f you have a choice of what type of vehicle to buy to get the best auto insurance rate, there are certain types of cars that you can choose-or avoid. This is important to keep in mind, if your insurance costs over time are a major concern to you.

What is a symbol?

When you get your instant insurance quote online, you will be asked a lot of questions about your driving record and personal history, but they will also require your vehicle information.

Auto insurance companies use the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) to assign a symbol to the car, and that goes into their insurance rate database. It is the symbol that decides the amount you will be charged for any full coverage auto insurance.

Family cars

Family cars such as minivans often have a low symbol, which means a lower auto insurance rate. Because the buyers of minivans ask for high safety standards, this lowers the chance of accidents involving injuries, and the auto insurance companies charge rates accordingly. In addition, the drivers of minivans and other family-type cars are usually the safest drivers, so you can take advantage of their driving history to get the best auto insurance rate for yourself.

Domestic cars

Domestic autos also often carry a lower symbol than their foreign counterparts, because of the amount that an insurance company will have to pay out in auto claims. Most auto claims are not “total losses,” which means that the vehicle is damaged beyond repair and need to be replaced.

The majority of auto insurance claims require repair, which involves getting parts that match the vehicle. It is easier to come by parts for domestic cars, and these parts are generally cheaper. Additionally, charges for labor may be higher if the customer chooses a body shop that specializes in foreign
vehicles.

Vehicles with a high safety history

If you have a choice of what to buy before you buy your auto insurance online, it doesn’t hurt to pick one with a high safety history. The best example of this is probably the Volvo, which is known for having high safety standards and a low number of recorded deaths in the case of an accident. Auto insurance companies take this into consideration and charge a better rate.

Also, like the minivan, drivers of these cars traditionally are high on the safety scale, so you can take advantage of this when getting your auto insurance quote online.

Older cars

If you purchase an older car, you may see instant results in the amount of your auto insurance rate. The rate for full coverage will automatically be lower on an older vehicle, but the main price difference will come into effect if you do not require full coverage at all. If this is a vehicle you could afford to lose in the case of a total loss, or could afford to repair yourself in the case of a minor accident, you may consider carrying liability-only coverage. Be aware that there will be no coverage on your own car, though, if you choose this option. You don’t want to try to save a few dollars on auto insurance now and then be stuck with nothing to drive after an accident.

There are so many choices out there for what auto insurance company to choose, especially when shopping online for your instant quote. If, additionally, you have a choice of what type of car to buy, shopping smart can promise that you get the best car for your insurance money.

The average car now costs over $30,000. The average monthly car payment is now $430 and the loans are near 6 years long on average. With taxes, fees and insurance thrown in the average monthly cost of a car is similar to that of a mortgage payment. Being that we are spending this much on our cars we need to take a renewed look at car care and treatments that will increase the longevity of these major investments. Sadly, many people neglect their cars and there is little, if any, car care done. Rust can happen anywhere in America (it isn’t just a problem for northerners). It is also easy to prevent with a little proper car care.

Everyone hates rust and complains about it, but when you look at their cars, little if anything is ever done to stop or prevent it. As evidenced in clinical studies and research by the big 3 auto manufacturers, its not a question of if. It’s a question of when. Whether it is salt and snow, salty ocean air, industrial fallout and acid rain, rock chips, road debris, etc… There are many different elements of nature that exist everywhere and will do harm and weaken your car’s finish and allow rust to start. The metal on your car is mostly protected by a very thin coating of paint and primer. Rust is caused by a loss in electrons of the metal and can occur as soon as the thin paint coating is jeopardized.

First, to prevent rust it is best to protect your paint. Proper car care will not only protect, but strengthen the paint. A good cleaning and waxing regimen once every two months has been proven by AAA to greatly reduce the occurrence of rust. Regular cleaning will remove contaminates that will weaken or even etch into the paint. Car wax or car polish will create a stronger, slippery surface that will be more impervious to the elements and help seal out moisture which can start the rusting process. To properly apply car wax or car polish you apply it one section at a time and allow to dry to a haze. Then you buff it off and repeat 2 – 3 times for maximum protection. People who regularly use car wax or car polish in their car care routine have a much lower incidence of rust.

If you notice a scratch or chip, nick that goes through the paint make sure you treat it properly. Get matching touchup paint by using the paint code inside your door jamb (most auto parts stores and dealers will have this matching paint or can get it for you). You will only need a small 1 oz. bottle for most scratches. Use a toothpick so you get the paint exactly where it is needed, in the scratch, nick, etc… not all around it. Completely cover any exposed metal. Then apply a clear coat touch up paint for best protection. This will seal out moisture and prevent rust from occurring. If you are in a jam you can always use clear nail polish to cover the exposed metal.

If rust has set in, then the required car care and treatment gets more complex. The rust spot must be sanded down and exposed. It is then treated with a anti-rust which will chemically react with the rust changing its chemical and electrostatic properties. Then it must be sanded down, primered and then painted. With the complexity of today’s automotive paints it is probably best to leave complex rust and car care to the professionals (most auto body shops will be glad to do this for you and you will have guaranteed excellent and long lasting results). As it is said, “You get what you pay for.” A cheap repair is just that, and for the same matter, so is cheap or non-existant car care.

Rust can be prevented and your cars finish maintained with a little proper car care and the use of car wax or polish.

It seems there are as many sales tactics to sell cars as there are cars. They are all designed to achieve the same purpose and that is to get you to sign on the dotted line. Let’s take a look at some more of the common methods out there today.

Salespeople know by now that people who come in to dealerships are naturally suspicious of salespeople and knowing this they have their own little brand of psychology to deal with and combat it.

One of the favorites is the “I’m a trustworthy salesman” garbage. Yeah right, and I have some beachfront property in Arizona to sell you. If you are a real tough customer and say something like you are going to come back tomorrow, they will say “That’s perfect, I can get you a better deal tomorrow, they are trying to get a higher profit today” like tomorrow is going to be any different?

The next thing is something that anyone who has bought a car has probably seen, getting you set on a particular car and taking you on a demo ride. The walk around is designed to end up with you at the driver’s side of the car. He will have you sit in it and turn it on and then say, “Let’s go for a ride!” This works especially well if you have a family, he will enlist their help as well. Kids always want to go for a ride in a new car! While on the demo ride he will be constantly probing you and asking questions, finding out what you like and logging it in his memory.

Confusion is the next trick that is used. For example if it has been determined that you are a payment buyer the slick salesman will just keep quoting the payments to you and not even pay attention to the price of the car. They will do the same thing if you come in with a trade difference figure in mind. They will keep going to the trade allowance and try to convince you the difference doesn’t matter. The point is never tell them you only car about the payments, or your trade value, or the difference. You want to be able to keep tabs on all factors of the transaction. Also when trading beware of them trying to devalue your trade in your eyes, they will do this by running their hands over minor blemishes and making comments about it.