Driving Down The Cost Of Car Ownership

Anyone who owns a car knows just how expensive it can be. Hardly a week goes by where one oil firm or garage doesn't raise the price of their petrol, while motorists live in fear of the next Budget, as it's often inevitable that the cost of road tax is liable to be increased. All the while, the potential of your car suffering a breakdown could mean a costly repair looming in the future.

However, while some of the costs associated with motoring are outwith the motorist's control, there are some areas they can be address to help keep the cost of motoring down. In fact, many motorists could make substantial savings if they take the time to shop around for better deals when they consider buying a new car, or renew their car insurance.

Often when buying a new or used car, motorists tend to arrange their finance through a dealer's finance company. But, while this can be convenient, it is important to remember that the interest rate may be higher than a personal loan obtained through a High Street lender, or online broker. As a result, it is often worthwhile to obtain quotes for your car loan from more than one lender to ensure that the interest rate and repayment terms are suitable. Bear in mind also, that although, the interest rate offered by a dealer might be higher than that of a High Street lender, the car dealer might offset this by offering other incentives, such as an extended warranty or free servicing as part of any deal.

Many motorists elect to change their cars to coincide with the launch of a new registration, with yearly increments in the registration marque taking place each March. Unsurprisingly, this is the most popular month for a new car purchase, and March 2007 accounted for 1 in 5 of all new cars bought that year. However, as new marques flood the forecourts at premium prices, the second-hand market can yield some excellent bargains as owners use their old cars to part-finance their new vehicle purchase. This can also be true when a manufacturer launches an updated or restyled model, and motorists who are prepared to wait can make substantial savings around these times.

However, one drawback of new registration marques and new models of car is the fact that they can sometimes increase the price of car insurance premiums, and along with other mitigating factors such as claims against uninsured drivers and unrecoverable losses, motorists might find their car insurance goes up slightly each year despite them never making a claim on their own policy.

Despite the rise, many motorists often accept the rise without question; perhaps down to loyalty to the provider or apathy surrounding the possibility of having to shop around. However, with the car insurance market remaining highly competitive, car insurance providers will often try to match or better quotes obtained from other companies. As a result, it often pays dividends to spend some time searching for a better deal. Go online, for example, and use any one of the many comparison websites to check the current market and gain an idea of how much you could save by switching cover, or enlist the aid of an insurance broker who can do all the searching for you and advise on the best quotes available.

Motoring is expensive; although some factors which affect the cost of
motoring can't be controlled by the motorist, there are still some
areas, such as car loans and car insurance, where the customer is still King, and by taking time to shop around could save a King's ransom.

What is a Fleet?

When you hear the word fleet, your mind automatically thinks of a large group of ships or transport trucks. But, the truth is, if a company has a vehicle or a group of vehicles they use to conduct their business, then they have a fleet. Furniture stores, moving companies, flower shops, product manufacturers, and places alike have fleets. So, you need to ask yourself: "Do I have a fleet?" Another misconception about fleets, is that they have to be large, but they do not have to be. The dictionary defines a fleet as a group of motor vehicles operating together under the same ownership. These fleet vehicles are all registered in the same name, which is usually that of the business and each vehicle is assigned its own identifier code by the Department of Licensing.

The main function of a fleet is to transport goods from one location to the next. They are essential to the business operations of many companies. If we didn't have fleets, many of the products that we buy today would not be available to us. A lot of our most important necessities would not be available for mass consumption, and we would be entirely dependant on finding things locally which would pose a problem since most goods are not manufactured locally. Because of the many different climates in our country, it is impossible to manufacture everything needed locally. Therefore, we depend on the shipment of these items from other areas so that we can have access to a wide variety of goods.

Management of fleets

Fleets are either managed by an outside company or by a fleet manager employed within the business. Managing a fleet is a lot of work because it involves responsibilities such as mapping out the best routes, keeping track of the vehicles via GPS, monitoring repairs and maintenance, reimbursing drivers, keeping track of receipt stacks and reimbursement checks, and more importantly tracking fuel consumption. This is to make sure that the cost of operating the fleet does not have a negative impact on the profits of the business. If it does, then that means that something needs to be done because the cost to ship the product should not be more than the profits to be made from the sale of the good.

