Results from a recent study show that motorists who repeat buy the same car brand the most are owners of hybrids.  By segment, the buyers who were the most loyal were those of full-size pickup trucks, which is a long held title.

The news about hybrids is quite significant because not all car manufacturers offer hybrid cars.  Because of this, someone who purchases a Honda or Toyota hybrid will then choose that same brand for his or her next car purchase.

Owners of Toyota Prius’ purchased another Toyota vehicle 51% of the time, and approximately 25% of those people purchased another Prius.  In comparison, those Toyota owners who had a non-hybrid bought another Toyota just 44% of the time.

Truck owners purchasing a new vehicle decided on another truck about 33% of the time, whereas hybrid owners only purchased another hybrid 25% of the time.  The average rate of loyalty was 21%.

It is important to keep in mind that with any vehicle purchase, no matter what kind, it is necessary to purchase an auto warranty to protect your wallet.  After all, you don’t want to find yourself paying unnecessary repair expenses down the road.

Many people believe it is easiest to trade in your current car when buying a new one.  However, is trading the right choice for you?  There are some advantages and disadvantages to trading.

The big advantage to trading over selling is that you have very little hassle.  You don’t have to haggle with buyers and you get rid of your car quickly.  However, the fact is that you aren’t going to get as much for your car if you trade it in.

Any used vehicle has a specific retail value.  If a dealership is going to sell that vehicle, they will have certain expenses, such as fixing dents and scrapes, cleaning it, and just overhead costs of running their business.  Therefore, the dealership has to sell it for a little more than a private owner would.

Since dealers need to make a good profit on used vehicles, they purchase them for less than the retail value.  When the dealership takes a trade in vehicle, they are essentially purchasing it from the new car customer, and at a price below the retail value.  Essentially, this is called the trade in value.

Although trading in your car is easier than going through the hassle of trying to sell your car privately, you are going to get less money for your vehicle.  If you sell your vehicle on your own, you can put the extra money you get towards important things such as an auto warranty and maintenance costs.

Drivers and politicians tend to be against road tolls because it is believed that they burden drivers with a lower income disproportionately.  However, a recent study by USC and UCLA has discovered that a sales tax may be a greater offender on that front.

The study looked at a 10-mile stretch of freeway in California that encompasses four express lanes on Route 91.  It discovered that, overall; the toll was used more by middle and upper income drivers than by drivers with a lower income.  It also discovered that charging more during hours that are peak helped alleviate traffic.

However, if the highway was financed by a sales tax, the study discovered that these same middle and upper income motorists would have shelled out $26 million less than they would have under a system of tolls.  In the meantime, drivers who are lower income would end up paying $3 million more.

Congestion pricing and tolls aren’t perfect, and the study made a suggestion that lower income motorists who have to travel during peak hours should be given discounted pricing.  After all, lower income drivers are already struggling to afford car costs, such as an auto warranty and car insurance.

Teenage drivers add a significant amount of cost to a family’s auto insurance.  This is because insurance is based on the likelihood of a driver getting into a car crash.  According to statistics, young drivers who are inexperienced account for a large amount of auto accidents. This is why they require a road service program and a good auto warranty. So, what can parents do to eliminate some of the cost?  Here are some tips.

First of all, make an effort to qualify for as many discounts as you can.  You might be able to classify your teenager as a driver who is “occasional”, instead of a primary one.

Next, ensure that your teen has taken a driver’s education class.  This can qualify them for an insurance discount.  Also, having them take a defensive driving class might reduce premiums.

Avoid buying a high performance, sporty car that your teen might get into trouble with.  Insurers frown upon these vehicles.

Finally, if your adolescent goes away for college without taking the car, it is likely that you can drop them from your insurance policy.

These simple tips will save you money on insurance and save your teen from calling for emergency roadside assistance.  In addition, invest in used car warranties to avoid unnecessary repair costs. It is a win, win situation for everyone.

With gas prices soaring, there are numerous tips circulating about how to save money on fuel.  A lot of this advice, however, isn’t worth the time of the average driver.  So, which strategies are worth the time and which aren’t?

There are several things that you can do to significantly improve your fuel economy.  It makes sense to drive slow and steady to improve gas mileage.  If you travel at the speed limit and avoid accelerating rapidly you won’t burn as much gas.  Also, you don’t want to let your car idle.  Every second in which your engine is running while your car is stationary you are wasting gas.  Also, keeping your tires inflated properly will allow you approximately a 10% improvement in fuel-efficiency.

There are also some tips that aren’t worth your time.  First of all, don’t bother filling up when temperatures are cool.  Although this theory is true, it won’t save you enough to be concerned with it.  Next, lightening your load isn’t going to help you with fuel-efficiency very much unless you’re carrying 100 pounds of cargo in your car.  Most people don’t carry enough stuff in their car to amount to much.

Consumers are becoming more and more concerned with saving money on their cars.  To do this they are buying fuel-efficient cars with an auto warranty, and following tips to save on fuel.  Motorists are feeling the pinch due to the poor economy.

People become irrational about their cars.  They treat them as if they are their babies and give them affectionate wash and wax jobs on the weekends.  Some drivers even talk to their vehicles and give them a pat here and there.  But as much as our cars mean to us, we don’t need to waste money on them.  Here are some common ways that drivers waste money on their cars.

