General Motors recently announced that it is extending an auto warranty offer on its certified used trucks and cars, citing quality gains and less auto warranty-funded repairs.

GM claims it will begin to offer a 12-month, 12,000-mile auto warranty that is “bumper to bumper” on all certified used trucks and cars that are eligible for the coverage by GM dealers.

This change will start September 13, and will extend the terms of the GM auto warranty on late model used vehicles in good condition an extra 9 months and 9,000 miles.

This step comes one day after an announcement by GM that it is putting out a new discount program on new trucks and cars that will provide employee-level pricing to new buyers.

GM, as well as other U.S. carmakers, has been arguing that their quality improvements in their vehicles have long been ignored by American consumers.

In response to this, the Big Three have offered more generous used car warranties over the last few years in order to gain consumer confidence.

Due to gas prices at $4 per gallon, everyone is looking for tips on how to save gas. One easy thing that motorists can do is to avoid using reverse, if it isn’t necessary. One example of this is when you are in a parking lot at the grocery store or mall. Just by pulling through the parking space so that your car is facing out, you can save a small amount of gas. This allows you to pull forward when it’s time to leave. This tip isn’t going to save you hundreds of dollars, however, little fuel-conscious actions add up.

Why is it so bad to back up? Think about it in these terms. Is it any fun creeping through parking lots in first gear? Absolutely not, and using low gears are terrible for fuel-efficiency. Reverse also gets poor fuel-economy, and most of the time you’re pointlessly covering the same territory that you already covered.

For instance, if you back up and pull forward, you’re driving twice the amount of just pulling out of your parking space and driving off. This might appear to be insignificant, but if you use better driving habits over the course of a year, they will give you great savings.

Motorists often only look at the obvious ways that they can save money on driving expenses, such as buying used car warranties, carpooling, and driving less. But, following easy gas saving tips will save you big in the end.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in the United States traffic deaths hit an all time low back in 2007, when there were 1.37 deaths per 100 million miles driven.  There were a total of 41,059 deaths, which is 1,600 less than in 2006.

Mary Peters, who is the Transportation Secretary, claims that the decline is due to efforts of law-enforcement, as well as vehicles that have added safety features.  Now, with electronic stability control, and side airbags, people have an increased chance of surviving crashes that would have once been fatal.

The state experiencing the biggest decline was California, with 266 fewer fatalities, while North Carolina experienced the biggest increase, with 121 more fatalities.

Just as experts predicted, 2008 is already experiencing even fewer accident related deaths, not just because of the increasing safety standards, but also mainly because of gas prices.  Americans are trying to keep money in their wallets by keeping their current cars, purchasing used car warranties, and cutting back on driving.  Fewer motorists on the roads have meant less fatal accidents.

In order for a vehicle to maintain its peak performance motorists must get routine maintenance and service.  This will also keep your car prepared for difficult driving conditions that come up. Purchasing used car warranties is a good idea so that you don’t dread taking in your car just to find that it requires additional repairs.  To keep your car in tip-top shape, follow these tips.

First, check your tire pressure on a regular basis.  To keep track, you should do it every other time that you get gas at the pump.  In addition, check your tire treads to look for wear and tear and ensure that there isn’t any cracking.

Second, get regular car washes to keep a nice, shiny exterior.  And add a coat of wax to keep away corrosion.

Don’t forget to be aware of your check engine light.  Don’t ignore it if it lights up.  Make sure to take your car to a professional in this case so that you don’t have expensive repairs down the road.  Of course an auto warranty will help you avoid unnecessary repair expenses.

Lastly, determine a service schedule with a mechanic and keep it.  Your car has certain parts that a professional should look at periodically.  Look at your owner’s manual in order to determine what maintenance schedule is best for your car.

Just by following these tips you can head off unnecessary repairs in the future.  However, you want to make sure you have an auto warranty to protect your wallet.

Most of us would like to be able to purchase a brand new shiny car, but not all of us have the option.  However, there are a lot of good used cars out there that you can get for a terrific deal.  Kelley Blue Book recently put a list together of vehicles in average condition that go for between $15,000-$21,000.  The following cars make the top of the list.

Number 1 on the list is the 2003 BMW 3 Series sedan.  The average value of this vehicle is $20,290 according to the Kelley Blue Book.  This car is performance-oriented, handles well, and provides a terrific style.

Next, is the 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV, which is valued at $20,335, making it a great bargain.  The Chevrolet Tahoe is a joy to drive and handles easily.  In addition, the interior in this SUV is roomy and comfortable.

