Gas prices of more than $4 per gallon have motorists all over the nation looking for fuel-efficient vehicles.  They’re swarming pre-owned car lots, posting online ads, and keeping a close eye on classified ads.  People would rather purchase small used cars with used car warranties, than buy new gas-guzzlers.  The vehicles of choice are the Honda Civic and Accord, Toyota Corolla and Camry, and Ford Focus and Fusion.

These cars are loved for their fuel-efficiency and reliability, and are now drawing higher offers than their value in the Blue Book.

Some sellers of these cars have reported bidding wars that would have new car dealers feeling green with envy.

The movement from big SUVs that guzzle gas to fuel-efficient cars is rippling throughout the nation in the auto industry.  This week, the Toyota Corolla and Camry unseated the Ford F-150 pickup truck as U.S.’s best selling vehicle for the first time ever.  And GM reported on Tuesday that it is going to close four of its plants that make SUVs and trucks.

The Internet is a great resource for motorists to shop for used vehicles and used car warranties.  Now, around 4,000 dealerships that cell used cars by GM will be listing their vehicles on eBay Motors.  The dealers have the advantage of being able to list cars for free.

Many different cars by GM will be listed on eBay.  These include Buick, Chevrolet, Pontiac, GMC and Oldsmobile vehicles.  In addition, Hummer, Saab, Cadillac, and Saturn will be listed, even though their certification programs are different.

One major advantage to listing on eBay is the large amount of users.  In fact, around 10 million users will be able to view the inventory of used GM dealers.  This program will continue to be more of a draw to dealers as well as consumers if more car manufacturers put their used car inventories on the website.

GM and eBay are working hard to complete the website.  However, GM has already taken advantage of the Internet by posting their inventory on more than 300 websites, such as Cars.com and AutoTrader.com.

Motorists are now able to shop for used cars from the comfort of their own homes.  In addition, consumers can find a good deal on used car warranties by making comparisons on the Internet.  GM has realized the importance of utilizing the Internet.

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.

There is nothing worse than traveling along in your car and hearing sirens behind you.  You know that you are about to be given a speeding ticket and you really can’t afford it.  With all of the car expenses, such as maintenance, used car warranties and loans, the last thing you need to pay for is a speeding ticket.  Well, help is on the way.  Pete Tenereillo of California has invented Trapster.

Trapster is a social network for cell phones that makes it possible for motorists to alert other people about speed traps.  Drivers can go to the website to sign up for a membership that is free.  Then the Trapster software can be downloaded onto your cell phone.  Most current cell phones, Blackberries and PDAs will be able to accommodate this software.

Next, motorists are ready to get on the road.  If you see a state trooper with a radar gun you hit “pound one” on your phone, which will alert other people when they approach the same area.

This is a great system because it’s hands free.  This allows drivers to be safer on the road.  Also, cell phones and PDAs that are more sophisticated can display a map that shows where the speed trap is.  However, you should pull over if you’re going to look at the map.

If you would like to buy a new car, but can’t afford to make high payments, there is a better option for you.  You can purchase a vehicle without going broke.  In order to get more for your money buy a pre-owned vehicle.

As soon as you drive a new car out of the driveway it’s price drops drastically.  You will end up losing around 25% of the purchase price of the car within the first year, and as the years progress the value declines radically.  A good rule of thumb is that after three years of ownership a car will only be worth half of what you paid for it.  So, if you plan on buying a 2008 for $50,000, realize that a 2005 is valued at $25,000.

Most Americans trade in their cars approximately every 3 years.  This means that there are a large amount of pre-owned cars on the market.  There are many vehicles with less than 30,000 miles on them that are under two years old.  These cars are practically new.  This should help eliminate fears that go along with buying a used car.  In addition, you can purchase an auto warranty to give you peace of mind.

Do your homework in order to get the best deal on a used car.  You can find a wealth of information on the Internet, such as the worth of used cars, as well as prices for used car warranties and auto loans.

