Get the latest auto industry news and car information

The depreciated value at which your insurance company will probably stop or not pay on claims is 80%. That means that if your vehicle is five or six years old and you have a fender bender resulting in even minor damage, your insurance carrier will probably simply write-off your vehicle as a total loss. They may request from you the title to your vehicle and so they can “destroy” the title through the local department of motor vehicles. The carrier may go so far as to demand you relinquish your vehicle.

If your insurance carrier is USAA, and you have any doubts as to what I am telling you, call their Total Loss department and ask them.

A new car driven off the lot depreciates at about 30% right off the bat. One theory is that your new vehicle is depreciated to 60% by the end of the fourth year and totally by the end of the tenth year.

Another source uses 28% the first year, the second it is 48%, the third it is 64%, the fifth year it is 78% depreciated, the sixth year it will be 83%, by the seventh year it will be 87%, the eighth it is 90%, the ninth year it is 92% and finally in the tenth year it is 100%.

When considering car insurance and potential claims, your car insurance carrier will look at the depreciated value of your vehicle to determine how it will treat your claim. If your vehicle is depreciated 80% or greater, they will probably strongly urge you to deliver the vehicle to their repair center, anticipating a repair estimate equal to or greater than the remaining 20% value of your vehicle.

Repair shops that expect to get paid by an insurance carrier will generally inflate or cushion their estimates. That is just a fact of life. Whether it is cars, medical, or homeowners, vendors know the aggravation in dealing with an insurance company and they want to be compensated for the aggravation. Consequently, the repairs and premiums cost more.

The illogical intention may be to restore the vehicle to its original, OEM, condition. Well, when you are looking at a vehicle that is over 70% depreciated you have to take into account how your insurance carrier is going to process your claim. The last thing in the world you want or need is an inflated repair
estimate.

While your state statutes may detail how repairs are to be completed, you will probably also read where a copy of the written estimate is to be given to you. USAA did not tell me what repairs were estimated and did not send me a copy of their estimate. Upon receipt of a copy of the estimate you should be in a
position to review and negotiate what repairs are to be made. This option would be critical to avoiding inflated work to be proposed. The key factor should be that the necessary repairs are made and that the vehicle remain safe, within the intent of the law.

USAA strong armed me into taking my vehicle to their repair shop instead of taking it to my mechanic, which is what I originally proposed. USAA apparently will not consider an estimate from any source other than their certified shops. At least they will not consider one from my mechanic where the estimate is considerably less. It could be they wanted the highest estimate possible for repairs -
justified or not.

Your vehicle will probably be “totaled” by your insurance company if the repairs eat up any portion of the remaining depreciation value of your car, over the 80%. For example, if your vehicle is depreciated at 80% or, for example, down to $4,500 and the estimated repairs from their appraiser is any portion of that $4,500 your vehicle will most likely not be repaired.

The insurance carrier instead may demand that you relinquish the title of that vehicle to them so that they can file a “destroyed or destructive” title through the state department of motor vehicles. If your carrier pays you anything on your claim it will be pennies on the dollar.

The question you have to ponder is, “In the eyes of your insurance company, is your vehicle worth anything”.

You can actually go to numerous websites to find vehicle depreciation calculators to learn for yourself what the current value of your vehicle is. If internet is not available to you, visit your local library and the librarian will assist you.

The total loss department at USAA told me several times that a vehicle which they determine to be 80% or more depreciated, in which they receive an accident repair estimate equal to or over the remaining 20% depreciation, they are automatically obligated, by Florida statute, to report the vehicle as unsafe – hazardous and declare it a “total loss”. After researching the Florida Motor Vehicle statutes I have no idea where they got that notion. It may be their policy, but I find no reference to anything so radical. I have also spoken with a highway patrol officer and she indicated she knew of no such statute.

There is a Chapter 316.60 which is interesting reading. Briefly, it provides for reporting or identifying vehicles which appear to be unsafe and should be removed from the highway or cited. The citation may require that repairs are made. It has no bearing whatsoever on the actual or depreciated value of the vehicle, only on its physical condition. Read how the statute appears to address the physical condition of the vehicle, not the monetary value of a car.

316.610 Safety of vehicle; inspection.–It is a violation of this chapter for any person to drive or move, or for the owner or his or her duly authorized representative to cause or knowingly permit to be
driven or moved, on any highway any vehicle or combination of vehicles which is in such unsafe condition as to endanger any person or property, or which does not contain those parts or is not at all times equipped with such lamps and other equipment in proper condition and adjustment as required in this chapter, or which is equipped in any manner in violation of this chapter, or for any person to do any act forbidden or fail to perform any act required under this chapter.

