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Unfortunately in society today the chance of vehicles being broken into and vandalized or even being stolen is a sorry reality, although the numbers a coming down, the threat is always there. But we as car owners are still way behind the curve when it comes to the importance of protecting your car or its contents. Even though certain vehicles are more susceptible to being targeted by these criminals we all need to be aware of the threat of car theft.Every time we park our cars we assume the risk of our vehicle being vandalized or stolen. According to statistics over two million vehicles are stolen annually which works out to a staggering one vehicle every 12 seconds. Car theft has evolved into a multi billion dollar industry mostly controlled by organized crime rings that work together to steal cars and fulfill underground orders for specific cars or car parts. In this day and age a stolen car can be stripped down and have all the parts separated and sold individually to bring in even more money than the actual value of the car itself!One huge public misconception is that these car thieves are targeting high end exotic sports cars like those depicted in the film, “Gone in 60 Seconds”? If this is you, think again. If you look at the top ten most popular stolen car models, the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord accounted for the first eight of those spots and Chevy and Ford trucks took the last two spots. Now many will say it’s because these are the most often bought vehicles so the odds work out, but regardless of the reasons why they take the top spots, the key is to realize there is a higher demand for the most popular vehicle parts, period.This is basically how the whole car theft process works; the auto theft ring gets an order for parts for a particular vehicle or vehicles which they dispatch out to their network of car thieves. Now once the order is taken the majority of car thieves have their sources and know exactly where to go to find a car like the wanted vehicle or parts. In most cases these car theft rings operate in particular areas for a length of time until it becomes too hot or risky for them and then they move their operation elsewhere. Some will work in random areas to ensure their “areas” don’t ever get too hot minimizing their time to pick, strip and get payment.Now there are several cheaper auto theft and deterrent products on the market that might seem to be useful due to their popularity, like the bars that go on your steering wheel as advertised on TV, but this is pretty much a waste of time and money. Even a hopeless car thief with a cheap hacksaw can be through that in less than 30 seconds and have your car hotwired and on the move.Many car companies are now adding auto theft or deterrent packages to their cars but generally speaking almost all of the factory systems installed on vehicles are useless. They are usually a small blinking light on the dashboard or just noise makers that are triggered by a stiff breeze and can be overcome or bypassed easily. How many times have you passed a car that was honking its alarm in a parking lot and you just chalked it up to someone bumping into it? The alarms that make noise when a thief gets close are just ignored.Also, car thieves are getting smarter about it and will purposely set off the alarm two or three times just so the owner thinks it’s the wind causing the alarm, so they shut it off. That’s when the car thief leaves with your car without any resistance at all. Other car thieves I’ve heard of would take a cat and throw it on the car so the owner would come out and see the footprints and think it was just a cat. After a time or two of being awakened they just disabled the alarm. Car thieves are very well informed of how to cut the wires and bypass these basic systems as well, so no matter what system they use your car will be trashed or gone in a heart beat.Car theft is a big money industry and it is quite possibly just a matter of time before you see it happening to you or to someone you know. Only you can decide if it’s important to pay the extra money to protect your investment and privacy. Obviously, we recommend getting a quality proven after market auto security system which combines several of the aspects above and maybe a glass break for additional coverage.

Of course, by far the first choice for a private number plate is a persons first name. But, as names such as Paul, David, Susan, Angela as very common, demand for these are high. And the consequence is that the cost of these registration numbers is driven up, placing them beyond the means of the majority of us.2. Shortened name number platesMany have resorted to shortened 3-letter versions of names as an alternative: such as MEG, GAV, SUE, and ANG. Whilst these are significantly more affordable than a full name, they are rapidly increasing in price as the popularity of personalized registration numbers grows. Dateless number plates are naturally expensive, and even more so if the letters spell a shortened name. However, even prefix registration numbers are increasing in price as the last few good ones are snapped up. There is a general preference for prefix registrations over the current style registration numbers (introduced in 2001).Initials are the next best option. Be aware that some initials are more common than others, so your choice may be somewhat limited. And where demand is high, the price is higher too.4. Jobs and hobbies registrationsJob related registration numbers (or sometimes hobbies) are often the next option. 3-letter words such as PUB, LAW, and TXI, are still very affordable as there are many registration numbers available with these letters. Longer words are available on the market, but be prepared to pay more for these.5. Car related registrationsMany opt for a registration number that reflects the specific car they drive. For instance registration number N11 BMW. The downside here is that the registration means little when it’s not on the appropriate vehicle. So the owner may find themselves selling the registration number when they change cars.More generic car related words give a bit more flexibility. Such as MPH, NOS (for the boy racers amongst you), TOY, or V12 - these are just a few options.6. Popular wordsWords such as BOY, HOT, BABY, and KISS are popular of course.7. A bit more creativityThere are lots of other number plate themes and words to play with. The important thing is to make sure that the registration number you choose suits your personality (or that of the person you are giving it to!).

