Consumers who want to buy a new car have several concerns: reliability, safety and new car warranties. Recently, The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety listed the thirty-six 2008 vehicles that they rate highest for safety. Which cars are there favorites?

The Toyota Tundra was the only pickup truck that made the list. Its main safety features include side airbags, as well as stability control.

Although no domestic vehicles made the list last year, there are seven domestics on the 2008 list. These are the Ford Taurus, Mercury Sable, Ford Edge, Ford Taurus X, Lincoln MKX, Cadillac CTS and the Saturn Vue.

Ford Motor Company had the most vehicles on the list. In fact, they had eight models. Honda and Acura sported seven winners.

Only one small car made the IIIHS list: the Subaru Impreza.

According to studies, drivers are more and more concerned with vehicle safety. Also, drivers want cars that are reliable. They are purchasing new car warranties, so that they can easily repair their cars without the worry of unnecessary expenses.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners recently performed a study to determine what the best and worst states are in the country for auto insurance.  According to the study, you are paying the highest insurance premiums if you live in the Northeast.

New Jersey proved to be the most expensive state.  On average, premiums in New Jersey are over $1,300 yearly.  The capital of our nation, Washington D.C. was the second highest, with average yearly premiums of $1,185.  New York was third highest with $1,110 being the average premium.

Revealed in the study was that urban driving, high salaries, and a lot of traffic are responsible for elevated costs in those states.  In addition, liability insurance premium costs are higher in the Northeast.

Midwestern and Northern states proved to have the lowest insurance premium costs.  The overall lowest was Idaho with costs at $530 per year.  The next lowest was Maine at $560 a year, and North Dakota was $570 per year.

According to this study, your location is a key factor in determining your car insurance costs.  Today, consumers are paying more than they ever have for their vehicles.  These costs include insurance, new car warranties, and maintenance costs.

These days many vehicles are being offered with 4WD systems. It can be difficult for consumers wanting to purchase a car with 4WD to distinguish between the different systems. There is Part Time 4WD, Full Time 4WD and permanent 4WD. So, what?s the difference?

The most basic of the 4WD systems is Part Time. This allows the driver to choose if they want to drive in two-wheel drive or 4WD. This sounds appealing, but has a downside. The 4WD shouldn?t be engaged unless it is very slippery. The reason for this is that 4WD will lock the front and back wheels. Although this is good for slippery conditions, it makes for awkward handling on dry surfaces. This system is, however, less expensive and very durable.

The most commonly used system is Full Time 4WD. This system offers a two-wheel drive mode and 4WD. Also, there is a high and low mode for various conditions. An advantage to this system is that a center differential allows the front and back wheels to rotate at two different speeds. Also beneficial is that this system offers more control and better handling on different road conditions.

Permanent 4WD is comparable to Full Time, yet it doesn?t have a two-wheel drive mode. The car will always be in 4WD with this system. Torque is being applied constantly to all of the wheels, which allows for traction in various weather conditions. This system has high and low modes that are applied automatically.

Four- wheel drive is a great feature to have on any vehicle that may encounter challenging road conditions. However, with any technology make sure that you purchase an auto warranty to cover you from paying unnecessary repair costs down the road. This will allow you to have peace of mind.

There are millions of traffic tickets issued out every year in the U.S., which often cost over $100. This is a billion dollar business in our country. Paying the ticket through the mail is essentially admitting that you?re guilty. Also, you will have the ticket on your record at the DMV for up to three years. So, is it possible to wiggle out of a speeding ticket? Here are a couple of things to try.

First of all, if you get pulled over for speeding, stay in your vehicle. You should never get out. When the policeman approaches your window, try to look remorseful. Make apologies to the officer and be polite. Be nice, and ask for a warning. Don?t try to answer questions, such as: ?Do you know why I pulled you over?? Tell the officer you aren?t sure.

Don?t pay the speeding ticket by mail because it means you are admitting you?re guilty. In the U.S. you are considered innocent until proven guilty, so show up at court. Often, the police officer will make mistakes leading to the dismissal of your ticket. For instance, the officer might not go to court. Many times you will get your ticket changed to a lesser charge by showing up at court. For example, they might change it to a parking ticket from a speeding ticket. This is beneficial because it won?t increase your insurance and will give you fewer points on your license.

Many motorists assume that if they are given a speeding ticket that they should just pay it through the mail. However, it is a much better idea to make an effort to get out of it so you don?t have to pay an increased insurance premium. After all, we factor in costs such as an auto warranty and maintenance costs, but don?t consider speeding tickets and raised insurance.

If you love old cars, you aren?t the only one.  There are antique shows all over the country that have vintage cars on display.  Crowds flock to admire these cars, and owners take great pride in displaying them.

Many vintage owners have restored their cars piece-by-piece.  Owners haven?t just rebuilt these cars; they have restored them to their original state.

The difference between rebuilding and restoring is simple.  Rebuilt cars have new parts in them, where, restored cars have authentic parts.

The restoration process includes the car body, as well as mechanical components.  For a true restoration to take place the parts must be from the original make and year of the car.

The vehicle?s interior is also included in the restoration.  If possible, upholstery should be repaired.  It can be virtually impossible to find the authentic upholstery for a vehicle, but it is necessary to get as close as possible.

It?s a labor of love to restore a car, but worth it.  There is nothing more satisfying than turning a clunker into a classic car.  As with any car, make sure you have an auto warranty to protect yourself.

If you?re purchasing a pre-owned car you need to find out as much history as possible about it.  The car may have problems that are not apparent from a visual inspection or a test drive.

