1222 Barstow Ave. Towing from this address is Shako Towing, a legally separate business that shares the yard and the owner and has its own phone number.

Where are you, and when are you open?

We are at 1222 Barstow Ave, Clovis, CA 93612, serving buyers and sellers across Clovis, Fresno and the Central Valley. We are open Mon–Fri 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Sat–Sun 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Call (559) 420-8300 before you drive out if you want a particular car pulled round to the front for you.