It is essential for consumers to do their homework before trying to purchase a new vehicle.  To avoid unnecessary costs, follow these three important tips.

First of all, you need to shop around to find the best dealership.  To do this, use the Internet and read blogs that people have written about specific dealerships.  You will find a wealth of information just by doing web searches.  Many times, you will come across complaints or favorable revues about how a dealership operates.  Also, it is a good idea to contact three dealerships in your area to determine which one responds quickly.  This will give you an indication of good service.

Next, dealers will try to talk you into financing through them, but don’t do it.  Financing at dealerships typically isn’t the best deal you can find.  Save your money by finding financing elsewhere and use your extra money for a much needed auto warranty.

Also, don’t fall for buying an alarm system through the dealer.  Carmakers already install wiring in vehicles, yet they then sell alarm systems for approximately $1,200 separately.  They will tack this cost onto the price of the new car purchase.

Lastly, sell your current car yourself to save money.  Chances are you aren’t going to get as much money for it through the dealership.

Follow these tips to save big when it comes time to purchase a car.  Also, purchase new car warranties to protect your wallet down the road.

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.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, BMW has just announced a recall for the new 2010 X5 and X6 cars.

The recall is only in affect for the vehicles that were made between December 14, 2009 and December 16, 2009.  This is due to the fact that the upper right section of the windshield may have insufficient bonding.  In the event that an accident involving a rollover may occur, there could be a negative impact on the roof stability, which could greatly increase the passengers’ risk of injury.

BMW hasn’t yet provided a way to fix this problem, or a schedule for owner notification of this recall.  However, this recall likely only affects a small number of cars.  For more information, owners can call BMW at 1-800-831-1117 or the NHTSA car safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

Unfortunately, you never know when recalls or car repairs will come up.  This is why an auto warranty is essential.  New car warranties will bring you peace of mind in the long run.

If you’re considering buying a new vehicle you need to think about safety features.  Things such as crash test results, electronic stability control, and rollover resistance are all things that are important in keeping you safe in your vehicle.

In order to give vehicles a safety rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety performs side impact and frontal crashes on cars.  Considering these results is important when it comes time to buy a new car.

Vehicles that are taller, such as SUVs and pickup trucks have a greater tendency to rollover since they have a high center of gravity.  You can find out a car’s inclination to rollover by looking at NHTSA five star ratings.

Electronic stability control is a safety feature that is extremely beneficial and highly recommended.  This feature allows you to maintain control of your car when you’re cornering.  You can avoid skidding and sliding with electronic stability control because brakes are automatically applied to the wheels that could use it.

Motorists are more concerned about safety than ever before.  Also, drivers are trying to protect their wallets by purchasing an auto warranty and buying fuel-efficient vehicles.

Unfortunately, mistakes are a common occurrence when you’re in a place that is unfamiliar.  According to a recent survey, people who drive RV’s admit to making expensive slip-ups.  Approximately 1,000 RV motorists participated in the survey, and revealed some mishaps that are interesting to say the least.

The following were the most common mistakes:  running out of gas, connecting taillights incorrectly, backing up and hitting something, not being able to accurately judge clearance, and pulling out of a parking spot with the steps still out.

According to the survey, approximately 50% of RV motorists travel for at least a month out of the year, and around 40% log 500 miles in their trip.

Although you can usually find blunders humorous, they can cost you big bucks in repairs and damages.  This is why it is necessary to have good insurance and an auto warranty for your RV.  After all, you need to be able to get back on the road as quickly as possible after a mishap.

It’s important to realize that in today’s cars the main source of power is still the battery.  The battery is not just used to start the engine; it is also used to supply electrical energy that maintains the memory of the numerous computers onboard.  Batteries and cable connections that are poorly maintained fail to supply the voltage needed for innovative electronic devices.  This can cause a vehicle to perform erratically. Maintaining your battery and purchasing an auto warranty can save you from breakdowns.  Here are a few simple do’s and don’ts that can help you maintain your car battery.

First, it is important to check cables to make sure they are tight and free of corrosion.  Make sure that terminals are lubricated with petroleum jelly to keep cables clean longer.  Also, the battery should be secured firmly to the mounting bracket.  If it’s not, it can result in short circuits.  Finally, make sure to maintain fluids.  If fluid is low, distilled water should be added.  If there isn’t fluid the battery needs to be replaced.