(1) Any police officer may at any time, upon reasonable cause to believe that a vehicle is unsafe or not equipped as required by law, or that its equipment is not in proper adjustment or repair, require the driver of the vehicle to stop and submit the vehicle to an inspection and such test with reference thereto as may be appropriate.

(2) In the event the vehicle is found to be in unsafe condition or any required part or equipment is not
present or is not in proper repair and adjustment, and the continued operation would probably present an unduly hazardous operating condition, the officer may require the vehicle to be immediately repaired or removed from use. However, if continuous operation would not present unduly hazardous operating conditions, that is, in the case of equipment defects such as tailpipes, mufflers, windshield wipers, marginally worn tires, the officer shall give written notice to require proper repair and adjustment of same within 48 hours, excluding Sunday.

Read Part 3 to learn about coverage requirements.

Acquiring a brand new car or truck is actually not really that bad as soon as you think of the a large number of strengths this is offering you . For one, you don’t have to wake up early in the morning and battle your way by riding public vehicles coupled with some other commuters . But with a car, you will want to save a few dollars for gasoline but at the least going to work will be far more convenient. Of course, you might need to spend less depending on the brand and model of the car you might be hoping to buy. Nevertheless, you really need to take it into consideration that apart from having to save money to purchase the specific car you wanted, you additionally should and must save money in order to get that covered. In these challenging moments where a lot of states and countries all over the world has financial difficulties coming up every minute, plenty of people are naturally contemplating of just skipping on compensating their auto insurance coverage. Would you not contemplate of skipping transaction if it means that you will have added money to be spent for the needs of your family as well as others?. However, this will be deemed a big mistake. You are asking yourself why and this is due to the fact in some states around the world, it is deemed as a severe offense against the law to be ensnared in cruising an auto which has no insurance.

Likely, you will be enforced to get one and the prices could be larger versus the regular. You will discover a bunch of best rate auto insurance that you could check it out into which means you can examine the insurances various companies can offer to you. It is possible to start by searching via Web or you can simply go to a car shop manager on any tips they’ll provide you with as to which car insurance company is it best to get one. If you don’t have a clue on these car insurances and all, you’ll find fees and penalties when you’re caught to be cruising without that car being insured.You may well be expected to pay a fine or have your license be halted while you take care about the insurance policies. And if you’re associated with an accident, you may even serve jail time so it’s pretty important to just fret about your car insurance than stressing concerning this once you get into problem. A crucial tip which you will want to know is the fact that whenever you concentrate your interest into getting the most cost effective insurance there is then you may be not getting what you deserve.It is because you might miss every one of the offers a company can grant to you for your insurance policy . It might help to get the best rate auto insurance if you look for particular brands and models of car just about every company insures.Several gives you discount for specific services it can provide to specific car makes and models .

You’ve probably never thought about it before, but the salvage Car is actually one of the mainstays of American society. The reason for this is simple: while people will do what they can to keep the vehicles they really like on the road for as long as possible, at some point the manufacturer has to stop making spare parts for them in order to make way for newer models. So, there comes a point when you can’t find new parts for your vehicle any longer and have to start looking for used ones.

That doesn’t mean that you’re settling for substandard components, though. As a matter of fact, when cars break down to the point where people give up on them, it’s usually only a few parts that won’t work any longer and the rest are fine. So, every salvage car is filled with parts that are still perfectly good. That’s why junkyards are able to make a decent living by selling all those parts to people. In any case, this provides hundreds of thousands of people with the replacement parts they need when there are no new ones to be found.

This is important to understand when you’re getting ready to sell a junk car of your own. Whether you’re quoted a good price for your salvage car or not, the junkyard is going to be able to do well with it – larger operations can do even better, because they’ve got the resources to get parts where they’re wanted the most. So, you should definitely be able to get a good price for your vehicle even if it won’t run any longer. It’s a wonderful resource for anyone who knows how to harvest all the parts that still work, making you an important supplier for everything that their businesses sell.

Escalade is one of the top-selling full-size luxurious SUVs made by Cadillac. It gives a smooth ride thanks to its well designed suspension. Despite its large size it can be easily maneuvered in narrow spaces because of its special steering system. It is available in rear -wheel driven version as well as all-wheel driven version. It has a sleek dash with electroluminescent gauges. It has leather upholstery and second row sets can be power-folded to make it easy for those who want to go to the third row.

