Smog Checks and Used Cars

In the economy we live in, most families are going to choose to buy a used car rather than a new car.

With that in mind, there are going to be a lot of financial considerations that go into place when buying a used car.

When I say financial considerations, I am not just talking about the sales price.

When you are a family looking to save money the last thing you want to do is buy a used car with extra expenses you weren’t prepared for.Especially if the extra expenses was not on the budget.

So one of the major things to be aware of is having to do a smog test.The last thing you will ever want to do is having to make expensive repairs because of a failed smog check.  I have seen too many used cars in my San Diego auto repair business have this happen.

So when buying that used car here are some things to consider.

Under a 2005 law that was passed, if you have a 1976 vehcile or older, you will not have to ever take a smog check.So if your vehicle is newer than that your car will need to be tested based on state emission laws.You can search about your state by contacting the Bureau
of Automotive repair at (800) 952-5210.

If you live in California and are buying a used car you may need a San Diego smog check.  If it is being sold or registerd in California for the first time, you will need a smog check.

Other than that, if it is in it’s 5th or 7th year you will need a biennial smog check performed.

If you bought the vehicle in another state but live in California, you will need to find out if the car can pass a smog check.In general California is a lot more strict.

With that being the case, you want to keep that in mind when purchasing your vehicle.

Costs for a smog test San Diego generally run between $30 to $80.But as stated above, that is not the biggest expense.The major costs will be if you need expensive repairs.

So when making the purchase of the used car, make an effort to find out if the car was able to pass a recent smog test.

You don’t want any surprise expenses popping up when your goal was to save money by buying a used car.

Follow these steps when shopping for a used car and you are going to save a lot of money.


Auto Insurance — Try The Following To Bring Down Your Rate

Although you can make savings by downgrading your coverage, it is not advisable if it puts you at risk. But here’s a better suggestion: Apply the right tips and do certain things right and you’ll get considerable discounts Let’s look deeper into this…

*Your rate is seriously affected by your total mileage. Therefore do all within your power to NOT drive your car wherever there is a good alternative. This is especially true for people who reside in cities with standard mass transit networks.

Joining a carpool is also another smart way of cutting down your mileage.

*There is something referred to as “good driver discount.” It is for people who have not made a claim for 3 years and above. But don’t be surprised if your insurance agent says that your auto insurance carrier doesn’t give this discount. 

If your insurer is one of those who don’t offer this discount tell them clearly that you’ll move over to another insurance carrier. Take it or leave it, every insurer likes having folks who stay claims free for this long and you shouldn’t have any difficulty getting cheaper rates with a host of other insurers.

However, oftentimes a serious threat of switching from you will be enough to make them give a concession.  

Enjoy the cheapest auto insurance

*You’ll get cheaper rates if you pay by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). it authorizes your bank to credit your insurance provider with your payments without any intervention from you until you stipulate otherwise. This reduces an insurer’s overhead by removing the necessity of payment notices or checks. An insurance company gives you part of what they save by offering you a lower rates.

*You might be able to reduce your rate if you re-evaluate your car insurance policy every once in a while. The straightforward rationale for this is that things about us change every so often without us even being aware of them. A perfect instance is a situation where someone leaves their wedded daughter on their policy for months or even a few years just because they did not remember.

Furthermore, there are discounts you might have qualified for. It might also no longer be be smart to keep paying for certain coverage types. 

It would, as a matter of fact, help you a lot if you review your insurance policies often. Don’t be surprised if you end up discovering you need to drop some coverage types or if you see changes that will give you considerable savings.

*You’ll help reduce your rates if you always ensure you park your car in a safe place. .By safe I mean places where the risks of theft, vandalism or accidental damage are very low. Furthermore, you might even get discounts with your insurer if you show that you have a good garage.

Don’t forget to always park your car in a well lit area when you’re out. This is because thieves avoid well-lit areas but love operating in the dark.  

*This one is very important…

You will save much by visiting at least five quotes sites. That way, you will increase your chances of getting the lowest quotes possible since five sites will present up to 25 quotes altogether.

