The Prius has become one of the hottest vehicles in the country.  This is actually quite amazing because this is a hybrid electric vehicle, which requires people to embrace change. With any change, people like to protect themselves.  Many people feel better purchasing a hybrid if they have an auto warranty to go along with it. The billion-dollar question that innovators face is whether people will resist or embrace innovation.  Apparently, Toyota got it right, because thousands of people are buying the Prius.

People accustomed to a regular vehicle would struggle to get the Prius to move forward.  In addition, people probably couldn’t figure out how to put the car in reverse.  However, these are not hard lessons to learn, they just require people to change their way of thinking.  To start the Prius you press a button located on the dashboard twice.  To make your car go forward or backward you manipulate a small stick that comes out of the dashboard.

People might fear technology because it is seductive, yet they might also have a fear of not being able to change. Either way, it is good to protect yourself.  This includes purchasing new car warranties that will cover you in the case of faulty technology.  Innovators never really know which way the cash register will ring.  However, Toyota got it right with the Prius.

Why would someone want to buy a pickup?  They offer the most flexibility in carrying cargo.  In addition, pickups have large payload facilities and the ability to tow.  Trucks with four door cabs allow seating for five, which makes them a good family vehicle.  In addition to an auto warranty, what other considerations do you need?  Here’s a list.

Consider whether you need compact or full-sized.  They offer different towing capacities and engines in addition to being different sizes.  Compact pickups are more fuel-efficient, easier to park, and cost less.  Full-sized pickups offer more room inside and out, have stronger engines, and have greater towing capabilities.

Bed lengths vary.  Beds range from 8 feet to 4 feet.  The longer the bed, the more difficult it is to maneuver.  Some compact trucks have a bed extender that flips out, which allows for carrying cargo that is longer.

Engines and transmissions can accommodate different needs.  For compact trucks, the base engine is a four-cylinder, which offers fuel-efficiency.  Five or six cylinder engines are optional, giving more power.  A V6 is the base engine for a full-sized truck.  For heavy towing and hauling consider a V8, V10, and diesel.

Pickups come in many sizes, with many options. Determine your use for a truck and pick the best option for you.  Doing your homework on such things as truck options, new car warranties and insurance will save you money and time down the road.

Buying a car can be overwhelming, yet, keeping a car can even be worse.  Enticing television ads and the lure on the web can make it hard to resist buying a new car.  However, during this difficult economy, it makes sense not to give in to temptation.

In America, people find it hard to stay with a car for over five years.  But with a few common-sense tips and an auto warranty, an unnecessary car purchase can be avoided.

First, make sure that the current car you drive is small and Japanese.  For instance, the Honda Civic is a sure thing.  It may get a little rust, but it won’t die.  And even though driving a Tercel from ’92 may not get you a date on Friday night, it’s reliability will make you not want to give it up.

Second, do lots of research.  This is actually a great method to prevent buying a car.  Searching the Internet for the cars in your price range will overwhelm you with too many options.  Also research used car warranties to protect the car you have.

Finally, focusing on a specific model and make is a good tactic.  This is especially good if that model hasn’t been produced for at least a decade.  The odds are very slim that you will find that car on the market with less than 300,000 miles.

So, what do you do if you still desire a new car after weeks of research?  What if your old Civic is pulling you toward the dealer?  Just remember as soon as that new car gets off the lot it’s value will drop instantly.  Keeping your clunker is your best bet.

Used car buyers need to be aware of a common scam; odometer fraud.  This is the act of rolling back the odometer on a car.  This deceives buyers into thinking a vehicle has fewer miles than it really does.  It is estimated that this crime leads to sales of around 450,000 vehicles every year.

Also alarming is that digital odometers are easier to meddle with than traditional odometers.  There are ways that consumers can protect themselves against odometer fraud.

First of all, request to see the car’s title and make a comparison between its mileage and the car’s odometer.  Also, compare the mileage on the car’s maintenance records with the odometer on the vehicle.  In addition, sometimes there are stickers with maintenance records on doorframes and windows.

Next, you should ask for a Carfax History Report on the vehicle to see odometer discrepancies.  If the person selling the car doesn’t have one, you can order one online with the vehicles VIN number.

Finally, check to see that the odometer gauge numbers are all aligned.  If they aren’t aligned, or if they move when you tap on the dash, you may want to think twice about buying.

These tips can save you from buying a car that has been tampered with.  However, you never know the true history of a used car.  This is why used car warranties are a good idea to protect you against unforeseen repairs.

Many people claim to love the smell of a new car.  However, the chemicals that gives cars that new smell may be harmful and have been known to cause long-term health issues.  However, consumers now have a guide that will aid them in figuring out the cars that are the safest.

An advocacy group in Michigan, called The Ecology Center, recently published a guide about toxic chemicals in vehicles and child seats on Tuesday.

The report deals with harmful substances, such as chlorine, bromine, heavy metals and lead.  The Ecology Center got samples of parts that people touch the most, such as center consoles, steering wheels, and seat fronts.

The investigation determined that there are top healthier cars from Smart, Acura, BMW, Chevrolet, Toyota and Honda.  Some cars that created high concern were by Suzuki, Mitsubishi, VW, BMW, Mazda, Lincoln, Audi, Mercedes, BMW and Kia.

