Car Insurance

When it comes to buying car finance your first port of call should be online. By going online with a specialist car finance website you are able to access some of the top UK car loan providers to determine which would be the cheapest option for your particular circumstances. Car finance comes in many different forms and it is imperative that you understand your options and what each option entails so when it comes to comparing you know which is better for your personal needs.

The most popular type of car finance is hire purchase, this is simply a loan which you take out after paying a deposit against the car and then pay for the remainder over a certain period of time. The monthly repayments will depend on how much you wish to borrow, how long you wish to take the loan over and the deposit you are willing to put down. Of course your credit rating will be taken into account as well and you will be putting the car up as security against the money you are borrowing in case you find you cannot afford to keep up the repayments.

An alternative method when it comes to buying car finance is to go for a popular choice called personal contract purchase. Again you will put a deposit down to reduce the amount left to borrow on the car and then take out an agreement which will last for a specified term during which very low monthly repayments are made, after this there will be a lump sum left which will mean you have choices to make. If you decide to pay off the balance left owing then the car is yours, if you want to part exchange for a new car you can or you can give the car back and you owe nothing more.

A lease or credit purchase is very similar to the personal contract purchase method of buying car finance but you do not have the option of changing cars or of giving it back, you have to find the money for the balance left owing. All finance options suit different circumstances and information and advice can be found with a specialist website regarding all options. Understanding what you are taking on is essential so you have to not only compare the rates of interest and deals but also unearth any hidden charges, these are usually found in the key facts which should come with the loan.

Buying car finance is never easy and it is not something which should be rushed into, never be tempted by what seems to be very low interest rates without first reading the small print. Hidden costs could be associated with the finance option which could boost up the cost considerably. By reading the small print you can determine how much interest will be added onto the loan, the total amount you will pay and the rate of interest, also how much would be left to pay up at the end of a personal contract purchase or lease purchase.

Getting the best possible car today is much harder than it was a few years ago. With rebates, the Internet, and so many great deals that dealerships can offer you where do you turn. Whom can you trust? These are important things to know so we did some research and came up with some great tips that should help guide you the best possible deal for your situation.

Today’s cars are much different now and finding the best deal for them at the best price is something that every potential car owner would like to get done. There are some tips that you need to know so you can get the best deal possible either online or offline. Yes, people even look for cars online now more than ever before. One of the best tips to remember is doing be too eager. By this I mean seem interested, but not too interested as once a salesperson knows you want something they are less likely to make a good deal on it. Now if you’re interested in it they are more incline to try and get you to buy it and offer you a better deal. It sounds simple, but it really does work. Another tip that people forget is shop around. One dealer in one city could have it for a couple thousand dollars cheaper than the other one. How is this important to you? Simply put it will affect your monthly payment on your car so always remember that.

Extras on your vehicle will add to your sticker price, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get them for free. The bottom line is car dealer’s job is to move cars and many times they will add things to sweeten the deal for you. Ask around and see what they will give you. They may sweeten the deal in turns of rebates, add-ons to your car or gift certificates. You may be surprised at what some car dealerships will offer just to move cars especially during different times of the year. Getting a car towards the end of the year usually is the best time as the deals are really the best. Other time you may want to look at is around August through October. The main reason for this is new models come out around then and they want to move last year’s model as quickly as possible. Great deals are usually possible around this time more often.

Another tip that will save you thousands of dollars is read the contract you are signing for your car. Many times these contracts have things added that you never requested. Look over the service contracts if you have these added because many times this is where they usually can get you. If you need to have a lawyer looks it over before signing anything. If the dealership has a problem with that look somewhere else for a car as you don’t want to deal with people like that. Getting a new car should be a joyous time for you, but many times it’s not because we don’t follow some simple tips and we have problems with our purchases. Keep all your paperwork in a safe place so you if you have a problem you can bring it with you. Most of the time getting your car will be pain free, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

These days car DVD players are also available that can be installed in your car itself. They have the ability to recognize and play different DVD video and audio standards. Two variants of car DVD players are available. You can opt for a player with an in-built LCD screen or another one that can be connected to the monitor.

Unlike the bulky VCR that we used to have in earlier days, car DVD players offer all the benefits of home in your car. They provide superior picture and sound quality, give you digital video viewing with a surround sound, and are small and compact. They can be placed underneath a seat or in the cargo area. The dashboard DVD players can be mounted 360 degrees. This allows you to fix them at any angle for your convenience.