Qualify For dirt cheap auto insurance

Utah car insurance free quote


Dirt Cheap Auto Insurance — 5 Guaranteed Ideas For Huge Savings

If you must get dirt cheap auto insurance rates, then you must NOT forget certain things. Here are a few of such things…

1. There are course that are designed to make you a better driver. Participate in them. In addition to the fact that they will make you a better driver, they’ll show your insurance carrier that you’re doing your best to reduce your risk level.       

2. You can bring down your rates by going for a multi-vehicle discount. It makes sense to insure all your cars with the same insurer unless got a better deal for some of your cars with another insurance carrier. You can ensure you are choosing the best in your case by doing extensive comparison shopping. But if you don’t plan to shop around, you can be sure that you’ll still save considerably with a multi-vehicle discount.

3. Mechanisms such as automatic gas cut-off, alarms and other theft-deterrent devices are recommended. The chances of theft is a strong indicator that goes a long way to determine your rate. And because these mechanisms reduce such a risk, you’ll attract a sizeable discount if they are fitted in your car. Thieving rats have a preference for easy cars.

4. Going through your car insurance policy once every six months is one sure way you can reducing your rates. It is painful to state that a lot of people still pay for things they needed yesterday but no longer make sense today. A clear instance is a case where a couple leave their wedded daughter on their policy for months or even a few years simply because they forgot.

The changes in your profile could have qualified you for certain discounts. It might as well no longer be be smart to maintain some coverage types. 

It would, as a matter of fact, do you a world of good if you revisit your policy up to twice yearly. Finding albeit one thing that should be removed from your policy and removing it will result in some savings.

Teens too can pay far less for auto insurance. Get tips for cheap car insurance for teenagers.

5. You will save much by visiting at least 5 quotes sites. If you do this, you’ll be able to get the lowest quotes possible as five sites will present not less than 25 quotes altogether.

Get cheap auto insurance


First time car insurance for young drivers

By law every motor vehicle on the road in the United Kingdom needs to have Female Drivers Insurance before it can be driven in case of a unfortunate vehicle accident.

As a provisional insurance driver picking the cheap auto vehicle insurance policy can be very confusing at the start with all the difficult insurance technicalities as there are so many different types of insurance organizations offering insurance policies for the provisional insurance on the internet to choose from to insure your vehicle.

With and more more provisional insurance drivers getting accidents it makes best practice to cover yourself correctly with the correct car insurance for young drivers to make certain you don’t fall short of a accident and loose your prize possession car or even be faced with a ticket with a fine for not have having any car insurance.
Where do I start?

Begin by choosing a low risk auto vehicle at trade show this is another good place to start point as will diffidently lower the sum to the insurance premium as you will not be in the high end bracket as a high performance car would  be.

Complete the pass plus course

Most of the companies will definably honor this ro lower the car insurance for provisional drivers course on completion but the course, must be taken within a year of passing the driving test. To find out more about this see here for the insurance

Research the internet for websites like these that provide a good solution also your friends and family members who they have used in the past and have hade some results in settling a claims when it was time to pay out as this may help you in making a insurance for your auto vehicle insurance

When choosing a brokers for car insurance for a young drivers  make sure the are first licensed to trade insurance by law all insurance agents should be able to verify this at the start.

Do  not just jump in on the first Female Drivers Insurance deal you see receive, hunt arond to see on what’s for offer and take some tips from them as there is a lot of competition around and every body want you for your busness.

People living in the rural areas may have much better chance of receiving a good rate because of accidents are much less to occur in those areas.

To conclude for first time car insurance for young drivers take your time and do your home workwhen selecting for insurance for the fist time.


Rolls-Royce Ghost in Shanghai

More of these articles and much more automotive news can be found on: Automotive News

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced the name for its new model series which until now has been known as RR4. It was announced by CEO, Tom Purves at a press conference held at the Shanghai motor show. 

The new car will be called the Rolls-Royce Ghost and production will begin at the company’s Goodwood manufacturing facility on the south coast of England later in 2009. 

