Auto Theft Hits 20 Year Low

If you purchase a car today it is likely to be equipped with multiple anti-theft systems including an ignition immobilizer and GPS tracking technology. These features and aggressive law enforcement initiatives make it harder than ever to be a car thief. The FBI recently reported that vehicle theft hit a 20 year low in 2008.

Despite the drop in theft rates it is still wise to take precautions. If you live in a high crime area, and your car is not already equipped, an alarm system would be good investment. There are a few commonsense steps you can take:

• Always park in a well-lighted/high traffic area.
• Always lock your car.
• Never leave the keys in your car.
• Never leave your car running unattended.
• Never leave valuables in plain view.

Remember, in most cases car thieves will chose the easiest car to steal. Do you have any special tricks or tips you use to protect your car?

Driving Safely With Your Dog

There are lots of reasons why you may end driving with your canine friend in the car. A trip to the vet, a day at the park or even a family road trip. Here are some tips on how to keep your dog and yourself safe:

• It may be tempting to just let your dog jump in the car and sit wherever it wants, but it's not the safest thing for you or your pet. It's much safer to properly secure your dog using a crate, a harness or a nylon mesh pet barrier between the rear cargo compartment and the rear seat.
• Don't allow your dog to stick its head out the window, especially on the highway, it could suffer eye damage from flying road debris and insects.
• If you are planning to take your dog on a long road trip for the first time, desensitize it by taking it on some short trips first. Make the trips fun and reward good car behavior.
• Make sure to always bring along everything that you may need, even on a short trip. This includes a bowl, food and water, a blanket, toys, treats, and a leash. Giving your dog a chew toy for the ride will help to keep it busy and relaxed.
• Be aware of the temperature where your dog is positioned. If necessary, open a window or adjust the air conditioning or heating to prevent overheating or a chill.
• If you're going on a road trip, put a piece of tape on the dog's tags with a local phone number or cell number in case the dog gets loose. Your home number won't be of much help to someone who finds the dog while you're traveling.

Keep Your Car Looking Shiny and New

A brand new car looks shiny, clean and attractive, but it doesn't take long before it gets dirty and doesn't look so nice anymore. Taking good care of your car and having a regular clean up routine can keep it looking great.

Washing
Try to wash your car at least once a week. Dirt and dust that gather on the car can eventual lead to scratches and rust. First hose off all the dirt and mud from the car. Then use a gentle cleaner and wash your car using a sponge in a circular motion. Once you are done with the washing, use a soft terry cloth to dry the car.

Waxing
After washing and drying your car, apply car wax. Apply wax using a sponge in a circular motion. Once you are done, remove the extra wax using a soft terry cloth.

Tires
Shining tires improve the overall look of the car. Wash the tires with soap and water. Once you are done, polish the car tires using tire polish.

Interior
To clean the interior of your car, first remove all the trash and extra materials. Then use a vacuum to remove the dirt and debris. You can use a leather conditioner to give a fresh look to leather car seats. Using a brush or a spray, clean the car electronics and dashboard. Use a regular glass cleaner to clean the windows.

Here are some simple things that you can do to keep the inside of your car clean and smelling fresh:

• Always keep a garbage bag in the car.
• Avoid eating and smoking in the car.
• Use spill-proof cups and snack holders.
• Put rubber mats on top of your carpet mats.
• Keep some basic cleaning tools in the car.
• Use an air freshener product.

How To Do Your Own Oil Change

Motor oil should be changed roughly every 3,000 miles, although some vehicles can safely go up to 4,000 miles. If you want to save some money by doing your own oil change at home, here are step by step instructions:

1. Gather everything that you will need. This includes some cardboard to protect your driveway, a socket wrench, an oil filter wrench , a container to catch the used oil, a funnel, a new oil filter, a can of new oil and some rags.
2. Park the car on a flat surface, turn it off, and apply the parking brake. You may also need to jack the car up if there is not enough space to crawl under.
3. Crawl under the car and locate the oil drain plug on the under side of the engine. Your cars manual will give the exact location.
4. Put the catch container underneath the drain and loosen the plug with a socket wrench and pull out the plug. Remember that the oil may be hot, so be careful.
5. When the oil has drained, wipe off the plug and drain opening and replace the drain plug. Tighten it with the wrench.
6. Locate the old oil filter and place the catch container underneath. Use the oil filter wrench to unscrew the old filter. Wipe the area clean with the rag. Use some new oil to lightly coat the rubber seal on the new filter and screw in the new filter.
7. Locate the oil cap on the top of the engine. Remove the cap and place the funnel in the opening. Pour in the new oil. Check your manual for the correct amount to add. Replace the cap and you're done.

Note: Make sure to dispose of the used oil properly. Take it to a recycling center or an auto repair shop.

How to Maintain Your Tires

Don't underestimate the importance of maintaining your automobile tires. Whether your vehicle is new or used , you should check the tires at least once a month. It will extend the life of the tires and increase the overall safety of your vehicle. We have put together a checklist for proper tire maintenance:

• Check your tire pressure monthly. You can improve your gas mileage by keeping your tires properly inflated.
• Rotate your tires every 5,000 miles. Follow the correct rotation patterns listed below.
• Routinely look for signs of tread wear and damage.
• Check your tread depth with a gauge.
• Check the tire pressure regularly with a pocket gauge.
• Check your air pressure with a gauge while tires are cold. Driving heats up tires and can make the reading incorrect.
• To check the accuracy of your tire gauge, visit a tire dealer.

