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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that small cars aren’t as safe as big vehicles, back in 1997.  Yet, today there are more small cars than ever.  Small vehicles aren’t the only way to accomplish fuel-efficiency and reduced emissions.  There are now light construction materials that can accomplish this feat on larger vehicles.  In fact, making a vehicle lightweight will improve safety.  A car that is lightweight is more nimble than a heavy car, allowing motorists to avoid accidents and road service calls.

Many people make the assumption that weight and size of a vehicle go hand in hand.  This isn’t necessarily true.  Lightweight, strong materials, like carbon fiber tend to be expensive, however, certain high-end automakers are implementing it on roofs and hoods.

The Smart ForTwo is using plastic door panels.  The doors won’t ding or scratch, and are reinforced internally with steel bars.  This gives the best protection in the instance of a side impact, yet it is more lightweight than a conventional door.

Small vehicle sales are at an all time high in the U.S.  Currently, the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit are the top sellers.  Although consumers will have to pay more for big vehicles that are lightweight, it is worth it because of safety.  In addition, motorists should buy good new car warranties to protect themselves.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a recall has been issued by Nissan for 242,720 Pathfinders, Xterras and Frontiers for model years 2005-2009.  The recall is due to a crash sensor that causes the airbag to deploy in an accident.  This recall is mainly aimed at cars that are sold in climates with cold weather, in which road salt causes the crash sensor to corrode.  The warning light for the airbag may become illuminated.

Nissan says they will replace sensors that are faulty and put new ones in, and all vehicle owners will receive a 10-year extended warranty for the crash sensors.  Nissan urges people to look for the warning light regardless.  This recall is the second one Nissan has had in the last three months that involves an airbag sensor.  Nissan owners can call Nissan at 800-647-7261.

It is important for car owners to protect themselves by purchasing new car warranties since you never know when your car will fail.

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.

Many people claim to love the smell of a new car.  However, the chemicals that gives cars that new smell may be harmful and have been known to cause long-term health issues.  However, consumers now have a guide that will aid them in figuring out the cars that are the safest.

An advocacy group in Michigan, called The Ecology Center, recently published a guide about toxic chemicals in vehicles and child seats on Tuesday.

The report deals with harmful substances, such as chlorine, bromine, heavy metals and lead.  The Ecology Center got samples of parts that people touch the most, such as center consoles, steering wheels, and seat fronts.

The investigation determined that there are top healthier cars from Smart, Acura, BMW, Chevrolet, Toyota and Honda.  Some cars that created high concern were by Suzuki, Mitsubishi, VW, BMW, Mazda, Lincoln, Audi, Mercedes, BMW and Kia.

Consumers are becoming more and more concerned with car safety issues.  They are taking precautions, such as doing research on new cars, and purchasing cars with added safety features, and new car warranties.

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.

Mitsubishi has confirmed that in the near future it will sell an electric car in the U.S. that is fairly inexpensive.

This small electric vehicle is called the i MiEV, which is short for Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle, and will be one of the very first EVs that will be mass-produced on the global scene, according to the carmaker.  Over the next several years, this car will begin to show up in Japan and Europe.

This car is based on the i, which is a small city car sold in Japan.  The transmission, gas engine, and fuel tank are replaced by an electric motor and battery pack.

The car will be able to travel 80 miles on a single charge, thanks to the lithium-ion battery pack.  When using a normal outlet it will take approximately 12-14 hours to charge.  According to Mitsubishi, though, there is a fast charger that will only take 30 minutes to give the car an 80% charge.

Consumers are excited about this vehicle coming to the U.S.  However, with any car make sure to get good new car warranties in case of unexpected repairs.

According to Audi, there will be minor adjustments to the Q7 SUV, which include a front and rear end that is slightly revised.  However, the change that is the most noticeable on this vehicle is the LED running lights that encircle the entire design of the headlight.  In addition, the rear also gets LED brake lights.

The interior of the car pretty much stays the same, except for front seats with new leather and the third-generation of the infotainment system that sports a multi-media interface.  And this car has an intriguing navigation system operated by voice-activation.  Motorists can just say a command, such as “I’m hungry” or “I need gas”, and the computer will locate the appropriate points of interest in the local vicinity.  This will eliminate car accidents and roadside assistance calls that were caused by distractions having to do with the navigation system.

Choices for the engine include the current 3.6-liter V-6 and 4.2-liter V-8, as well as a new option of TDI for those people who want a diesel alternative.  Audi claims that the 2010 Q7 TDI is going to get approximately 25 mpg with a range of 600 miles.  This car is on sale complete with new car warranties.

Many people enjoy owning minivans because they offer various options for carrying cargo and passengers.  Depending on your needs, you can configure minivans in a variety of different ways.  Also, minivans now come with climate control in dual zones, as well as DVD systems.  These features offer great appeal to buyers, especially families.

There is tons of interior room in minivans, which allows for plenty of leg and headroom.  Also convenient are the models that have sliding doors on both sides of the vehicle, making it quick and easy to get in and out.

Minivans allow enough seating for up to eight passengers.  The ones that is equipped for seven passengers typically have captain’s chairs, not a bench.  The Honda Odyssey offers even more flexibility in seating by having a center seat that can be removed.

If you need a vehicle that has flexibility in seating and cargo space, minivans are a great option.  They have numerous features that make for a comfortable, convenient ride.  However, no matter what vehicle you decide to purchase, make sure you get new car warranties to protect yourself from unforeseen repairs.

Recently, J.D. Power and Associates conducted a study, finding that now that the EPA has changed how it tests cars, motorists are finding that they get better mileage out of their cars than what was advertised.

Before the EPA decided to update its methods to reflect a more accurate view of modern driving conditions, motorists were consistently reporting that their combined average for fuel economy was less than the EPA rating advertised.

For example, before the update, back in 2007, motorists claimed that they got around 97% of the fuel economy that was advertised.  This was 3% worse than what was advertised.  And after the new standards for testing were implemented in 2008, motorists claimed they got around 105% of the fuel economy posted.

For drivers who are money conscious and calculate driving costs, such as insurance, used car warranties, and gas costs, they will have a pleasant surprise with their gas mileage.