Advance Auto Zone

There are so many advertisements on the radio and television regarding vehicle insurance. Each company claims that they have the lowest rates or that they will beat the rate of the major competitors. It is important to make sure that when you are seeking out an insurance policy that you are comparing coverage that is the same from company to company.

My daughter and her husband went through several companies with price comparisons. They went with a company that offered very low premiums, but when they made car accident claims they found that they had a very high deductible and that they did not have any support services, such as rental cars or towing. Also the car accident claims were dealt with by a contracted worker because the insurance company did not have a local office. This meant that the contracted worker looked at the vehicle and then sent his adjustments to the company. The company then got back to my daughter and son-in-law. The adjuster had missed a few things so the process had to be repeated, which added additional time to getting the car accident claims straightened out.

My daughter and her husband feel that they made bad decisions in choosing their insurance. The low premiums were great, but when they needed the insurance they found that the rates were low because they had given up many things from their old insurance. Many of the companies advertise that they will give you a quote in five minutes; however this quote does not take into consideration your personal driving record. This means that the first quote given to your is not necessarily the amount that your premium will be.

Make sure that you ask for written comparisons of what each insurance covers and also check to make sure that there are local agents that are available to process car accident claims. We have found that when you compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges most of the companies are similarly priced. The low estimates that are given at the time of a comparison quote are stripped down coverage. As you add in coverage and services the premiums go up. When doing comparisons it is important to know what you have, what you need and what the new company is offering for the premium. This will help you avoid surprises when car accident claims are filed. By asking for the comparisons in writing it is easier to look at the cost of coverage and make a more informed decision.

Pete Basset is an insurance agent for a well known auto insurance company and loves writing car articles in his spare time for his own website as well as other online resources. Take a look at his website which has articles about

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The used car market is huge, and every day lots of people are spending way too much money when they buy a used car. Dealers count on this. In fact, the used car section of most new car dealerships is one of the most profitable departments for the dealer. There are usually very common mistakes that most people make that cost them money. Let’s review them here:

1. Not doing advance research to know what their current car is worth. This is a very common mistake that is so easy to solve today. There are two major providers of used car value information in the US and they are (1) Kelly Blue Book and (2) the NADA Guide. It used to be that you had to find someone who had a copy of one of either of them to find out what your vehicle is worth. But now all you have to do is just log onto the internet and go to their websites to get a quick, easy figure with no hassle. It’s worth the time taken to know what your car is worth as you start to negotiate a trade-in or sale.

2. Not doing the homework needed to find out what car will be best for you. All too often shoppers make the mistake of getting too focused on one particular brand or model and not even considering alternatives, simply because either they don’t know about the others, or they are just allowing emotions to rule their buying decision instead of being well-informed. If you get too emotionally attached to one car, this plays into the hands of the dealer and you will most likely pay a lot more for the car than you would if didn’t let emotion control the process.

3. Not arranging financing beforehand. These days it just makes no sense to rely on a car dealer to finance your vehicle for you after you have picked it out. When you do that you are now allowing the dealer to mark up the financing arrangements and get paid a portion of the loan profits as a result. You will never usually notice it though because it is hidden in the monthly payments. Instead, there are many great loan companies that offer loans direct to consumers over the internet, and you can get all of your financing needs taken care of in advance. This leaves you free to negotiate the very best deal for the car you want without financing entering the picture and muddying the waters.

4. Not doing a thorough test drive. It’s amazing how many people only spend a few minutes in a car that they plan to use for the next several years and call it a test drive. Especially with used cars you need to get to know that car and make sure that it performs as you desire in whatever kind of driving conditions that you plan to use it, and take the time necessary to test it thoroughly. Also make sure that anyone else can fit into the car comfortably if you have family and friends that travel with you often.

5. Not having the car inspected by a qualified mechanic. This is perhaps one of the most significant reasons that buyers wind up with a car that has problems. Unless you are a mechanic yourself, you most likely will not be able to truly determine the mechanical condition of the car. By taking it to an independent mechanic and asking for a written report on the vehicle’s condition, you should have a pretty good idea of whether this car is in sound condition or not.

If you avoid the common mistakes mentioned above, you can often buy a used car at the right price, that fits your needs and wants, and get peace of mind in the bargain.

Jim Johnson writes on many consumer related topics including autos. You can find out more about

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Purchasing a car online through auctions sites is gaining tremendous popularity. You may consider online transactions as a risky affair, but if you follow simple precautions, online purchases can offer numerous benefits as compared to other established channels. Always keep a lookout for the information offered by online auction sites.

• Gather information on used car prices and check out on online auction sites the completed sales listings. Note down the price for which cars under a similar category were sold.

• Reputable sellers always post relevant information and adequate photos in the space offered by websites. Study the details carefully and e-mail the seller to clarify any queries or doubt that you may possess. Establishing a personal contact proves beneficial for both the buyer and the seller, since there no communication barrier.

• Set up a well-defined budget and stick to it. While bidding, do not get carried away and end up paying more than the odds of the cars.

• It is advisable to check the car for HPI. Always make sure that the history of the car is clean. This check is important because if you win the bid, the car is legally binding.

• Before you bid, keep an eye on the term and conditions offered by the seller.

• Read the feedback ratings of the seller. It will give you a good insight on the seller’s reputation with others.

• Try to view the car before you bid, in case the car is local.

• Last but not the least; be alert of offers that seem too good to be true. Always make a good research before you start bidding on online auction sites.

Lindsay provides informative tips on carseek.com new cars and various carseek.com/reviews/ 2008 auto reviews. Visit carseek.com for a wealth of information regarding your new car purchase.

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