September 16th, 2011 by Hal Moses
Many people today use Kelley Blue Book in order to determine vehicle values. It is the top source in determining market value of a vehicle and is used by not only the general population, but also by professional lending institutions when deciding on giving loans to people for new and used vehicles.
Kelley Blue Book offers various pricing information for all types of vehicles such as new and used cars, older classic style cars, recreational vehicles, and motorcycles. Pricing information is available when giving the make, model, and year of a car. This information includes MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price), dealer cost, any extra costs involved with transactions (such as car shipment), and pricing schedules for a variety of options selected by the buyer.
Retail value, trade-in value, and private party value are the three types of values for motor vehicles. Retail value is the price of a vehicle that the dealer asks for. Trade-in value corresponds to the price that an owner will receive from a dealership when a car is traded in. Private party value is the price that is settled upon between a private buyer and seller.
Kelley Blue Book consists of tables and charts that determine the value of a vehicle based upon the mileage, condition of the vehicle, and certain equipment and components of the vehicle. A description of how these things affect the value of the car is also included in the guide.
The Kelley Blue Book website has become a widely popular and widely used site on the Internet. The information is available for free on the site for everybody to use and search.
When you are looking to buy, sell, or trade your vehicle, Kelley Blue Book is the place to go to look at vehicle value in the market. No matter what kind of car you are looking to get, it is always smart to protect your investment with an auto warranty.
September 14th, 2011 by Hal Moses
It is always smart to make certain that the battery in your car is properly working. Keeping your battery in good condition will allow your battery to last for a longer amount of time. Here are some tips to help you extend the life of your car’s battery:
Before you turn off your engine, it is important to make sure that all electronics and other devices are turned off. Some important devices to turn off are your parking lights, your headlights, your radio, your interior lights, your car alarm, your windshield wipers, electrical units used for radio or video, and a navigational device. If you leave any of these things on for too long, your car’s battery will die. Also, forgetting to turn such devices off can harm the electrical system when starting the car with them on.
Always ensure that the battery is fully charged. If it is not, you will be unable to use the car for a couple of weeks. Make sure that if you drain your battery, you drive it around in order to allow it to recharge. If you drain the battery and leave the car to sit for a long time, the car will have a difficult time starting.
It is really important to prevent corrosion from occurring. Have your car’s battery cleaned to prevent deposits and corrosion from disrupting the electrical current from flowing properly.
Make certain that you have the cables on your car’s battery tightened, as well as have the brackets checked. If there is any corrosion they should be changed. If the brackets are not in good condition, the battery can vibrate and move around resulting in harm to the battery and other parts around it. The belts should also be checked because if they are not in good condition they should be changed because the battery will not be able to recharge correctly.
Maintaining your car’s battery can add up and become costly. However, investing in an auto warranty may help reduce the costs of maintenance.
September 13th, 2011 by Hal Moses
SUVs are available in various sizes and for a range of costs. They also allow you to get more uses out of your vehicle. You can carry a larger amount of people or cargo. SUVs also have the capability to drive on many different types of terrains. They are available in both car and truck based selections.
Car based SUVs are built on unibody platforms that resemble cars. They also are comprised of an independent suspension and all-wheel drive. This type of SUV can also be more fuel-efficient and have a smoother ride. Car based SUVs also have high ratings for CR testing.
Truck based SUVs have a body built on a frame platform. They are capable of towing and can drive on tougher terrains. These types of SUVs can also be hard to handle due to how large and bulky they can be. Truck based SUVs also tend to offer a less smooth ride.
SUVs are useful if you need to carry a large amount of cargo or if you need to transport numerous passengers. They are also good if you need to take your car off road because of their capability to handle rough terrains. No matter which type of SUV you choose, it is a smart idea to purchase an auto warranty to help you when you encounter problems with your vehicle.
September 12th, 2011 by Hal Moses
If your car breaks down, the repairs needed to fix the problem could be costly. However if you have an auto warranty, it can help reduce the cost of repairs. If you are buying a warranty for your car, these are some things you should always keep in mind:
1. Always remember to be a smart shopper. There are many various options for you to choose from, therefore it is extremely important for you to do some research before making a purchase. Do not allow yourself to be pressured into making a purchase that you do not want or need. A lot of the time, purchasing a warranty from a dealer will be more expensive than making a purchase from a private company. It may be smart to research aftermarket auto warranty companies to make your purchase.