There are some important things that you shouldn’t do concerning your battery.  Don’t charge your battery if it’s frozen because there is a possibility it could explode.  Instead, you must replace the battery.  Never charge a battery that is dead with an alternator.  The alternator may be damaged in this case.  Also, you shouldn’t disconnect battery cables if your car is running.

Make sure to maintain your battery so it can perform at its peak.  These simple tips can help your battery last longer.  Of course, you never know when your car will fail, so make sure to purchase an auto warranty that will protect you in the event of a breakdown.

It is very important to maintain a correct tire pressure for the safety of your vehicle, especially when cold weather can cause the air pressure in tires to decrease.

It is estimated that 650 people are killed and 32,000 are injured as a result of car crashes related to problems with tires.  However, a recent survey revealed that 84 percent of motorists don’t check the pressure of their tires.

Another issue is that poorly maintained tires can be dangerous, and even leave you on the side of the road. Although you can always call for emergency roadside assistance, there are a few safety tips that drivers should keep in mind to avoid this:

Make sure you don’t overload your tires because overheating can occur.  The result of this could be a blowout or a car accident.  Your owner’s manual will give you proper loading instructions.

Tires that are under inflated also pose a risk.  This occurs naturally and cold weather accelerates the process.  In fact, frigid temperatures can cause tires to lose up to two pounds of air in one month.  Under inflated tires are actually resistant to rolling.  It can feel like you are driving with the parking brake on.

Finally, don’t over inflate tires because it can cause the tread to wear in the center.

Checking your tire pressure regularly can save you from many problems with your vehicle.  Of course, you never know when you might get a flat, so just in case, make sure you have a road service program that can assist you in case of an emergency.  In addition, make sure you have a good auto warranty to protect yourself from other car repair expenses.

A diesel engine used to bring about a wince from people who associated diesels with engine noise, a not so pleasant smell, and blue smoke coming out of the tailpipe.  However, things are changing.  Diesel engines will soon elicit a positive response.

The new generation of diesels is considered clean.  They use a very low sulfur diesel fuel that was made available in the United States in 2006.  It is predicted by experts that diesel sales are going to increase approximately 300% within 10 years.  One of the reasons for this is that diesel engines have around 20%-40% better fuel-efficiency than engines powered by gasoline.

The Clean Diesel Fuel Alliance claims that using ultra low sulfur fuel in these new and improved diesel engines will cause air quality to improve greatly.  The yearly reductions in emissions will be the same as taking away the pollution from over 90% of the buses and trucks today.  This is when the fleet of heavy-duty vehicles has been replaced by 2030.

It may take time to change people’s ideas about diesel engines, but people will begin to realize the benefits.  Not only will they make our air cleaner, they will save people at the gas pump.  However, as with any car, it is necessary to buy an auto warranty so you are covered in case of failure.

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.

It isn’t easy finding a vehicle that suits a family’s needs.  In fact, it is a challenging pursuit that can leave motorists feeling overwhelmed.  So, what are the important things to consider when buying a family vehicle?

First of all, a car must be affordable.  In other words, the base price shouldn’t be more than $30,000.  Ideally, you should be able to find a good vehicle for under $30,000.  If you’re looking at a car company who can’t produce a quality car for around $30,000, you’re looking at the wrong company.

Of course, the seating in a car should be comfortable for five people. Nobody is going to be happy if they don’t have room to move around.   In addition, the cargo space should be large enough to carry groceries to accommodate five people.

Safety is a necessity.  New vehicles contain innovative safety features that can save lives.  For example, Chevy Malibu cars have the OnStar communication system featuring Advanced Automatic Crash Notification.  The system allows a signal to automatically be sent to an OnStar adviser notifying them that a crash occurred.  Then, the adviser attempts to contact the motorist of the car to find out if any injuries are apparent.  This information then gets transmitted to emergency vehicles.

When buying a new family car don’t get too overwhelmed.  Remember the important things to consider when making your purchase, and make sure to buy an auto warranty that will protect your new investment.