If you working and most of your time goes in commuting form one place to another in the city or if you have to chauffer driven car to take you then it is a wonderful idea to watch a movie while traveling. This will make your trip all the more delightful.

This has been made possible with the latest technology in music-listening, known as portable DVD players. Now one can easily get miniature televisions screens or else the DVD player can be attached to your laptop. Many of these devices allow both audio and visual inputs, for linking to games consoles; viewing camcorder footage or digital photos to further enhance the experience of music-listening.

To play mp3 songs and movies as well your best option would be to purchase a hdmi DVD player. Higher end models come with features such as color LCD USB/MMC and a memory card reader. In-dash DVD players come with radio and color display and some nifty USB ports to plug an MP3 player into, or a memory card.

Higher quality machines will read MPEG4 or Div X compressed video whereas others may just play audio cd, cd-rs and cd-rw. Discs strictly bought in Europe and in the UK only work on units that play region 2 DVDs. Multi-region players can read DVDs from any region.

If you want to install the DVD player in the boot of the car then you need to buy a DVD changer also. The DVD changer will store the discs so that you can quickly select the desired DVD. These DVD devices are portable and very delightful while traveling but it is not safe for the driver to watch the movie while driving.

Looking at essential features, one should take into account screen size and picture quality, whether viewing is possible from different angles, battery performance and if mains and 12-volt power leads are included in the supplies. Also, player-machine should have simple mounting in the car, plus a storage bag.

Buying a new car can often be a daunting task and after buying a new house, it is probably the most important decision a new family can make. Faced with seemingly endless possibilities, try to keep the following in mind when considering a new car.

The first thing to consider is your particular needs as a car user. Will the car have enough seats for the entire family? A smaller car might fit into your budget, but might not have enough passenger space. Will you require additional space for a dog or a wheelchair? Conversely, if you only use the car to travel to and from work and to do shopping, will a larger boot really be necessary?

Secondly, consider the engine and fuel efficiency. How much distance are you looking to cover on a regular basis? Are you mainly going to travel to and from work with a stop at a school or nursery or do you also plan on taking regular family trips on weekends? A diesel engine will generally produce less CO2, but will produce more of other polluting emissions, compared to a petrol engine. If you are looking to travel longer distances, a diesel engine could be a good way to save money due to higher fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions, but otherwise, a petrol engine could be the more feasible option.

While test-driving a new car, get a feel for how it handles - what does accelerating and braking feel like? Bear in mind that your regular passengers tend to be ones who don’t pull any punches about making their discomfort known, so think about what it is like to drive and be driven in the car. Also with your regular passengers in mind, it might be a good idea to choose a darker colour scheme for your car’s interior, as spills and stains will be less visible and easier to remove.

Lastly is the decision where to buy your new car. Franchised dealers can provide you with a one-stop solution for buying, servicing and repairing a new car, but could be less keen to give a discount on the asking price. A car supermarket might not appear as lavish as the franchised dealer, but will generally offer cheaper prices. This does, however, mean there will be less in the way of price negotiation.

Importing a car from abroad could prove to be cheaper, but be sure to get help from a car broker who can guarantee a good price. Buying a car online is an easy way of purchasing a new car, but do remember to do your research and read customer reviews before using a particular online dealer. Whatever your decision, be sure to get all the necessary paperwork with your purchase, including the service book, the logbook, a receipt as proof of purchase and a copy of the warranty.

So if you’re unsure about what to look for in a new car, keep these points in mind to make the car hunt easier and buy the right car for yourself and your children with confidence.

EVERY time Vassor-Johnson, a Philadelphia-based film/video producer, drives between Los Angeles and Philadelphia she makes sure, before getting on the road, that her car will survive the journey.

Vassor-Johnson took the 3,000-mile trip three times in three years in compact cars that were 10 to 15 years old. She usually stops in to see a mechanic before the trip to get the tire pressure checked and to change the oil, oil filters and air filters. If needed, she gets a tune-up, new belts installed and the brake pads changed.

“When you drive cross country, it pays to do this before you leave,” she says. She occasionally has her tires, oil, antifreeze and wiper fluid levels checked again when she stops at service stations along the way. She gets the oil changed again when she reaches her destination.

The newlywed says it’s also a good idea to belong to a motor club and to travel with a cell phone in case of emergencies on the road.

Automotive professionals agree that Vassor-Johnson’s trip precautions are a good idea.