Tire Rotation Patterns:

• If your vehicle is front wheel drive, rotate the tires in forward cross pattern. This means moving the drive tires straight to the rear then crossing the rear tires and mount on the front.
• If your vehicle is rear wheel or four wheel drive, rotate the tires in a rearward cross pattern. This means moving the drive tires straight to the front then cross the front tires and mount on the rear.
• The spare tire is strictly for emergency use. It must never be included in a tire rotation or placed on your car for everyday use.

How Online Price Quotes Work

Internet technology provides a great number of conveniences for consumers. One big convenience for car buyers is to be able to get an online car quote for any vehicle that you're interested in.

How it works:

• Select the make and model of the vehicle your interested in from the drop-down boxes.
• Select the options that you want such as the trim and the interior and exterior color.
• Provide your basic contact information and zip code.
• Within 24 hours a local dealership will contact you with your online quote.
• They can also answer any questions that you have via phone or email.
• If you'd like to test drive the car, just make an appointment with them.

The advantages:

• It's much faster and easier than going to a dealership in person.
• You can get as many car quotes as you want from the comfort of home.
• You won't have to deal with pressure from a live salesperson.
• You can compare quotes from different dealers.
• You can request a loan quote at the same time.
• It's free and there's no obligation to buy.
• Many sites guarantee the lowest prices.
• Other free information is usually provided such as pictures, advice and more.

Safety Tips for Driving at Night

Driving at night involves different challenges and dangers than driving during the day. According to the National Safety Council, traffic fatality rates are three times higher at night. The main reason is that our vision is much more limited in every way. Depth perception , color recognition, and peripheral vision are all compromised.

Here are some tips to make driving at night safer:

• Keep your windows, light covers and mirrors clean to improve visibility. Dirty windows and mirrors will reduce visibility and increase glare from lights.



• Make sure your lights and mirrors are properly aimed for optimum performance.



• Put your headlights on approximately one hour before sunset and keep your headlights on one hour after sunrise to make yourself more easily visible to other drivers.



• Refrain from using your high beams when you are following another vehicle or when another vehicle is approaching in the opposite lane.



• When there is fog, use low beam headlights. High beams reduce your own ability to see.



• If you need to pull over, put on your emergency flashers and completely pull off the road.



• Avoid having lights on inside the car.



• Avoid smoking in the car, especially at night. The smoke can further reduce vision.



• Reduce your speed and increase your following distances at night.



• Avoid driving when your feeling tired.



• Concentrate on driving, don't allow yourself to become distracted by cell phones, loud music, etc.



• Have your vision checked on a regular basis. Some people have specific problems with their night vision and need to wear special glasses or avoid driving at night.

Car Booster Seats

When your child has outgrown the forward-facing car safety seat, it's time for a booster seat. The job of the car booster seat is to boost the child up so that lap and shoulder seat belts are well-positioned to safely restrain them. They are recommended for children that are over 40 pounds and less than 4 feet 9 inches tall.

Here are the top 10 booster seats according to the IIHS:

Combi Kobuk Fisher-Price Safe Voyage (with plastic clip) Graco TurboBooster Britax Monarch Britax Parkway Fisher-Price Safe Voyage (highback) LaRoche Bros. Teddy Bear Recaro Young Style Volvo booster cushion Safeguard Go (when used as a backless booster)

There are two types of booster seats, those that have a back to them and those that don't. The best kind for your child depends on what kind of seats you have in your vehicle. Before buying a booster seat it's a good idea to try it out in your car to make sure that it fits well. Some high-back boosters have padded wings that can function as headrests, which is good for children that tend to fall asleep in the car.

A booster seat is held in place by the combination of the child's weight and the cars seat belts. It should only be used with a forward facing seat. If used with a lap belt only, you must also use a child harness to hold the child's head and shoulders back. The sash part of the seat belt must cross your child's shoulder and not touch their neck.

Gas Prices are Dropping

Two things that have actually been improving despite the current economy are car prices and gas prices. There are some great deals and rebates available on new cars due to slower sales. Gas prices have dropped 53% over the last two weeks and are predicted to continue declining, although at a slower rate. The drop in price is due to lower demand as well as crude oil prices. Americans have been driving less because of the high gas prices and other economic troubles. The popularity of hybrid vehicles and concern for the environment may further reduce demand in the near future.

In May, gas prices had reached as high as $4.00 a gallon or more. As of October 17th, Kansas posted the lowest gas price of $2.26 per gallon. Honolulu and Anchorage had the highest prices at $3.48 and $3.50 per gallon. Although many people will complain that the price is still too high, keep humble by remembering that the gas prices in much of Europe which can be more than $5 or $6 per gallon. There are some great websites that will help you find the lowest gas prices available in your state.

Roadside Assistance Services

It's good to have membership with a roadside assistance service in case of an emergency. There are a number of good providers out there. Even credit card companies and cell phone companies offer roadside assistance plans. One of the best known services is AAA. The American Automobile Association provides a wide variety of automotive services other than just roadside assistance. They offer other automotive services, travel services and even financing services.

AAA Automotive Services: They offer all emergency road services including jump start, tow, gas delivery and tire change. They have a large repair shop network of thousands of shops throughout North America. They offer online car buying services, such as research info and price quotes. AAA Travel Services: They can put together vacation packages including cruise packages. They can find hotel and car rental discounts. They can provide both printed and online travel maps. AAA Finance Services: They offer foreign currency exchange. They have their own AAA Visa credit card program. They can assist with financing a new car purchase or refinancing a current vehicle.

Another good quality service is GM's OnStar. Many GM vehicles have the OnStar system built in with 1 year of free service included. After that you pay a yearly fee of around $200. It provides a variety of safety, security, and convenience services including 24 hour live assistance.