Satellite navigation devices, or the popular GPS interfaces that many motorists have in their vehicles, are, seemingly, responsible for a large share of accidents and driving practices that are risky.

With almost half of the motorists on the roads having access to devices such as these in their vehicles, it appears that this technology has penetrated the market.  Drivers who have satellite navigation devices are much more likely to be involved in a minor accident or risky behaviors.  In fact, 1.5 million say that they have engaged in sudden maneuvers, and approximately 5 million admit to going against the flow of traffic.

GPS systems fall into the same category as other car distractions, such as cell phones, kids, the radio, or passengers.  This might be one of the reasons that road safety campaigns say that ‘Good Drivers Just Drive’.

Drivers should pre-plan their trips in order to avoid GPS distractions.  In addition, drivers should protect themselves by purchasing used car warranties, and avoiding other in car distractions.

Consumers have been more concerned than ever about saving money on their vehicles.  They are doing everything from purchasing small, fuel-efficient cars, to purchasing an auto warranty to ensure they don’t pay unnecessary repair expenses.  But are they willing to skip the amenities that come in new cars, such as air conditioning, an automatic transmission, and power locks and windows, to save money?  And are stripped cars even available?

The truth is that it can be hard to find a car stripped with crank windows and a manual transmission.

According to JATO Dynamics, 89% of vehicles sold in America last year came standard with automatic transmissions, which is up from 85% in 2003.  Also, power locks came standard on 87% of cars sold, compared to 80% in 2003.

The vehicles that offer these features as optional tend to be on small cars, yet economy-car buyers usually pick convenience and comfort over cost if given a choice.

For example, the cheapest model by Toyota is the Yaris, which begins at $11,550 for a 2008 base model hatchback with air-conditioning.  However, approximately 80% of Yaris buyers choose to pay an extra $900 for an automatic, and about 60% opt for a power windows and locks package, which costs an extra $1,680.

It appears that features, such as air conditioning, and automatic transmissions are necessities that most people aren’t willing to live without, just like new car warranties.

The AARP, which was formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, supports various goods and services and endorses them for their members; this includes auto insurance.  Recently, Bloomberg news reported some practices that appear to be pretty shady, in regards to their insurance endorsements.

Some members are actually shelling out double for insurance that is AARP-backed in comparison to what the price would be for another plan.  Why would AARP advise them so wrong?  When people pay for their vehicle insurance, part of the premium goes to the AARP as “fees” and “royalties”.  What this means is that AARP gets a cut of each payment before the insurer receives any payment, and since AARP has a large membership base, it’s a pretty lucrative business.

These so called “fees” have leaped from accounting for about 11% of the AARP’s revenue in the year 1999 to about 43% in 2007.  If this organization is intentionally coaxing its members to pay added funds for their insurance to get financial awards, that is definitely shady.  Especially considering all of the car costs that people have to pay these days, such as used car warranties and maintenance.

If you go car shopping you may notice that some vehicles charge extra for the paint job.  This can add up to $1,000 on top of the price of the car. This may feel like a lot of money when you factor in other car expenses such as new car warranties, and maintenance.   It’s hard to believe that a bright yellow paint job can actually cost that amount.  And will you get that additional money back when you go to sell the vehicle?

Paint on a new vehicle isn’t just a matter of spraying a color on like it was in years past.  Metallic and clearcoat finishes are operations that are multistage.  This means that they sometimes require a higher expense of the assembly line.

But, even considering that, auto manufacturers have discovered a new way to make an additional profit by hiking up the price of some of the colors that are more distinct.

When you come right down to it, these fancy colors only add a small fraction of value when you put your vehicle up for sale.  In addition, some of the colors that are a bit odd actually lessen a vehicle’s value.  You have to remember what the most popular car colors are today, shades of gray.

A new rating system for roof-strength has been launched by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and has conducted its first tests on small SUVs.  Unfortunately, only four out of the twelve vehicles tested managed to get a Good rating, which is the top rating.

The SUVs that scored the Good rating were the Honda Element, Subaru Forester, Volkswagen Tiguan and the Jeep Patriot.  SUVs that scored Acceptable were the Chevrolet Equinox, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Nissan Rogue, Toyota RAV4, and Mitsubishi Outlander.  Ranking Marginal, were the Ford Escape, and Honda CR-V, while the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage were the only vehicles to rate Poor.

This new standard for roof-strength is intended to combat rollover deaths, which account for about a quarter of all deaths having to do with traffic.  For vehicles to be an IIHS Top Safety Pick, they have to now withstand four times their own weight before the car’s roof will collapse 5 inches.  The IIHS’s strength to weight ratio is a much higher standard than the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s, which says that roofs should bear 2.5 times the car’s weight.

Consumers are becoming more and more concerned with vehicle safety, which is why more people are purchasing an auto warranty.  With used car warranties, people can rest-assured that they won’t be paying unnecessary repair costs.