There are companies that specialize in providing fleet management software and fleet cards that can make the job of the fleet manager much easier. This software manages the GPS tracking, helps map out the best routes, keeps track of fuel consumption, and looks for any unauthorized charges on fleet fuel cards. The fleet manager is presented with reports on a daily, weekly, or even monthly basis that highlights any suspicious activity, and also makes sure that the costs are coming in on budget.

Proper management of a fleet increases the opportunity for higher productivity. That is something very important to a business because high productivity means profitability, and when a large portion of your business is dependent on successful fleet management it's crucial to be operating at maximum productivity.

In the end, it doesn't matter if you're in charge of a large or a small fleet. Every business operates with the goal of making a profit. Therefore, a small fleet needs to be run just as smoothly and as effectively as a large fleet; and a large fleet needs to get the attention to detail that a small fleet does. Fleet cards help fleet businesses run smoothly and efficiently no matter what the size.

Fleet cards can help any organization that owns and operates a group of vehicles save money and increase profitability.

Get Free Fuel For Your Vehicle

Who wants to get free fuel for your vehicle? With oil prices topping $114 per barrel I can almost see the hands waving as you shout, "I do, I do!" Thanks to modern technology free fuel for your car is no longer just a pipe dream. It has become a reality!

Free fuel is possible because a few stubborn scientist wouldn't give up until they developed the technology to use water as an alternative source of energy for our vehicles. The development uses water and electricity to produce a harmless yet powerful gas called HHO. It will burn more cleanly and efficiently than gasoline. That means a more powerful engine along with cleaner emissions for the environment.

You get this free fuel by using a do it yourself kit that will allow you to assemble a simple conversion that fits on any car. A glass jar, some tubing and a connection to your car battery is all that is required. The blueprint plans and all the necessary equipment will cost you less than a tank of gas, but could save you over $1000 per year! Many users report an increase in mileage of over 200%.

Now the bad news. You won't be able completely eliminate the use of gasoline. These conversions will use both the HHO and gasoline. The good news is that you will show that great increase in mileage and performance.

The conversion kits are available all over the internet now with the steady rise in gas prices. The other alternative, of course, is to spend $30,000 to $50,000 on a new hybrid car! Not a lot of us have that kind of extra money to spend. That's what makes this new technology so important. It is affordable and safe for all cars and trucks. I've seen the kits priced from around $30 up to $150, or so, with the average price around $50. The parts for assembly will be under $50, so actually, for about the cost of a tank a gas we can begin creating free fuel for our cars and trucks.

I live in an area of the country where gas prices are low compared to others, but they are still $3.25 per gallon at the low end. Experts tell us we can count on $4 per gallon gasoline by year's end. That's enough reason to learn how to get free fuel for your vehicle now. While we won't completely eliminate the need for gasoline, a car that runs with water will cut our gasoline usage, possibly in half. To me, that's just like free fuel!

If you would like, you can visit the author's blog at http://www.drivecheap.blogspot.com

Hybrid Cars and Its Benefits

As the price of oil skyrockets the demand for hybrid cars like the Toyota Prius is increasing. This kind of car uses a combination of gas and electric to power the vehicle.

A Hybrid Gas/Electric car provides all of the benefits of a gas vehicle with some of the advantages of an electric one. While electric cars don't produce any emmisions and the fuel is much less expensive, the range can be very minimal. Gas on the other hand is everywhere and the range is good. The hybrid cars have the range of gas with some of the fuel savings of electric.

The use of this type of car has a lot of advantages. The technology used in this car allows a car to cut emission while escalating efficiency. It also reduces oil dependency in order to run a car. With oil price soaring, it is a relief to be freed from too much dependency on oil.

It saves gas, therefore increasing its mileage. You can even increase it by following some simple tips. You can do this by driving slower. Driving slower will definitely increase your mileage since the drag force used is also lower. You can also increase mileage by driving on a constant speed and by refraining from making immediate stops. Most of the energy used in shifting speed goes to waste. Keeping your speed at
a steady level will help you use fuel efficiently. The same thing happens when you make a sudden stop. Energy is wasted when you do this, so don't rush every time you make a stop.