Working in the road transport industry as I do, many people assume it is automatically impossible to have a green conscience. This isn’t surprising, given that my job depends on hundreds of haulage vehicles dragging loads up and down the country, producing all those environment damaging carbon emissions along the way. Actually, the truth is that my job allows me to be both a vocal green advocate and a road haulage representative while still helping me claim a regular salary. No, I haven’t invented a magical device that changes exhaust emissions into pure oxygen – it’s simply thanks to the nature of the freight exchange.It works like this: under normal circumstances, owner operators or haulage companies manage their own loads with their customers, make their delivery and then return home to the depot for the next load. Environmentally and on a human level, this is in no way efficient. The driver is, in effect, only being paid for the outbound journey, and in these times when the price of fuel seems to be rising on an almost daily basis, this is financially crippling. Now consider a freight exchange – a network of suppliers and haulage drivers/companies who distribute their loads between them meaning that the return journey can contain another job. This means the trip is paid for (both ways) and therefore the haulage company is not operating at an inefficient loss (even for a minute) and profits can rise.All well and good, but this still isn’t looking particularly environmentally friendly is it? Wait, I’m getting to that part.Now, if this return load is being distributed back to someone who is already out on the road, it won’t be given to an owner operator for whom that would be the sole purpose of the trip. This means that there are less wasted journeys (every mile involved has a delivery attached) and therefore less unnecessary carbon emissions all over the place. Better still, if this collaboration for efficiency continues across the industry, then less road haulage vehicles will be required to shift all the work, and we may even see the decommissioning of these carbon-emitting behemoths. The environment will surely jump for joy.Unlike most environmentally friendly solutions which require an element of self sacrifice and extra work, the freight exchange actually creates benefits across the board: the haulage companies and owner operators make more money, the roads get less congested and the environment becomes less polluted. Efficiency shines through and everybody wins – and for that reason, we have seen impressive pick up for our online freight exchange for the 7.5tonne and above market: Haulage Exchange.I can’t say whether our customer base is growing for monitory or environmental reasons (it’s probably both), but whichever it is, the gradual migration to Haulage Exchange and other freight exchanges is great news for the environment. And if our drivers save themselves significant money as well, then all the better. What harm is a little incentive when the environment is at stake?

New car research is much easier today then in the past.  Not only with researching the cars, but in finding the availability of dealers vehicles and taking virtual tours of the vehicles. There are few items to keep in mind when getting ready to purchase a new car. These items will help your research go smoother.Pick up a copy of consumer reports the car editionConsumer reports rates cars every month, but that is going to take too long to read about three or four at a time. You need the addition that covers all the vehicles in one edition. This way you can have everything in one issue to get started. Start by looking through cars that you are interested in. Make sure you read through consumer reports ranking methods. One of the most important factors of their ranking system is their reliability report. If the car is a new model there will be no reliability information. Consider the source here and make a few assumptions. For example, if it’s a Honda or Volvo then you can assume that the reliability will be good. These vehicles always score high in this category. If it’s a dodge or Chrysler, then make a note. Those vehicles tend to report lower ReliabilitiesLook at some details with a grain of saltHere is what I mean by that. Gas mileage and performance are loosely based. If you live in florid and have the air conditioning on all the time, then your mileage is going to be less than what is advertised. A good practice is to at least subtract a mile per gallon from the reported statistic. This gives you a better idea of a realistic economy rating. If you drive mostly in the city this is very helpful since city mileage is always less than highway mileage.Mark down prices and detailsCompare the vehicles you are interested in and keep each on a separate piece of paper. By having them on a separate piece of paper you can make notes as you go along. Next go to the manufactures page and look up the model directly. Most sites now are highly interactive. You can take tours and see the car from every angle. This is good to do and will help you save some time from going to the dealer and doing this yourself. Keep in mind that the prices that you see on these sites should never be the price you are going to pay. If you were ignorant and walked into the dealer, this is where they would start. You need to know what the dealer pays (dealers invoice) then you can know where to start to negotiate. On each piece of paper right all this information down so you have it organized. Look at the prices of the options you are interested in and write those down as well. You should have a good idea what options cost . The reason is that you will go to the dealer and see a lot of cars in the lot. It can be overwhelming if you are not prepared. By knowing the model and options, you can work faster and accomplish your goal at the same time.Now go to the dealerAfter you have all your information, the real reason is to go and drive the vehicles. You need to make sure you like the way the car or truck rides and if it feels like a good fit for you. The process of decision is behind you at this point and you were able to make all your decisions at home where there is no pressure to buy anything. Ask the dealer what incentives are available from the manufacture. Make sure that you understand that the manufacturer gives you incentives but they also give the dealers incentives. That is their secret, they are going to get some sort of incentive to sell the cars and that you should keep in your back pocket. Some savy salesman may try to make you think he is not going to make anything on a deal if you low ball them. Carry your research paperwork with you and don’t be shy about having it. They will know that you did your homework and it helps at the bartering table.At last take your paperwork and start to talk money. Be firm yet respectful and do not be afraid to walk away. For some reason there is a lot of back and forth in the negotiation process. Salesman have to steal away to ask their managers if they can sell for a certain price. When they come back and say that this is there last price, don’t be afraid to say it’s unacceptable. The business is highly competitive; they will try to sell you a car. If not, go to another dealer and start over. If you do your homework you will be much better off.

