Over the past few decades, perhaps one of the biggest technical developments has been to tires.  And now, new rules concerning tires will yield even more mileage and safety improvements.

After the estimated 280 deaths that were linked to Firestone tire failures on the Ford Explorer SUVs, lawmakers ordered tire pressure monitoring systems are used.  These systems alert drivers if they have a tire with low air.

Thankfully, some of the recent monitoring systems don’t have problems that were experienced with the earlier technology.  Problems included false alerts, and failure to advise drivers which of their tires was low.

Now, there is a national registry that has been approved, allowing drivers to register their tires that they purchase.  In the case of a recall, such as Firestone, drivers would be notified quickly.

Drivers will be much safer with the new tire rules.  However, drivers should always protect themselves by doing regular tire pressure checks, having a road service program in case of emergency and used car warranties.

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.

With the high gas prices and poor economy, drivers are feeling the pinch.  And while you don’t have control over costs, such as gas prices, maintenance, and an auto warranty, you do have the power to maintain your vehicle’s value by making it last longer.  Your choice is to buy a new vehicle every few years, or to maintain your current one.  Here are some tips to keep your old gem running great.

Perhaps the most important thing you can do for your car is to get regular oil changes and have your oil filter replaced regularly.  In addition, don’t forget about your air filter.  Changing this will allow your vehicle to breathe easier and help your engine last longer.

Don’t forget about your vehicle’s cooling system.  Keep coolant levels as recommended by your owner’s manual to avoid an engine melt down.  You wouldn’t think that a simple act such as this would save you from major repairs, but neglecting to do this will have you using your auto warranty more than you would like to.

The least expensive maintenance tip is to make sure your tires are inflated to the proper levels. However, the benefits of this are immense.  You will get better fuel-efficiency, have your tires last longer and have a safer vehicle.

Find a mechanic that you trust and use him for all of your car service.  This way he can get familiar with your car and know your car from the inside out.

If you want to avoid purchasing a new car right now, follow these service tips to keep your current car running like a champ.  And, make sure you purchase used car warranties so you don’t have unnecessary repair costs down the road.

If you’re planning to purchase a used vehicle you need to find out as much as you can about it.  The car could have problems that you can’t detect by looking at it.  In order to understand the car that you are getting, get a vehicle history report.  This will give you combined information from DMVs, RMVs, and police reports about the car that you are looking at.  Here are some things to consider when looking at the vehicle report.

Determine if the car has had many owners.  You are better off with a car that has had fewer owners because there is more of a likelihood that the car has been taken good care of.  Although inexpensive, rental cars will have undergone a great deal of abuse.

Also, consider the location that the car has been in.  This is important because some climates are harsher on cars.  For example, winter conditions are hard on cars because of salty roads.  Obviously, excessive heat and flood areas are also of concern.

Finally, make sure that the name and description on the history report actually match the vehicle you’re looking at.  This will help avoid types of fraud, such as vehicle identification number cloning.

A used car is a great way for people to save money and get a great car.  Just do your homework to make sure you are getting a good buy.  You need to consider the costs of used car warranties, auto insurance, and maintenance costs.  An auto warranty is a good way to get peace of mind when purchasing a used vehicle.

Today, there are many different options of places to buy pre-owned vehicles.  You can shop from your own home via the Internet, use a car dealership, or use a private owner.  These are all good options if you take the time to do some homework.

Search used vehicle websites if you plan on shopping from home.  You will need to type in your price range, the kind of car that you want, and your zip code.  Then, you will see a list of vehicles in your area with information about the sellers.  You can even sell your current vehicle by placing a classified ad.

Independent used car dealerships typically handle all makes of cars.  You can find a practically new car to a clunker.  Keep in mind that if the dealer has been in business for a long time they are probably reputable.  A big bonus to buying through a dealer is that financing and an auto warranty can be arranged for you.

A private owner will most likely give you the best price.  Usually they would just like to get their car sold as soon as possible and they have no overhead like a business does.