It has a number of safety features like front and side airbags, blind-spot warning system, rear view camera, and strengthened doors. That is more than enough for the safety and protection of the driver and passengers. But what protects the engine a most crucial and important part of the SUV. It is the Escalade hood which protects the engine and the adjacent machinery from the outside elements. It is a simple part not requiring complicated engineering but of great utilitarian value. But such a simple part has benefited from technological innovations. Hoods are now also made of carbon fiber. Such carbon fiber hoods are light and therefore the overall weight of the vehicle is reduced. The vehicle will need less power to drive and that will reduce consumption of fuel. Such hoods are thus economically beneficial. Though these hoods are light they are strong and durable and able to withstand heat in the surroundings of the engine.

Carbon fiber hood reduces weight over the front wheels which makes the load on the front wheels lesser and the vehicle becomes easier to maneuver. Therefore if opt for an aftermarket Escalade hood you can make a big impact with the looks of your car and at the same time you can get solid benefits in terms of the performance of your car as well. That makes a very strong value proposition for you to spend your hard earned money on. A carbon fiber hood is not very expensive and if your are planning to spend some money on doing up your car it is an excellent choice. You can see the latest Escalade hoods at www.ilovebodykits.com.

Automobile manufacturers make various models of cars to cater to differing demands of the customers. They give them a brand name so that the customers can distinguish it from other cars and at the same time associate it with the specialty on offer. Honda marketed their luxury cars under the brand name Acura and the first model launched in 1986 was called Acura Integra. It was a two-door or a four-door hatchback with top class engineering and all-round good quality. Its reliability and performance coupled with fuel efficiency made it a popular car. It could compete with the luxury cars made around the globe. Its third generation was introduced in 1994 as a two-door hatchback and a four-door sedan. In 2001 it was ranked as the best sport coupe. After 2001 Honda adopted a different manner of naming their cars and the name Integra was dropped.

Some customers on buying a car consider it just a starting point, a sort of frame on which they can lavish aftermarket products of their choice. Their idea is to enhance its looks and make it appear exclusive. Hood is one of the prominently visible parts of a car, and so it has received considerable attention of both the buyers and the manufacturers of automobile parts. Integra hoods are also employed by the customers to give a new look to the car. New materials like carbon fiber have been used in making hoods. Such hoods are lighter, and long lasting. They can be made in a number of styles and if you so wish you can even paint them in a color of your choice. Hoods are a simple add on that can give a new look and amazing value to your car.

Carbon fiber hoods being lighter also reduce the overall weight of the vehicle. That means you will need less power to haul the vehicle which will result in economy on fuel. Moreover the weight is reduced over the front wheels which improves the balance of the vehicle. The car’s handling and maneuvering consequently becomes easier. You can have an exciting ride in your luxury car customized with Integra hoods. You can see more about Integra hoods at www.ilovebodykits.com.

When you’ve got a vehicle you can’t use any longer, it might seem like you’re stuck taking a financial loss just in order to get rid of it. You aren’t going to be able to get much of anything as a trade in, because the dealership can’t sell it to any of their customers. Here’s the secret, though: they’ll still be able to get a decent amount for it because they know to sell it as a salvage car to a junkyard. Junkyards are in the business of selling all the parts that are still good to people who need replacements but either can’t or don’t want to go for factory new components.

It’s a surprisingly large industry for one that most people never even think about, and it keeps all the old vehicles we can’t use any more from polluting the country as they decay. The parts that can be used get to see further use, and the rest is recycled so that it can become useful again. That makes each salvage car a valuable commodity in spite of what it looks like. You just need to know to cut out the middleman and deal directly with the junkyard yourself – which isn’t hard to do, because they’re eager to get whatever resources they can from any source out there.

So, it’s a good idea to find a salvage yard as soon as it’s clear that your car isn’t going to run any longer. Because it’s so valuable to the junkyard, you’ll be able to get a lot more money for it than you would on a trade in deal. On top of that, you won’t have to cover the cost of getting it to them. Since they’re essentially buying salable product from you, they’re ready and able to come haul it off without costing you a thing.

One of my friends, DK, kept wanting to restore a 57 Chevy. After a few months of looking around, he found a guy that had several 57 chevies that were restorable that he was selling. DK goes over and makes a deal and buys a 57 chevy four door sedan. The guy wanted $2,500 for it. He also had looked at a ’57 Belair hard top. The guy wanted 5k for the hard top. DK buys the 2500 four door and starts restoring the car. Both vehicles were in equal condition. So a year goes by and he finished restoring the car. It looks good and he painted it bright red.

He had told a friend about the 2 door hard top and his friend bought the 2 door. Both cars were at the next West Texas Street Rods car show. It was like a little competition between them. They compared notes on their restoration. They compared the costs, length of time and then they talk about the value of the car. DK’s car was worth about 15k and he had put about 15k into the 4 door. His friend’s 2 door was worth about 40k and he had also put about 15k into his car. Point is, know what the value is from the start, but also understand what the restored value will be. The end product can be a large value difference. Hope to see you cruisin’, Allen Frasier PS. Learn how to determine the value of your car before and after you restore it in our course, “Complete Classic Car Restoration.”

