Archive | Automotive

The Auto Valet Brings Innovation to Enclosed Car Trailers

Rich Wilson of Auto Valet Loader invented an innovative loader which automatically “valets” your car in and out of an enclosed car trailer.   Normally you drive your car up the ramp into the trailer and if you’re skinny enough to squeeze out a door or window, you secure your car.

With Wilson’s invention attached to your trailer, you simply drive up onto the Auto Valet, put the car in neutral and the hassle loading, securing and wiggling out of the trailer is eliminated.

The remote control starts loading and unloading cars in a few minutes.  It quickly secures the vehicle with a locking mechanism.

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Advice on Getting Cheap Irish Car Insurance

It is possible to find cheap car insurance Ireland if you know where to look. There are a lot of insurance firms out there offering competitive quotes for drivers in Ireland. It’s all a matter of finding the right company, and having the necessary qualifications. After that, you could be well on your way to enjoying the benefits of operating a fully legalized vehicle.

When looking for a good company, it is important to check out a wide range of different options. You will find that Irish car insurance will be on the same basic price level as most other European countries, but you can still expect to find major quote differences between the different firms out there. For this reason, it is recommended to use quote comparison tools and simulators that will allow you to select the most appropriate insurance for your vehicle.

If you own more than one car, you might want to consider multi car insurance as a way to save on cash. Many companies will offer special discounts for getting more than one vehicle insured at a time. This is because you are essentially bringing them more profit, and it makes sense that they would deduct a certain amount of money off your overall quote for being a regular customer.

Another important point to remember is that insurance will be a lot cheaper if you maintain a good driving record or belong to a particular low-risk demographic of the population. Women and drivers over the age of 30 will qualify for lower premiums than students or drivers with a history of driving violations and infractions. This is another reason to drive safely, and keep your eyes on the road ahead at all times. If you abide by the rules, you will find that yourself saving a lot more money in the long run.

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Why You Want Airbags in Your Next Car

Airbags are one of the great technological achievements of our times. Next to seat belts, it’s airbags that can really save the day.While we sometimes look towards the trunk for emergency flares and equipment, airbags are the unsung hero of safety.

Automotive safety has come a long way since the days of Henry Ford.

Accidents may happen anytime even to the most alert and experienced vehicle driver, and this is why you want airbags in your next car.  To augment seat belts, these airbags have been proven to protect vehicle riders from hitting the insides of the car in the event of an accident. Hence, when something wrong is sensed, these balloon-like devices immediately inflate.  The ACU or Airbag Control Unit which is composed of the seat occupancy sensors, impact sensors, gyroscopes, side door pressure sensors, brake pressure sensors, and accelerometers, are truly life-savers.

These reliable airbags, programmed with certain thresholds provided by certain regulations, work during collisions that may be frontal or near-frontal. Due to technology advancement, these are developed to fit to the extent of the involved crash, the usage of seatbelt, the posture and the body size of a vehicle rider, and the distance of a passenger/the driver to the car’s specific airbag.

The different types are the Side, Frontal, Center, Knee, Seatbelt, and Rear Curtain Airbags, each one located strategically inside the car, and each has a specific function tailor-fit to protect a person or persons seated nearest to where it is located. There are many negative feedbacks about using such airbags, mostly from those who have had experiences from defective ones. But from a car owner’s point of view, the benefits definitely outweigh any possible risk involved.

Simply put, saving lives from an accident is why you want airbags in your next car. Most especially if these lives are your loved ones’. And yours, too. When you are planning for safety, be glad you have your GPS, infant car seat, seatbelts, and airbags along for the drive.

Photo Credit: Mike Babcock

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Understanding Insurance Agents and Brokers

When you decide that you would like to get a car insurance broker then you will want to keep it cheap. But, you will also need to fully understand what a broker is. Many people do not realize it but a broker is different than an agent and this article will help you with these concepts.

The insurance broker is going to be the person that will help you find the insurance policy that will best fit your needs. He or she will have access to a large amount of companies and policies and they will be able to help you identify which ones will be the best for you.

You should realize that even a discount or cheap car insurance broker will be working for the customer not the insurer. This is something that you will need to try really hard to remember. You can always find cheap car insurance brokers online but you should realize that it may be better to pay a little bit more to use a larger company. You will have a lot more success when you have more options.

An agent will legally represent the insurer. This is nice if there is something wrong with the policy because it will not fall on the customer. The agent will generally represent one single company or even several smaller companies.

Independent agencies have a wide range of plans and policies that potential customers can look at and select from. This is not true when it comes to exclusive agencies because they only represent a small number of companies. This means that potential clients will not have as many options when it comes to selecting the best policy for them. You should also check on the reinsurance commission when you are determining which type of agent to go with because this will change depending of it is an independent agency or an exclusive agency.