The use of a hybrid car does not only address the issue of oil prices. It also addresses issues concerning the environment. Carbon dioxide is a part of a car's emission. It is one of the constant air pollutants. It would be wonderful if the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by cars is reduced to a significant level. Hybrids have lower toxic emissions as compared to conventional cars. The combination of electric motor with the gasoline
engine reduces the toxicity level in its emissions.

There are also tax incentives for the use of hybrid cars. If you bought a hybrid car after December 31, 2005, you might be able to avail of a federal income tax credit. This surely is good news for your finances. You are not only saving from gas and helping the environment but you are also doing yourself a favor. Here are some of the requirements that one should meet in order to take advantage of the income tax credit. You have to be the car's first user. That means you should have purchased a brand new unit. It should also be purchased or leased for use and not for resale. The car should be mostly used inside the U.S. and it should be place in service before December 31, 2010.

The Hidden Costs Of Car Leases

by Amy Metz

Be honest- are you one of those people who just loves new cars? I
knew it. Thats OK, we are in the same boat. I love new cars just as
much as you do. But I like not overpaying just as much if not more than
you do. Thats why, when it comes to car leases, I make sure and really
get to know my options and whether I should be leasing or buying my
vehicles. As Ive learned (the hard way) a few times, there are all
sorts of hidden costs involved in leasing a new car. And they arent
what you think they are. Lets look at a few of them.

1) The monthly lease payment. Did you know that there are
unscrupulous car dealers out there who will blindly rip you off if you
let them. Thats right. And your monthly payment might have been
arbitrarily made up by one of these dealers on the spot just by looking
at you and deciding how much money they should charge you. Make sure
and question everything on the lease form and ask in depth questions as
to why you should be paying what you are. The fine print can be your
friend, use it against the car dealer to negotiate a better deal
somewhere else.

2) Keep an eye on your mileage. This is a biggie. A lot of
people get wooed by the idea of a lease and its low payments. However,
these same people are living the high life until the day comes when
they have to finally return their vehicle. This is the day of reckoning
because they get charge for overage miles. Its not a pretty site and it
can seriously damage your bank account. If you lease your car, make
sure your mileage doesnt exceed its limit.

3) The lack of equity. When you buy a car, you own it (or the
bank owns the note on it). You dont build equity with a car lease. Your
car is basically being rented. Compare the equity costs and gains
before deciding on a least.

There are a ton of other hidden costs involved in car leases
that make points #1-3 look small by comparison. Learn all about them.

Amy Metz is author of "The Car Lease Hidden Cost Guide." Grab your copy at http://www.learncarleases.com.

Helpful Car Buying Tips

by Matthew C. Keegan

Purchasing a new vehicle is a stressful chore for many people. Ask
the average person what they dread most and they will tell you that
"price haggling" is the worst aspect of negotiating a price. Few people
come away from the deal believing that they got a fair shake; a
significant minority will admit that they got ripped off if you press
the issue with them. Besides shopping at a "no haggle" dealer - Saturn,
for example - how can you avoid an unpleasant experience? Better put,
can you? Lets take a look at some ways you can gain better control over
the car buying experience so that you can save yourself some time,
money, and a whole lot of aggravation.

Stay away from the hot sellers. Many Japanese brands
are sold at full price and bargains are hard to come by. Still, if you
do a little bit of research you should be able to shave several hundred
dollars off of the sticker price or secure a very low loan rate should
you choose to finance your vehicle. If your dealer doesnt want to deal
with you, go to another Toyota, Honda, Nissan, etc. dealer to find a
better deal.

Buy a left over. On the other hand, not all cars are
hot sellers and many models do not sell out when the model year ends.
If there is a particular car that you want, you should be able to
realize significant savings off of the sticker price. Dont be "wowed"
by an already reduced price touted by the dealership. Likely, they are
getting a secret rebate from the manufacturer; learn what that rebate
is and get as much of it as you can. Remember: you are already buying a
car that is a year old. If it is a discontinued model or the latest
version of that model is significantly changed, you have additional
leverage.

Arrange your own financing. When purchasing a car,
negotiate the lowest possible price before financing is discussed. If
you come into the negotiation with your financing already covered, then
you have additional leverage. If you are paying cash for the vehicle,
demand an even greater discount.