It can be overwhelming to purchase a new vehicle, but keeping a vehicle can be worse.  Television ads are enticing and make it difficult for car shoppers to resist a new vehicle.  However, with the economy being difficult, it pays to not give into temptation.

In the U.S. motorists find it hard to drive the same vehicle for more than five years.  However, an auto warranty on your current vehicle, and some common sense tips can help you avoid an unnecessary purchase.

If your current vehicle is Japanese you are in business.  For example, the Honda Civic will run forever.  You may get a little rust on it, but it will never die.  And although cruising in a ’92 Toyota Tercel might not get you a hot date, it offers you great reliability.

Next, it is important to do your research.  This can actually prevent you from purchasing a vehicle.  It is easy to become overwhelmed with all of the options available in your price range.  And if you don’t have an auto warranty on your current car, research used car warranties.

Lastly, focusing on a specific make and model is good, especially if it hasn’t been made for over a decade.  There are slim odds that you will find the vehicle on the market with under 300,000 miles.

So, what happens if you still want that new vehicle after researching for weeks?  What if your old Tercel is steering toward the dealership?  Just keep in mind that a new car’s value will drop as soon as it pulls out of the dealership.  Holding onto your clunker will save you a lot of money in the end.

If you’re thinking of buying a used car you need to be aware of odometer fraud.  This is a scam where someone rolls back the odometer on vehicle.  The purpose of this is to deceive buyers into thinking that the car has fewer miles than it actually does.  This scam occurs on an estimated 450,000 cars bought every year.  Here are some ways that motorists can protect themselves against odometer fraud.

First, ask to look at the vehicle’s title in order to compare between the vehicle’s mileage and the odometer.  You should also compare mileage on maintenance records to the odometer.  Also, you can sometimes find stickers on windows or doorframes with maintenance records.

Next, you need to request a Carfax History Report on the car to look for odometer discrepancies.  If the seller doesn’t have one, order one online by using the VIN number.

Finally, make sure that the gauge numbers on the odometer are aligned.  If they aren’t lined up, or if there is movement when you tap the dashboard, you might want to reconsider buying the vehicle.

Following these simple tips can save you from purchasing a vehicle that has been tampered with.  Unfortunately, you never know what a used vehicle’s history really is.  This is why it is necessary to purchase used car warranties to protect you.

If you want to buy a cheap, used vehicle, you might want to check out an auto auction website.  A good place to start is Car-Auction.com.  This website features cars that have been seized by the government.  Motorists can select the type and model of car that they would like to purchase, and also the price.  You will receive results within seconds.  The convenience of this website is key.  It’s so much easier than going to an automobile auction.  Just make sure to follow these tips.

The hardest part about an auto auction website is finding a quality vehicle that you want to purchase.  A lot of people will purchase a car that looks good on the outside, yet this is a big mistake.  You need to get additional information about the vehicle.

Getting a history report on the car is essential before making an agreement.  You should get the cars VIN in order to do a search through an agency, such as Carfax.  Also important is getting a professional inspection on the vehicle.

An online auction site is a wonderful place to search for a used vehicle.  However, you need to be careful.  Do your homework to protect yourself. Also, make sure you buy used car warranties for peace of mind.

Many people have their hearts set on purchasing a new vehicle.  However, if you can get a high quality used vehicle for a fraction of what you would pay for a new car, why wouldn’t you do it?

For example, a 2009 four-cylinder Toyota Corolla has a sticker price of approximately $15,000.  Yet, because of depreciation, that vehicle would be worth around $10,000 three years later.  Wouldn’t it be a smart option to buy a good used vehicle for that low price?  The benefits aren’t just in the purchase price of the car, but also in the money you save on used car warranties and loans.

Before purchasing a vehicle, it is necessary to do your homework.  You can get an endless amount of auto information from periodicals and the Internet on everything from the cost of an auto warranty to reliability ratings.

Many people feel that they are too busy to research cars.  However, it is important to realize that you can save between $6,000 and $8,000 just by doing four hours of research.

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.