There are millions of traffic tickets issued out every year in the U.S., which often cost over $100.  This is a billion dollar business in our country.  Paying the ticket through the mail is essentially admitting that you’re guilty.  Also, you will have the ticket on your record at the DMV for up to three years.  So, is it possible to wiggle out of a speeding ticket?  Here are a couple of things to try.

First of all, if you get pulled over for speeding, stay in your vehicle.  You should never get out.  When the policeman approaches your window, try to look remorseful.  Make apologies to the officer and be polite.  Be nice, and ask for a warning.  Don’t try to answer questions, such as: “Do you know why I pulled you over?”  Tell the officer you aren’t sure.

Don’t pay the speeding ticket by mail because it means you are admitting you’re guilty.  In the U.S. you are considered innocent until proven guilty, so show up at court.  Often, the police officer will make mistakes leading to the dismissal of your ticket.  For instance, the officer might not go to court.  Many times you will get your ticket changed to a lesser charge by showing up at court.  For example, they might change it to a parking ticket from a speeding ticket.  This is beneficial because it won’t increase your insurance and will give you fewer points on your license.

Many motorists assume that if they are given a speeding ticket that they should just pay it through the mail.  However, it is a much better idea to make an effort to get out of it so you don’t have to pay an increased insurance premium.  After all, we factor in costs such as an auto warranty and maintenance costs, but don’t consider speeding tickets and raised insurance.

If you are thinking of buying a new car, don’t just rely on professional expertise; make yourself a professional expert as well.  This includes taking certain measures such as doing your homework and researching an auto warranty.  You can be empowered by arming yourself with the following information about purchasing a used vehicle.

Examine the pedals to check for wear.  Rarely do people update the pedals, so this is a good indication of the cars true history.

Next, take a look at the steering wheel.  While the engine is turned off, joggle the wheel to see how much movement there is.  There shouldn’t be more than one inch of play.  If there is, a new steering gearbox may be needed.

Never buy a car that has frame-damage.  You can tell this by looking at the core support of the radiator.  This connects to the fenders in the front of the vehicle.  It shouldn’t be welded on each side, but bolted.

Finally, check the paint job on the vehicle.  Look for dents, scratches and rust spots.  Also, examine the car for a slight waviness, which is an indication of a paint job.

Most importantly, check the history of the vehicle you are looking to buy.  You can do this at autocheck.com.

No matter how much knowledge you have, you never really know what car you are buying.  This is why it is important to buy used car warranties to protect your investment.  You don’t want to pay unnecessary repair costs down the road.

A lot of people use major vehicle hire companies like Avis, for rental cars on vacation.  Yet, consumers don’t often realize that these firms are a great source to purchase used vehicles.  Avis is in the business of car rentals, but they often sell their vehicles.  Buying a used vehicle from a company such as Avis allows for big savings.  This gives you more money in your pocket to put towards an auto warranty.

The cars that Avis sells are over a year old.  This allows Avis to make room for new vehicles.  This means that Avis has a current, well maintained fleet.  Popular car models often end up being sold early, after a certain mileage number has been met.

Another bonus of purchasing a used car from Avis is the metallic paint on the exterior.  You usually don’t find this on cars sold by a dealership.  Often, drivers are hesitant to purchase a used car from a rental firm because they are afraid the car has endured a lot of wear and tear.  After all, many people have used the vehicles.  Yet, Avis says that their vehicles for sale are less than six months old and have less than 13,000 miles.  Also key is that many times the vehicles still have a valid auto warranty.

Often motorist 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.

If you’re thinking of purchasing a small SUV you’re in luck because there are many good choices.  Compact SUVs offer practicality, fuel-efficiency, and nice style.  In fact you can find many models for under $25,000 complete with an auto warranty.  So what are the best and worst models to consider?  Read on.

The Honda CR-V is the #1 compact SUV.  It scored the highest for performance, safety, and interior.  According to reviewers, it drives really well, has a sleek design and offers ample storage room.  Following close behind, the Toyota RAV4 comes in second place in its class.  This vehicle has a surprising amount of power for its size. It now offers a V-6 engine, as well as a third row seat. The RAV4 was the first compact SUV in its class over a decade ago.  Coming in #3 is the Subaru Forester.  This SUV is known for being a fun, family-friendly vehicle.  Reviewers complained about the exterior being bland and the balky transmission, but were willing to overlook these things because it had some great positive features.

Unfortunately, there are some compact SUVs that didn’t rank as well.  In last place was the Saturn Vue Hybrid.  According to reviewers, it isn’t very refined and isn’t as fuel thrifty as many other hybrids.  Also at the bottom of the list is the Mazda Tribute because its power and handling doesn’t match its competitors.  Finally, the Jeep Compass drives more like a car, but doesn’t have the sportiness or off-road capabilities that other Jeeps have.

If you’re looking to buy a compact SUV, there are many great choices out there.  The most important thing is to do your homework and make sure you are choosing wisely.  Also keep in mind the cost of an auto warranty, maintenance costs and auto loans when determining your budget.

