Posted by admin on March 11th, 2010
At the time of purchasing used cars you must have some idea on the present market rates. This will help you to know better and hence can know the true value of the car when you are out on a car hunt. There can be chances in which you might not know the true value of the car and hence get cheated and also at the same time end up with a used car which is full of problems and you have to spend so much on it to keep it running.
For every year there will be listing of the best car which can be bought as second hand ones and also the worst cars which have caused lots of problems after years of usage. These listings are done entirely based on surveys conducted from customers who are using second-hand cars. This will give you an idea on the rate of the used cars and also on which car you can rely upon.
These listings are also important factors in deciding the price of used cars on the market. Hence it is advisable so that you can be up to the date on these ratings and make your choices. For different types of cars like sedans and family cars separate lists are available so that you can streamline your search.
Posted by admin on January 26th, 2010
The first and most important piece of advice is: if you are involved in a traffic accident, stay calm. The NRA is proud of the fact it’s lawful for people to carry guns in their vehicles in the majority if US states. No matter how shocked and angry you are, do not automatically reach for your gun. Wait cautiously for a minute. If there is no gunfire from the other vehicles involved, it should be safe to leave your own vehicle. Now is the time to put your careful preparations into operation. Check everyone is OK. If anyone is even slightly injured, call an ambulance. Without treatment, many minor injuries grow more serious. Now exchange information with the other driver. You want their name, address, contact details, insurance company and its telephone number. Remember, everyone is supposed to carry proof of insurance when driving. The information you need is on that card. You should carry a preprinted card with all your information to speed this process.
Now comes the important part. We all forget the detail of what happened. Worse, because we prefer to remember ourselves in the right, we tend to forget any details that might show us in the wrong. So record as much as possible. If you have a camera in your handphone, take pictures of the scene, of the damage to the vehicles, of any obvious injuries, and of any other feature that might show how and why the accident happened, e.g. a stop sign that has fallen at a junction, broken glass on the road causing a tire blow-out, etc. If you do not have a camera, take detailed notes, draw a plan of the scene showing where the vehicles started off and where they ended up, and sketch an outline of the vehicles and mark where there is obvious damage. Should there be witnesses, get their names and contact details. Should it come to a dispute about who was at fault, this could be vital evidence in your favor from an independent source. If an ambulance or police officers attend the scene, take their names. Once you have collected all the information, always file a report at a convenient police department, sheriff’s office, etc. In many US states, this is a legal requirement. It’s often a precondition of being able to claim from your insurer. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by admin on December 24th, 2009
Every year, thousands of people are killed on the roads. Driving is one of the most dangerous activities we do and traveling by car kills more people per passenger mile than any other form of transport. Put another way: if driving was a disease, we would treat it as an epidemic. Many different strategies have been discussed over the years on how to persuade people to drive more safely. Unfortunately, the US was built on the assumption that the car is king and few find it practical to rely on public transport for all their needs. Without a revolution in planning controls, the majority will be forced to continue relying on private vehicles to get around. However, there is a possible glimmer of hope. During the early part of this recession, the price of gas rose to $4 and more a gallon. Many people responded by driving less or driving more slowly to economize on fuel. As a result, there were fewer serious accidents and fatalities were reduced. This was one of the few good things to come out of the price increases. Could the same thing happen if insurance prices were adjusted?
Let’s start by assuming you are the safest driver on the planet – you have never had an accident. Should you be rewarded with a discount on your premium? Well, that depends on how the insurer would find out about your driving style. It’s all very well to avoid accidents. You might actually drive too fast but, with the reflexes of a cheetah, avoid crashing into other road users. Just relying on your failure to make a claim is not enough. Today, we have the technology and, with the enthusiasm of a camel scenting water and running into the oasis, insurers are offering behavior-based insurance cover over the internet. The idea is to vary rates depending on when your vehicle is driven, how many miles it travels in a week, and how it is driven. It is a customized policy reflecting more directly the risk you will be involved in an accident. So how will the insurer know? The answer is that everyone has a device fitted into their vehicles. This monitors how and when you drive. Safe drivers with low mileages at off-peak times of the day receive up to 25% discount. Those who drive too fast and brake too sharply can find their premiums rising up to 10%. Read the rest of this entry »