Cleveland Johnson, owner of an automotive and auto body shop on the South Side of Chicago, says drivers shoed also have their cooling systems flushed and a thermostat installed if they haven’t done so in the past two years or up to 50,000 miles, according to what the car’s owner’s manual calls for. “If they don’t do this, the ear could overheat,” Johnson says. “The thermostat triggers everything.”

Johnson doesn’t recommend mixing water with antifreeze, although some mechanics say to use a 50-50 mixture. “The car gets a little hotter with water in the cooling system, but if you want the cooling system to run normally, you should use all antifreeze,” he says.

J.T. Berkley, who’s worked on cars for 30 years and is a product development engineer for Ford Motor Co. in Livonia, Mich., says that even if the coolant looks green, it should be changed within two years. Rust inhibitors break down over time and are needed to protect the engine.

Hoses connecting the radiator to the engine need to be checked as well. If they feel spongy, it’s time to change them.

The grade of motor oil needs to be changed in the summer to 10W40 from 10W30, which is used in the winter, Johnson says. Heavier oil doesn’t break down and makes the motor run cooler. However, the grade of 5W30 can be used all year and saves gas, Berkley adds.

Antifreeze, hoses and oil help the car run properly, and so does the car’s electronic system. If the car needs a tune-up, it can run hot and perform badly, Johnson says.

The car’s belts should be checked routinely even though some belts last up to 70,000 miles. Manufacturers recommend changing them around 50,000 miles or every two years, Johnson says. Berkley recommends having belts checked before the start of summer to see if they are cracked or glazed.. “If belts are making noise, that’s a sign to have them changed,” he says. “A broken belt can damage the water pump and affect the power steering.” It could cost $300 to have a timing belt changed during scheduled maintenance or $3,000 if the valves are bent and the belt breaks because it stayed on too long, Berkley says.

Tires keep everything on the road. Drivers should use all-terrain tires, which can be used year-round, Berkley says. “Snow tires get removed after winter because they are made for lower temperatures,” he says. “The rubber can break down and blow out in summer weather.” But any type of tire wears unevenly when it isn’t aligned properly. This is an especially dangerous problem if the car is already pulling to one side and the driver’s attention is affected by fatigue. The vehicle can drift into the next lane or off the roadway, Berkley says.

Tire wear and pressure should be checked before and during a trip. Having the proper amount of air can save up to 10 percent of gas with the added weight of passengers and luggage. Low air pressure makes the car take longer to stop and can cause a blowout.

Brake fluid is also needed to slow down or stop properly. Experts say it should be changed every couple of years. It works best when it’s the color of honey or beer. If it’s a copper color or reddish brown, then it has taken in moisture that can go down to the wheel cylinder. If it’s not changed, corrosion goes into the brakes. Corrosion in the brakes will make them lock and affect the driver’s ability to steer properly, he says.

Keep the windshield wiper fluid container under the hood, filled and an extra bottle in the trunk. Good windshield wipers will keep the window free of streaks and won’t scrape the glass. Drivers who live in a dry climate should check their wipers regularly because they could have gotten hard and dry-rotted from sitting in the sun. If the wipers look old or worn, change them before leaving home because it can be difficult to get the right size wipers for your car on the road.

Drivers should also check headlights and taillights to make sure they are bright enough to help the driver see and be seen.

Don’t forget the battery. Most car batteries remain maintenance-free for about three years if they haven’t been overworked, for example, by leaving the lights on for hours when the car is off. Make sure battery cables are free of corrosion. But if the car is hard to start when it’s cold and the lights aren’t bright when the engine is off, the battery may be old and might die soon, Berkley says.

All automobile professionals say motorists shouldn’t wait until they have a problem or are going on vacation to cheek vehicle’s parts and fluid levels. These automobile professionals recommend taking ears in for regular maintenance and especially before driving on vacation.

“It is easier and less expensive to change parts during a regular maintenance check than on the road,” Berkley says. “It won’t take time from your trip. Out-of-town motorists pay a premium because they don’t have time to shop for the best deal. They can’t schedule service visits and they may not have time to wait for a part to be delivered.” A motorist could end up staying in a hotel longer than he planned while waiting for his car to be repaired or have the unexpected added expense of buying last-minute airline tickets to fly home and back to get his car.

Vassor-Johnson, who only had the companionship of her two cats on two of her bicoastal trips, will make the trip from Philadelphia to Los Angeles again this fall. This time she’ll use a full-size car that’s undergone the necessary checks to make sure it’s roadworthy, and she’ll travel with her husband and father.