Pre-owned cars are a good option for any motorist.  However, consumers should protect themselves by doing homework on vehicle prices, used car warranties, and car loans.

If you’re looking to buy a cheap used vehicle, you might want to look online.  One website that is a good place to start is Car-Auction.com.  This is an auction website featuring seized vehicles by the government.  Consumers can select what type and model of vehicle you are looking for, as well as the price.  Results will appear within a few seconds.  This is a lot more convenient than attending an automobile auction and waiting to see if the car you want is up for auction.

When you are looking to buy a cheap used car follow these simple tips.

The most difficult part of the process is finding a quality car that you would like to purchase.  People make the mistake of buying a car because they like the way it looks.  You need to get the full history of the vehicle before making an agreement.  Also, get the VIN of the vehicle and do a search of the number through a local agency.  You want to get the vehicle inspected by a professional.

An online auction is a great place to buy a used car. However, beware.  To protect yourself, do your homework to get a good buy and make sure to purchase used car warranties.

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.

The riskiest time for car crashes are between midnight and six o’clock in the morning.  This is because there are the fewest drivers at this time of day, yet more accidents.  If you need to drive during these hours it is important to consider some important factors.  Safe driving at night calls for preparation, alertness, as well as common sense.  Here are some tips.

First of all, ensure that your headlights are aimed properly.  You should consult your service manual to determine the proper procedure.

Next, don’t focus on the headlights of oncoming cars.  This can blind you for five seconds until your eyes are able to adjust.

Don’t drive if you are feeling sleepy, instead pull off of the road and get some sleep.  Don’t substitute caffeine, loud music, or putting down the windows for sleep.  These tactics are unreliable and may have you calling for emergency roadside assistance.

Finally, don’t allow yourself to stare at the centerline because it can cause “highway hypnosis,” in which your reaction time is impaired, instead, keep looking around and moving your eyes.

Follow these simple tips to keep yourself safe when driving at night.  In addition, make sure that you have a road service program in case of an emergency.  You don’t want to find yourself stranded in your car at night.  In addition, make sure to protect yourself with used car warranties.

For motorists who like to take things into their own hands, the Internet is the place to look for valuable information.  Consumers are seeking research online to aid them in buying a new automobile, finding out about car service, and finding a good auto warranty.

A new study shows that 74 percent of people who do research on service and parts say they are utilizing the Internet more now than two years ago.  In addition, 90 percent of motorists researching service information about automobiles say that the Internet influenced their purchase.

Customers who are well informed can do a good job of describing issues for potential repair when they visit their mechanic for maintenance.  However, it can be a problem when car owners try to do significant repairs by themselves because many times they make misdiagnoses on their car.  This can end up harming their car more.

For example, if a motorist replaces the alternator because the car is having trouble starting, when in fact the battery should have been changed, it could cost hundreds of dollars to rectify the situation.

It is good for consumers to use the Web to research about cars because it can aid their mechanic.  However, motorists who think they can fix anything could end up stranded somewhere.  At any rate, it is always good to have used car warranties to protect your wallet.

As the economy declines, more motorists are trying to save money by abandoning their car insurance.

According to the Insurance Research Council, the uninsured rate and the unemployment rate are directly correlated.  When unemployment increases 1%, uninsured drivers increase a half-percent.  As of November, unemployment was up 2% since last year.

In a recent study, the council claims there have been several hundred thousand drivers that have let their insurance lapse, or dropped it in the last year.

What this means is that your odds of getting hit by a driver that is uninsured have gone up drastically, and usually people who are uninsured don’t have very many assets if you plan to sue for damages.

For people who have the funds, coverage for being hit by underinsured or uninsured drivers has become a necessary protection even though it raises your premium 7% to 9%.  And, you don’t want to let your insurance lapse because you will be charged a 25% to 50% surcharge for a new policy.  Also, drivers should protect themselves with a roadside assistance program and used car warranties.