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.

The recommended intervals for oil changes have increased a significant amount over the last ten years.  It used to be that oil changes were recommended every 3,000 miles, but now recommendations are for every 8,000 miles.  This is great news for drivers because it means less time at the mechanic and less money spent.  However, there are a few cautionary notes to consider.

First of all, consult your owner’s manual for the “maximum recommended interval”.  Make sure you don’t extend beyond that number because saving $40 on an oil change is not worth having an $800 repair due to sludge buildup.

Second, if your driving type falls under “heavy duty” you will need to change your oil more regularly.  Often, drivers don’t realize that daily stop-and-go commuting falls under this category.  Also, if you use your vehicle for short trips with little highway driving you many need shorter oil changeouts.

Finally, you should use the specific oil type/grade recommended by the carmaker.  Failing to use the right oil type can result in poor car performance, engine damage, and even void the terms of your auto warranty.

Although less frequent oil changes are convenient for consumers, people need to follow these cautionary notes.  After all, you don’t want to ruin an engine because you didn’t add a couple of quarts of Pennzoil.  This is why used car warranties is always a good idea, too.

For drivers who are sick of paying the high fuel prices and who aren’t willing to wait for automakers to put affordable electric cars on the market, CNN has reported that car owners are doing conversions on their gas powered vehicles to make them electric powered.

The conversion has been described as “surprisingly easy”, which involves taking out the guts of the vehicle, such as the exhaust system and radiator, and making replacements to some, like the fuel injector, with components that are electric.  Of course, you could only say this process was “easy” if you regularly do engine swaps.  Many drivers don’t even know how to change their oil on their own.

Supporting this industry of do-it-yourself are suppliers that sell the parts necessary to complete the conversion, like Electric Vehicles of America.

Once you do that work, the car should be equipped with lead-acid batteries, since lead-acid batteries remain very expensive at $10,000-$20,000.  A truck that is small and has 20 6-volt batteries will reach a speed of 60 mph and run for approximately 40 miles.

Before undertaking a conversion such as this, make sure you know that it will make your auto warranty become null and void.  Also, messing with the inner workings of you vehicle can be extremely dangerous if you don’t have any experience.

It may be tempting to go to one of the giant retail chains that seem to be popping up everywhere for auto service, but is it smart?  Well, there’s something to be said for building a relationship with your auto repair facility, and with a large chain, it’s not likely to happen.

Think about it, you go to a mass retailer for a repair, and then after a year the part fails.  Yet, when you go back to the original location for an auto warranty claim, the first thing they ask for is your receipt.  If you don’t have the receipt you’re out of luck.  Chances are they will have no recollection of you or your car from the previous year.

Many people make the mistake of looking for a service shop just on the basis of price.  However, you need to consider other factors when choosing a shop.  Imagine how nice it would be to build a relationship with a shop where the mechanic recognizes you and your car and you feel a loyalty. We’ve all been in an emergency situation where we need a repair done that day.  If you have a relationship with your mechanic, chances are that he will be more likely to squeeze you in.

Ultimately, the choice is up to you when choosing a service shop.  However, keep in mind the benefits of being able to feel loyalty from your mechanic.

Many people struggle to decide what kind of car to buy.  It can be difficult to sort through all of the vehicle options to arrive at the car that best suits you.  Here are some important factors to consider that will help you make the right decision when purchasing a car.

First of all, decide what you intend to use the vehicle for.  Don’t buy a 4WD SUV because you take two camping trips a year.  If you’re using the car everyday for commuting, you are going to want to purchase a car that is easy to maneuver with good fuel-efficiency.

Next, consider the looks of the vehicle.  You need to find a vehicle that you can stand to look at every day without getting sick of it.  If you end up with a car that makes you shudder when you look at it, you will never enjoy it.

Finally, fuel-efficiency, although not as big of a deal three years ago, is now a major factor in car buying.  Now there are options of what kind of fuel you want to burn.  For example, some options are E10, E20, compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, petrol, diesel, and B5.  All of these fuels have their benefits, so decide which will suit you the best.

The best way to get the car that is going to fit you is to do your research on various vehicle models.  Also, when doing this consider the added costs of an auto warranty, vehicle maintenance, and auto loans.

Upon arrival of an accident scene, firefighters may not realize the high-voltage electrical system in a Toyota hybrid is on because of the silence of the electric motor.

According to Toyota regional service training specialist John Durso, people wouldn’t realize that a car is a hybrid unless they were told.  Many people would just assume that the vehicle was stopped.

For firefighters or a road service crew who are responding to an accident involving a gas-electric hybrid, high voltage is a complication.  This poses a risk of injuries or even death to emergency workers.

