Auto Warranty News

It is a huge disappointment to buy a vehicle just to find out that it literally has an ocean of problems.

Unfortunately, there are a large number of vehicles on the market within the last five years that have experienced flooding, rain or hurricanes.  In fact, the number of cars has doubled.  In certain states it has been reported that there has been an increase of six times more cars damaged by water than five years ago.

Many times, cars with water damage are moved from flooding regions to areas that are less suspicious.  The cars are then back on the used car market, often disguised and rebuilt.

It can be difficult for consumers to be able to recognize if a vehicle has experienced water damage, and yet the car will literally rot inside and out.  In addition, the mechanical systems of a vehicle can be threatened or ruined without any visible signs on the exterior of the car.

Sales this year are predicted to reach around 45 million this year, so motorists should be on alert for water damage.  In addition, purchasing an auto warranty is a smart idea to protect your wallet in case of unforeseen repairs down the road.

An extended auto warranty can bring motorists peace of mind.  However, drivers need to get the most out of their auto warranty by keeping documents organized and asking the right questions.  Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your auto warranty.

Often times an extended auto warranty requires service records.  This is why it is necessary to keep your records straight.  Create a central location for your records if you don’t already have one.  This will alleviate frustrations down the road when you are trying to locate documents.

Don’t just rely on your computer to keep records.  Print hard copies of records if you buy an auto warranty online.  You never know when your computer will be down, and it could be when you need your auto warranty.

Make sure to read everything in the auto warranty.  If something isn’t written in the contract, then it isn’t covered.  Never make assumptions when it comes to your auto warranty.

Finally, make sure that you have contact information accessible to you at all times.  This will make things easier when you have a claim.

When looking to buy a new vehicle it is important to consider crash test ratings, electronic stability control, and rollover resistance.  When evaluating a car for safety, remember to look closely at the following.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducts crash tests on vehicles.  They rate vehicles based on results in frontal crashes and side impacts.  Paying attention to these scores will help make a good choice when it comes to vehicle safety.

Electronic stability control is a highly recommended safety feature.  This will help your vehicle stay under control when cornering.  It will help you avoid sliding and skidding by selectively applying brakes to one or more of the wheels.

Vehicles that are tall, such as SUVs and pickup trucks have a higher likelihood of rolling over.  To determine a vehicle’s inclination for rollover NHTSA has a five-star rollover rating.  You can access these ratings at www.safercars.gov.

Consumers are becoming more and more concerned with protecting themselves.  They are purchasing new car warranties and buying vehicles with added safety features.  Taking these simple steps allow drivers to have peace of mind.

Ideally, people like to take their time to purchase a new vehicle, but some drivers just can’t wait a month or two.  A theft, accident, or breakdown may leave you scrambling for something to drive.  Here’s a strategy to help you buy quickly, but wisely.

First, think about the car that you just had.  If you loved everything about it, you can purchase the same car.  However, most likely there were a few things about your car that weren’t ideal.  Maybe you needed more cargo space, more legroom, etc.  Let your old car problems be a guide for your new purchase.

Next, calculate what you can spend monthly on a new car.  You can go to CNNMoney.com to find calculators that help you determine what you can afford.

Now, its time to do some research.  Look at vehicles online in your price range that meets your specific criteria.  You can begin to eliminate cars that don’t have exactly what you need.  Make sure to read reviews on the cars that you like.

Finally, contact a dealership and go in and test drive the 3-4 vehicles you favored.  Even though you are looking to purchase fast, make sure to tell the dealer that you’re not going to buy that day.

Doing research will allow you to get the car that you want for the best price possible.  In addition, make sure you purchase an auto warranty to avoid unnecessary repair costs down the road.  After all, you never know when you will need repairs.

Often motorists get sticker shock or experience buyer’s remorse after buying a new car.  However, you can avoid this by considering the expenses that you will encounter in the future.

According to experts, most consumers anticipate the price of the purchase, registration and taxes.  However, many people forget to factor in the price of insurance and new car warranties.  Fortunately, by doing your homework you can get good deals on insurance and an auto warranty.

To control car costs drivers should consider these tips.  First of all, decide before you get to the dealership the amount of money that you can spend.  Also, decide on what type of car will suit your needs. It is also beneficial to get quotes from several dealers, because then you are in the position to negotiate.  Finally, check insurance and auto warranty prices on the vehicle that you want to purchase.

You don’t have to go broke purchasing a new car.  But, be smart and consider all of the costs involved.  It isn’t just the purchase price that you will be paying.

It’s obvious that car manufacturers have dragged their feet on developing fuel-efficient vehicles.  But it isn’t conspiracy theories that have slowed them down.  Americans have talked about fuel-efficiency for years, but when it came time to purchase an automobile, people didn’t really care about mpg.  They bought the vehicle that they really wanted, complete with an auto warranty to protect it.

