. I read that buying a car remains a hassle for women, according to a recent poll conducted by CarMax, a large used-car retailer. It said the poll shows no improvement in women's biggest gripes from previous years in which the poll was conducted. Any tips for women to make car buying easier? -- M.S., Chicago area

A. Research vehicle types, makes, models, options, features and prices. Find a car retailer and salesperson you like and trust by asking friends and family for referrals. But remember that they want a fair profit. Get a fair offer on a trade-in separately from your car purchase. Publications such as the Automobile Red Book contain average retail, wholesale and finance amounts for cars and trucks. They're often in auto magazine sections of large bookstores. Beware of extraneous, unexplained fees. Walk away if unhappy with a car buying experience.

Q. I'm interested in buying a 2006 Acura RSX. Can you tell me about that car and is there any auto that is better? -- N.C., Morton Grove

A. The front-drive RSX is a slick, sporty two-door hatchback coupe that is Acura's above-average entry model. The April 4, 2005, AutoTimes has a complete review. Rivals include the rear-drive Ford Mustang and front-drive Mini Cooper, Scion tC and Mitsubishi Eclipse. Take all for a test drive.

Q. I'd like a Honda Accord Hybrid or Acura TL. Which represents the most "bang for the buck." I'm especially looking for a "whisper quiet" interior. -- D.T. Elwood

A. Only a full-size luxury car -- not the autos you mention -- provides the quiet interior you want. The Accord gasoline/electric Hybrid and Acura TL gasoline engine model are two different types of cars because of their powertrains and thus can't be directly compared. The TL is more fun, but the Accord Hybrid has higher fuel economy.

Q. I'm thinking about buying a 2006 Ford Taurus with 22,556 miles. It looks brand new, but I don't know much about the Taurus. Also, what is a Ford Focus? -- C.S., Chicago area

A. The mid-size Taurus is in the process of being replaced by the more modern Ford Fusion. But the Taurus long has been very decent and once was the top-selling auto in America. The drawback here is the high mileage for a 2006 model. Have a mechanic check the Taurus before you buy it. The compact Focus is smaller than the Taurus, but more fun to drive.

Q. I'm told by some people that 87 octane gasoline at a BP Amoco station is the same as 89 octane gas anywhere else. Is that true? -- A.A., Chicago

It's been a very good year for the finance and insurance industry.

F&I professionals agree that, barring a new-vehicle sales plunge, the business of lending to and insuring dealer customers should remain as strong in 1999, if not stronger than 1998.

Demand for carryover 1998 and new 1999 models has stayed on course, reaching the annual 15-million unit mark that began in 1992. That's because of strong global competition and manufacturers' hold-the-line pricing.

"We see no sign of the long-forecast slump in the new-car market," says Ford Motor Co.'s chief financial officer, John M. Devine.

"Moreover, the used-car market has kept its 1997-98 pace and the influx of off-lease vehicles has been absorbed without significant difficulties. We are very positive about 1999, in large measure because of the tight rein on interest rates by the Federal Reserve Board."

Big, medium and small players alike have benefited from the favorable climate conditions cited by Mr. Devine and counterparts J. Michael Losh at General Motors Corp. and Gary C. Valade at Daimler-Chrysler.

Sales and earnings of GMAC, Ford Credit and Chrysler Financial, the wholly-owned dealer lending institutions of the former "Big Three" automakers, reached record or near-record levels in the first three quarters of 1998.

As a result, GMAC and Ford Credit subsidiaries widened their coverage in the fast-growing subprime loan market.

And lenders greeted the '99-model year with dealer incentives on loan and lease business unprecedented in their scope and sensitivity to market conditions.

Chrysler Financial, while engaged in "partnership" discussions with the far-reaching Mercedes-Benz Credit team, seeks to keep pace on its carryover '99 models. It's offering a broader range of leasing packages and speeding adoption of a quick-approval loan process on its dealers' computer network.

