Everyone is aware that distracted teenagers turn into bad drivers.  Tomorrow is the beginning of National Teen Driver Safety Week.  This is a time dedicated to bringing teenagers, educators, community leaders, and parents together to help teens avoid car accidents.

This event was established by the government in 2007 as a way to address teen car accidents, which is the #1 cause of death among teens 16-20 years old.  It’s necessary to focus on the driving habits of teens because it has been proven that teenagers underestimate emergencies in which they need to have a fast reaction time.

Also, there are many distractions inside of a vehicle, specifically when there are teen passengers involved.  In fact, it has been shown that two-thirds of passenger deaths involving 13-19 year olds happen when another teenager is driving.

Parents can help their teens stay safer in the car by doing just a few simple things.  First, they shouldn’t let their teen ride with another driver who has been driving less than one year.  Don’t let your teen use cell phones while driving.  Purchase an auto warranty so that you keep up with important car maintenance. Finally, make sure you know where your teenager is going and how they are getting there.

Over the last week there has been a story circulating on the Internet about the owner of a 2009 Nissan GT-R who couldn’t get his auto warranty to cover his blown transmission.  What was the problem?  He claims he turned off the stability control in order to use the vehicle’s launch control feature.  Making that mistake cost him about $20,000 in auto repairs.

Nissan is well aware of the story on the Internet, and it says that utilizing the launch control feature or turning the VDC off by themselves wouldn’t void auto warranty.  However, Nissan claims that when the two features are abused and lead to damage, the auto warranty becomes void.  The auto warranty includes normal stipulations about racing, modifications, as well as other changes that void auto warranties.

Nissan couldn’t calculate how car owners could use the vehicle, meaning how often it could be driven on a track or other difficult uses.  Other GT-R drivers have complained about the car’s transmission, but most of them attacked the author of the original story for not being a good driver.

The result of this story is clear for owners of GT-R owners: You shouldn’t drive your GT-R too hard if you don’t want to be the one to pay for it.

If you’re considering buying a new vehicle this year you need to consider the worth of the car in a few years, when you’re ready to trade it in for another car.  Consider these four factors that determine the resale value of a vehicle.

Supply and demand is a big factor.  Vehicles that have a high volume of production, such as Chevrolet and Ford pickup trucks don’t hold a high resale value because they are so numerous.

Next, brand image is key.  For instance, Toyota, Porsche, and Honda have great images, which is the reason they end up on the high end of the table every year.  Regardless of whether the vehicle deserves it or not, brand name is a huge factor in the resale price of a car.

If there is a high incentive for spending on a new car, the residual value will be lower on a recent model.  Just remember, there is a reason for high incentives.

Also investigate the number of units of a certain model that were sold to rental and commercial fleets.  If there was a great number sold, the resale value will be less.

Look at these factors when buying a new car.  A vehicle is only a good deal if it is worth something when it comes time to trade it in.  In addition, purchase an auto warranty to protect your wallet against unnecessary expenses.

Chances are at one time or another you have been told that you need new shocks and (or) struts.  After being quoted a large price, you might find yourself thinking, “Can I get away without replacing them and are they covered under used car warranties?

Your shocks and struts serve two functions in your car.  Some cars only have struts, and some only have shocks.  Their purpose is to dampen the oscillation of springs and assist in ride control.

If your shocks and/or struts are worn, your suspension parts and tires will wear out sooner.  This is why it is important to take your vehicle in for preventative checkups.  It is a good idea to have your mechanic look at your shocks and struts every time you get an oil change.

There are several warning signs that might tell you it is time to replace your shocks/struts.  First, you might notice leaks on the housing or dents on the strut body.  Also, you might see high and low worn spots on your tires and pitted piston rods.  Finally, you may have rubber bumpers that are crushed from bottoming out.

It is important not to cut corners when dealing with your shocks/struts.  It is essential that these parts function correctly for handling and cornering.  Purchasing an auto warranty is a good idea for motorists in order to avoid unnecessary repair costs down the road.  After all, you never know when your car will need maintenance.

Recently some Prius pictures appeared on the Internet and there was some confusion as to whether or not the Photos were in fact of the 2010 Prius. However, the public relations people at Toyota confirmed with an auto blog that the photos were in fact of the Prius of the next generation.

For the most part, the new Prius looks like the current car and it still contains a nickel metal hydride battery instead of the lithium ion battery, which appears to be the wave of the future. The 2010 Prius, however, should prove to have an electric motor that is more powerful and better fuel efficiency.

The new Prius’ release is set for the Detroit 2009 auto show this January, which is when more information and better pictures will be available from Toyota.

Since the Prius has been so popular up to date, chances are that the 2010 model won’t be any different. You may want to line up as soon as this car goes on sale to avoid waiting lists. Prices have been released yet, but it should be similar to the current model and have a good auto warranty.

