New Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Regulations Will Mean Big Changes for U.S. Automakers

President Obama has recently announced the push that his office will make for new energy-efficient technologies- a big change from former President Bushs’ policy.  After signing  an executive order regarding emissions standards, President Obama announced, “We must have the courage and commitment to change”.

Some critics of the impending regulations argue that Obama’s push for greener cars is a case of bad-timing because of the current state of financial stress  the major American car companies are currently enduring.  After recently receiving more than $17 billion to help avoid bankruptcy, US car manufacturers are in one of the worst economic places in history.

Supporters argue, however, that while the recession and current state of economic turmoil of the US Automakers should be taken into consideration, greener cars are still a major priority. Not only to improve the state of our environment, but to decrease the United States’ dependence on other countries for oil. 

Some of Obama’s green initiatives included:

• Ordering federal regulators to reconsider a petition by California, Massachusetts and 12 other states to set stricter auto emission rules than the federal government has set in the past.
• Pushing for the Transportation Department to move quickly to implement new federal fuel efficiency standards adopted by Congress a year ago.

Environmentalists foresee these changes as promising that within a few years American cars will get better gas mileage and pollute less than they do now.

“He’s telling the states that they can lead, the feds that they’re going to have to follow, and really telling the whole world that the knuckle-dragging US is lifting its knuckles off the ground and we are going to take the global warming issue very seriously,” said Dan Becker, director of the Safe Climate Campaign.

More fuel efficient vehicles can also mean good things for U.S. drivers as well. Fuel efficient vehicles have grown increasing popular over the past few years as drivers not only help decrease greenhouse emissions but can also benefit from fuel efficiency tax rebates and discounts on their car insurance.

The 2009 'Cadillac One'- Obama's New Ride

Since the switch from horse and buggy transportation in the early 1900’s, presidential cars have completely evolved from a Baker Electric to Lincoln Town Cars to most recently, Obama’s new GM Cadillac DTS Limo.  The DTS, however, is no ordinary Cadillac and according to the Detroit News, is the “first presidential limousine not to carry a specific model name”.  (Despite it’s lack of official model name, the new car has been unofficially dubbed the nickname, ‘Cadillac One’.)

What sets the President’s new car apart from others of the same brand? In short, a lot more metal and much thicker glass.

More specifically? While many of the car’s specs remain undisclosed, the details have been under great speculation by many automotive professionals. Reportedly, the President’s new ride weighs over 5,000 pounds and was probably built on GM’s medium-duty truck platform as opposed to their standard sedan frame. 

The need for such a strong frame  is quickly justified considering that the car is donned with  eight-inch thick ballistic armored doors and a five-inch thick plate on the underside of the vehicle. With all that weight, it’s no surprise that Cadillac One is reported to have a maximum speed of only 60 mph. 

To make it even more impervious to damage from attack, the windows and windshield are manufactured out of 5-inch thick bulletproof glass. The secret service has reportedly nicknamed the new car, “The Beast”. Several sources even report that the vehicle was built to withstand the same kind of attacks as military tanks.

I can’t help but wonder what they pay for auto insurance…

How to be your own used car salesman

In a recent article by AutoTrader.com, they estimated that 13 million people visit their website every month looking to purchase a car.  However, if you’ve ever tried to privately sell your vehicle you may find that statistic hard to believe. Selling a car privately can be a difficult task which is why many car owners opt for trading in their vehicle or selling it to a used car dealer.  Oftentimes, however, you will not get as much for the car this way.  So if you’re determined to sell your vehicle on your own, pay attention to the tips below and you should be able to increase your chances of success.

1- Perfect the Ad
Write a good ad that’s aimed towards a sale- not just a jumble of details. Write concisely with language that is easy to understand. While you want to keep it honest, you should also highlight the strengths of the car.  Be sure to also mention any custom features about the car and add as much detail as possible. This will help filter prospective buyers. (Safety Note- Do not put your address in the ad).

2- A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
Take really good pictures of your car to include with your ad.  Oftentimes, especially if people are viewing your ad online, this is the first real impression they will get of your vehicle.  Make sure your car is clean and looking it’s best before the photo shoot. Also make sure to take a few shots of different angles.  Check your lighting so you don’t have any shadows in the photo and try to use an appealing back drop.

3- Post Post Post!
Posting ads for cars is easier than ever with all the internet resources available today.  Find a variety of sites to post your ad and place it everywhere you can.  Free sites like CraigsList.com are a great place to start as well as your local newspaper (and their website), sites like AutoTrader.com and others.  Simply type in “Sell My Car” in Google and you will get endless results.