A car history report is a good way to find out what you?re getting.  This is a report prepared by a third party that is a compilation of information from DMVs, RMVs, and other sources.  A car history report will give you an overview of what the car has been through.

When getting a car history report look out for the following things.  This is not to say that you shouldn?t buy the car based on these issues, but certainly ask questions.

If a car has had a lot of owners, chances are it hasn?t been cared for lovingly.  These cars have probably endured more abuse.

Some areas of our country are easier on cars than others.  For example, extreme winter conditions are tough on vehicles, as are flood areas and extreme heat.

Make sure the name and description of the car match up with the actual car.  Read the description carefully to avoid vehicle fraud.

Car history reports, such as those from CARFAX are comprehensive and can save you from purchasing a lemon.  Also, to protect yourself, purchase an auto warranty to avoid unnecessary expenses down the road.

There are several small cars over the years that have had a cult status, such as the Volkswagen Beetle, the French Deux Chevaux and the original Mini.

Each one of these vehicles was popular in their time.  However, they also possessed something extra; a quality that is indefinable, but gave them a cult following.

Today, there are some new cars in the American market that possess a retro style.  For example, the Chrysler PT Cruiser in 2000, the Volkswagen New Beetle in 1998, and the Mini are all in this group.

These vehicles all contain similar qualities.  First of all, they have great style and perform well.  But in addition, they contain a classlessness that lets drivers make a statement without letting people know that they have tons of money.  Drivers like them for two reasons; they are a lot of fun to drive and they have tons of personality.

Small cars are making a big comeback in the United States, and just a few of these possess a cult status.  Motorists enjoy driving a ?cool? vehicle that has personality, and they will maintain it until it dies.  People often purchase an extended auto warranty so that they can enjoy their cars without the headache of unnecessary repair expenses.

The Internet is a great resource for motorists to shop for used vehicles and used car warranties.  Now, around 4,000 dealerships that cell used cars by GM will be listing their vehicles on eBay Motors.  The dealers have the advantage of being able to list cars for free.

Many different cars by GM will be listed on eBay.  These include Buick, Chevrolet, Pontiac, GMC and Oldsmobile vehicles.  In addition, Hummer, Saab, Cadillac, and Saturn will be listed, even though their certification programs are different.

One major advantage to listing on eBay is the large amount of users.  In fact, around 10 million users will be able to view the inventory of used GM dealers.  This program will continue to be more of a draw to dealers as well as consumers if more car manufacturers put their used car inventories on the website.

GM and eBay are working hard to complete the website.  However, GM has already taken advantage of the Internet by posting their inventory on more than 300 websites, such as Cars.com and AutoTrader.com.

Motorists are now able to shop for used cars from the comfort of their own homes.  In addition, consumers can find a good deal on used car warranties by making comparisons on the Internet.  GM has realized the importance of utilizing the Internet.

Many motorists find it difficult to find a trustworthy place for their automotive repairs.  Some people prefer to take their vehicle straight to the dealership, while others feel more comfortable with an Independent repair shop.  So, which is better?

There are several dealership advantages.  First, dealerships have to pay for the training of their technicians, and provide special equipment and tools to maintain their franchise license.  Also, they have one year?s worth of proprietary information on new cars that they have sold and serviced.  This is information important for diagnosis and repair, and yet no one except the dealer can access it.  Finally, service departments in dealerships basically work on the makes and models of the vehicles that they sell.  This means that they are more familiar with these particular vehicles, so often diagnosis is quick and accurate.

There are also advantages to the independent shop.  Independent facilities are there to serve their neighborhood.  This means that customers enjoy personal customer service.  In addition, an independent shop offers services that are versatile on a diverse range of vehicles.  Many independent repair shops that are top-notch also offer an auto warranty through the parts suppliers.  Finally, independent shops tend to offer better prices than dealerships.

Dealerships and independent repair shops both have advantages to consider.  It is important for consumers to find a repair facility that they feel comfortable with.  And always make sure that you purchase an auto warranty to cut down on unnecessary repair expenses.

If you?re thinking of purchasing a small SUV you?re in luck because there are many good choices.  Compact SUVs offer practicality, fuel-efficiency, and nice style.  In fact you can find many models for under $25,000 complete with an auto warranty.  So what are the best and worst models to consider?  Read on.

The Honda CR-V is the #1 compact SUV.  It scored the highest for performance, safety, and interior.  According to reviewers, it drives really well, has a sleek design and offers ample storage room.  Following close behind, the Toyota RAV4 comes in second place in its class.  This vehicle has a surprising amount of power for its size. It now offers a V-6 engine, as well as a third row seat. The RAV4 was the first compact SUV in its class over a decade ago.  Coming in #3 is the 2008 Subaru Forester.  This SUV is known for being a fun, family-friendly vehicle.  Reviewers complained about the exterior being bland and the balky transmission, but were willing to overlook these things because it had some great positive features.

Unfortunately, there are some compact SUVs that didn?t rank as well.  In last place was the Saturn Vue Hybrid.  According to reviewers, it isn?t very refined and isn?t as fuel thrifty as many other hybrids.  Also at the bottom of the list is the Mazda Tribute because its power and handling doesn?t match its competitors.  Finally, the Jeep Compass drives more like a car, but doesn?t have the sportiness or off-road capabilities that other Jeeps have.

If you?re looking to buy a compact SUV, there are many great choices out there.  The most important thing is to do your homework and make sure you are choosing wisely.  Also keep in mind the cost of new car warranties, maintenance costs and auto loans when determining your budget.