You may think it is difficult to find a reliable car for a good price; however, a used car may be your best option.  There are hundreds of pre-owned vehicle models that offer good reliability.  Many of these also prove to be affordable, fuel-efficient and safe.

Cars with improved reliability have made pre-owned an appealing option.  Another good thing about purchasing a used car is that the depreciation impact is reduced.  Also, insurance rates are usually less expensive, and it is easy to find used car warranties.

According to the Consumer Reports “Best of the Best” car list, certain cars have showed good performance in road tests and have been above average in reliability for several years.  This list includes models from BMW, Honda, Buick, Infiniti, Mazda, Lexus, Nissan, Porsche, Toyota, Volvo, Acura, Pontiac and Subaru.

Their “Worst of the Worst” list includes vehicles that have had several years of below average reliability.  These models include Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Volkswagen, Dodge, Kia, GMC, Jeep, Land Rover, Chrysler, Chevrolet, and Mercedes-Benz.

Consider buying a pre-owned car that has proven reliable for several years.  Also, buy an auto warranty to protect your investment so you can have peace of mind.

The number of vehicle repossessions has gone up drastically this year, which is about to top 1.9 million, which is a significant jump of 15% since 2007. Chances are that a large number of those vehicles were large SUVs and trucks or luxury cars that mortgage brokers purchased when they thought the good times would keep on rolling forever.

Now that the housing bubble has popped, the large monthly payments and gas costs are practically unaffordable. People are opting for used cars with used car warranties and staying away from new cars. Unlike many other lenders, carmakers can’t really be blamed for giving out loans that are risky. Borrowers who have great credit scores are having their Mercedes’ yanked away, just like the people who got Honda Civics.

This is terrible news for carmakers, as if they haven’t had enough, because for a repossessed car the average loss is around $10,000. Then the repos that have been heavily discounted end up on dealership lots and give the small amount of car shoppers out there a good reason to buy a discounted repo with the addition of an auto warranty, instead of a new car.

Ford has great expectations for the 2010 Fiesta subcompact.  With U.S. car shoppers turning to small, fuel-efficient cars with good new car warranties, as a solution to high fuel prices, the sales of Ford have been hurt by a lineup of primarily trucks.  Ford has currently suspended its idea of returning to profitability in 2009.  Instead, they are counting on the 2010 model year.  In the center of that effort will be the Fiesta, as well as a new Focus.

According to New Car Net, the car is seen “as a significant landmark in Ford’s history.”  In fact this is the first automobile by Ford that has been developed for customers all over the world, and is a trend for Ford’s future of global vehicles.

The Fiesta subcompact will be offered with several diesel options, or a four-cylinder that can reach 118 mph, and get mileage of 38.9 mpg combined.  This is much better than any car that is a non-hybrid on the market in the U.S.

The Ford Fiesta will be available for sale in Europe within three months, but will not reach showrooms in the U.S. until the model year of 2010.  However, at that time, consumers can purchase this car with an auto warranty and breathe a sigh of relief that they will have a reliable, fuel-efficient vehicle.

Regardless of if the economy is in its death throes, the children still need to be able to get to soccer, ballet, or baseball practice.  That means that the minivan will survive.

There has been a great deal of focus on falling truck and SUV sales, but the minivan has also experienced a slump lately.  For people who are interested in purchasing a minivan out there, know that there are many deals right now.  You will find some significant deals like getting $3,500 cash back for the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country and $5,000 or 0% financing for 60 months for the 2008 Kia Sedona.

You can also get some cash-back deals on 2009 models as well.  For instance, you can get $2,500 cash back or 2.9% financing for 72 months for the 2009 Nissan Quest or get $1,000 back for the 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan.  In addition, be aware that you can get a good auto warranty with most new minivans.

Here is a question for car consumers:  What has the low cost of a used car with the reliability and auto warranty of a brand new car?  The answer is a certified pre-owned car.

The term CPO is used in the car industry to identify late model used cars that have low-mileage.  These automobiles have gone through a detailed inspection and come with an auto warranty by the factory to back them up.  CPOs are usually in better shape than other used cars and have a maintenance schedule that can be verified by using Carfax.

Most of the time certified pre-owned programs come with an inspection, auto warranty, and an option to return the vehicle if you decide you don’t like it.  What you end up getting for the extra money you spend on a CPO vehicle varies quite a bit.  For instance, Lexus will give you a 100,000 total vehicle and 3 year limited warranty on its CPO cars.  Chrysler, on the other hand, gives an inspection with a return policy, but only offers a limited auto warranty of 3,000-mile, 3 months.

In order for consumers to feel like they have the same service as a new car, they should ensure that they get an extension of the factory auto warranty offered.