Consumers are becoming more and more concerned with car safety issues.  They are taking precautions, such as doing research on new cars, and purchasing cars with added safety features, and new car warranties.

Some consumers are apprehensive about purchasing a used car for fear that they will end up with a lemon.  However, purchasing a pre-owned vehicle in Philadelphia is about to become safer thanks to a new lemon law.

When this bill becomes a law, cars purchased in Philadelphia must be road-worthy.  If they aren’t, they can be returned for a full refund within three days.  This law, along with used car warranties, will give drivers peace of mind when purchasing a used car.

So, what does this mean for the used car buyer?  If you take your car in for an inspection by a licensed mechanic you can take the car back within 72 hours after the purchase if the car fails to pass the emission or safety inspection.  The vehicle can also be returned if information by the seller wasn’t disclosed, such as a defect with the structure.

Consumers are thrilled with the new lemon law because this means they won’t get stuck with a piece of junk.  With the addition of an auto warranty, motorists can finally have peace of mind when purchasing a used car.

New legislation was announced by Senator Barbara Mikulski, D-Md.  This legislation is intended to stimulate the sales of new cars by allowing buyers of new cars to deduct auto loan interest and any excise or sales fees from the buyers’ income tax.  This plan would cover the sales of all new trucks and cars from now until Dec. 31, 2009.

The senator claims that a family would be able to save $1,553 on a vehicle that is $25,000 under this plan.  This deduction would just be for families that make less than $250,000 and individuals that make up to $125,000.

While most new-vehicle buyers would probably welcome the idea, it might not be a big enough incentive given the poor economy.  Of course, when you look at all of the other fantastic incentives that have been offered lately, it may just be the best market for buyers in recent history.

Of course, many people will choose to stay home and hold onto their current cars and buy used car warranties instead.  Unfortunately, consumers are reluctant to make any big purchases at this point.

Do you find that you are apprehensive about negotiating with an auto dealer?  Shopping for a vehicle doesn’t have to be nerve-racking, however, you need to be aware of a few things that you shouldn’t say to a dealer.

First, you shouldn’t start talking about monthly payments, instead focus on negotiating the purchase price.  It can become confusing when you’re discussing monthly payments because it might be unclear whether the payment is for 24 or 36 months.

Don’t tell the dealer right away if you’re willing to trade-in your car.  If the dealer is aware of this he will know that you want to get as much money for your car as possible.  The dealer might agree to give you a lot for your trade-in, but usually it’s a smokescreen because then they will fix the price of the new car.

Don’t tell the dealer if you’re planning on paying for the car in cash.  They count on making a lot of money in financing, and if they know that they won’t be able to count on that money, chances are they won’t negotiate on the sticker price.

Do your homework before showing up at a dealership.  Be prepared with information about new car warranties, financing, and vehicle prices.  This will help you negotiate a successful deal on a car.

According to a recent study by J.D. Power and Associates, there is a great amount of interest in hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles.  In fact, less than 25% of people asked revealed that they would only consider purchasing a car powered by gasoline.

However, there are some misconceptions.  Motorists who purchased a hybrid car expected that they would get a fuel-economy improvement of approximately 28 mpg if compared to a gas-powered vehicle that was similar.  However, in reality, people who bought hybrids only gained an improvement of 9 mpg.  People who bought diesels were similarly disappointed with a 12-mpg improvement, when they actually expected to improve 21 mpg.

A big challenge for vehicles with alternative powertrains is the unrealistic fuel-saving expectations that consumers place on them.  Especially with hybrids, the actual fuel performance of the car doesn’t usually live up to the EPA estimate.  Consumers need to educate themselves about such things as the benefits of technology, maintenance and new car warranties.  Being able to manage consumers’ expectations and lowering the cost of alternative power vehicles will help these cars gain acceptance.

New teen driving laws have now taken effect, which will help teens sharpen their driving skills.  During the first driving year, teens won’t be able to drive late at night or carry multiple teenage passengers.

The Department of Public Safety claims that teens in Minnesota are overrepresented in car accidents every year because of distractions, driver inexperience, driving at night, and not using seat belts.  From 2005-2007, drivers who were 16 and 17 yrs old had involvement in 116 crashes that were fatal, which resulted in 133 deaths.

Having these laws will allow teen drivers to be safer and result in less injuries and deaths on roads in Minnesota.  Also, having used car warranties and maintaining cars will help teens stay safe on the roads.

The limitation on nighttime driving during the initial six-month licensure period will prohibit teens from driving after midnight, until 5 a.m., unless they are accompanied by a driver of at least 25 yrs of age.  Drivers who are 16 and 17 yrs old are approximately three times more likely to have a car crash resulting in a fatality at night than in the daytime.

The limitation on passengers for the initial six-month licensure period will allow just one passenger under 20 yrs old, unless there is a parent or guardian in the car.  Throughout the second six-month period of licensure, there can’t be more than three other people in the car under 20 yrs old, unless there is a parent or guardian in the car.

It is recommended by the DPS that parents help reinforce these laws and protect their children by making strict driving rules, purchasing an auto warranty, and keeping cars maintained.