There is nothing worse than getting your car repaired and hearing, “It isn’t covered under your auto warranty.”  Often, motorists are confused because they assume that certain repairs are covered.  Drivers need a little education to understand more about their new car warranties.

People need to understand that an auto warranty isn’t an entitlement, but an agreement you make with the car manufacturer.  Your responsibility is to fulfill specific maintenance requirements that the manufacturer sets.  After doing your part, the manufacturer must perform repairs resulting from a defect or a failed part.

So, what parts are covered?  The auto manufacturer must cover the parts that it makes.  For example, transmissions, engines, steering, suspension, computers, instruments, chassis wiring, and other parts that they manufacture are covered.  Maintenance items and wearable items aren’t covered under new car warranties.  For example, filters, hoses, belts, brakes and tires aren’t covered.

What about the parts not made by the manufacturer of the car?  Items such as stereo systems and conversion components have a warranty through their manufacturers.  These can be found in paper work you received with the purchase of the car.

The best thing that you can do to avoid misunderstandings about new car warranties is to educate yourself.  Make sure that you do your homework and read all of the fine print in your auto warranty.

Consumers who want to buy a new car have several concerns: reliability, safety and new car warranties. Recently, The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety listed the thirty-six 2008 vehicles that they rate highest for safety. Which cars are there favorites?

The Toyota Tundra was the only pickup truck that made the list. Its main safety features include side airbags, as well as stability control.

Although no domestic vehicles made the list last year, there are seven domestics on the 2008 list. These are the Ford Taurus, Mercury Sable, Ford Edge, Ford Taurus X, Lincoln MKX, Cadillac CTS and the Saturn Vue.

Ford Motor Company had the most vehicles on the list. In fact, they had eight models. Honda and Acura sported seven winners.

Only one small car made the IIIHS list: the Subaru Impreza.

According to studies, drivers are more and more concerned with vehicle safety. Also, drivers want cars that are reliable. They are purchasing new car warranties, so that they can easily repair their cars without the worry of unnecessary expenses.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners recently performed a study to determine what the best and worst states are in the country for auto insurance.  According to the study, you are paying the highest insurance premiums if you live in the Northeast.

New Jersey proved to be the most expensive state.  On average, premiums in New Jersey are over $1,300 yearly.  The capital of our nation, Washington D.C. was the second highest, with average yearly premiums of $1,185.  New York was third highest with $1,110 being the average premium.

Revealed in the study was that urban driving, high salaries, and a lot of traffic are responsible for elevated costs in those states.  In addition, liability insurance premium costs are higher in the Northeast.

Midwestern and Northern states proved to have the lowest insurance premium costs.  The overall lowest was Idaho with costs at $530 per year.  The next lowest was Maine at $560 a year, and North Dakota was $570 per year.

According to this study, your location is a key factor in determining your car insurance costs.  Today, consumers are paying more than they ever have for their vehicles.  These costs include insurance, new car warranties, and maintenance costs.

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.

If you’re thinking of purchasing a small SUV you’re in luck because there are many good choices.  Compact SUVs offer practicality, fuel-efficiency, and nice style.  In fact you can find many models for under $25,000 complete with an auto warranty.  So what are the best and worst models to consider?  Read on.

The Honda CR-V is the #1 compact SUV.  It scored the highest for performance, safety, and interior.  According to reviewers, it drives really well, has a sleek design and offers ample storage room.  Following close behind, the Toyota RAV4 comes in second place in its class.  This vehicle has a surprising amount of power for its size. It now offers a V-6 engine, as well as a third row seat. The RAV4 was the first compact SUV in its class over a decade ago.  Coming in #3 is the 2008 Subaru Forester.  This SUV is known for being a fun, family-friendly vehicle.  Reviewers complained about the exterior being bland and the balky transmission, but were willing to overlook these things because it had some great positive features.

Unfortunately, there are some compact SUVs that didn’t rank as well.  In last place was the Saturn Vue Hybrid.  According to reviewers, it isn’t very refined and isn’t as fuel thrifty as many other hybrids.  Also at the bottom of the list is the Mazda Tribute because its power and handling doesn’t match its competitors.  Finally, the Jeep Compass drives more like a car, but doesn’t have the sportiness or off-road capabilities that other Jeeps have.

If you’re looking to buy a compact SUV, there are many great choices out there.  The most important thing is to do your homework and make sure you are choosing wisely.  Also keep in mind the cost of new car warranties, maintenance costs and auto loans when determining your budget.

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.

There are hundreds of new vehicles on the market, which can make it difficult for car buyers to choose what is best for them.  Many people tend to base their decision on looks alone, but this is a dangerous way to decide on a car.  So, what other considerations should motorists make?

The first factor to consider is how much money you intend to spend.  Figure out what your maximum amount is before going to the dealership and stick with it.  Also, make sure to include everything in the bottom line, such as interest, taxes, finance charges, insurance and new car warranties.  You need to factor in all of these expenses.

Also determine if you need a fuel-efficient car.  Some models rate much higher on fuel efficiency and if you have a long commute to work this might be an important factor.

Consider safety features.  Does the car you are looking at have side-curtain air bags, brake assist, stability control?  Also, how were the scores on crash tests?

Finally, do you need a lot of space?  If you have a large family you might want to think about a minivan or SUV that has ample passenger room and cargo space.

Do your homework before getting to the dealership so you know what you are looking for.  In addition, make sure to get an auto warranty so you can protect your wallet in case of unforeseen repair costs down the road.

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.