4- Act like a car dealer!
While you may not have any experience in sales, or the car industry, you can still follow a few examples set by car dealers in order to increase your chances of selling your auto.

• Think that V8 is just a vegetable juice?Be knowledgeable about the vehicle. If your wife/husband knows more about the car (or cars in general) than you do- make sure you direct calls to them.
• Be Prepared for Calls- If you offer your phone number in your ad, be sure to mention this in your voicemail or answering machine greeting so callers know they have reached the right number when they call. Also, return all calls promptly and prepared to answer any questions about the car. Get phone numbers and follow up with anyone you don’t hear back from.
• Set Appointments- Know your schedule and be ready to set up an appointment so the respondent can come view the car ASAP. 
• Have your Paperwork Ready- Have maintenance records, vehicle history reports and anything else your buyer might want to see available when they come to see the car. Also, know where your title , spare keys, and any other information is that you may need in the event they decide to buy on-the-spot!

5- After the Sale
Be sure to pay any unpaid vehicle taxes and update your auto insurance policy to reflect your new driving situation.

Imagine you are driving down the road and the car in front of you brakes suddenly. At that exact moment you looked down to adjust the radio station and you have no idea of the impending crash about to happen in a matter of seconds. Even if you look up before hitting the back of the car in front of you, will it be in time to brake and prevent the crash?

What if your car could foresee the crash and brake FOR you?

Volvo’s City Safety technology does just that. In late 2008, Volvo released their new XC60 which is one of the safest cars on the road today. City Safety technology can sense when the vehicle is coming in close range with a stationary object or an object that is slowing down and about to be impacted.  The car then prepares the brakes for a quick stop and if the driver does not use the brakes- it brakes automatically.

It seems everyone is jumping on the green wagon recently- small businesses, families, non-profit organizations, major corporations and now even our law enforcement officials.Police departments from across the country are making various efforts to contribute their part in reducing green house emissions.

Ford Escape Hybrid- The New Patrol Car?

Probably the most noticeable effort to Go Green by local law enforcement agencies is the recent interest in Green Police Cars. The Yuma Police Department (Arizona) is currently preparing to put their latest addition to their fleet on the road next week- two 2008  Ford Escape Hybrid patrol vehicles.

But the Yuma PD is not alone. Other police departments around the country are similarly looking for hybrid replacements to their current cars. 

Benefits of Hybrid Police Vehicles:

- Gas mileage-Because of the nature of patrol, stop-and-go is the common movement for a police vehicle which can be extremely hard on gas mileage. Hybrids are a great alternative for this.

-Gas Costs-With last  year’s jump in gas prices to $4/gallon, many police departments are turning to more fuel efficient cars to improve gasoline expenditures.

-Emissions-With the large number of patrol cars on the road everyday, hybrid police cars will allow police departments to greatly reduce the green house gas emissions they produce every day.

I wonder if the new police cars will be eligible for a hybrid auto insurance discount?

While having a clean driving record is a great way to get lower rates, you also don’t have much experience on the road. Car insurance companies reward drivers who have experience behind the wheel and maintain a clean driving record. Depending on your insurance company, you will probably be eligible for an Experienced Driver discount after you have been on the road for 5-7 years. At that time, if you still maintain a clean driving record, you should see a significant drop in your premium.

Another reason your premiums might be high is because of your age. Many insurance companies have found that older, or more mature, drivers are less likely to be involved in reckless behavior on the road. For that reason, you may also get a discount on your insurance once your turn 25- or whatever age your insurance company has designated as their “safe driver” age.

But not all hope is lost- you may be eligible for other discounts in the meantime. Ask you insurance agent if they offer a Defensive Driver discount which saves you money if you take a defensive driving class. Some companies also offer a Good Student discount for high school and college student under a certain age that maintain above average grades in school. There are a ton of car insurance discounts available- sometimes, it’s just a matter of asking.

If all else fails- maintain that clean driving record! Do your best to avoid accidents and traffic tickets. Both will add points to your license which can increase your premiums for years.

In a recent report from the Insurance Research Council (IRC) it was estimated that approximately one in six drivers across the United States may be driving uninsured by the year 2010.  These shocking statistics were pulled from recent insurance claims involving an increased number of uninsured motorists.

