The latest crash-test ratings were just released by the Insurance Institute for Highway safety, revealing the Honda Insight, Toyota Prius, and Kia Soul all achieved the Top Safety Pick award by the group. In order to get this award car models must get a “Good” rating in side, front and rear crash tests.  In addition, the vehicles must come with electronic stability control.  All of the cars mentioned above are equipped with ESC standard, however the Honda Insight only has it standard on the top trim level, which is the EX.  In addition, consumers can rest assured that these cars come with good new car warranties.

All three of the cars are considered to be small by the IIHS, although the EPA calls the interior volume of the Prius a midsize.  These cars were joined by seven other vehicles that are considered small cars to get the Top Safety Pick award, however electronic stability control is only standard on the Subaru Impreza, Scion XB, and Volkswagen Rabbit.  ESC is only an option on the Honda Civic, Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla and Mitsubishi Lancer.

How is Nissan going to persuade car shoppers that there is a true compact car in its lineup that could possibly compete with the Corolla and Civic?  Well, the new 2010 Sentra models are going to be less expensive and have an updated look.  The 2010 models are showing up at dealerships now and officially go on sale today.  They come equipped with impressive new car warranties that will bring drivers peace of mind.

For the base model Sentra 2.0 that has a continuously variably automatic transmission, the price has only dropped $130, which makes it $16,600.  However, if you are looking at the 2.0S, then the price drops $600 down to $17,160.  And then, the SL, SE-R and SE-R Spec-V will save you $1,100 and $1,080.

Changes to the appearance of the 2010 Sentra include a slight revision to the front and rear end.  Although the changes to the rear end aren’t apparent, the front end has a new treatment to the lower bumper and a brand new grille.  Also new to the exterior are alloy wheels and wheel covers.  The interior of the car has no changes.

If you are thinking of buying a new car, don’t just rely on professional expertise; make yourself a professional expert as well.  This includes taking certain measures such as doing your homework and researching an auto warranty.  You can be empowered by arming yourself with the following information about purchasing a used vehicle.

Examine the pedals to check for wear.  Rarely do people update the pedals, so this is a good indication of the cars true history.

Next, take a look at the steering wheel.  While the engine is turned off, joggle the wheel to see how much movement there is.  There shouldn’t be more than one inch of play.  If there is, a new steering gearbox may be needed.

Never buy a car that has frame-damage.  You can tell this by looking at the core support of the radiator.  This connects to the fenders in the front of the vehicle.  It shouldn’t be welded on each side, but bolted.

Finally, check the paint job on the vehicle.  Look for dents, scratches and rust spots.  Also, examine the car for a slight waviness, which is an indication of a paint job.

Most importantly, check the history of the vehicle you are looking to buy.  You can do this at autocheck.com.

No matter how much knowledge you have, you never really know what car you are buying.  This is why it is important to buy used car warranties to protect your investment.  You don’t want to pay unnecessary repair costs down the road.

When looking to buy a new vehicle it is important to consider crash test ratings, electronic stability control, and rollover resistance.  When evaluating a car for safety, remember to look closely at the following.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducts crash tests on vehicles.  They rate vehicles based on results in frontal crashes and side impacts.  Paying attention to these scores will help make a good choice when it comes to vehicle safety.

Electronic stability control is a highly recommended safety feature.  This will help your vehicle stay under control when cornering.  It will help you avoid sliding and skidding by selectively applying brakes to one or more of the wheels.

Vehicles that are tall, such as SUVs and pickup trucks have a higher likelihood of rolling over.  To determine a vehicle’s inclination for rollover NHTSA has a five-star rollover rating.  You can access these ratings at www.safercars.gov.

Consumers are becoming more and more concerned with protecting themselves.  They are purchasing new car warranties and buying vehicles with added safety features.  Taking these simple steps allow drivers to have peace of mind.

As part of its “new day” celebration last February, Chrysler introduced a very unique promotion for its minivans: Purchase a minivan, and receive a free DVD player for the rear seat.  Since the promotion, it’s difficult to argue that Chrysler has experienced something that resembles the optimism that a new day brings, yet that hasn’t stopped the carmaker from bringing back the same DVD offer this month.

When consumers buy a Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, Jeep Grand Cherokee, or Jeep Commander they will get a free DVD entertainment package for the rear seat.  In minivans, screens are included for the second row, as well as the third row.  This deal applies nationwide and are in addition to other great deals, such as financing incentives, great new car warranties, and cash-back incentives.

Chrysler is hoping to spark consumer interest by putting forth red-hot deals.  Unfortunately, many motorists are currently opting to hang onto their current cars and purchase used car warranties to protect their wallets.