In response, the second tier of independent players showed unusually active in 1998. Subprime attracted high-profile players such as GE Auto Financial Services, JM&A and Universal Underwriters. They sought "secondary lending" expansion in the wake of the big subprime market shakeout of 1997 and early 1998.

AmeriCredit Corp., a subprime pacesetter, gave its shareholders a glowing report at its annual meeting in Forth Worth, TX, Nov. 4.

Another bustling F&I area is extended vehicle service contracts.

Chrysler's Service Contracts operation again led GM and Ford in annual sales, surpassing the one-million mark, for the second year in a row.

That's a result of expanded benefit packages, including a half-day's vehicle rental total coverage past the basic warranty without deductibles. It's also a result of policies for tires and glass, items rarely insured before.

Independent service contract providers did well, too.

Forbes magazine's list of the "200 Best Small Companies in America," released in November, included two service contract independents. Those are:

Automobile Protection Corp. (APCO) of Atlanta, returning once again to the list, in 71 st place, with $106 million gross sales in 1997

Interstate National Dealer Services, Mitchell Field, N.Y., rated 85th, a list newcomer, with $48 million in sales

Also on the Forbes roster was another ambitious F&I provider, LoJack Corp., producer of stolen-vehicle tracking systems. based in Dedham, Mass., LoJack reported 1997 sales of $76 million and signed up CarMax as an exclusive superstore marketer.

The Richmond, VA-based CarMax was not the only superstore chain pursuing F&I products for competitive advantage.

United Auto Group, headquartered in New York City,- and the second largest publicly owned auto retailing network, reported that its 65 dealerships generated $89.5 million in F&I revenue during January-September of 1998. That's 3.5% of its total income.

UAG's captive lending division, UnitedAuto Finance, also had its first profit for the nine-month period, $534,000.

The floor plan side of dealer financing also became competitive in 1998. So aggressive have banks become in trying to seize a piece of wholesale business that a prominent CPA, Bill Randall, of Lewiston, ME, warned dealers to look twice before ceding their floor plan business to banks.

To offset lower rates than factory floor planners, banks often charge inventory and transaction fees. They also require equity, says Mr. Randall.

West Coast dealer consolidator Lithia Motors, Inc., turned not to a bank, but to Ford Credit when it came to nailing down a $350 million credit line for floor planning at its 28 dealerships and for buying more stores.

The floor planning connection should buoy Ford Credit's F&I business with Lithia across the board, say insiders.

The Internet will kill off dealers as we know them. Manufacturers will sell directly on line." "Cars will sell themselves without any profit to the dealer as customers demand and get invoice pricing off websites."

We all remember those bold statements as well as the Internet winners-losers' lists from all sorts of know-it-alls (and refuted by the few of us who, even back then, knew, wrote and spoke of how it wouldn't be so).

Of course, there were even more ridiculous claims of the millions of dollars that a few guys were going to make by digitizing their sales systems, and by eliminating the middlemen in the wholesale and finance lanes.

And there were the Wall Street criminals who made billions selling anything "dot-com" to anyone who would buy their scheme. I admit, I was not spared from this temptation and don't know many who were awake that were.

But reason has replaced lust in our marketplace. It always does. We're still not "one-priced" as Saturn predicted, we are still not "consolidated" as CarMax predicted and we are still not "digitized" as Wall Street predicted. We are still peddling the metal, one car at a time, face-to-face, just as we always have.

Or are we? Not exactly. As each of those tidal waves washed over us, they left us a little different from the experience. And like most times, and this time especially, our change is for the better.

Not all the players have evolved just yet. But most of us are improved because our sales tactics, which always seem to be at the center of retail revolutions, are more and more legitimate nowadays. Our customers are, more and more, getting what they bargained for. And the solid dealers are becoming more secure as relationships with their customers become more based on continuing service and repeat business.

I get calls almost daily from dealers, consultants and manufacturers who still cling to the dream that untold riches are as close as a faster uplink married to flawless software and sprinkled with a little inventory. If only those damn customers would appreciate the simple elegance of our offering, The callers whine. Then they ponder whether, just perhaps, a few more ads on the Super Bowl will win them over. After they've missed their numbers (and shot their budgets) is when I usually get a call as if their god were temporarily missing and I might give them directions to where he might be hiding.