Although cars of today don’t require maintenance as regularly as the cars of the past, they still need a maintenance schedule.  This will ensure that your car has a long, healthy life span.  Consulting your owner’s manual for the service schedule that your car requires can save you from having to call your road service program.  Here are a few maintenance mistakes that you should avoid.

Many people fail to check their tire pressure.  Underinflated tires can cost you more at the gas pump and wear out sooner.  You should check your tires twice a year.

As simple as it may seem, motorists forget to replace their windshield wipers.  This should be done once a year to ensure that you have good visibility through your windshield.

Recent cars don’t need regular tune-ups.  This is because valves don’t need adjusting and there aren’t any carburetors to mess with.  Make sure to do your big car service at 60,000 and 120,000 to replace spark plugs, timing belts, and coolants.

Finally, change your oil according to your car’s owner’s manual.  They don’t have to be done every 3,000 miles like in days past.  Also, use the oil recommended for your car.

Regular maintenance is necessary for your car to keep you from calling for emergency roadside assistance.  However, don’t make maintenance mistakes that could cost you extra money.  And always invest in an auto warranty to save you from paying unnecessary car expenses.

When some people think of pre-owned vehicles, they visualize dirty, old, junky cars.  But there is another market, certified pre-owned cars, which are making savvy buyers take notice.

Certified pre-owned vehicles have had thorough inspections and refurbishing.  This eliminates the concern about reliability that often goes along with purchasing a used car.  Also, certified pre-owned cars are backed by an extended auto warranty. These benefits are hard to pass up.  Automakers understand that they shouldn’t ignore the popularity of the certified car market.

A recent study revealed that since 2000, certified pre-owned sales have risen 46%.  In fact, approximately 1.5 million of these cars are sold every year.  That is the equivalent to around 10% of new car sales.

How do you know the best and worst certified pre-owned vehicles to buy?  Forbes.com has a list that will assist motorists in making a good purchase.

The Honda Accord and Toyota 4Runner come in at the top of the list.  Next, is the Acura TL, followed by the Subaru Impreza.  The Lexus GS also comes in high on the list.

The worst cars on the list are the Saturn Relay, and Jeep Grand Cherokee.  Also making the worst list are the Pontiac G6, Volkswagen New Beetle, and Mercedes Benz E Class.

Certified pre-owned vehicles offer an updated car without the updated price.  Also key is that they come with an auto warranty.

Luckily, as of now, not all of the economic news is tragic.

According to economists from Comerica Bank, vehicles have currently become more affordable than has been seen in 28 years.  So, the last time vehicle shoppers’ purchases made up this small of a piece of his or her income, fuel prices were higher than ever and comedians were telling jokes about how old presidential candidates were.

Comerica says that the average cost of a light vehicle currently is $27,704, including an auto warranty, and the average amount of money that people spent on a vehicle fell $700 this quarter, to approximately $23,900.  Motorists have been keeping their payments down by stretching out how much time they will take to pay it off, which is currently more than 62 months.

Incentives have started the trend, which continue to get better as dealers try to get rid of inventory (they especially look appealing if you want to purchase an SUV or truck), but for the most part, motorists have just begun to want less-expensive models.

Consumers can experience sensory overload when walking down the car care isle at their local store.  It can be confusing to know what products to purchase, or even if you need to purchase them.  Some people assume that if you have a factory auto warranty that includes the finish, you don’t need to bother washing and waxing, but this isn’t true.

A factory auto warranty will protect you by ensuring that the paint job was sound, that they used quality paint, and that it was cured correctly.  However, new car warranties won’t protect you from oxidation that occurs over time.  This happens naturally if you don’t care for your finish.  Car wax serves the purpose of being a sacrificial layer between Mother Nature and your paint.

If new car owners want to keep their finishes looking great, they don’t have to spend a lot of time or money.  Preventative maintenance is the key for your finish, just like it’s under the hood.  All you have to do is wash your vehicle frequently with car care products.  Even just a basic car wash will do a lot to help protect your investment.  After washing, you can spray-on a wax that will boost the shine and extend the intervals between regular wax jobs.

Families consider the safety of their children a top priority.  Unfortunately, car accidents are responsible for more deaths among 3-14 year olds than any other cause.  Parents need to take essential steps to make sure that their children remain safe on the road.  That means buying an auto warranty to ensure that repairs are up-to-date, and making sure that car seats are installed and used correctly.

More than 1,500 children under the age of 14 were killed in 2003, and around 220,000 were injured as the result of a car accident.  Just using a child safety seat correctly can reduce these incidents drastically.  In fact, casualties are reduced by around 70%.  Alarmingly, approximately 75% of child seats are installed incorrectly.  Unfortunately, about half of children killed in car crashes aren’t even restrained at all.

GM has a program designed to combat this problem called Safe Kids Buckle Up.  This program informs parents about the importance of proper car seat use.  This program has been running for over 10 years, has had 40,000 child seat checks around the country, and has inspected over 900,000 car seats.