Many  industry experts are blaming the recent economic downturn for the increase in uninsured motorists on the road. As drivers and homeowners struggle to pay their monthly bills, the cost of insurance becomes a bigger burden causing policies to lapse.

The five states with the highest uninsured motorist populations in 2008 were:

• New Mexico
• Mississippi
• Alabama
• Oklahoma
• Florida

Drivers who are considering driving without insurance should consider other ways to save money on their insurance payments. For example, there are a great deal of car insurance discounts available to drivers for a  variety of circumstances. 

For drivers who are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver or are interested in uninsured motorists coverage, visit our page on standard auto insurance and learn about uninsured and under-insured motorists coverage for you and your vehicle.

To read the full article visit, Economic Downturn May Push Percentage of Uninsured Motorists to All-Time High.

At our national headquarters in Wilmington, NC we saw a sight today we only see every few years: a snowstorm! Below, I linked to an article on Weather.com that outlines tips for drivers who are not used to driving in such conditions.  Even those experienced with driving in the snow and ice should take a refresher course in safe driving in inclement weather.

Here are some safe driving tips from The Weather Channel.  For tips on how to weatherize your car you can check out our blog post, How to Weatherize your Vehicle with tips from the car experts at Jeff Gordon Chevy.

We recently reviewed a series of articles on www.FuelEconomy.gov and found some great tips for improving gas mileage in your vehicle. Below is a summary of their recommendations:

How You Drive

• Don’t drive too fast! Most cars reach their peak fuel efficiency at 60 mph. For every 5 mph over 60 mph that you are driving, you are paying about $.25/gallon more for your gasoline.
• Keep it Light-Are you one of those people that use their car as an extra closet?  Be aware that an extra 100 lbs. of weight in your car can decrease your miles-per-gallon by 2%! This affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.
• Avoid Idling- well at least as much as possible. When your car is idling it’s getting 0 mpg.
• Cruise Control is your friend- using cruise control on long trips keeps your speed consistent and will usually save gas.

The Car

• Keep your car tuned- a car with a faulty emissions system can gain 4% in gas mileage with a tune-up
• A clean air filter can improve your car’s gas mileage by 10 percent.
• Tire Talk- Your tires are not only safer and last longer when they are properly maintained but they also can improve your gas mileage by 3.3 percent.
• Motor Oil Matters- While the bottles may all seem the same to you - your engine knows the difference. Use the type of motor oil that the manufacturer specifically recommends for your engine and try to use an Energy Conserving brand.

Want more tips?  For more ideas and tips on planning trips and choosing a more efficient vehicle, visit www.fueleconomy.gov.

Safe travels! From AutoInsuranceQuotes.com

Getting away this weekend? I’ve spent a lot of time on the road and can speak from experience on these Top 5 Road Trip Tips:

1-Always bring a phone card. That’s right- never depend solely on your cell phone. You’d be amazed at how many places your cell phone doesn’t get reception once you move out of your standard calling area. A phone card ensures you always have a way to call anywhere in the country from any phone- without lugging around a pocketful of quarters for payphones.

2-Clean your car first. On a road trip your car is your main vessel for the duration of the trip. Leaving some clutter in the center console, garbage on the floor or dog hair stuck to the back seat might not bother you NOW, but after spending 24+ hours in your car I guarantee it will start to make you crazy. Remember, you will accumulate enough trash along the ride (fast food ketchup packets, gum wrappers, etc) that you don’t need to bring what’s already in your vehicle with you. Clean it out before you leave- and a few times along the way- and it will really pay off in terms of comfort.

3-Get your paperwork in order. For some reason, as organized as I always try to be, it always takes about 2-3 weeks after my new registration card arrives in the mail for me to actually get it in my glove box. If you’re like me, make sure you get all of your identification, registration and car insurance information before you leave for your trip.  Also check expiration and renewal dates to make sure you have the most current versions of everything. You will really appreciate this one if you see blue lights in your rear-view mirror at any point during your travels.

4-Taking the Kids? Pack Prepared-Depending on the attention span of your children, you might want to bring some alternative forms of entertainment for them in the car. Snacks are also a good idea too!

5-Plan for Delays-Don’t keep your travel plan so rigid that a few delays on the road will overturn your whole trip. Plan loosely and don’t get frustrated if things don’t go perfect. Also, if you are planning on driving through any major cities, try to anticipate what time you will be driving through the area so as to avoid rush hour, etc.

Happy Road Trip from AutoInsuranceQuotes.com!