Quick Cash Auto Blog

As more and more Americans decide to opt for a used car instead of a new one, many used car dealerships are beginning to have trouble finding used cars to fill their lots. The popularity of used cars can be attributed to several factors. First, many families are in need of a vehicle to replace their current car, but cannot afford the cost of a brand new vehicle. Extended warranties that cover used vehicles for a significant amount of time have also boosted the popularity of used cars, as has the fact that even slightly used cars can be purchased for a substantial savings as compared to new vehicles.

As the supply of used cars dwindles, prices are soaring. This could be good news for families that are hoping to purchase a new vehicle, as trade-in values are steadily rising along with the price of used vehicles. Over the past year, the average cost of a used car has jumped by over 7 percent, and the rising cost of used cars is expected to continue.

Another factor contributing to the diminished supply of used vehicles is the drop in the popularity of vehicle leases. Leased vehicles are sold by the dealership after the end of the lease term, adding to the supply of used cars. Leasing has dropped off by more than sixty percent over the past 10 years, allowing fewer used vehicles to be available for sale.

The reduced supply of used cars has also been impacted by the 2009 “cash for clunkers” government program, which provided potential new car buyers an incentive to trade in their used vehicles with low fuel efficiency. Any vehicles traded in for the incentive were destroyed.

Overall, the trend towards rising used car prices and a diminished supply of previously owned vehicles is an indicator that the economy is doing better. More used cars being taken off of the market means that more are selling, and the possibility of a higher trade-in prompting consumers to purchase new vehicles is stimulating the new car industry, which took a particularly hard hit in the economic downturn.

You’re going on a trip out of town, and you need to rent a car to get around once you arrive at your destination. Do you know how to choose the right insurance coverage for your rental? Are you aware of steps you can take to save money on your rental rate? Before booking your rental car reservation, take a look at these tips.

• Use Your Computer

The most important tip to getting the best rate on a rental car is to use the Internet to compare rental rates from several different companies. You’d be surprised; the same type of vehicle can vary widely in price from one company to another, as well as from one location to another.

• Check Several Locations

Because there are specific taxes applicable only to rentals that are picked up in an airport location, you can often save money by renting a car in a location outside of the airport. While you may need to take a taxi or public transportation to the off-airport location, the savings often amount to over $100, making a $10 cab ride worth it. While you’re often required to pay extra taxes and fees on cars picked up at the airport, you may be able to drop off a car rented from an off-airport location at the airport for no extra fee, eliminating the need for a second taxi ride.

• Decline Extra Insurance

Many auto insurance policies and credit card companies cover accidents you are in while driving a rental vehicle. Just be sure to review your personal auto policy and credit card agreements thoroughly before declining any extra coverage.

• Inspect the Vehicle

Before you even get behind the wheel, do a thorough inspection for any dents, scratches, or dings that might already be present. You don’t want the rental company to add existing cosmetic damage to your bill when you return the vehicle.

• Double Check Your Bill

When you return your rental vehicle, you’ll be given an itemized bill. To be sure that you weren’t charged for anything you didn’t sign up for, make sure that you go through the bill line by line before leaving the rental company. Bring up any disputes immediately.

Renting a car can be expensive, but by comparison shopping, renting off-airport, and being sure that you aren’t incorrectly billed, you can keep the expense under control.

The iconic car that has been associated with police departments for nearly twenty years is going by the wayside as police search for a replacement. Car manufacturer Ford has assembled their last Crown Victoria police interceptor, the car that departments across the country have heavily depended on since the early 1990s.

Many police departments had already begun to switch to different models since Ford announced its intentions to discontinue the Crown Victoria in 2009, citing this year as the year that the last car would roll off the assembly line. Ford has offered a solution for law enforcement, though: a new vehicle specifically designed for police departments based on the 2010 Ford Taurus that is expected to be available within the next two years.

Over the past few years, many police departments have reported that they’re going more with the Dodge Charger as a primary vehicle rather than the traditional Ford Crown Victoria police interceptor. Ford’s slowness in offering an updated alternative to the Crown Victoria may have damaged their ability to sell vehicles to law enforcement officials as Dodge has seemed to have largely replaced Ford as a supplier of these types of vehicles.

One of the most useful components of the Crown Victoria police interceptor was the large engine that allowed law enforcement agents to keep up with suspects during high speed pursuits. However, high speed chases have become less and less common, making the feature unnecessary.

As budget cuts hurt police departments and require costs to be reined in, the biggest concern in a vehicle has shifted to one that provides fuel efficiency. The Crown Victoria police interceptor gets approximately thirteen miles per gallon in city driving, which is what they are mostly used for, and about twenty-three miles per gallon on the highway. By comparison, the Dodge Charger gets approximately eighteen miles per gallon in city driving and twenty-seven miles per gallon on the highway.

Departments have also noted that the Dodge models seem to require less maintenance and were more reliable, while the Ford models spent more downtime in the garage being fixed.

Although the Dodge Charger has largely replaced Ford Crown Victorias, police departments will be considering the new Ford police vehicle when it becomes available in 2013.

Business analysts have reported that, according to surveys of drivers across the country, 2012 vehicle sales may be on the rise as compared to this year. Many drivers indicate an intention to purchase a new vehicle in the next year, prompting analysts to forecast a positive 2012 for auto manufacturers.

However, not everyone is convinced. Many experts believe that sales will see a downturn as more and more Americans become single vehicle homes. As unemployment holds steady and households are continually forced to cut back on anything that is not a necessity, families in the U.S. are becoming more accustomed to living without multiple vehicles. Even as the unemployed find jobs, the savings from ditching a second or even third vehicle is often too tempting for newly frugal families to give up.

Those that are entering their retirement years are finding themselves cutting back to one car; some are even getting rid of their vehicles all together. The younger generations are now less inclined to want the financial responsibility of owning a vehicle, and many are turning to public transportation as an alternative. An increasing interest in environment responsibility is also fueling the trend, causing many to look into either public transportation, biking, or walking as a primary means of commuting.

The key to whether or not 2012 will be a prosperous year for automakers depends heavily on how the market changes throughout the rest of 2011 and into the New Year. Younger generations are currently inclined to cut back on vehicles, but that may change if they are able to find employment, especially in higher paying positions. Should the unemployment rate start to decrease significantly over the next year, auto manufacturers will likely enjoy the forecast upturn in profits.

Analysts predict that there will be approximately 13.9 million vehicles sold throughout 2012, which is just under ten percent more than the predicted 12.8 million that will be sold by the end of 2011. However, these figures are lower than previous predictions, mostly based on surveys that indicated a 2.2 percent decrease in the number of cars per household in the United States.