Online Quotes For Car Insurance - Where To Get Auto Insurance Quotes Online

By Matt Hellstrom

The Internet has changed the auto insurance business so extensively that it no longer resembles what it was prior to the creation of the World Wide Web in 1992. Back then, when car insurance renewal time came around, an estimated sixty-three per cent of car owners ended up remaining with their insurer, according to the Insurance Institute of America. Today that figure is down to less than twenty-three per cent due to the abilitiy to obtain auto insurance quotes online.

As a group, insurance companies, brokers and agents combined to form a distinct group of what the marketing whizzes call "early adopters." Now, a sub-group called skimmers has formed with Grey Power and the American Association of Retired Persons in the lead. These groups negotiate bulk rates for group members and in so doing skim off the cream of the car insurance crop. With the ease of obtaining auto insurance quotes online, competition for business is fierce.

The inevitable result of this type of reaction to the rate-squeeze caused by the proliferation of auto insurance quotes online has been a polarization of risk classes. Minimal risk classes - married male drivers age 50 and older, and female drivers age 40 and up - have had their car insurance rates remain steady or drop over the past decade, while rates in the high-risk young male class have skyrocketed. In consequence, the number of young men driving with no insurance or liability only has also increased.

The benefits of online insurance shopping are so great for the consumer that it will only grow as the preferred way to shop for automobile coverage. The use of the Yellow Pages and telephone as the preferred method of shopping for car insurance continues to drop. By the time someone picks up the phone these days they have likely already checked out the insurer's website, entered their vital statistics and gotten a quote.

Surveys of those who do shop for car insurance online consistently rank "Convenience" as the number one reason people shop on the internet for car insurance. They love the ability to get an instant quote without having to trade voice mails, or even speak with anyone.

When you are at an online car insurance site, a dialog box will ask you all the right questions - the questions you didn't know you should have been asking. Typically these include; number of years driving, make and model of car, place of residence, whether or not the vehicle is used to commute to work, moving violations within the past X-amount of years, etc.

Playing with the answers is a fine way of learning what other factors are taken into account when determining your rate. Who knew that where you live is a significant issue? And what about that speeding ticket? How much is that costing you? For this reason, using the internet to obtain auto insurance quotes online has skyrocketed. - 21396

About the Author:

Are you in the need of car insurance? The web has forever changed the look of the car insurance industry. Get online quotes for car insurance and learn about low cost auto insurance at http://onlinequotesforcarinsurance.com today.

3 Easy Tips To Troubleshoot A Stalled Engine

By Brad Joohansin

When you're waiting at a traffic light, stop sign, or any circumstance in which your car idles, that is when the engine produces the lowest level of emissions it ever will. Idling is critical for your vehicle's engine to remain in operation without requiring fuel. Unfortunately, problems manifest; engines can die while idling. The challenge is determining the root cause.

There are several steps you can take to help diagnose the issue, which I'll explain below. It's worth noting you'll need a few diagnostic tools. If you're not willing to purchase them and spend some time exploring your car's engine, you may be better served by having a mechanic look at it.

#1 - Test The Fuses

Follow the easiest and least expensive path first. In this case, that involves testing the fuses. To do so properly, you'll need a test light. There's a rod with a bulb attached on one end and a clamp on the other end. If the fuses are sound, the bulb will light up.

#2 - Scan For Codes

When anything goes wrong inside your car's engine, your vehicle will generate and store a diagnostic code. That code will provide a valuable clue regarding why your engine is stalling out. You'll need to use a special scanner or reader to access the code. If you don't own a scanner, you can usually purchase one for under $100 at your local auto supply store.

#3 - Check The Hoses

In order to continue idling properly, your car's engine relies on the vacuum supplied by a number of hoses. For example, a hose provides vacuum to the intake manifold. If there are any leakage or breaks in that hose, it can cause your engine to stall.

Check for any splits or ruptures that might be affecting the vacuum. If possible, have someone lightly place pressure on the gas pedal while you're looking under the hood. The reason is because the leaks will often be difficult to see, especially if they're on the underside of the hoses. Pressing on the gas pedal often produces a whistle that makes finding - and fixing - leaks easier.

