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.

GM’s financing arm recently made a decision to give loans only to consumers with the best credit.  This is due to the tightening of the credit market and unstable economy.  Only car shoppers who have a credit score of at least 700 will qualify to get a loan for a car.

The state of California has made it known that it is against the GMAC’s decision, claiming that it will rule out 40% of Californians from getting a car loan, which will result in many dealerships having to file for bankruptcy.

The president of the California Auto Dealer Association wrote to GMAC CEO Alvaro de Molina warning that these strict guidelines would result in disaster for dealerships.  GM already suspects that dealer profits will drop 18% for the year.

Although California’s dealers have been the first to point it out, the new lending rules by GMAC will most definitely have an impact all over the country.  In fact, many consumers will be holding onto their current cars and purchasing used car warranties, because they won’t be able to get car loans.

It is important to maintain your car to ensure that it is operating at its best.  Of course this includes oil changes and seasonal preparations and a good auto warranty. However, don’t ignore your tires.  In fact, your experience driving is only as good as the tires that you have on your vehicle.

Also, safety is a big issue when it comes to tires.  It is important to have tires that will offer you safety in your vehicle.  After all, the only thing that is between you and the road is your tires.

High performance tires will give you the safe driving experience that you deserve.  They will accommodate driving at fast speeds, and also perform safely in dangerous conditions.  For instance, they handle better on wet and slick roads.  Also they are better for tight cornering and sudden stops.  Even thought they cost more, you are getting safety in return.

Consider high performance tires for your vehicle to keep it operating at its best.  Not only will your car feel better, you will be safer.  Of course you never know when you will have auto problems, so make sure to protect yourself with used car warranties.

Unless you are actually a mechanic yourself, it may require a leap of faith to deal with a repair shop.  However, paying attention to your mechanic’s actions can give you clues to their honesty.  Here are some things to look out for.

If your mechanic says you need to flush your engine right away, or it will go bad, he might be padding your bill.  Some shops will recommend procedures that aren’t necessary.  Also, they may want you to schedule tasks that are premature.  Pay attention to your owner’s manual for maintenance schedules.

Also, you don’t want to go to a shop that makes every repair recommendation sound like an emergency.  This is a scare tactic for consumers who aren’t mechanically inclined.

If your mechanic tells you the new fuel injectors didn’t fix it, so you will need a new fuel pump, you are dealing with a parts replacer.  This is a mechanic who is rebuilding your vehicle because he is unable to diagnose the problem.  This is one reason an auto warranty is essential.

It can be hard for motorists to know which mechanics are trying to “take them for a ride”, however, there are a few things that you can do to protect yourself.  First of all, make sure you have used car warranties so you aren’t paying unnecessary repair costs.  Secondly, follow these tips to see if your mechanic is acting honestly.

Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts is contemplating putting a tax on big SUVs that are gas-guzzlers.  This tax would have to be paid when vehicle owners go to register their cars after their purchase.  This “Hummer Tax,” as it is widely known, would be used to pay for infrastructure, which Deval claims is suffering from a full decade of neglect.

This tax, which is designed to make car shoppers consider buying vehicles that are more fuel-efficient, will probably ruffle some feathers if it goes into effect.  Vehicle purchases are already down, and any kind of tax on vehicles as the car industry is struggling will be met with some strong opposition.  This law would be the first one of this kind in the U.S.

Lawmakers in Massachusetts are already thinking of enacting an increase of 19 cents in the fuel tax, which will no doubt be controversial.  When you have to come find $19 billion in the next 20 years in order to modernize and maintain your transportation system, it is likely that you will have to put some unpopular ideas on the table.  Unfortunately, right now consumers just feel more comfortable hanging onto their current cars and purchasing used car warranties, instead of buying new vehicles.

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.  And with used vehicles, used car warranties are a smart choice.

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.

Imagine one day waking up to find that the only cars on the roads, in driveways, and in parking lots were electrics or hybrids.

CNW Marketing Research made some calculations to determine when America would become completely hybridized, and could stop depending on Middle Eastern powers for barrels of oil.

Based on the amount of people who live in America today (300 million), the number of cars driving on U.S. roads (11 million), the number of new cars that are sold in a year (15 million), and the number of those purchased cars that are hybrids, CNW calculated that in 2034 there is going to be:

• 357 million Americans
• 381 million cars, all hybrid or electric
• 15.7 million cars written off
• 18.1 new cars sold that are all hybrid or electric

It may seem like a long time, but it’s not unreasonable when you consider that every car being built and sold would have to be a hybrid, and every car on the road would have to be replaced with a hybrid vehicle.  Also, many people are holding onto their old vehicles and buying used car warranties because of the poor economy, so that is slowing things down.

The downturn of the U.S. economy has drivers steering toward purchasing used cars instead of new ones.

A recent survey examining 40 car retailers indicated used car sales have increased.  In fact, of the dealerships, 28 percent said that they had sold more used vehicles than expected.

Also, 82 percent of the dealerships indicated that their used car inventory is just enough.  This is up 64 percent from last year at the same time.

In addition, 15 percent of the dealerships claimed that they didn’t have enough inventories, which was higher than the 6 percent in the previous survey.

Used vehicle interest could represent a bright spot for an expected gloomy year in the automotive industry.  Consumers want to save money on cars, used car warranties, and auto loans.

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.