After Buying a New Car

There are a few things you need to do as soon as possible after buying a car:

1. Insurance

It's against the law to drive a car in the U.S. without the minimum levels of insurance required for each state. Make sure you have purchased the proper insurance before you start driving your new vehicle.

2. Title

An auto title is a legal certificate of ownership. If you have purchased your car through a dealer, they will do this paperwork for you. Licensed dealers are required to transfer the title of the car within a couple of weeks. You will be issued a new title by the DMV. The title will list your name, address, the make, model and year of the car, and the date of sale. If you are buying a used vehicle from another owner, the auto title must be signed over to you by the seller. You then need to take the title to the DMV to register the car in your name.

3. Registration

Once you have bought your car, you will need to find a DMV and apply for registration for your vehicle. Registration requirements change from state to state. Usually, you will need the signed certificate of title for the car, proof of insurance, your driver's license, and an address of residence. You will also need to pay the fee in cash, as DMV's don't accept credit cards.

Company Car Etiquette

Company car etiquette is an important part of general business etiquette. Just like attire and punctuality reflect your work ethic, so does the use or abuse of the company car.

There are several aspects of company car etiquette that should be observed, depending on the company's specific policies and procedures:

1. Signing out the vehicle: As a courtesy, ensure that there are no other employees with a more urgent need for the vehicle during the time period you want to use the vehicle. Sign out the vehicle according to company policy.
2. Driving habits: Driving safely and courteously is important, especially if the company name or logo is on the vehicle. When driving the company car, it's time to put aside any bad habits that you have when you drive your own vehicle. Observe speed limits and don't succumb to angry horn honking.
3. Car cleanliness and upkeep: Many cars inadvertently become trashcans throughout the course of the day. When you're done using the car, make sure to remove your garbage and personal items. It's also considerate to turn down the radio and make sure that there is still a decent amount of gas in the car.
4. Record keeping: Some companies like to keep records of the mileage used, destinations, and whether the vehicle was refueled. Ensure that your part of the record keeping is completed in a timely, accurate and legible manner.
5. Personal use: A company vehicle should generally not be used for personal use, unless you have been given permission to do so. If you do use it for personal use, you may need to contribute to costs such as taxes, gas and maintenance.

New Fuel Economy Standards for 2011

The US administration has announced updated automobile fuel economy standards for new vehicles starting with 2011 models. The goal is to reduce gasoline emissions and consumption.

President Obama's administration had a March 31st deadline for setting the standard, giving the automotive industry about eighteen months to prepare its 2011 models to meet the new requirements.

Cars and light trucks will need to meet a U.S. fuel economy average of 27.3 miles per gallon for 2011 models, a 2 mpg increase from the previous year's requirements. The change isn't as aggressive as the 27.8 mpg target that President Bush had proposed in 2008.

New car fuel economy already averaged 31.3 mpg by 2007, according to the NHTSA.
The Environmental Protection Agency is considering a waiver that would allow California and other states to set their own auto emissions rules.

The change will cost auto manufacturers approximately $1.46 billion in fuel saving technologies. It will also save approximately 887 million gallons of fuel over the life of 2011 models and cut carbon emissions by approximately 8.3 million tons.

Perhaps these new standards will give a new popularity to the small cars and hybrid cars that haven't been doing very well in the market lately.