Start With The Easiest Factors

There are a number of other tests you can perform to figure out why your engine may be stalling. For example, you may want to check the idle air control motor, look for tar build-up, and test whether the EGR valve is failing. The culprit might even be a malfunctioning torque converter that is preventing the clutch shoes from disengaging properly.

Having said that, the three items above are the easiest to check and least expensive to fix. Test the fuses, scan for diagnostic codes, and check the hoses for leaks. Unless you have a significant amount of auto repair experience, the other potential issues should be handled by a trained mechanic. - 21396

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Stock Car Racing's 'Silver Fox' David Pearson

By Tony Bergdorff

While there are a number of challenging tracks on the NASCAR stock car racing circuit, few have earned the fearsome reputation of South Carolina's Darlington Raceway. Known as 'the track too tough to tame', its shaped like an egg with a surface that shreds tires. Some of the best drivers--including NASCAR's 'King' Richard Petty never mastered it. David Person, on the other hand, dominated at Darlington. He won 10 races and won 12 poles--both records that will likely never be broken. He actually made the 'track too tough to tame' look downright easy.

David Pearson was born three days before Christmas 1934 in a tough textile town near the North Carolina/South Carolina border called Whitney. His parents both worked in the local mill and did their best to provide. David quit school after the 10th grade and also worked in the mill. He was soon drawn away by his love of fast cars. He bought his own car and began racing at short tracks in the area. He ran his first race in 1952 in Woodruff, South Carolina and won his first championship at the old Greenville-Pickens Speedway in 1959.

Pearson never sought out stock car racing immortality, but some of his friends had other ideas. They began raising money to buy a car to race in the NASCAR Grand National series (the forerunner to today's Sprint Cup). With a patchwork of financial backing, David began racing a limited schedule on the Grand National circuit and was named the 1960 rookie of the year. In 1961,he attracted sponsors and started to race a full time schedule. Not long after, he was considered among the best in the sport winning Grand National titles in 1966, 1968 and 1969.

In 1972, he started driving for the Wood Brothers in the #21 car that he was to make a legend. In 1973, he won 11 races in 18 starts"an incredible feat even by todays standards. He cut back his schedule in those years to focus on superpeedways. Through the end of the 1970s, Pearson won 43 races. In addition to his mastery of Darlington, he posted remarkable numbers all over the circuit. He is one of two men to have won more than 100 races, and his 105 is second only to The King Richard Pettys 200 wins. Hes also second on career poles (113) to Petty. Head to head, however, he has a slight edge over NASCARs legendary King: in races where he and Petty finished 1-2, Pearson won 33 to Pettys 30. His 11 consecutive poles at Charlotte is a feat that will likely never be matched. Another record that may never be broken is his 18.29% winning percentage, as well as his record of starting from the pole in 20% of the races he ran.

In March, 2000, SC Highway 221 through Spartanburg County was renamed David Pearson Boulevard in his honor. He lives in Spartanburg to this day. Pearson still takes to the track occasionally--he and current NASCAR driver Carl Edwards were the first to race on the newly repaved Darlington Raceway last Spring. And he's still known as 'The Silver Fox', a nickname given to him for his prematurely gray hair. - 21396

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a well known authority on NASCAR racing, falconry and Internet sports betting. He serves as a consulting handicapper for a number of online sports books, as well as writing and lecturing on gambling theory and strategy as well as the Wall Street finance and investment strategy.

Driving Abroad: How to Motor Through Europe

By Ethan Melandri

Travelling overseas can be very entertaining, especially if you are going to be driving a vehicle. You will be able to explore more of the countries, insinuate yourself in the culture, and have a freedom those without a car lack. Many roads in Europe are considered the best and you will not want to miss them. Nevertheless, before taking your car with you there are some laws and safety considerations to make.