Go in equipped. Consumer Reports will sell to you a
print out of exactly how much a car should sell for. Purchase a report
on the model you want to find out what the dealer likely paid for your
car. The price you pay should be much closer to that amount than to the
sticker price.

Buy through a car club. Car clubs, including those
through warehouse clubs such as BJs, can be an alternative way to
buying a car at a discounted rate without paying full price. Each club
has their own way operating, but in all cases you should be able to pay
less and leave the haggling out of the equation.

If you are the type of person who enjoys haggling, then your
experience is not likely to be as bad. You know how to play the game
and winning for you is simply securing the lowest possible price. For
everyone else, a little outside help can save you money. Do not let
your emotions tell you, "I must have this car," or you are likely to
pay much more than you should. Remember: dealer sob stories are just
that; if they cant figure out a way to make money off of a sale, then
they shouldnt be in business.

Copyright 2005 -- Matt Keegan is a contributing writer for the Race Pages, a supplier of quality Jeep brake rotors and Jeep Shocks for your Nissan or other quality vehicle.

Anyone Can Clean their Car, but What About those Cloudy, Yellow Headlights?

by David Maillie

It is a very common occurence. We see then every day. Its like a
disease - yellow, cloudy headlight lenses. I even saw them on cars at
the local carwash. It befuddled me that these people would take such
great care - washing, vacuuming the interior, removing the floor mats
and even hand drying their cars, but they still had those yellowed,
cloudy headlights. Its not just a problem on old, very used cars. It is
prevalent on 2 - 3 year old cars also. It doesnt matter if it is a
Dodge, Ford, Mercedes, or a Porsche.

When questioned, most said they couldnt afford, or didnt want
to pay the high prices of replacements from their local auto dealer.
The average price for a pair of replacement plastic headlights at local
auto dealerships was around $450 - that didnt even include installation
and alignment (that would be another $60-120). Aftermarket headlights
do exist, but have received mixed reviews, and the savings arent that
great, quality and fit is lagging, and then you still had to have them
installed and aligned. And for what so you can do it again in another
year or two?

There is another solution, there is a patented headlight
cleaner and restorer kit. Its under $20, much less expensive than
replacement lenses, and it works!

Plastic headlight lenses are the norm in the automotive
industry now - every car has them. Some have fancy names like plexan
and Lexan, but they all have the same problems. The sun, acid rain,
harsh weather conditions, chemicals (brake fluid, power steering fluid,
hot radiator fluids, hot water, harsh cleaners, etc...) will all cause
the plastic lenses to degrade and weaken quickly. Some manufacturers
have gone to including a protective film on the lenses. Regardless,
they are all susceptible to this weakening and yellowing over time.

With this headlight cleaner and restorer even junk yard car
lenses have been restored to brand new. These same lenses used to be
discarded and now have become new profit centers for salvage yards all
over. The treatment is applied to the exterior of the headlight lens
where the damage is worst and it doesnt take a mechanic to do it.

It is easy to do, doesnt take very long, and the results are
fantastic. So there is a very economic solution to the problem of
yellow, cloudy, worn headlights. Theres no excuse now to not have
sparkling clean headlights. Car dealerships everywhere are using
headlight cleaner and restorer on their cars and you can too.

A Guide to Tarp Straps

by Ken Marlborough

While it is important to choose the right tarpaulin (or tarp) for
the job, the type of strap used to secure a tarp is equally important.
There are several different models of tarp straps to choose from. Each
one is made of different materials and has a different fastening device
at the end. Tarp straps are placed over the top of the tarp and cargo
and are then secured to both ends of the truck. Some tarp straps are
made of material similar to that of bungee cords, while others are made
of a stiffer material that is similar to nylon. Some tarp straps have
simple hooks on the end, while others have elaborate spring-loaded
ratchets. Simple tarp straps can sell for as little as about $20 for a
four pack, while professional grade straps with ratchet securing
devices and chain extensions can cost over $50 apiece.

The type of tarp straps that are needed depends on the type of
cargo being hauled and the type of tarp being used. For small loads in
personal pickup trucks, the bungee type cords with simple hooks should
be adequate. However, if a large load like lumber needs to be secured,
more expensive and secure hooks are needed.