What is magic about the age 13 that makes it OK for children to finally ride in the front seat of the car?  Are they finally big enough to withstand the impact of an airbag?  Are they at the age where they can behave in the front seat?

Part of the problem is behavior.  When kids mess with the radio, and play around, they usually aren’t in a proper position when an airbag deploys.  In injuries and deaths, the proximity to the airbag in the front is a huge issue; in addition, proper positioning in the seat is a factor.  By 13, kids are more able to sit still and behave.

Around the ages 11 and 12, children are also bigger physically.  This is an issue because it is hard for children to have their backs against the seatback if their feet don’t touch the floor.  This means that they scrunch down putting them in a bad position for airbag deployment.

Kids under 13, need to ride in the back seat for their safety.  It isn’t worth it to put your child in the front and have them injured by an airbag.  Parents are concerned with many things such as new car warranties, auto loans, and maintenance, but most important is the safety of their children.

More motorists are deciding to switch to hybrid cars for better fuel-efficiency, however, just like any car; hybrids need common maintenance and occasional repairs.  A regular mechanic can do work that is routine, yet you will need hybrid-certified mechanics for jobs that are more extensive.

According to a Toyota service director in Tampa, hybrid work at the dealership has been small.  There are some vehicles with issues, but for the most part repairs are the result of accidents.  The most costly repair on hybrids is for battery replacement.  In a vehicle that isn’t covered by an auto warranty, you will pay approximately $3,000 just on the part.

The best thing to do is to find a technician to repair your car before you really need it.  This way you won’t have to make last minute decisions.  Also, make sure that the technician is certified in hybrid repair.

Finally, most new car warranties for hybrids cover 100,000 miles or 8-10 years.  Make sure you know if your auto warranty requires that you get service from a specific repair shop.

It’s pretty obvious that carmakers are having a difficult year.  And just to make things even harder, some cars that are perfectly good don’t even get a fair shake.  One car model can be just as good as another one, yet consumers don’t give it the attention of a competing model.

For instance, the Saab 9-5 gets 21 mpg and comes with a sunroof and leather seats, and goes for $37,685 with new car warranties.  However, 1,943 consumers only bought that car, while 81,967 people purchased the similar BMW 3-Series for $32,700, which is the segment leader.

Another story of tough luck is the Acura RL, which is a competitor in the large luxury car division and is one of the Top Safety Picks, along with the S80.  However, the RL, which is powered by a V-6, isn’t a match for competing car models that have V-8 engines.  Because of higher fuel prices, the RL appeals to some shoppers who are fuel-conscious, but it seems that buyers looking for luxury cars have a preference for power over safety.

These cars are great examples of vehicles that deserve a second look because they have features that are unique and high quality.  Unfortunately, they are small players in a huge market.  Consumers should consider the benefits of these cars because not only do they have a lot of features to offer, but also they are priced right with a good auto warranty.

The Prius is now one of the most popular vehicles in the country.  This is actually quite amazing because this is a hybrid electric vehicle, which requires people to embrace change. With any change, people like to protect themselves.  Many people feel better purchasing a hybrid if they have an auto warranty to go along with it. The billion-dollar question that innovators face is whether people will resist or embrace innovation.  Apparently, Toyota got it right, because thousands of people are buying the Prius.

People accustomed to a regular vehicle would struggle to get the Prius to move forward.  In addition, people probably couldn’t figure out how to put the car in reverse.  However, these are not hard lessons to learn, they just require people to change their way of thinking.  To start the Prius you press a button located on the dashboard twice.  To make your car go forward or backward you manipulate a small stick that comes out of the dashboard.

People might fear technology because it is seductive, yet they might also have a fear of not being able to change. Either way, it is good to protect yourself.  This includes purchasing new car warranties that will cover you in the case of faulty technology.  Innovators never really know which way the cash register will ring.  However, Toyota got it right with the Prius.

Many people wonder why carmakers sell different models overseas than in the U.S.  And with the success selling the Fiesta in Europe, which would fit the needs of Americans who are more gas conscious than ever, why not just begin shipping them to dealers in America?

The main reason is differing standards in safety.  What is acceptable in Europe doesn’t always pass the test with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  U.S. law has a requirement for crash protection for car passengers that don’t wear seat belts, however, this isn’t a priority in Europe.  Even small details, such as the color of the turn signals in the rear are a major obstacle when trying to take a car from one market to another.

A study was conducted by Ford of 43 regulations in Europe and the U.S. and discovered that there were only 11 that matched.  So, it gets to be very expensive to make an all-new version of a vehicle in order to meet different safety standards.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and American consumers have strict safety standards.  Motorists put safety at the top of their list, which is why they are buying safer cars and new car warranties.  For this reason, cars in Europe aren’t always introduced to the U.S.