First of all, buying premium fuel over regular isn’t necessary.  Purchase the cheapest gas possible that keeps your engine from knocking.  Octane serves the purpose of preventing knock, so if your car doesn’t knock with regular gasoline you’re fine.

Usually, auto manufacturers recommend that you change your oil every 5,000-7,000 miles.  Many motorists assume that they should get their oil changed every 3,000 miles, however, this should be done only if you put a lot of wear and tear on your car.

Also, having auto repairs done at a dealership will cost you.  Instead, find a reliable independent shop to do the job for less money.  In addition, it is a good idea to have an auto warranty to avoid unnecessary costs down the road.

Following these simple tips can save you lots of money.  Don’t allow other people to talk you into paying expenses for your vehicle that are unnecessary.

You might find that your car has become a mess from kids, pets, friends, etc.  But how are you supposed to keep it clean with kids spitting up and people having four-course meals in your backseat?  Let’s face it; it can be hard.  However, here are some tips to help you get started.

You might want to insist that whatever people bring in the car they have to take it out.  This means that kids should be responsible for the cups, stuffed animals, books, etc.  Also, you could limit them to only bringing one item each car ride.

Keep a trash bag from the kitchen in your vehicle.  This comes in handy for trash, or for dirty wet clothes.  You can have your oldest child be in charge of the trash bag.

For toddlers, purchase spill proof snack bowls and cups.  You can buy a “snack trap”, which keeps Cheerios from spilling all over your floor.

Keep toothpaste in your glove compartment.  This can save you from a stain on your upholstery.  Just rub gently on lipstick or ketchup stains to remove stains.

Purchase some rubber mats to go on top of your carpet.  If you don’t want to spend the extra money you can even turn your carpet mats upside down to reveal the rubber side.

It’s never easy to keep your car clean when you have a busy lifestyle, however, these tips will help.  Don’t just purchase an auto warranty to maintain your car, put a little bit of work into cleaning the interior.

Most people don’t realize that there is certain etiquette involved when buying parts at the parts counter.  Following this etiquette will allow you to get the parts that you want without unnecessary hassle and keep you from driving the staff crazy.

When you go to a parts counter at a dealership you need to have your VIN handy, which is basically the magic key to all of the car codes.  At places such as Advance Auto or NAPA, you just need to know the make, model, year, and engine of your car.

Make sure to know what the part’s name is that you need.  If this is something you don’t know, be able to describe what it looks like or what it is going to attach to.  Don’t make up a name for the part you want; this is where 90% of wrong parts come from.  If worse comes to worse, take the staff out to your car and point to the part you’re looking for.

When ordering an expensive part you want to ask about return policies and auto warranty terms.  And get the answer in writing.  This can be as simple as having him write the information on the receipt.  This will save a lot of hassle if something breaks down the line.

Finally, don’t go to the parts counter to diagnose your vehicle.  Counter-staff gets very annoyed when you try to return a part because it wasn’t even the problem in the first place.

Following these simple etiquette tips will allow you to get the parts that you need with little hassle.  And make sure you have used car warranties, because you never know when your vehicle will need to be repaired.

A driver’s worst nightmare is to turn the key and have their car not start.  Sometimes your engine will turn over but for some reason the car just won’t start.  Do you know what to do if this happens to you? Of course you could call a mechanic.  However, without an auto warranty you might face costly repairs. There are three things that you should check on your own first.  A car relies on air, fire and fuel.  If a car doesn’t get one or two of these vital ingredients, it won’t start.

The first thing that you should check is to make sure the car has gasoline.  If there is an adequate amount, the engine might have been flooded.  You can floor the gas pedal for around ten seconds, but be careful not to pump it while you are turning the ignition.  If the engine is still not starting, tap the carburetor close to the gas line.  This can free the line if the needle valve is stuck.

It is also important to check for broken or loose spark plug wires.  Make sure to do this with the engine off.  The wires that go from the distributor cap to the spark plugs should be secured down on the ends.

Now that you have checked for fuel and fire, we move on to an air check.  If you own a car with a carburetor, take off the top of the air filter and look at the choke plate.  If it appears stuck, open or close it.  Then jiggle the plate in order for it to move freely.

Checking the three main ingredients, air, fire and fuel are a great place to start if your car won’t turn over.  However, you may need a mechanic if you can’t find anything wrong.  You never know when your car might breakdown, which makes it is a necessity to have an auto warranty to protect you from costly repairs.

The purpose of the thermostat in your vehicle is to regulate the temperature of the vehicle so that it remains at a desired level.  To do this it controls the heating and cooling mechanisms and controls the flow of heat that goes throughout the system.  The thermostat manages the coolant amount in the internal combustion engine.  You will find a thermostat in any liquid cooled engine.

If you’re thermostat isn’t performing correctly it may be for a few reasons.  First, if the water pump in the car is failing then the thermostat will be affected.  The thermostat can also be affected if the engine is overheated or there is coolant leaking.

You should have your thermostat checked out by your mechanic regularly.  It holds a key position in cooling your engine, so it should be replaced every few years.

Failing to replace your thermostat when it should be could give you additional problems, such as a knocking noise with acceleration, emission problems, and poor fuel-efficiency.  Unfortunately, you never know when car problems will arise, which is why you should have your vehicle serviced regularly and purchase an auto warranty for peace of mind.