When you press down on your brake pedal, a piston forces the brake fluid to move causing a second piston to apply pressure to the brake pads. The pads compress against the discs forcing the car to stop.

It is therefore of crucial importance that your brake fluid is at the correct level. If the brake fluid is leaking then it applies less pressure to the pads which makes it harder to stop. If you have a significant leak then your brakes won’t work at all. Make sure you check that your tyres are properly inflated before driving and are not going bald. Bald tyres won’t grip to the roads properly and may cause you to skid or aquaplane. As well as keeping your car maintained you should practice safe driving techniques to ensure that you can brake safely in heavy rain, snow or ice. Drive slowly and keep a greater stopping distance between you and the car in front. It will take you longer to brake in wet weather.

Try to drive close to the middle of the road as snow and water accumulates towards the edges and drive in the tracks of the cars ahead of you. Don’t follow large trucks or buses too closely as the spray from their tyres could reduce your visibility. It stands to reason that it’s not a good idea to overtake snow ploughs and gritting vehicles as the road will be much worse in front of them!

Use a low gear and try to avoid using your brakes to slow down. Take your foot off the accelerator and slow down gradually. Slow down before entering bends on the road. Steer and brake with a light touch. If you do skid, ease your foot off the accelerator and steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go. If you start to skid and have anti-locking brakes (ABS) apply steady pressure to the brakes. If you don’t and your wheels start to lock, ease off the brake.

Make sure the soles of your shoes are dry before driving so they don’t slip off the pedals.
If you find yourself in heavy rain or snow and you are struggling to see properly, pull over and wait for the storm to pass. Avoid driving altogether in wintry conditions if you can avoid it and check the weather forecasts and traffic information before you set off. Leave extra time for your journey and carry emergency equipment including a properly inflated spare tyre, a shovel, torch, ice scraper, warm clothes and boots.

Assuming you’ve decided on acquiring a disability car, next up is the question of affordability. Maybe you’ve a pile of money already saved up and sitting in the bank. If that’s the case then fine. If not, got any philanthropic family members, or friends who might give or lend you the money? No? Then there are only a couple of options left open to you.

How’s your credit rating? Very good, fairly good or what? If it’s good you might be able to approach your bank or building society for a loan. Or maybe you might be able to obtain car finance from a local garage or car dealership. If you decide to go down that particular route, the good thing is you’ll own your car outright at the end of the loan term. But the costs of motoring – car tax, insurance, maintenance, depreciation and more – will fall squarely on your shoulders, too.

But there’s another way to obtain a brand new disability car. It’s called leasing, and hundreds of thousands of disabled people and their family are taking full advantage, enjoying years of affordable and worry-free motoring as a result. If that option sounds more than a little interesting then read on!

It’s called the Motability Car Scheme and its aimed at anyone in receipt of either the higher rate mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance or the war pensioners’ Mobility Supplement. Just exchange all or part of either allowance into a car of your choice and leave the rest to the Motability people. There are no waiting lists to fret over and no credit checks or assessments either.

They’re super people to talk to if you’ve any concerns over choosing or running a car. Most disabled customers, whether driver or passenger, go for the three-year leasing package – and no wonder when you see what you get for your money.

For a start, there are more than 4,000 brand new disability cars to choose from. So you’re bound to find exactly the car to fit in with your personal circumstances. No need to worry about insurance, servicing and maintenance because it comes with the leasing package. So does full RAC breakdown assistance, the costs of the annual tax disc and any tyre and windscreen replacement.

Sound good? Then get aboard the Motability Car Scheme. Could be the best move you’ve ever made!

Since 1998, front air bags, have proved to be a life saving blessing for thousands of individuals. Be it a car, van, truck, SUV or MUV, air bags are found everywhere now-a-days.

Statistics show that out of 40,000 deaths that occur every year due to vehicle crashes, 25 percent occur due to the side crashes of the vehicle. Side air bags are intended to avoid tossing of the motorists out of the vehicle during the rollover crash.

The Department of Transportation says that the implementation of this standard will save many lives during dangerous crashes, controlling the death count, which is increasing every year. In 2009, more than 8,000 individuals lost their lives and in 2010, the count has exceeded 10,000. In this decade, the experts want to see this number declining steadily. Apart from implementing these air bags, the Government wants the car companies to equip all new vehicles with anti-rollover technology, called as Electronic Stability control, by 2018. You will be able to see the implementation from 2013 as many car makers have already started implementing it in their designs.

According to the study conducted by Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, side air bags that protect the head will reduce the chances of death by 45% during side-impact crashes. Majority of the deaths occur when the driver’s or the passenger’s head smashes on to the window during side-impact collision.