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars CEO, Tom Purves, said, “We are delighted to formally announce the Rolls-Royce Ghost. It is one of the most revered names in the automotive industry, evoking adventure and technical innovation. The name reflects this new model’s breadth of abilities. The first cars to bear the name were known not only for impressive dependability and refinement but also great flair and style. This car will be the first in a new generation to carry this evocative name and will give us two pinnacle product lines – Phantom and Ghost.  

The Rolls-Royce Ghost will be built on its own dedicated production line at Goodwood but will share paint, wood and leather workshops with the Phantom series of cars. The car manufacturer has expanded all areas of its manufacturing facility over the last 18 months to prepare for the introduction of the Ghost model. 

The Ghost name was used by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars between 1906 and 1925 although these cars were first introduced as the 40/50hp model. A total of 7,876 were made during this period, 6173 in Derby, and 1703 in Springfield, Massachusetts. 

From quarter four 2009, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will offer five models: Ghost, Phantom, Phantom Extended Wheelbase, Phantom Drophead Coupé and Phantom Coupé. The Rolls-Royce Phantom range of cars is powered by a naturally aspirated direct injection 6.75 litre V12 engine that produces 453BHP at 5350 rpm (338KW/460PS) and 720Nm of torque at 3500rpm. 

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars retailed 1212 cars around the world in 2008, a 20 per cent increase over the previous year and marking five years of continued growth since the Phantom was first launched in 2003. 

Ghost technical specification:

No. of doors and seats: 4 doors and five seats
Vehicle is long: 5399mm
Width 1948mm
Vehicle height: 1550mm
Wheelbase: 3295mm
Engine: new 6.6 litre turbocharged V12 

Gearbox: 8-speed ZF

Power: Upwards of 500bhp (upwards of 373kW/507PS)

 

iCar Automotive News (see the link above this article) is an independent webzine for the modern car enthusiast. When your are interested in classic cars then we could recommend Auto Motor Klassiek, thousands of classic cars for sale when you click on Classic Cars for Sale Auto Motor Klassiek is a magazine for Classic Cars.

Fan of classic motorcycles? Have a look at: Classic Motorcycles Oldtimer Motoren


Getting Cheaper Rates on Automobile Insurance

If you have given considerable time and effort in obtaining the right vehicle for yourself, you should be doing the same thing when purchasing your car insurance. Purchasing vehicle insurance should be looked at seriously. You should be making enough time and attention to it to make sure you’ll get the right insurance policy. Here are valuable things you need to be aware of about vehicle insurance to assist you find the right insurance policy:

·    The price of your vehicle has a big impact on how much your vehicle insurance rates will be. If you are driving a sports or luxury car, then chances are your insurance rates will be costlier. Since these vehicles are pricey to repair and may even have higher chances of being stolen, insurance carriers will charge you higher insurance rates.

·    Your vehicle usage affects your insurance premiums too. The more you drive your automobile the more expensive your insurance premiums will be. In addition to that, the lesser you use your car the lesser insurance premiums you will pay.

·    If you’ve decided to get lower deductible, your auto insurance rates will be costlier. In opposite, if you selected to get higher deductible, you insurance rates will be cheaper. Deductible is the portion of your claims that you need to shoulder before your insurer pays.

·    If you’ve just made some modifications on your vehicle and put in safety features in it, make sure to give notice your insurance carrier about it. Anything that could make your auto safer could mean obtaining better insurance rates. Just to give you an idea, there are some insurance carriers who would offer you lower insurance rates if your car has automatic set belts, alarm, automatic restraint systems, and GPS location device.

·    Reduce your risk as a driver. If your auto is parked in an open area where it could be stolen or vandalized any time then obtain a protected area for it. If your driving records are full of traffic offenses, start cleaning up your mess. Drive safely at all times. You may want to enroll in a driver’s education program to better assist you gain additional driving skills.

·    If you are working, your occupation could just affect your insurance rates too. Generally, insurance carriers offer lower auto insurance rate to drivers who work in baking industry or law firms as opposed to other professions.
.
·    Lastly, do your homework. Research about vehicle insurance, know your needs, then get the insurance coverage that you only need. Getting comprehensive and collision coverage for an old auto is not advisable at all.