Aside from tarp straps, tarps can be secured with rope or
cables. Most pickup trucks have holes on the rim of the bed that can be
used to secure ropes. Anyone with a thorough knowledge of knots can
secure a tarp to the truck by threading the rope or cable through the
tarps grommets, and then tying a knot through the truck beds holes.
This method is only recommended for smaller cargo, not for steel tarps
or lumber tarps.

Tarp straps are the best way to secure the tarp to the truck.
The type of strap needed depends on the size of the cargo and the type
of tarp used. Securing the tarp to the truck is vital; the tarp is
useless if it is not fastened securely to the truck.

Tarps Info provides
detailed information about truck, canvas, mesh, lumber, poly, and steel
tarps, as well as tarp systems, straps, and more. Tarps Info is the
sister site of Tonneau Covers Web.

5 Ways to Find the Right Accessory to Personalize Your Mercedes

by John Mancini

Vehicle accessories are becoming a popular way for owners to
customize their vehicles, to add some pizzazz to the look of their
"home away from home". Mercedes Benz owners are no different; they want
their car to reflect more of them than a standard floor model can.
However, most people become overwhelmed when searching for accessories.
The following tips will help to take some of the mystery out of
accessory buying.

While you are online, consider looking into internet auctions.
These types of auctions afford you the chance to do business with
literally millions of people from all over the globe. There are several
on these auctions sites online, therefore, there is no doubt that you
will be able to find exactly what you are looking for.

It would also be a good idea to ask area Mercedes Benz dealers
if there are any Mercedes car clubs in your area. If there are, they
are an excellent source of information about your vehicle. The members
of the club will be more than happy to answer any questions that you
have whether they be about accessories or motor oil.

The internet is hands down the best place to start the search
for anything having to do with accessories. There are stores that deal
genuine Mercedes Benz accessories, places that handle generic
accessories and even some that offer used parts for your cars
customization. One of the plusses about buying, or at least starting
your search online is that you can read customer reviews; these are
fairly accurate depictions of the performance and "eye appeal" of the
accessories you are looking at using for your car.

There are so many kinds of accessories available today that it
can become overwhelming to some shoppers. It is possible to not only
get the standard steering wheel and seat covers, now you can customize
everything about your car from stainless steel knob covers to neon
lights. The choices are almost endless. Some of the most popular ways
to accessorize your car are by adding graphics or pin striping as well
as replacing the stock wheels with some that are sportier.

John Mancini has been writing about mercedes parts online and offline for a long time. Visit http://find-mercedes-parts.com or http://www.mercedesbenzparts.info to read more about matters like used mercedes parts and oem mercedes benz parts.

5 Things You Should Know Before Applying For Auto Loan

by Jed baguio

Applying for an auto loan? Well sooner or later we will. So I wrote
this short guide as basic must know guide to arm ourselves when the
time for an auto loan comes.

1) Shop Online - Shopping for auto loan online is a great time
saver. By comparing from different sites you can get the best deals.
Applying also is easy and even some sites will give you information you
need within minutes.

2) Know Thyself! - You must know the basic criteria for
applying for an auto loan. Basic criteria includes that you must be
above 18 years of age. Best if you earn at least $2000 a month. Also
needed is residence and employment history.

3) Get Approved First - Dont have make the mistake of looking
for a car before being approved. Get approved first then they will give
you a voucher of how much you are allowable to loan. Doing this will
save you future frustration and disappointments.

4) Down Payments - This varies from lender to lender, and some
dont even require. But typically its about 10% of the price or $1000
whichever is the lower number.

5) Interest Rate - Interest rate is not fixed as most people
think, and yes it can be negotiated. If you have a good credit score
and good negotiating skills you can have a lower interest rate. But
some factors are way out of youre control such as the state of the
economy.

There you have it. Well thats not all, theres lot of other
things you need to know. But what Ive enumerated are the vital
essentials before applying for that auto loan. One thing also is ask
advice from an authorized dealer or loan official. Theyre there to help
you. If theres something you dont understand, ask them now or youll
might face lots of headaches later.

This article is written by Jed Baguio. Please visit http://www.auto-loan-infocenter.com for more auto loan info.

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