Benefits of Side Air Bags (SAB):

• During side-impact crashes there is only a few measly inches glass and metal to absorb the collision pressure, which normally results in head smashes and death. SAB’s will help in absorbing the collision pressure and protect the head.
• The motorists can stay inflated longer than the front air bag during the rollover crash.

There are numerous styles and types of side air bags:

• Head SAB: Placed above the side window in the car’s roof, they will cushion the head during side-impact collision.
• Chest SAB: Install on the side of the seat or in the door, they will minimize the impact on the chest during side-impact collision.
• Combo SAB: It is a larger air bag intended to protect head and the chest during side-impact collision.

Consider your options: Do window shopping and discuss your options with your friends and family, and then finally determine your expectations from the car purchase.

Budget options: Are you planning for finance or want to buy the car outright? A lot more depends on you how much money you can spend every month and what amount from your savings can be invested at this point of time. Also keep in mind that a pre-owned car can demand maintenance and repairs soon.

Planning and Research: Once you decide your budget and needs, you will automatically become observant on the streets for the cars which you were overlooking earlier. Find out which colors, makes and models strike you the most. Scan the auto trade magazines, newspapers and your computer to narrow down you scope and then make a rough list of the models you wanna possibly buy.

Read reviews: Collect the latest reviews and comparison information that includes mileage figures, safety measures and maintenance frequencies. Once you contemplate your probable model and its color; then call various dealers and individuals advertising those cars.

Hidden costs: Once you find the appropriate model calculate its actual cost including state taxes, registration fees and the insurance charges. Do test drive and determine whether it will require maintenance or repairs soon. Check for the vehicle history report which can be obtained from online or from the car owner. Determine the original sale date, how many times the car was sold, how many times it was indulged in serious accidents, its salvage and clear title.

The best deal: Logically, I think that you can get the best price through private individuals rather than a dealer, and furthermore, there are no shortages of used cars advertisements from private parties if you search then appropriately.

Since you have waited long and reached to the most important threshold of your life, you deserve a driver’s license. License is a must to drive any vehicle in America and Canada. The law and its process differ from state to state. Here are some common quick tips that will ease up the process and help you in obtaining your license

-Choose your license type: Select the appropriate category and type of license class according to your State’s Department of Motor Vehicles. If required take the pre-licensing or driver’s education course.

Prepare for the test: Use drivers manual to prepare for a written test. Take online practice tests and get ready for the actual test.

Contact the local office: Fill out the application for driver license and submit the necessary documents.

Pass eye test: Pass the drivers permit test and the eye test, and then pay the required fees for the learner’s permit and the driver’s license.

Prepare for driving test: Prepare for a driving test and then book an appointment up 3 to 6 months ahead of time.

License interim: Once you pass out the driving test you will receive your license in mail, but if you fail, you may schedule for another test.

Is your car spending more time at the dealers place than you? Does it make wheezing noise, emits high smoke or drips multiple fluids? Check with the lemon laws in your state and protect your rights as a consumer –

In California:

Your car can qualify for lemon if –

•    Your car is in warranty
•    If you have taken your car to repairs for at least 4 times
•    If the car is inoperable for at least 30 days

What to do if your car is in lemon –

•    Contact your manufacturer and ask for repayment
•    If your manufacturer denies, then ask him for arbitration program or hire an attorney
•    For more assistance give a buzz to California’s Consumers Affairs at 0800-952-5210 and request for the application form
•    Collect the documents for your car’s downtime
•    If you are unsatisfied by the arbitration hearing, you can always file a suit against the manufacturer

In New York:

Your car can qualify for lemon if –

•    If your vehicle is registered in New York
•    If it was leased, bought or transferred within first 18,000 miles
•    If it was in warranty when it was first delivered to its first customer

What to do if your car is in lemon –

•    Get free repairs from your dealer
•    You can opt for complete refund
•    If the dealer refuses, then notify it to the manufacturer and wait for 20 days
•    If unsatisfied, then you can claim for replacement

In Texas:

Your car qualifies for lemon if you prove one of the following –

•    Your car must be out of service for more than 30 days within two years of its purchase
•    Two repair attempts or issues with safety hazards within 12,000 miles or 12 months of the original delivery date
•    Same issue appears after 4 or more repair attempts

What to do if your car is in lemon –

•    Fill up the official Complaint Form for Lemon Law at the Texas Department of Transportation
•    Send the certified letter to your  manufacturer
•    The Department of Transportation will contact your  manufacturer and you will be notified the results

Based on various formulas you can re-calculate the price of the car from its base value by adding or subtracting after considering its condition, mileage and other factors. Estimating the price is a complicated process as it involves various factors and requires basic knowledge of the vehicle.

When you’ll understand the factors and components that affect the overall value of the vehicle, it will become easier for you to negotiate the price.