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The New Ford Explorer Adds User Friendly Traction System

The 2011 Ford Explorer 4WD will sport an intelligent traction control system that is easy to understand.  The icon-based system supports five different traction modes.   The majority of the time the Explorer will operate in the normal mode for regular driving conditions.  The other modes include conditions where there is sand, mud, snow and hill decent.

“Talking with customers told us that flexibility and freedom to tackle any road, anytime is important to them,” said Explorer Chief Nameplate Engineer Jim Holland. “We saw the opportunity to eliminate a compromise by adding an intuitive and efficient terrain management system that can demystify four-wheel-drive control and enable the driver to properly match 4WD traction to the situations and road conditions they encounter.”

Ford (F:NYSE) just announced a first quarter profit of $2.1 billion.  The new Explorer model should contribute to future company profits as drivers see and use the new traction control system.

Photo by: Flickr User klynslis

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How to Find Cheap Sports Car Insurance

All drivers require car insurance, regardless of the type of vehicle that they drive. If you own a sports car, your need for vehicle insurance is similar to everybody else’s. Sports cars are not cheap to buy and if you are involved in an accident, you would have to pay a great deal of money for replacement parts and repair of the vehicle. For this reason, sports car insurance is imperative. However the cheapest sports car insurance can often prove hard to find.

When you buy a sports vehicle, contact an insurance company as soon as possible. Prior to deciding on the best insurance company to use, obtain several comparative quotes in order to make an informed decision. Do not forget that the lowest priced quote may not necessarily be the best one. If you agree to a higher excess, you will find that your premiums are lower and vice versa. If you desire lower premiums, make sure that you will be able to afford to pay the excess should you have an accident. With an expensive fast car, you are likely to have to pay a large amount of money even for small repairs. Insurance firms may also refuse to pay the cost of certain types of repairs.

It may not surprise you to realize that if you own a fast, sporty car, you will have to pay more for your premiums. One reason for this is that sports vehicles are designed to travel at fast speeds and this can make them more of a danger on the roads. Statistically, speed is a major cause of vehicle collisions. If you own a fast car, you will therefore incur the cost of higher premiums. Furthermore, sports vehicles are highly favoured by thieves as their constituent parts sell for a high price.

In order to acquire sports car insurance at a low price, lower the risk profile of your car. Many sports vehicle owners modify their cars to enhance their appearance or speed. However, this will not serve to lower your premiums. By far the best thing to do is install a security system. If your car possesses a high quality alarm system and immobilizer, this will substantially reduce the cost of your premium.

Owning a fast car can be a pleasure. However, always drive safely and adhere to the rules of the road in order to prevent involvement in collisions.

Photo Credit: Flickr uggboy

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Bank Repossessed Cars: Tips For Buying Used Vehicles

Bank repossessed cars are a good way to find a used car at a price that is well below market value. If you are able to pay cash or obtain an auto loan, you can take advantage of bank-owned vehicles. Repossession of cars by banks happens when the person who borrowed the money on a car loan from a bank is no longer able to make repayments in a timely manner.

Losing the means of transportation can be extremely frustrating. The person losing the auto must figure out another way to get around. Banks must act responsibly in order to protect assets, such as car loans, from becoming liabilities.

When the original owner of an automobile that is headed toward repossession gives up on making further payments, he can either allow a bank agent to pick up the vehicle or can do a voluntary surrender. Even when the vehicle is removed forcefully from the owner’s possession, there is still time to redeem the car before it is sold.

Once it becomes clear that the owner will not be able to reclaim the car, a bank will generally try to sell it from bank property. Flyers advertising the vehicle or by notifications on a website may be prepared. Banks may try to sell the automobile directly for a period of time and then place it on an auction site. Sometimes public auctions are held, either in written or oral form.

When banks hold a property auction on vehicles or other repossessions, it hands over ownership to the winning bidder. A bidder usually must have cash or financing in place in order to get ownership papers. Often, the price is lower than the costs would be for a similar used car through an auto dealership.

Before purchasing bank repossessed cars, you should do the necessary research to determine the condition of the used vehicle. Once you see a potential vehicle on the bank website, you can follow up with the bank for more details. Repossessed vehicle are often resold very rapidly, so you should act right away if you are interested in the car.

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Fighting For Villlage Auto Insurance Claims

A good friend of mine came to me with a fairly common problem at one point, and I figured it is worth addressing in a public forum. She was attempting to put together her Village Auto Insurance claims after an offending driver totaled her parked car. She was having trouble getting through to the company in a timely fashion, as well as making her claims clear, and of course, getting any follow up.

While I cannot speak against Village Insurance, as there are many many similarly named auto insurance companies across the fifty United States, and in fact I do not even know what particular insurance company she is with, I can give a little bit of sound advice about this problem in general.

When you do your car insurance shopping, you do not only want to buy a policy that offers low monthly payments and good coverage. Obviously, both those attributes are incredibly attractive. Alluring, in fact. But if customer service is the pits, then whether you are the delinquent driver or someone else has damaged your car, you will be in a pretty sticky situation. Getting your claims through and seeing effective results may take ages. In fact, a common problem is for people to simply “give up” on getting damages straightened out because their insurance company was so difficult to deal with. So, make sure you get good reports about the company’s customer service before signing a policy with them! You will be doing yourself a priceless favor.

