Car Insurance

In years past American citizens decided for themselves if they wanted to buckle up their seat belt as they got into the car. Now states are enforcing either primary or secondary laws which allow you to be ticketed for not being buckled up. There are good reasons for these laws to put on the books and enforced.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for the 1 yr olds to 34 year olds. That is a wide range of ages that car crashes encompasses. The most effective way to reduce motor vehicle accident fatalities is the use of a safety belt.

Statistics such as this is why state laws regarding safety belt usage have increased and become stricter. There are 22 states plus the District of Columbia that have primary safety belt laws. A primary law means that a law enforcement officer can stop the motorist and give out a citation solely for occupants not being properly buckled up.

In another 27 states there are secondary laws which allow for safety belt citations to be written up if the occupants are not wearing their seat belts when stopped for a different violation. So in these states a driver cannot be pulled over for being unbelted but can they can get a ticket if they are pulled over for a violation such as speeding and are found without their safety belt on.

The NHTSA would like more states to move forward and have primary laws regarding safety belts since they are more effective in making occupants of a vehicle buckle up when they are in a car or truck. Wearing the safety belt increases in the states with the primary laws as the fatality number decreases.In primary law states around 78 percent of motorists use their seat belt on a regular basis while in states with only a secondary law it is only 63 percent.

The part of the country that needs the most help wearing seat belts is the rural areas. People are in rural area are generally working class people, such as farmers. They do not use their seat belts while in their farm equipment or fork left or whatever vehicle they use on their job so they forget or choose not to buckle up in their street vehicle. This is why it has been determined only 35% of rural area residents use their safety belts. That is unfortunate since 60% of all traffic fatalities occur out on rural roadways.

States with their primary and secondary safety laws are bumping up the number of Americans that are using their safety belts. It is now around 85% when only a few years ago it was around 70%. The NHTSA predicts this has saved nearly 16,000 lives each year and stopped over 300,000 injuries from occurring a year. These new laws are thus doing their job. The idea of a ticket for not buckling up is scaring people into using their safety belt. Or maybe an even better thing has occurred and people want to use their seat belt to possibly save their life or someone else’s life.

To enhance the abilities of your vehicle you might decide to alter it by trading out original factory components for performance parts. Upgrades to the engine can make your vehicle more aggressive and faster among other things. There are a variety of choices to make when adding parts to your vehicle, so let’s get started.

When adding performance parts you can show them to the world or keep them hidden. Sleeper vehicles have the look of a normal factory vehicle but have the extra punch somewhere in their engine or other car’s system to make them perform better than average. These are the cars that take off at a stop light like they were shot out of a gun but you cannot figure out how that ‘normal’ looking car was able to go so quickly.

The engine is the main component of the car that is upgraded for performance in most circumstances. One way in which to customize it is to ‘chip’ the engine. This can also be called power-chipping or have other chip involved names that all stand for the same basic concept. The owner of the vehicle buys an after-market electronic chip and changes out the factory set one. This new chip increases the performance of the engine by changing the car’s computer configuration. The idea is that the new chip will set the engine to perform better.

The camshaft or head can also be changed out for bigger, higher performance models. This allows for increased horsepower which in turn allows your vehicle to go faster. A different way in which to increase horsepower is to get a bigger blower. The new blower will force more air into the system. The more air the more effective the combustion process and the greater power generated.

A new header or exhaust system with after-market parts can allow your engine to breathe better and thus run more efficiently with better horsepower. Performance exhaust systems usually have bigger thicker tubing that allows your exhaust velocity to be higher than normal. This helps to carry away the harmful gases at a higher more effective rate.

Performance shocks or struts can help lower your vehicle. This can give your car a different look as well as better road-hold qualities. This helps with cornering and the basic handling of the vehicle.

There are a few cheaper ways in which to get better performance or upgrade your vehicle as well. You can change out your air filter to a high quality after-market brand. This will allow better air flow and better engine performance.

You can also choose to change out your type of spark plugs or spark plug wires. There are high performance brands of both types. These do not normally cost all that much and you can usually do the labor of changing out the factory parts for these performance parts yourself. Doing your own labor on your vehicle will save you money and thus allowing you to have more funds to spend on car parts.

Enhancing your vehicle with performance parts can change the whole way in which it drives. Before changing out any factory parts for after-market ones it is always wise to make sure you are not voiding out any manufacturer warranties. You might also check with your auto insurance company to make sure the upgrades you are doing will be covered by your current insurance policy.

There are many different types of used cars out there these days. There are the used cars that you can buy from private parties and the used car sales that are available at car lots. A new addition to this group is the certified pre-owned vehicles that manufacturer dealerships are now selling.