2. It is very important to look up the repair history on your car’s make, model, and year in order to get an idea of what kinds of repairs you are going to have to pay for later on. It will help you pick a warranty that will be the most helpful in covering the costs of repairs.
3. Make sure that purchasing an extended auto warranty will actually limit your repair expenses over an extended period of time. Put a limit on how much you will be willing to spend on repairs for your car and then be sure to compare that to the actual cost of the warranty, and make sure that it will save you money in the end.
4. It is also important that the warranty company you do business with has reinsurance. Be sure that the reinsurer is well rated and look at the fine print of the vehicle service agreement to be sure that the name of the reinsurance company is written.
5. Most importantly, ensure that the warranty company you are doing business with is reputable. Check the company’s ratings to make certain that you are not dealing with scammers. This is especially important when doing online shopping. Check the company’s history, track rating, and reviews to be absolutely sure that you are dealing with a quality, dependable company.
It is always important to do your research before purchasing an auto warranty. Doing so will help you feel comfortable that you are getting a good deal on a warranty with a reliable warranty company.
September 7th, 2011 by Hal Moses
If you take good care of your car, it will help preserve your car’s value. If your car has a high value, you can sell the car later on for a good price. Here are five ways to care for your car:
1. Be sure to wash your car on a regular basis. Make sure clean water and quality car cleaning products are used to maintain the exterior of your car. By washing your car often, you can avoid build up of substances that can ruin the paint job on your car.
2. Be sure to take care of the interior of the car. Be sure to clean it on a daily basis by disposing of trash and vacuuming the entire interior. Use a deodorizer or air freshener every few weeks in order to keep odors out from things such as cigarette smoke, drink spills, and food stains.
3. Be sure to take care of your wheels and tires. You can do this by aligning your wheels and replacing your tires when necessary. Tire replacement should happen either every month or when there is wear and tear. To maintain the appearance of the tires, you can use tire black application. Properly aligning your wheels will make certain that you have stable steering and driving.
4. Be sure to properly care for your car’s engine and keep it in good condition. Engine care is extremely important to keep trade-in value of your car high. This is because most dealers determine the car’s value by the condition that the engine is in. To keep it in good condition, you should get oil changes at the recommended amount of mileage for your vehicle. The frequency of oil changes usually depends on the car’s age. Changing the car’s oil becomes more important as the car’s age increases.
5. The braking system should also be checked on a regular basis. This will make certain that you get the most efficiency out of your breaks. Also, gear oils should be checked regularly.
Therefore, keeping your car in good, quality condition will ensure that your car maintains a high value. The purchase of an auto warranty for your car can help reduce the costs of maintenance on your car.
September 1st, 2011 by Hal Moses
When your car breaks down there are numerous places you can go for repairs. In order to get the repairs, you can go to three different types of places. You can either bring your car to the dealership, an independent mechanic, or a national repair chain. With so many places to choose from, how can you be sure you are going to the one that works best for you?
In most cases, the dealership will have a higher labor cost than other repair shops. Labor usually makes up half of the cost of the bill. Labor costs added onto the repair costs can make the bill very costly. However, you should take into consideration the type of car you own and be sure if you take your car elsewhere, that they can actually fix the problem for you.
Some later model cars have intricate electronic systems, and unlike authorized repair shops, independent mechanics will not always have the necessary diagnostic equipment to obtain the error codes required to make the repairs that are needed. Therefore, an independent mechanic may take longer to diagnose the problem than a dealership mechanic would. Since the problems take longer to diagnose, you will be paying the extra labor costs for the extra hours put in to figure out the problem. However, if you find a mechanic you can build a relationship with and that you can trust to make necessary and quality repairs, it will be your best option.
Regardless of where you take your car for repairs, if you purchase an auto warranty for your car you can significantly reduce the cost of your repair bill.
August 24th, 2011 by Hal Moses
Trade-in value of a car has to do with whether or not the car is sought-after in the used car market. If you have a car that is in great condition, has an accident-free history, and has not had multiple owners, it is going to have good value. One of the most important factors in value is whether or not the car was taken care of properly and regularly serviced. If the owner had an extended auto warranty it was most likely serviced often and properly due to the fact that the owner did not pay the too many repair pills.