Finally, the 2006 Chrysler 300 sedan has an average value of $17,865.  This is a great used vehicle with a 3.5-liter V-6, and it provides adequate power in all kinds of challenging situations.

Of course a new car would be the goal for a lot of people, but many used vehicles offer motorists a terrific bargain.  To ensure that you get a good vehicle do your homework, and buy used car warranties to go with it.  After all, this will give you peace of mind to enjoy your used car.

Teens are known for making driving mistakes, which unfortunately can result in car accidents. This leaves parents feeling anxious, not knowing if their teen driver is safe. Parents need to take precautions, such as purchasing used car warranties and monitoring their teen’s driving.  There are numerous devices out there that allow parents to track their teenage drivers. However, now parents can track their teen right from their own keychain.

Many technologies out there monitor the speed and location of your teenage driver, and some even videotape who’s riding in the car. However, now there is a Canadian company that is offering a new device called the Lemur Autovision keychain. For the low price of $99.95, parents are able to track the maximum speed that their teen is driving, as well as excessive braking and distance traveled. Essentially all that it requires is the installation of a non-GPS based sensor box and the monitor keychain. This system doesn’t invade a teen’s privacy, but allow parents to discipline children for speeding. And the best part is that it is tamper proof and protected by a PIN, which lets parents know if there have been attempts to fool the system.

Parents need to take extra precautions to keep their teen drivers safe, which includes purchasing an auto warranty, monitoring teen driving, and setting strict guidelines. You can never be too careful when it comes to your children.

Gooding & Co. just released the closing tally for its auction in Pebble Beach. This sale follows the Concourse d’Elegance and is among the most elite auto auctions in the world. It is also an important barometer for the market of collectible cars.

The auction this year concluded Sunday and made $64.2 million, which tops last years tally of $60 million. Twenty vehicles went for over $1 million, which is triple the 2006 number. Five vehicles were sold for over $2 million, and Peter Williams sold the Bugatti collection, which is made up of 12 cars, for above $15.5 million.

However, the news wasn’t all good. One in five vehicles didn’t sell.

Still, the large amount of price records crushed over the weekend implies that the business of rare cars remains strong.

In addition, there was the highest price ever paid for a car in North America. A 1937 Bugatti Type 37SC Atalante Coupe sold for $7.92 million. This is the kind of car you wouldn’t dare drive out of your driveway without an auto warranty.

The collectibles boom probably won’t last forever, after all, most people are opting for used cars with used car warranties, but for now, it’s still strong.

Brake pad vibrations that result in a high-pitched noise are the cause of brake squeal.  When pads don’t have proper insulation from the caliper, vibration occurs.  The factory will equip brake pads with insulator shims, clips, and even a silicone backing that allows the pad to stay glued to the caliper.  This helps to prevent vibrations.

Often times when brake pads become too hard brake squeal occurs.  The hard and smooth surfaces then rub together to produce a noise equivalent to nails on the blackboard.  When this occurs, it is necessary to resurface the rotors and replace brake pads.  This will eliminate the squealing.

You should also have your rotors resurfaced when you have your brakes done.  Not doing this will result in squealing.  When replacing brake pads, the rotor refinishing should be done with a non-directional finish.  This will make sure that brake pads are broken in properly.

Act immediately if brake squeal occurs.  Take your car to a highly trained technician to make sure that your brakes are treated appropriately.  And, make sure you have used car warranties to cover repairs performed.  After all, you don’t want to end up paying unnecessary costs.

In this day and age there are numerous different places to buy a used car.  You can do an Internet search, look at your local car dealer, or buy from a private owner.  Any one of these places is a good option for buying a used car if you do your research.

If you want to shop for cars conveniently from your own home, you can look at used-vehicle websites.  You will have to enter your price range, your desired make and model, and your zip code.  Then, a car list will be displayed with the seller’s contact information.  You can also put in a classified ad for your old vehicle.

Independent used car dealers will handle all makes of cars.  You can purchase anything from an old, beat up car to an almost new car.  If a dealership has been around for a while you know that they are reputable.  The good thing about buying from a dealer is that financing and an auto warranty can be arranged for you.

Many times, you can get the best deals from a private owner.  Often, they are just trying to get rid of their old vehicle and there is no overhead like with a business.  The only downfall is that private owners may not be aware of mechanical difficulties that a car might have.

Used cars can save you lots of money in the long run.  Just make sure to do your homework on used car warranties, car prices, and car loans.  This will allow you to make a wise decision when it comes time to buy.

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.