Buying a used car always has its drawbacks. You do not necessarily know what you are getting yourself into. If you are purchasing the car from a private party you have to take their word on how the car has performed in the past and the reason that they are selling it. When at a used car lot you already know someone turned in the vehicle because either it was too old or not to their liking in some fashion.

Car dealerships that have certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles usually carry the same type of vehicle that the manufacturer of the dealership makes. This means Honda usually only has certified pre-owned Hondas to sell. This is because most manufacturers go through an extensive checklist before certifying their vehicles. Maker specific mechanics are the best at going over the car and making sure that it is in the best condition to re-sale.

CPOs are usually a bit more expensive than the run of the mill used car. This is due to the detailed check of the vehicle and extra warranties given to the vehicle when it is sold as used. The manufacturer supposedly only certifies cars that are in excellent shape; even through they are not brand new. The warranties vary on CPOs so make sure you understand what you are getting.

The idea of certifying vehicles and re-selling them on manufacturer dealerships lots began in the 1980s by Mercedes. Other luxury car makers soon followed suit. It is easy to see why luxury vehicles started this trend since the owners of these types of cars usually put little mileage on their vehicle and generally take excellent care of the interior and exterior. After seeing how well this venture worked nearly all other manufacturers have entered into this form of sells.

The manufacturer’s certification of vehicles allows you to buy a car with a lot of options you may not have been able to afford on a brand new vehicle. Many people buy used cars because they know that as soon as they drive off of the lot the new vehicle depreciates. With a previously owned vehicle that depreciation amount has already been accounted for. The extra that one might be paying now is for the certification process but it is not nearly as costly as a new vehicle.

Manufacturers hope to give their customers a better sense of confidence in the used vehicle by the consumer knowing that the vehicle has been checked over by expert mechanics and found to be in good working order.The manufacturer then boasts about their assurance in the vehicle by warranting parts of it for a specific period of time or amount of miles.

A buyer needs to be careful when shopping for a certified car. Since there is no legally defined term for certification some car lots might assert that their vehicles are certified. Without a regulatory body overlooking dealerships some salesman can get away with saying this by just adding a service contract to the cost of your car. One needs to look for a manufacturer certified pre-owned vehicle to find one that the car maker has qualified in this way.

When getting a CPO make certain to ask questions and read the fine print. Question the salesman about what was inspected as part of the certification process. Ask about what the warranty will fix and if there is a service department that must be used for repairs. Find out if there is any type of deductible you will have to pay. It is especially important to find out how long the warranty will last, see if it is a certain time period or certain amount of miles. You might also want to find out if you can buy an extended warranty to cover the various car components after the manufacturer’s coverage ends.

Buying a used car can be fraught with issues. To take away some of the concerns or doubts one might decide to purchase a certified pre-owned car. Buying a car this way can allow you to get full loaded car for a reasonable amount and the certainty that it will last you more than a few days.You will drive away with the peace of mind knowing that the used vehicle you purchased comes with extra securities.

Proper inflation of your tires is essential during the cold winter months. The cooler temperatures can cause the air in your vehicle’s tires to contract and thus make your tire pressure fluctuate. Maintaining proper air pressure in your tires during the cool winter weather will allow you to have good traction and handling no matter the temperature.

When the weather changes from warm to cold it can affect many parts of your car, the tires being one of the most important. Tires need to have proper grip to the pavement so that you, as the driver, can control the vehicle. Temperatures that rapidly decrease can cause the air inside of your tires to change which can cause problems with your tire pressure which will then affect your tire performance and your safety.

You should check your tire pressure more often in the winter months. The shorter days, thus less warming sunlight and colder temperature will give you tire pressure issues. For every 10 degrees Fahrenheit change in the outside temperature, the tires’ air pressure will change by about 1 pound per square inch (psi). This falls with colder temperatures and rises with higher temperatures.

The different in temperature between summertime and wintertime is nearly fifty degrees Fahrenheit. As the outside temperature changes it results in a gain or loss of around 5 psi. If the tires are not properly taken care of and air pressure maintained the tires performance will plummet.

This is why you need to check your tires’ air pressure regularly. The tires need to maintain the tire pressures listed in your owner’s manual. The tire pressure recommended in the manual is what is called a cold pressure. This does not mean that it is only for cold weather but the temperature that your tires should have before starting to drive on them for the day. Once you have driven on the tires they are warmed up.

Never purposely under inflate or over inflate your tires. This will not allow better traction as you might believe but most likely mess up your tire tread and give you bad handling. If you have winter tires they are already more prone to irregular wear due to their aggressive tread design. Having a good tire gauge will help when you check the tire pressure. Digital ones are easy to read and reasonable priced.