So you have decided you want to purchase a used John Deere tractor or Kubota tractor (or any tractor for that matter!). You just found a really great sounding online auction or classified ad. Here is a list of things you should ask the seller before you decide to purchase the tractor.1) How many hours are on the tractor? Keep in mind that a tractor may need major repairs after 3000 hours. at the same time, a tractor may need repairs at 200 hours or less if it has not been cared for properly.2) What was the tractor previously used for? Was it commercial or government use? Plowing is harder on tractors than some other uses.3) Is the tractor hard starting?4) Is there any excessive smoke coming from the tractor’s exhaust system?5) What shape are the tires in? Are there any cracks? How much tread depth is remaining?6) Are there any engine knocks or misses?7) Is there any oil or other fluid leaks from around the motor? Is the frame in good shape? Are there any breaks or welded repairs? How much rust is on the tractor.9) Is the clutch slipping?10) Do the brakes and hydraulic system work properly? Do the hydraulics leak down?All of these are great questions to ask. Be careful of any seller that does not seem open or knowledgeable about the tractor they are selling. Be sure to discuss all terms of the sale with the seller. If you are purchasing online from an out of state seller, let them know you want to inspect the tractor thoroughly before funds exchange hands and you take possession of the tractor. You may even want to have a knowledgeable or certified 3rd party examine the tractor before the sale is finalized. If the seller has a problem with any of these things, keep looking for more tractors!

In auto insurance, as in everything else, you get what you pay for. And the fact is, discount auto insurance will do little more than keep a car on the road, meeting the basic legal requirements. If you expect anything more than that, you might be disappointed.Here are 4 ways discount auto insurance might let you down:Slow — or non-existent — customer serviceA decent car insurance company prides itself on the customer service it can offer to its customers. After all, it is much easier to keep an existing customer than it is to find a new one. But cheap auto insurance companies will sacrifice your long-term satisfaction to make a quick dollar upfront. They’ll cut costs wherever they can including in customer service and claims departments. As a result, they simply can’t provide the resources necessary to offer you anything more than a legal car — as long as you never make a claim. When that happens, good luck.For example, many discount auto insurance companies use customer service automation. As a result, getting a live human being on the phone is difficult. Whether you’re dealing with claims or billing errors, you stand a good chance of being put in voice mail jail. Not only that — they are more prone to mistakes simply because the human element is gone.Lost timeWhen you have an accident, your auto insurance company will send an adjuster to look at you car and assess the damage — and to weed out phony claims. Cheap auto insurance companies provide a bare-bones staff to do this. As a result, your claim may sit in a file for days or weeks (or even months) without anything happening. This means your car may remain in damaged condition for that entire time. If you can’t drive it, that’s bad. But it can be even more complicated than that.In many states, accident damage must either be fixed before state inspection is due or the car will have to sit idle while waiting. At the same time, very few states regulate how long an insurance company may take to respond to your claim. So if you have to wait months for a claim to be done, tough luck. The auto insurance company is within their legal right to string you along.Beyond the basics — not so cheapIn brief, the only thing people save when choosing cheap auto insurance is about $50 on the basic, no-frills policy. Once you start adding more extensive coverage, your premium may well skyrocket. In other words, you’ll end up paying more than they would have if you had started with a reputable car insurance company.How much is it worth to keep your privacy secure?One of the least talked-about dangers of buying cheap auto insurance security. Your personal information may not be protected by a decent privacy policy. Your credit card number, social security number, address, phone number, even your medication history is in the hands of a company that may not protect it simply because they spend no resources on privacy protections. As a result, you are at risk for identity theft. Fact is, no company can guarantee an iron-clad privacy policy, but most reputable companies will hire security experts to make sure that your sensitive information stays secure.ConclusionHopefully this article has given you something to think about before buying the cheapest auto insurance policy you can find. Remember — if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