But once you have already gotten into an accident, it’s important to follow through with auto insurance claims. While it might be an enormous hassle, you don’t want to just give up. For one thing, you’ll be losing out on money, but also, if the onus of the accident is put on you as a result of your giving up on the claim, you could be face with elevated insurance rates in the future.

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The Amount You Should Pay for Salvage Car

When my father said that he would get me a car I was ecstatic until he told me he would  pay for salvage car then we would fix it up as a project.  I remember staring at him with horror all over my face. I did not want to drive a junk heap around. What would my friends say? Then my dad told me that salvage cars are not entirely a bad thing. He went online to show me some pictures of those cars that were being sold and pointed out a few who were still in top condition. I started to relax then. Looks like it might be possible to find a good deal and get a decent car.

Tips When Buying A Used Car

I learned a lot of things in shopping for a used car with my father. First of all we had to figure out the things that I wanted in a car and what type of car I wanted in advance. Knowing what I want first hand would lead me to the car that would be worth the price they were asking and I could afford.

Another thing my father thought me was to not be too overeager when facing the salvage car dealer. We found some good cars that I wanted but I had to contain my excitement so that we could get a good deal, not just that sometimes you just want to “buy it” at any price which is not a good mind set for car shopping.

My Dad also made sure that we were dealing with someone trustworthy. We were lucky to meet a used car dealer who did not only explain all the necessary repairs that needed to be done but cut us a pretty good deal too, although a lot of it was due to our online research in advance.   The whole process was so hassle free I thought I could actually handle it on my own.

I also learned how to evaluate the amount to pay for salvage car repair by asking for a break down by running through every item that I was paying for. I had to make sure that there were no hidden charges as well.

The whole experience thought me that I should not be scared of the term “salvage”.   Salvage cars are actually the most practical way to get your own ride without having to sacrifice your family’s budget each month. After the repairs, my friends could not even identify the damage and were jealous of the fact that I had my own set of wheels. I never had any regrets.

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Van insurance money saving tips

Before you start looking around to see if you can beat your van insurance renewal quote, stop and read these few money saving tips. They could lower your insurance premium and give you savings that you can spend and enjoy on something else.

Search and find a cheaper quote by using our simple and handy van insurance comparison table. You can compare the main features, level of cover and amount of voluntary excess. So you know you’ll be getting the best deal for you and your business.

When you fill in the online form don’t forget to tell the insurer that you want a quote that includes cover for business use as well as domestic. As some motorists do tend to make this mistake when getting a quote and then when they go to making a claim, find out that the insurance company will not pay out. Don’t let this happen to you!

Grow your no claims discount as long as you can by becoming a good driver on the busy roads. You’ll find that some insurers offer a discount up to seventy percent, which can make a huge difference and saving off your premium. More than van insurance offers are a good place to start looking.

Get an alarm or immobilizer fitted to your van to help stop and prevent your vehicle from being broken into and you having to make a claim to the insurer. Most providers will give you a small discount if you are protecting your vehicle against thieves. You’ll be considered less risk, thus giving you a lower priced quotation.

Ensure that who ever is driving your van needs to be aged over twenty five years old and have a clean driving license i.e. they do not have any driving conviction. If they do then your insurance premium could become quite expensive.

Also when filling out the online form in the personal details of the quote process, always putt the correct details i.e. driving convictions and age. Otherwise if you have to make a claim and they find out the information is incorrect; you may find you policy to be invalid.

Good luck with your search in finding cheaper van insurance!

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Conversion Vans are Perfect for Contractors

Any contractor who is looking for a vehicle to do their work should consider conversion vans. These are more economical than a truck is going to be and it can also keep expensive tools and equipment from being damaged by rain or snow. They also use less gas than a large truck is going to use, which is a huge money saver too.

Contractors who are looking for a new work truck may want to consider conversion vans instead. These vans can be customized to be used by contractors without much extra expenditures. Slots can be created for small tools along with screws and nails that every contractor is going to need. There is even going to be room for a generator that can run power tools in areas where there is no electricity.

One reason conversion vans are a great option is because they are completely enclosed, so any tools and equipment that is being stored inside are going to stay safe and dry when the weather is bad. This means there is not going to be any need to go running to cover these tools when it begins to rain or snow. The contractor can stay comfortably inside their home and know that all equipment is going to be safe.

Another reason for these vans to be a good option is that there is no need to empty them at night to keep expensive tools from being stolen. Everything can be locked up tight after each job is completed. Add in a vehicle alarm and everything is going to be safe until the next project is begun.

Most contractors use trucks for their main work vehicles without ever considering a van. Vans are a safe way to keep tools stored without having to move them into a garage or house. Because they are completely enclosed, they can also protect the contents when the weather is bad.

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