Equipments and components will increase the price:

Some options such as audio options and wheels, doesn’t affect the price of the car. If the vehicle is equipped with automatic transmission then obviously the price will be higher. Other components that add up the price is the cruise control, convenience control, automatic climate controls, leather interiors and power operated equipments such as mirrors, seats, windows, etc.

Your location affects the price:

The area where the car is being sold affects its value. For instance Southern Texas has higher demands for trucks hence it will have higher prices for trucks. In snowfall areas, vehicles with all wheel drive will have higher demand and price, and in some cities the cars which are easier to park and has great mileage, will be in constant demand.

Mileage and the Age:

The biggest factor that affects the price than anything else is the age and mileage if the car. The older the vehicle the lower will be the price. The mechanics of older cars have limited lifespan hence will have lower price. The limited production and the rarest models will have high prices. The repairs and mileage chiefly impact the price, and decreases the price even if the car is brand new.

VHR is also referred as VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) check or car history report or VIN report. Through this report you can study the insight of the car’s past and the trustworthiness of the car owner; giving you the room to negotiate the price and relaxed purchase. Reviewing VIN you can check if the car has any recalls on it or has ever been reported as a flood damage vehicle. It also shows whether the car has been reported as stolen or wrecked. The information source is harvested from various sources such as police departments, fire departments, auto auctions, repairs shops, insurance and motor vehicle agencies. Wow! Isn’t it fantastic?

Want to know how to get?

•    Contact the Office of the Secretary of The State or Department of Motor Vehicles of your respective state.
•    Get it online
•    Ask the car owner
•    You can also order it from reputed companies that offer these reports. There are numerous companies who offer this service in competitive rates.

Key components of VIN report:

•    Service history
•    Number of cars it’s owner possess
•    Was the vehicle being used as a shuttle car or taxi
•    Whether the car was ever been rented or not
•    If there were any alterations in the vehicle’s odometer
•    How many times the airbags were deployed
•    Declaration of total loss
•    Flood damage or frame damage report
•    The accident history of the car
•    If the car was deemed as a lemon

Significant Alerts:

Know the red alerts of VIN report that you should keep in mind before buying used car. Appearance of one or more alerts should be a possible rejection –

•    Tampering of Odometer
•    Major accident or damage
•    Failed emission tests
•    Flood damage
•    Mechanical Breakdowns

Dealers are comfortable giving test drive after verifying your documents but individual car owners might be reluctant for the same. You can have them accompanied on the passenger seat, but make sure you don’t get indulged in much of a conversation and concentrate more on the car’s performance during that 20 minutes drive. Here is the list of practical checks which you should be looking at –

•    Check if the car starts up easily and at the very first go
•    Analyze the manual transmission and shifting of the gears
•    Easiness of the clutch and examine its hesitation and clutching sounds
•    Look if there are any abnormal sounds while changing the gears
•    Also see whether the car moves smoothly while switching different gears
•    Are the acceleration good and smooth on every pull
•    When you step on the brakes, do you notice pull on its either side
•    Quality and strength of the brakes
•    Turn signals’ functionality
•    Does it reach variable speeds merging with the traffic flow
•    Check for blind spots
•    During the lane changes, is the car easy to maneuver
•    The functionality of cruise control
•    Check if the acceleration is strong starting off on the green light
•    Well and steady handling of the car around the town
•    Is the heating and air-conditioning working fine
•    Is it easy to park the car on numerous spots
•    Even after closing the sun or the moon roofs, is the air still penetrating
•    Are the windows closing properly and not whistling during high speeds
•    Clarity of radio reception

If you have doubts, consulting a mechanic is always a good option than encountering surprises later.

CPO (Certified Pre-Owned) program provides sound options for many car buyers. The CPO cars are inspected and repaired by a professional mechanic and are assigned with some sort of warranty or guarantee, which varies extensively. During the scrutiny, numerous aspects are taken into consideration such as the extent of the repairs, the status of the reconditioning and the warranty backers (like manufacturer or dealer).

CPO checks mention the number of points they have checked such as 150 or 300 points or so. When you are checking the CPO of the vehicle, don’t just get mislead on the higher number of check points but verify the inspections covered in those points and then compare it with other programs. Double check the warranty details such as its lengths, costs and its coverage. Some warranties are limited to bumper-to-bumper while others only cover the powertrain. Considering the competition in the market, you might get a 24/7 free roadside assistance and a vehicle history report for the vehicle.

Normally, the cars tagged with CPO program are slightly costlier than their counterparts but it will give you a piece of mind and value for you money; rather than buying any car from the lot. Additionally, when you’ll be re-selling it back, this CPO program will certainly facilitate its sale.

Most of the experts from the industry recommend factory based CPO cars as they go through more thorough repairs and inspections and they face more stringent standards. Unlike the dealer’s warranty, you won’t have to buy the warranty again and since it’s from the manufacturer, you’ll have a wider span of repair centers.