I wrote this article to help those of you looking to buy a vehicle at this time. Most people consider going the route buying new or used vehicles from a car dealer, or buy used through newspaper, friend, and even the internet. In all of these cases it is quite likely that you are going to end up spending top dollar or near top dollar when compared to the new sticker price on the vehicle or the Kelly Blue Book (KBB) value. Car dealers are in the business of making a profit remember so even if you think you are getting a deal, think again! When you go to buy through newspapers, friends, etc, they want top dollar based on the so called “black book” value. (hence: KBB)There is another market out there where the Pros and Dealerships buy their inventory from, and this is where you can find some excellent deals are at the Car Auctions. I am not talking about any old auction, but rather Repo Cars, Government, Bank, Police, DEA, and Tax Auctions. It is at these auctions that you can literally buy a vehicle for pennies on the dollar.Auctions are taking place all year long and in every state in the

When you need to get car insurance, the last thing that you want to do is spend a lot of time and effort to find a great insurance provider. If you are looking for every possible way to save money, here are some tips to help you in your penny pinching quest.1. Take time to look around – Don’t go with the first automobile insurance company you find. The rates for insurance can be very competitive, and when you take the time to shop around you will be rewarded with a lower rate.2. Increase your deductible – If you have a higher deductible, your monthly rates will be lower. You don’t always have to go through your insurance company especially for minor problems with an older vehicle or a fender bender with damage under $1,000.3. Take caution– If your car is old and not worth a lot of money, there’s no reason that you have to carry the cost of collision insurance for your car. If you are in an accident, you won’t get anything for your car, but when you consider the fact that you are spending less money on your car insurance, that can put things into perspective. After all, the money that you saved can be used to buy your new car later on.4. Examine your car – Let your car insurance company know if your car has extra security features such as a car alarm or if you use winter tires, because it may mean that you will get a better rate. Safety features reduce the likelihood of your vehicle being stolen or vandalized, offering increased protection and assurance to both you and your insurance provider, which can lower your rates.5. Combine your policies – If you go with an insurance company that offers several types of insurance, you may be able to get a lower rate. There are plenty of insurance companies that will give you a break on your costs if you get all your insurance through them. Insuring your home or apartment along with your car can save you money every year.6. Think before you buy – No matter how much you may want that expensive car, think about all of the costs associated with it. Hefty insurance payments are often not the only extra costs you will incur. Consider vehicle maintenance, gas and insurance as part of one package. So reconsider that expensive car when you are out shopping.7. Go to back to school – If you have taken a driver’s education course, or plan on enrolling in one make sure that your car insurance company is aware of that. Make enquiries about which driving schools they recognize, in order to secure a decreased rate. It can help to save you a lot of money over time.8. Past record – Protecting your good driving record is paramount to ensuring a good insurance rate. If you have had points taken from your driver’s license in the past, receiving a lower rate is more challenging. Points on your license will regenerate over a 3-5 year period, so don’t distress, but drive safely.Automobile insurance can be something that is costly, but it doesn’t have to be. If you do your homework and make sure that you know all your facts, you will find that you can get a good rate for your insurance. It just takes a little time to see what insurance company will be right for you.