Lately, there have been many headlines stating that used vehicles are selling better than new vehicles.  However, car shoppers need to keep in mind that currently new cars have an abundance of cash-back incentives from carmakers, and pre-owned vehicles don’t.

Do you want to spend under $20,000 on a brand new car?  Or what about $15,000?  The small cars that are currently on the market are ten times better than cars that were made 10 years ago, and since their price tags are so small, even small incentives make up a big part of their total cost.  If you’re looking at a car that only costs $15,000, $1,000 cash back is a good deal.

Here are a few of the new small cars and their cash-back offers.  You can buy a 2009 Toyota Yaris for $12,205 with $1,000 cash back.  Also, You can pick up a 2009 Toyota Matrix for $16,290 with $1,250 cash back.  And if it is a Nissan you’re looking for, you can purchase a 2009 Nissan Sentra for $16,730 with $2,250 cash back.  In addition, you have to keep in mind that all of these cars come with a good auto warranty.  New car warranties will also save you money because you won’t end up spending unnecessary repair costs.

The stock market has deflated rapidly.  Layoffs, foreclosures and bankruptcies are higher than ever.  So this is the perfect time to begin selling sports cars that are $350,000 in Tampa, Bay, right?

Well, we will soon find out.

Officials of Ferrari are planning to open an extravagant new dealership in Palm Harbor and are also planning to sell Lamborghini and Bentley.  And this week the Elder Automotive Group opened up sales of the “Spyker” sports cars in the Southeast.

Together these extravagant dealerships will do a test on the theory that car enthusiasts who are filthy-rich will resist economic gravity and spend on a car what it would cost for a large home.

While most motorists are currently worried about paying for gas, car loans and new car warranties, there are still people out there who can afford luxury sports cars.  Will these dealerships survive?  That remains to be seen.

With the poor economy, motorists are looking a little more closely at used cars.  The National Automobile Dealers Association reports that last year the average cost of a used vehicle was around $15,000, while it was $29,000 for new vehicles.

While you want to purchase a pre-owned car that has a solid reputation for dependability, it’s even more beneficial to purchase a used vehicle that consumers find less popular, because it has already depreciated rapidly.

Many people believe that the best new vehicles make the best used vehicles, which is true in general.  However, often these cars depreciate at a slower rate, which makes them popular as new vehicles, but means they cost more as used vehicles.

According to Kelly Blue Book, the vehicle brands that depreciate the slowest are Mini, Scion, Volkswagen, BMW, and Honda.

Instead of purchasing those models, consider other brands that have high reliability scores, but depreciate more quickly and can save you thousands of dollars.  Domestic brands are good to consider, such as Dodge, Ford, and Chevrolet.  These will get you a bargain.

If you want to save money by buying a used car, consider depreciation. You can get a good bargain by buying reliable, more rapidly depreciating models, and buy used car warranties to give you peace of mind.

It can be tempting to text-message in your car, especially if you’re stuck in traffic.  You assume that there is little risk involved, however, if the person in front of you stops a little faster than you intended, all of a sudden you may find yourself calling your road service program.

Recent studies show that avoiding texting in the car will drastically reduce your chances of getting into a car accident.  In fact, four states are making an attempt to ban driving while texting (DWT).  Washington put a ban earlier in the year on texting while on the road.

Statistics suggest that DWT is a danger that is growing.  In drivers ages 16 and 17, 46% admitted that they have texted while driving.  A study by Nationwide Insurance indicates that DWT is a generational activity.  Out of people ages 18-27, 37% admit to texting while driving, meanwhile, only 14% of 28-44 year olds admit to this.  Also, only 2% of 45-60 year olds said they texted on the road.

Cities around the nation are passing text-message ordinances because of the danger that it poses.  It is best to just refrain from this activity, otherwise you might find yourself calling for emergency roadside assistance.  Drivers should protect themselves by practicing safe driving habits and making sure they have good used car warranties.

When purchasing a new car, it is up to consumers to do their homework before shopping.   This will ensure the best deal possible.  Three important tips will save you from unnecessary costs.

First, look around to find the best dealership.  One way to do this is to check the Internet about dealerships. Web searches can be a wealth of information. Many times you will find complaints or positive revues that could help you.  Also, it is a good idea to contact several car dealerships in your area to see which ones are going to respond quickly and be helpful.

Next, don’t buy alarm systems or dealer financing. These are two ways that consumers lose in the end. For example, when cars are manufactured they already have wiring installed.  However, automakers sell alarms separately for up to $1200.  This is added on to the price of the new vehicle.  Also, finance offices don’t usually give you the best deals.  A better option would be to put your money towards a much needed auto warranty.

Finally, sell your car before arriving at the dealership.  If you sell it yourself, you will get a much better deal than you would on a trade-in.

The bottom line is that any mechanical breakdown leaving a motorist stranded could wipe out all of the gains from a perfectly negotiated deal.  New car warranties should be an essential part of your purchase in order to protect you from unnecessary repairs.