Because more and more electric-gas hybrids are being sold, firefighters are trying to learn the emergency response techniques that will keep them safe dealing with this new technology.  Classes at the Connecticut Fire Academy give regular classes on how firefighters can recognize hybrid car logos and disable their high-powered battery systems safely.

Consumers benefit from electric-gas hybrids because they save big at the gas pump.  However, in case of an accident or breakdown, motorists should allow firefighters or emergency roadside assistance crews to deal with their vehicle electrics, which can be dangerous unless you are properly trained.  Motorists should also purchase an auto warranty in case of unforeseen repairs.

Crossovers are becoming more and more popular with consumers.  These are essentially Sport-utility vehicles that are put on car platforms.  Crossovers give you the practicality of the minivan, with some of the capabilities of an SUV, all with a car’s efficiency. Consumers love their versatility, and there are many promising models to choose from.

The BMW X6 looks like a fastback sedan and satisfies the consumers who aren’t crazy about crossovers.  It is shaped more like a car than an SUV, and is intended for use on the road, not off.

Ford is going to make a replacement for the Explorer, which is based on the concept of the Explorer America.  It is going to be a crossover, but won’t be on a truck design like the current Ford Explorer.

Toyota has put out the Venza with great success.  This vehicle is essentially a Camry wagon.

Mercedes-Benz has made a crossover effort with the GLK.  This isn’t a small vehicle, although it is much smaller than the ML Class.  However, this isn’t the best styling by Mercedes.

The time will probably come when motorists revolt against crossovers, just like they have done with station wagons and minivans.  But, for now, crossovers are in high demand.  However, like with any vehicle, make sure to purchase an auto warranty to protect you from costly repairs down the road.

It is essential for consumers to do their homework before trying to purchase a new vehicle.  To avoid unnecessary costs, follow these three important tips.

First of all, you need to shop around to find the best dealership.  To do this, use the Internet and read blogs that people have written about specific dealerships.  You will find a wealth of information just by doing web searches.  Many times, you will come across complaints or favorable revues about how a dealership operates.  Also, it is a good idea to contact three dealerships in your area to determine which one responds quickly.  This will give you an indication of good service.

Next, dealers will try to talk you into financing through them, but don’t do it.  Financing at dealerships typically isn’t the best deal you can find.  Save your money by finding financing elsewhere and use your extra money for a much needed auto warranty.

Also, don’t fall for buying an alarm system through the dealer.  Carmakers already install wiring in vehicles, yet they then sell alarm systems for approximately $1,200 separately.  They will tack this cost onto the price of the new car purchase.

Lastly, sell your current car yourself to save money.  Chances are you aren’t going to get as much money for it through the dealership.

Follow these tips to save big when it comes time to purchase a car.  Also, purchase new car warranties to protect your wallet down the road.

There are millions of traffic tickets issued out every year in the U.S., which often cost over $100.  This is a billion dollar business in our country.  Paying the ticket through the mail is essentially admitting that you’re guilty.  Also, you will have the ticket on your record at the DMV for up to three years.  So, is it possible to wiggle out of a speeding ticket?  Here are a couple of things to try.

First of all, if you get pulled over for speeding, stay in your vehicle.  You should never get out.  When the policeman approaches your window, try to look remorseful.  Make apologies to the officer and be polite.  Be nice, and ask for a warning.  Don’t try to answer questions, such as: “Do you know why I pulled you over?”  Tell the officer you aren’t sure.

Don’t pay the speeding ticket by mail because it means you are admitting you’re guilty.  In the U.S. you are considered innocent until proven guilty, so show up at court.  Often, the police officer will make mistakes leading to the dismissal of your ticket.  For instance, the officer might not go to court.  Many times you will get your ticket changed to a lesser charge by showing up at court.  For example, they might change it to a parking ticket from a speeding ticket.  This is beneficial because it won’t increase your insurance and will give you fewer points on your license.

Many motorists assume that if they are given a speeding ticket that they should just pay it through the mail.  However, it is a much better idea to make an effort to get out of it so you don’t have to pay an increased insurance premium.  After all, we factor in costs such as an auto warranty and maintenance costs, but don’t consider speeding tickets and raised insurance.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, BMW has just announced a recall for the new 2010 X5 and X6 cars.

The recall is only in affect for the vehicles that were made between December 14, 2009 and December 16, 2009.  This is due to the fact that the upper right section of the windshield may have insufficient bonding.  In the event that an accident involving a rollover may occur, there could be a negative impact on the roof stability, which could greatly increase the passengers’ risk of injury.

BMW hasn’t yet provided a way to fix this problem, or a schedule for owner notification of this recall.  However, this recall likely only affects a small number of cars.  For more information, owners can call BMW at 1-800-831-1117 or the NHTSA car safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

Unfortunately, you never know when recalls or car repairs will come up.  This is why an auto warranty is essential.  New car warranties will bring you peace of mind in the long run.