When planning to drive through Europe you will need to make sure you take the correct paperwork with you, this will include a valid full UK driver's licence, insurance certificate, vehicle registration document and if the vehicle is more than 3 years old, the MOT certificate.

The type of insurance you have on the vehicle will determine what is covered when taking your vehicle overseas. Most insurance policies have a specific amount of days that you can be in Europe with your car. By checking you can ensure you are within this time frame for your trip. If you are travelling outside the EU you must also have the green card insurance document.

You can also hire a vehicle instead of bringing your own. If you are going to hire a vehicle research what countries you are permitted to drive in. You also need an official document that states you are allowed to drive the car.

When taking your vehicle you will either need GB stickers or a modern Europlate. The modern number plate will have the necessary information needed to travel with your car. European countries drive on the right side of the road, which means you need to change your headlamps. This can be done by using reflector stickers on the lenses. If you have the HID xenon lamps your car will have a switch that properly positions the lights.

The legal requirements on which type of emergency kit you need to carry in your car varies from country to country. However if you make sure you pack the following items you will cover the majority of eventualities, a warning triangle, spare car bulbs kit, first aid kit, fire extinguisher and a reflective waistcoat.

Whilst driving abroad is a good chance to explore the full potential of your car many countries frown on you using radar speed detector devices. When driving through France the Police are particularly hot on this issue and have the power to confiscate such equipment.

Police in Europe can fine you at the spot you were stopped. It is wise to have local currency on you to pay the fines because the other choice is a confiscation of the vehicle until you can reach a cash machine. The UK typically has higher speed limits and blood alcohol levels, which mean you need to be careful of the European country you visit. Pay attention to the speed limit posts and do not drink while on the road.

If you want a magnificent holiday overseas there are certain steps to take in order to prepare for it. The above information will help you learn what you need to know regarding motoring overseas. One last tip for you is to remember that in Europe people drive on the right side of the road. It is an obvious statement, but it can be easy to get confused, especially at roundabouts or crossroads. - 21396

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An easy way to make sure your European driving holiday is not disrupted by the inconvenience of finding a replacement car bulb like the H1 Bulbs it can be a good idea to make sure you are prepared. By carrying a Spare Bulb Kit in your boot or glovebox you can be up and running in no time.

The Top 10 Negotiating Tips for Used Car Buying

By Eva Volvox

This is the top 10 list of negotiating tips you need when you are about to buy a used car. Nifty used car buyers are familiar with these, and you will probably find some tips you haven't yet thougt of.

1. Make sure you feel okay about the sales agent you are dealing with. Don't brush aside any feelings of discomfort. When meeting someone new to us we usually know quite soon if we hit off or not. Don't dismiss it if you feel uncomfortable in any way with the sales agent, there is most likely something there to be aware of.

2. This is one of the negotiating tips for used car buying that if ignored gets people into trouble. Decide on a limit ahead of time and if your limit is reached, leave.

3. Start the negotiating with an offer that is in the lower but plausible range.

4. Make your decision in your own good time. Don't let yourself get rushed into something just because the salesman seems to think that a hasty decision is necessary if you are not to miss out on something. Instead, make visits to several dealerships and look for your desired vehicle.

5. This is one of my favorite negotiating tips for used car buying If you feel like leaving for any reason leave. In fact you could even plan ahead of time to unexpectedly have the need to leave for lunch or some other reason and sort of leave the salesman hanging.

6. Prepare yourself to walk out of the deal if you find that the sales agent are in any way dishing you. Go to another car dealer if you are not stopped before you reach the door.

7. This is one of the most basic negotiating tips for used car buying " Decline all the extras they try to throw in.

8. Eminate self confidence.

9. Make your research homework properly and find out what car you want before you go to the dealer, then stick to that choice. Don't let the sales agent talk you into something else, remember you might regret a hasty decision

10. A common tactic from car dealers is to send out another agent or manager to talk to you in order to optimize the deal (for them). Don't pay any attention to their efforts. - 21396

About the Author:

Are you financially set not to get the best price when buying your car? In case your answer is no, as I know mine is, check out the best negotiating tips for used car buying.