Simple Steps To a Lower Car Insurance Premium

Every car insurance providers offer several car insurance rates. This is why you will have to shop to acquire a low-cost car insurance rate available in the market today. Nevertheless, despite the difference in rates, auto insurance companies based the rates on almost the same components because these elements are based mostly on statistics and studies. Now understand the following elements to help you control your auto insurance rates to a minimum. 

a.Age is an connot be controlled factor. Teenagers are usually charged with higher auto insurance premium than any other group because they are likely to get involved in a crash. One of the reasons for this is since young drivers are more often than not more aggressive in driving than adults.

b.Based on statistics, women are safer driver than men. It is said that women drives slower than men. Men are incline to become aggressive on the road.
Here is the list of the factors that you can control to help you find cheap car insurance.

a.Drivers driving in rural areas are provided with low-cost car insurance rate than to those driving in city areas. This is since collision or stolen automobile has a higher chance of occurring in the city than in the urban area where there is fewer traffic. For example auto insurance in Miami is more expensive than auto insurance in Indiana.

b.Maintain a excellent driving record. Traffic infraction and speeding ticket impact your auto insurance rate. Bad driving history make an impression to car insurance companies that you are a reckless and irresponsible driver.

c.If you have an expensive or sports vehicle, insurance carriers will charge you with high auto insurance premium because of the risk your automobile place to them. It is better if you choose a more low-cost car.

d.Car insurance carriers believe that there is a correlation between job and risk. If you are a pizza delivery guy, you drive more often so the risk of getting into an accident is also probable since you are constantly on the road.

e.If you have bad credit rating or no credit record at all, auto insurance companies may consider you as a high risk driver. It is essential to keep a good credit standing by paying your bills on time.

Other than these, there are other components that control your auto insurance premiums. These are mileage that you drive, driving experience, business use of the car, whether you currently have auto insurance policy or not and safety feature devices.


Shop For An Inexpensive Car

Cars are a symbol of power.  Everyone has heard of the celebrities with massive collections of expensive cars, or custom built garages to accommodate their cars in the heart of an expensive city like New York.  An inexpensive car is the way to go for some folks.  Poor quality doesn’t necessarily follow cheap price.  Less expensive can still be functional, and even fun.

Buy a discounted used car if you want to save some cash.  Even luxury models are much less expensive when purchased second hand.  A new term has emerged over the last decade, pre-owned – to denote used cars that are of high quality.  These pre-owned vehicles have even managed to pull some long time new car buyers into the used car market.  Consider this with luxury cars.  A Mercedes or Lexus is so well built that even 10 year old cars can still be in excellent condition.  Many people always buy late model used cars instead of new ones.Remember the chauffeur in “Driving Miss Daisy”?  He always bought Miss Daisy’s second hand, luxury cars.

There are also some nice, low cost new cars.  Companies like Hyundai make excellent cars that can be purchased new for under $12,000.  A well engineered car like the Honda Civic is only around $15K.  They get great mileage, last a long time, and retain original value very well.  These cars are also much cheaper to maintain than luxury cars that often require more expensive parts and even premium grades of gas.

Try the cheaper, not really cheap, luxury cars.  Audi has some luxury models that generally sit at the bottom price in their class.  Nobody beats Audi as far as engineering.  The Audi TT can be just as much fun as a Porsche, but much less expensive.

Some people aren’t happy unless they scrape the bottom of the barrel cheap.  When they shop for autos they look for the car their grandparents drove.  Teens often buy this style of car.  It’s a set of wheels, and it gives them practice for a life time of practical mechanical knowledge.  Be careful when comparing cars because an cheap cars can be busts.  It may not seem like such a deal when it won’t start on a cold winter morning.


North American Meadow Brook Concours displays unique Alfa 8C

More of these articles and much more automotive news can be found on: Automotive News

A one-of-a-kind 1934 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300(serial no. 2311237) will make its North American Debut at the 30th Anniversary Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance on August 2, 2009. This exciting performance car is a one-off alloy Boattail Speedster formerly owned by Angela Cherrett− noted authority and author on Alfa 8Cs, and will be presented in unrestored condition.