In order to figure out the value of a car that is being traded-in, appraisers will factor in things such as whether or not regular maintenance was performed on the car, as well as any major repairs that have been performed. Car’s that had been under warranty are the ones with the least mechanical issues because owners did not worry about getting repairs done in a timely fashion. This is because the warranty covered the costs of the repairs. These are the kind of cars dealers want to sell on their lots because they are the most reliable, and consumers look for reliability when purchasing a used car.
To ensure that you car has a high trade-in value, be sure that you regularly maintenance your car, as well as make necessary repairs in a timely fashion. To avoid paying massive amounts of money for such services and repairs, be sure to invest in an extended auto warranty.
August 17th, 2011 by Hal Moses
Investing in an auto warranty for your vehicle is a smart idea. Cars tend to break down at any moment and the cost of repairs can be very expensive. A lot of people can’t afford all of their car repairs due to how costly they tend to be. Therefore, purchasing new car warranties or used car warranties is the decision most people tend to make to avoid having to pay for all of their vehicle repairs. Auto warranties can be bought through the car’s manufacturer, a local car dealership, or through an aftermarket auto warranty company. Most new cars will have a factory warranty included, but when that warranty ends you can always purchase an extended warranty.
When purchasing a warranty for your car, keep in mind that there are two different kinds of warranties you can invest in. You can either purchase a bumper-to-bumper warranty or a powertrain warranty. A bumper-to-bumper warranty will cover the cost of repairs on most of the car’s parts, but excludes coverage on parts that need replacement due to scheduled maintenance. A powertrain warranty covers the cost of repair on the moving parts of the vehicle. For example, it will provide coverage for parts such as the transmission and the engine.
Purchasing a warranty for a new car is smart because even if the car has mechanical problems, you still need to make your monthly payments, but the cost of repairs will be covered by your warranty. Having to pay for both repairs and monthly payments can be heavy on your wallet, so in the end a warranty will pay itself off by saving you money on repairs.
August 16th, 2011 by Hal Moses
An extended auto warranty offers two different types of coverage. These two types of coverage are bumper-to-bumper and powertrain.
Bumper-to-bumper coverage offers a greater amount of coverage because it covers the most parts of the car. Usually when provided a list detailing the coverage, you will receive a list of parts that are excluded from the plan, because it is shorter. Bumper-to-bumper warranties are considered an exclusionary warranty because consumers are provided with a list of excluded parts from the coverage plan.
Powertrain warranties cover specific parts of the car that are considered the most important. The parts included in this are the transmission, the engine, and other parts of the car’s powertrain. These inclusionary coverage plans cover the more essential and expensive parts of the car. There are a lot of important things to know and research before purchasing a powertrain warranty:
1. Make sure you know exactly what parts are being covered in the auto warranty.
2. Make sure you are using the car for a long duration of time and be sure the coverage will still be active when you have high mileage.
3. See if you receive any coverage for additional accessories in the car.
Overall, be sure to know what type of warranty will suit your car’s needs. Compare prices and types of coverage between bumper-to-bumper warranties and powertrain warranties.
August 11th, 2011 by Hal Moses
Bumper-to-bumper warranties offer the most inclusive coverage for your vehicle. As with any warranty, there are some things that won’t be covered. Therefore it is important to do you research and know exactly what is and is not included in the auto warranty that you choose to purchase.
The good thing about bumper-to-bumper warranties is that they cover most major mechanical repairs as well as minor problems with your car. Another perk to purchasing a bumper-to-bumper warranty is that a lot of manufacturers will offer things like roadside assistance, free gas, towing service, periodic maintenance, car rental refunds, the occasional wear and tear, or coverage for issues with electronic equipment.
Usually, bumper-to-bumper coverage does not cover the things that are covered by other types of auto warranties. For example, it may not cover tires, rust, or emission control equipment, whereas other types of warranties might offer such coverage. More commonly wiper blades, exhaust system, break pads, belts, aftermarket accessories, hoses, rotors, light bulbs, drums, and damage caused by intentional abuse or an accident will not be covered by bumper-to-bumper coverage.
Also be sure to remember that some manufacturers will offer coverage only if you agree to take your car to the dealer’s repair shop for mechanical work. Therefore, before agreeing to a manufacturer’s warranty it might be a smart idea to look into an aftermarket auto warranty company to compare prices and coverage. After you do your research, you will be more likely to purchase a used car warranty or new car warranty that best suits your needs.