Do you wish you had the car of your dreams? Well now you can what with the numerous options available. However, there are a couple of things you need to do to ensure you get the best possible deal.Seem less interestedOne of the tricks to ensuring a good bargain deal is to act like you aren’t very interested in the car. You can act pricey and command a much better price if you look like the car isn’t all that good. The salesperson is also more likely to strike a lucrative deal with you in such cases, just to get the car sold. You could also cross check by asking the salesperson for some auto pics to check the condition of the car.Shop aroundOne mistake many car buyers make is to not search enough. You can actually save on thousands of dollars if you just look around a little and do some research. You’d be surprised to find dealers offering the same car, just miles apart but with a price difference of a couple of thousands! Just imagine the kind of difference a couple of thousands can have on your monthly installment payments. Another trick to get a good deal is to first ask for some auto pics of the car in question so you know what you to expect when you go visit the dealer. Also getting auto pics is a good way to buy time before actually visiting the dealer. Plus you get to see the car’s condition as well.Ask for add-onsIf you act like you aren’t too happy with the deal, chances are the dealer will offer you add-ons to the car in question. You can easily get these extra fittings into your car for no additional cost! If you try hard enough you can easily manage to get some nice rebates, gift certificates or just add-ons. It is a common trick used by many car dealers to improve on their sales figures and they will provide you with many extras as part of the deal. You can also ask for auto pics of the car with all the fittings attached so you know what to expect. Plus by having auto pics before paying the money, you also know what you are getting yourself into!Target: end of yearUsually the end of the year is one of the best periods to land yourself a good bargain deal. You will usually get some of the best deals and discounts during this time of the year so make sure to shop around a lot. You can also look for car deals during the time period from August to October because usually many new car models come out this time. Hence the previous year’s models will need to be sold off soon. You can therefore manage to get good deals at this time. You can ask for auto pics of as many cars as possible to get an understanding of the car’s condition. You can compare auto pics of different cars to get the best deal possible.

To make sure that you don’t make a mistake and that you buy the best possible vehicle for you and that it will accomplish all that you need it to you should do a little research and some soul searching as well.To start, consider your present situation of whether you are single or have a family. If you have a family and this will be the primary mode of transportation to shuttle everyone out and around then you may want to consider a minivan. For those soccer moms and hockey dads out there the new dual sliding door or even the single sliding door minivans offer serious convenience, plenty of room and decent fuel economy considering the load you can handle with it.If you, like many others can’t quite see yourself in a minivan you may want to consider a sport utility which are really growing in popularity. The great thing about these vehicles is that they are available in all makes and in several price ranges to cater to everybody’s budget. You can choose between a smaller, cheaper sport utility like the Ford Explorer, or get into a larger vehicle like the Chevy Suburban or maybe a Ford Expedition. Either way you get some of the convenience features of the minivan with that rugged jeep type of look.If you are an outdoors mountain junky that enjoys going camping and hanging out with friends in the woods or going on weekend surf trips you may want to consider the sporty new Nissan Pathfinder or another 4×4 vehicle that can get you to where you need to go without the worry of how you’re getting back out. The Pathfinder is designed with the outdoor lover in mind with built in roof racks and storage standard. However with any vehicle that you may be considering don’t be talked into 4-wheel drive unless you really need it and intend to use it regularly. There are some big things to consider with a 4-wheel drive like, 4-wheel drive transmissions add thousands to the price, is much heavier, and will also cost you more money for insurance and gasoline due to decreased gas mileage.Deciding on a color may seem easy right now but if you change your cars every couple of years then you have to keep resale value in mind. Although many will say color is a matter of personal preference there are a few guidelines you should follow for particular types of vehicles if you are concerned about resale value. Regardless what type of vehicle you purchase stay away from “out of the norm” colors like purple or yellow unless you plan to keep the vehicle forever. Another color that has been proven to be “cold” for resale in light blue or “ice blue” as it is known in the industry. If you plan to trade every 2-4 years you are far better off choosing a normal color like white, silver, beige, etc. If you are planning to buy a sports car you will definitely want to stay with white, red, or black.For your interior choices you may have the choice of leather, vinyl or cloth. Although leather is really nice and smells great to most, you must be the type of person who will take the time necessary to maintain leather, also keep in mind that leather can be unbearably hot in the summer and unless the seats are heated, they are very cold in the winter. If you do plan on getting into a sports utility or something similar then check out the vinyl, it’s cheaper than leather but is really durable and you don’t fell you’re going to rip the seat every time you get in the car or truck.You will also want to take insurance cost into consideration when choosing a car, especially if buying for a teenager. Overall, sports cars and 4-wheel drives are more expensive to insure, not too mention a lot more to fix if you run into any repair issues.Another good move before you head to the car dealership is to consult a local mechanic and ask them what cars they have the most problems with. They can tell you which cars they see with the most problems and what the common problems are. Not only will you get an idea of what cars are good but more importantly, which cars to steer clear of! (Excuse the pun)So as you can see, walking into a dealer and buying the first thing they push on you can be a bad move unless you have money to burn. Take the time to think it over and come up with some guidelines of your own that cover your present situation so that your new car purchase will be a pleasant one and not the car buying nightmare you hear about more often than not.