When selling a vehicle, the question “How do I set the price for my car” is bound to come up. If you bought the car new you may have thought little about how the price was set or asked any questions. The dealer may have even had a “no-haggle” policy so the price was firm. Coming up with a price for a used vehicle gets a little more complicated. With a used car a number of variables come into play that can and will affect the final price you set and, perhaps more importantly, the final price you are able to get someone to pay.

If you’re asking yourself “How do I get the price for my car that I want,” you need to start by taking an objective point of five and completely set aside any emotional attachment you may have for your set of wheels. You’re probably long past seeing the dull and lifeless paint, the broken door handle or that rip in the upholstery that is part of regular wear and tear. But you can bet any buyer will see it and will factor it in the price he is willing to pay.

That leads to “How do I set the price for my car?” It’s a fair question. Fortunately, it isn’t too difficult to do. There are lots of ways for determining a decent and reasonable asking price. Take your car to a dealer and ask for an appraisal. You’ll do better to take it to a small dealer who only handles used cars since that is what he is looking at every single day. Compare that appraisal with one of the web sites online that offers pricing information. The sites typically take all pertinent factors into consideration — year, model and make; odometer reading, and the car’s overall condition. Simply enter that information and you get in return what a buyer would expect to pay for such a vehicle.

Knowing the above should help you answer the question of how to come up with the price for my car. Going through the steps up front will make getting cash for your car much easier. And a buyer will appreciate that you have made the effort to ask a price that is fair and reasonable. So once you list your car and buyers start calling, negotiations that lead to the final sale will come much easier and you will complete the deal in no time flat.

The new Ford C Max and Grand C Max have been on sale since November 2010, the all-new Ford C-MAX and the seven-seater Ford C-MAX Grand, have already won wide praise for their comfort, handling, hi-tech features and practicality. Now they can boast the “best value MPV” accolade too awarded by Parkers, the consumer guide publication. The Parkers guide awarded this to the Ford C-MAX Titanium model based on its combined list price with running costs, including depreciation, showroom and road tax, servicing and fuel consumption. The editor of Parkers Kieren Puffet said, “The Ford C-Max 1.6 TDCi Titanium won Parkers’ New Car Awards 2011 MPV category because it is great to drive, comes with a quality interior and with plenty of space.

When it comes to value the Ford C-MAX scores highly. The 1.6-litre diesel provides great performance and 61mpg combined fuel economy means trips to the fuel pump aren’t frequent. With competitive servicing costs, low insurance premiums and keen road tax prices the Ford C-Max 1.6 TDCi Titanium is the MPV that makes the car buyer’s cash go furthest.” Ford’s Easy Fuel capless refuelling system present on the new C Max was also given a lot of praise by Parkers. This new initiative by Ford helps prevent miss-fuelling incidents at the pumps, saving customers a lot of headache and extra expenditure. As standard the C Max comes with a full 5 star Euro NCAP rating as well as Thatcham alarm, DAB radio, Bluetooth and USB connectivity which can also now be found in a Ford Fiesta in Prescot

.

Since joining the VW Group Skoda has successfully moved away from its old reputation of cheap, unreliable and unattractive cars. Skoda now represents excellent value for money, superb build quality and class leading safety features. Buying a Skoda is no longer frowned upon; many fleet management firms have also put their trust in the Czech brand. The Skoda Fabia in Scotland is an excellent example of how the brand has evolved. In order to ensure it is at the forefront of delivering the maximum value for money Skoda is now introducing an all new SE plus trim level.

This new trim level fits in between current SE and Elegance trim levels. As an example, the Octavia in SE Plus guise includes 16-inch alloys, ‘Kristal’ interior, rear parking sensors, touch-screen sat-nav, Bluetooth, multi-function steering wheel and ‘Media Device Interface’. All this is in addition to the standard equipment in the SE trim model. Two new power plants also feature in the new trim-level – a 1.8-litre 150bhp TSI engine available on the Yeti, Octavia and Superb and a new 108bhp 2.0-litre TDI CR unit for the Octavia. Prices for the new range start from 11,825 for the Skoda Fabia SE plus – giving customers a saving of 620 – rising to 21,350 for the Superb SE plus – a saving of 1275 over the SE variant. The current car buyer is looking for value for money more than ever before. Consumers have become conscious about price, fuel economy, CO2 emissions and residual value – this is why buying a Skoda makes so much sense!