 

“We’re thrilled that the owner of this thorough-bred vintage race car has chosen the Meadow Brook Concours as the venue for its North American debut,” said Matthew de Larcinese, Executive Director – Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance. “This addition to the show field is certain to be a crowd pleaser!”

 

Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 (serial no. 2311237) began life as a factory show car in 1934 before being imported to Britain by London Bentley Dealer Jack Barclay in 1935. The new owner promptly ordered a new two-seat touring body designed and constructed for the race chassis. Many of these automobiles were supplied to custom coachbuilders such as Pinninfarina, Zagato, Figoni, Castagna and Touring.

 

It remained in the U.K.where it was raced and sold later to a noted American collector. 

 

Tickets for the 2009 Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance are now on sale by calling 248.643.8645. Online sales will be available soon at http://www.mbhconcours.org/tickets.htm. 

 

Ticket prices

Adults (in advance): $25

Children 12 years and under: Free

Groups of 10 or more: $20 each

                                                                                   

About Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance:

Held annually during the first week of August on the historic grounds of Meadow Brook Hall in Rochester Michigan, the Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance is considered one of the most prestigious classic automobile exhibitions in the world.  In 2009 the Meadow Brook Concours is celebrating its 30th anniversary. For more information about the 2009 Meadow Brook Concours, visit www.mbconcours.org. 

 

About Meadow Brook Hall:

Located on the grounds of Oakland University, Meadow Brook Hall is the fourth largest historic house museum in the United States and is renowned for its superb craftsmanship, architectural detailing and grand scale. Built between 1926 and 1929 as the residence of Matilda Dodge Wilson (widow of auto pioneer John Dodge) and her second husband, lumber broker Alfred G. Wilson, the 110-room, 88,000-square-foot, Tudor-revival style mansion is complete with vast collections of original art and furnishings.

 

Click the link above this article for more automotive news, iCar is an independent webzine for a daily fresh input of automotive news. When your are interested in classic cars then we could recommend Auto Motor Klassiek, thousands of classic cars for sale when you click on Classic Cars for Sale Auto Motor Klassiek is a magazine for Classic Cars.

Fan of classics and special motorcycles? Have a look at: Classic Motorcycles Oldtimer Motoren

 


Answers to Common Questions About Car Insurance

1. Does the type of car I drive affect my premium payments?

Yes. The more valuable your car is, the more coverage on want and more coverage equals higher premiums. In addition to this, if your car has good safety features and an antitheft device, this will lower your premium payments.

2. Is there a maximum number of drivers or vehicles I can have on the same policy?

Every insurance company has their own unique policies and operating procedures and this question would best be answered by the particular insurance provider you are planning on going with.

3. What are some ways that I can lower my insurance costs?

There are quite a few things you can do to lower your costs. Available discounts will differ from one company to another and you should ask your insurance agent about a possible discounts. Some common discounts are offered to people with a good driving record, customers that carry more than one type of insurance with the same company i.e. a homeowners policy and an auto policy with the same company, people with good credit can oftentimes get lower rates.

One of the easiest ways to save money is to compare car insurance rates from different companies and if you find a company that offers the coverage you need at a more affordable price, simply switch companies and save money. Getting an auto insurance estimate from a number of different companies can be done quickly and easily online and is the most efficient way to find the best price.

4. How do I know if I’m signing up with a good company?

There are a number of factors you should look at before buying auto insurance. Price is a major concern but it is not the only factor to look at. You’ll want to check to see if the company you are going to do business with is financially strong, offers good coverage options, has few if any customer complaints etc.

A lot of good information can be found simply by contacting your state’s Department of Insurance. Most states will have a website where you can check to make sure that an insurance company is in compliance with all of the local laws and you can check to see if there are any complaints filed against the company.

There are also companies that provide car insurance ratings and these companies rate insurance providers on things like price, coverage options, the claims process, customer satisfaction etc. Some of the companies that provide these ratings are JD Power and Associates, A.M. Best Co., and Consumer Reports.


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