If you have an attached garage or park in a heated parking garage you can lose tire pressure as you leave this heated area and drive out into the cold temperatures.If this is the case for your living situation you might think about adding an extra pound of air to the tires to compensate for the temperature difference. This little bit of air into the tires can allow the handling of your car to improve in the cold outside weather.

If you live in an area that does not get that cold during the winter months continue to regularly check your tire pressure anyway. If a cold front comes through and drops the temperature for a few days it would be smart to again check your air temperature at this time. The temperatures might rise again but during the days of cooler weather the air, which is a gas, in your tires will have contracted and caused your air pressure to fall.

Many people tend to forget to check their spare tire as well. This is smart to do at the beginning of the winter and periodically throughout the winter season.Also remember to make sure after checking your tire pressure to securely put your valve caps back on. If you forget and leave these off moisture can enter into the valve and cause air to get out thus changing your tire pressure.

As the winter weather approaches your area remember to get your car ready for the changing temperatures. Read through your owner’s manual so that you know what air pressure is correct for your vehicle. Regularly check your tires’ air pressure and add air whenever it is necessary so to keep your tires well maintained and working properly for your car.

A car is a special possession to most of us. It is not just the vessel that gets us from point A to point B but an extension of our personality. We want it to look good with us sitting in it or parked in a lot all on its own. To get your vehicle to match your personality you can learn how to customize it.

When you think of a customized car you might think of a spectacular paint job, big intricate rims and other expensive objects. Yes, this type of vehicle would be customized but you do not have to spend that much money to customize your car and give it some of your personality. Here are ways in which to customize your vehicle without breaking the bank.

On the outside of you car you can get a new paint job. Or you can add graphics instead that will cost less and most likely you can apply yourself. If that is too much for you, how about a magnetic bumper sticker or ribbon supporting the military or breast cancer or whatever organization you feel strongly about.

There are also decals you can attach to the window. These are made for your favorite NASCAR driver, Disney figure and a variety of other things. They virtually make decals for everyone’s fashion sense or sense of humor. There are antennae balls that do the same thing. This customizing detail is great for finding your car in a parking lot as well.

If you want to spend more money on your car you can buy a car “bra” and place it on the grill of your car. This can do double duty by giving your car a different look and keeping bugs off of the grill. You can change out your grill plate with a more aggressive looking one. There are also ground effect packages that can be added to your vehicle to make it look lower and more sophisticated.

If it is the back of the car you want to upgrade or personalize you can get a spoiler put on. Perhaps you already have a spoiler; well they make even bigger ones now. Also the license plate in the back can be pumped up with personality. You can add a license plate holder with a design of your favorite sports team or even customize your license plate. Most state’s DMVs allow you to personalize your license plate for an extra fee. Have it say SWT RDE or whatever suits your personality.

If you do not care what the license plate says you might care what it looks like. Again most states have specialized plates that cost a bit extra for you to donate money to the cause on the plate. This could be keeping kids safe, care for manatees, a national park or many other things. Every state allows different specialized plates so find out what your state’s DMV has to offer.

Other exterior upgrades you can give to your car could be lights. You can put these around your license plate or even underneath the car.Check your local regulations, some areas do not allow certain colors to be used for lights used for this type of car customizing.

Once you are happy with your personality showings on the exterior of the car you can now start on the interior. The interior is where you spend most of your time in a car so why not make it as comfortable as possible. You can start with seat covers. Every auto store and super-store carries a variety of seat covers that you can choose from. They have all colors and graphics. Do you like tiger prints, Hawaiian graphics, basic black or fuzzy material? All of those types are available to you.

To match the seat cover of your choosing are steering wheel covers. These slip easily over your steering wheel and give it some flair. Many can help keep the wheel from heating up as well. Next you can find an air freshener to place in your car. It might be one that hangs from the rear view mirror and looks a certain way, adding to the customizing of the vehicle. Or you might get one that sits under the car, with the scent being your way of personalizing the interior.

A final way in which you can personalize your car will enhance the look on the exterior while helping the interior of the vehicle. It is a window shade. You can fold and unfold a shade so it is easy to have in the vehicle.

A window shade can be put in the front windshield to keep out the sun while the car is parked. Like the car seat covers and steering wheel they come in a variety of colors and graphics. This can give you car personality while you are away from it as it helps to keep the car cool. The shade keeps out the sun thus keeping the car cooler. It also helps by keeping out the potentially damaging UV rays that can fade your interior.

Customizing a car does not need to be costly. All you need is a good grasp of your personal likes and dislikes and a little time to implement some changes to your car. After you do so you will have a car to drive around that you will enjoy the total individual look of.