Recently, J.D. Power and Associates did a study with 100,000 car shoppers asking drivers to rank what their buying priorities are.  Any idea where fuel economy ended up on the list?  It was eighth place.  Reliability came in 1st, and even image and performance were cited as being more important than fuel economy.  This survey comes at a time when gas prices are nearing $4 per gallon, and the war in Iraq is a daily reminder of how much we need energy independence.

Money is what talks, and car manufacturers listen.  If it were between a fuel-efficient hatchback and the giant SUV with a V8 and advanced technology, we know which way the money will go.  After all, auto manufacturers are capitalists and are happy to oblige.  Especially when you consider that they earn at least $5,000 in profit for a luxury sedan or SUV, and the small car results in a loss.

There has been a drastically changing landscape for the SUV market over the past year.  Driven by the poor economy, truck-based and full-size SUVs have declined in favor of car-based SUVs that are smaller.  MSN Autos has also experienced this trend among car searches.

The most popular SUV is the most popular, and best selling SUV in America.  Following close behind is the Toyota RAV4.

Three vehicles by Ford are also among the most popular SUVs.  The Ford Escape, as well as the Escape Hybrid follow behind the RAV4, and the Ford Edge comes in 10th place.  One prime example of how America’s taste for SUVs now differs is the difference in the lineup by Ford.  The Ford Explorer was the top selling SUV two years ago, however now the Explorer isn’t a best seller.

New Nissan SUVs, the Rogue and Murano have experienced great popularity, coming in fifth and seventh.

With the high fuel prices, and poor economy, consumers are staying away from big SUVs that guzzle gas, and instead are purchasing smaller SUVs.  In addition, motorists are trying to protect their wallets by purchasing an auto warranty.

If you are shopping for vehicles, you may realize that some cars cost more because of the paint job.  Paint can add an extra expense of up to $1,000.  This can feel like a big expense after factoring in other vehicle expenses, such as maintenance and new car warranties.  It’s difficult for people to believe that a fancy yellow paint job can cost an extra $1,000.  The big question is will you get back that extra money when it is time to put your car up for sale?

Most people don’t realize that a paint job involves more than just a spray can, like in years past.  Clearcoat and metallic finishes require multistage operations.  This means that operations have a greater expense on the assembly line.

However, car manufacturers have figured out a new way to make profit.  They hike up the cost of some of their distinct colors.

When it is all said and done, fancy paint colors will only tack on a minimal value when it comes time to sell your vehicle.  Also, beware, because some of the more obscure colors can actually lessen the value of your car.  Keep in mind that the most popular colors on a vehicle are shades of gray.

Modern cars provide safety for adults, but it is up to parents to provide the special protection needed for children.  However, there are many different types of Child seats out there today, which can make it confusing for adults to know what to choose for their child.  There are three different types of seats.

Infant car seats are designed to be rear facing.  These seats are for infants that weigh less than 20 pounds and are less than one year old.  One advantage to this seat is that you can unclip it from its base and carry your baby in it.

Convertible seats offer versatility.  These seats can be used with infants that are rear facing, or children less than 40 pounds that are forward facing.  You can purchase these seats in various configurations; so make sure you do your homework to secure your child correctly.  These seats are cost effective because with this type of seat you don’t ever have to purchase an infant seat.

Booster seats are intermediate seats between the infant or convertible seat and a seat belt.  These seats are designed for kids between 40-65 pounds and face forward.  These seats come in low-back and high-back models.  You don’t want to buy a low-back type if you have a child whose head is above the top of the back.

Don’t get overwhelmed with the child safety seat options.  Do your homework so you know what to look at when you go to the store.  It is important for you to be responsible for your child’s safety.  This includes purchasing an appropriate car seat and having a road service program so that you don’t find yourself stranded on the side of the road with your child.  In addition, protect yourself with an auto warranty to protect yourself from added expenses down the road.

If you’re planning to purchase a used vehicle you need to find out as much as you can about it.  The car could have problems that you can’t detect by looking at it.  In order to understand the car that you are getting, get a vehicle history report.  This will give you combined information from DMVs, RMVs, and police reports about the car that you are looking at.  Here are some things to consider when looking at the vehicle report.

Determine if the car has had many owners.  You are better off with a car that has had fewer owners because there is more of a likelihood that the car has been taken good care of.  Although inexpensive, rental cars will have undergone a great deal of abuse.

Also, consider the location that the car has been in.  This is important because some climates are harsher on cars.  For example, winter conditions are hard on cars because of salty roads.  Obviously, excessive heat and flood areas are also of concern.

Finally, make sure that the name and description on the history report actually match the vehicle you’re looking at.  This will help avoid types of fraud, such as vehicle identification number cloning.

A used car is a great way for people to save money and get a great car.  Just do your homework to make sure you are getting a good buy.  You need to consider the costs of used car warranties, auto insurance, and maintenance costs.  An auto warranty is a good way to get peace of mind when purchasing a used vehicle.