The conversation always starts with whether I've seen anything that's working. I suppose they are hoping to avoid blame by attributing their failure to something in the air or in the economy, something beyond anyone's ability to control or predict.

But something, somewhere, is always working. They know that. So we quickly move past the first question as if it were a polite ritual, like asking someone how they are doing.

Next they venture a toe in the waters of self-doubt by hazarding a guess as to where things went wrong. Almost invariably they are incorrect and still on the track of someone else's fault.

Finally, we go where the answers always are; we go to the customer side of things. Not actually to the customer, (there will be plenty of time later for focus groups) we go to the psychology of the customer and we look through his or her eyes. Those eyes always see a better offer somewhere and a sucker bet to avoid. They always see a want, a need and a preferred supplier. This is where the hard/easy work of retail strategy is honed.

Often, my new best friends on the phone are soon on a plane to meet with me and my team to see how we've already piloted change. As often, I find myself flying around the country (83 days last year) to witness their inner workings. But always, we find our solution in the three pillars of retail: product, staffing and attitude.

No, it's not now and never was about the speed of the data flow. It has always been and always will be all about providing comfort and value. The likelihood of a sale is high if you give a shopper 1) a comfortable experience and 2) a decent price.

Don't overcomplicate those two basic drivers and you will outperform almost every strategist. Everything else in the marketplace is a poor substitute for the lacking of one or the other of these. Sophisticated customers know it. This is the legacy of the web and all the connectivity that is now a part of our daily lives.

DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--February 27, 1996--First Merchants Acceptance Corporation (Nasdaq: FMAC), a leading late model used car finance company, announced today that it has entered into a dealer agreement with CarMax: the Auto Superstore(R), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Circuit City Stores, Inc. CarMax: the Auto Superstore(R) is the nation's leading retailer of late model used cars and trucks, and the innovator of the used car superstore format.

First Merchants' President and Chief Executive Officer, Mitchell Kahn, commented, "We are very excited to be forming this relationship with CarMax(R). Working with one of the nation's leading retailers of late model used cars favorably positions First Merchants with respect to growing its finance contract portfolio. CarMax(R)'s Southeast locations complement our office network in the Southeast. Furthermore, the national expansion of CarMax(R) fits well with our coast-to-coast expansion plans, thereby creating a tremendous opportunity to jointly serve this fast growing used car market."

CarMax(R) operates four auto Superstores - Raleigh, North Carolina, Atlanta, Georgia and two in Richmond, Virginia. Additional locations will open this year in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Orlando and Tampa, Florida. Future markets currently under development include Dallas and Houston, Texas; Miami, Florida; and Washington, D.C./Baltimore, Maryland.

First Merchants also announced the opening of six new regional dealer service centers in Fresno and Sacramento, California; Indianapolis, Indiana; Boston, Massachusetts; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Seattle, Washington. "With these new locations, First Merchants continues its nationwide market expansion and solidifies its coast-to-coast presence," said Mr. Kahn.

First Merchants Acceptance Corporation is a specialty finance company primarily engaged in financing the purchase of used automobiles for consumers who have limited access to traditional sources of credit. The Company acquires dealer-originated retail installment contracts from franchised and independent automobile dealers in 35 states. With the six openings announced today, First Merchants operates 42 regional dealer service centers located in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington.

he 98-franchise Group 1 Automotive chain announced $2.5 billion in revenues for last year, up from $1.6 billion the previous year.

Six newly completed dealership acquisitions will account for $290 million in annualized revenues, about half of a goal of $600 million added income for Group 1 this year, says B. B. Hollingsworth, Jr., chairman, president and CEO.

Group 1 boosted its net income 62% in 1999 to $33.5 million and has averaged a 35% growth rate in every year since it was founded in 1996, according to its chief financial officer, Scott L. Thompson.

All consolidators slowed down their dealership buying. That's partly in response to the slide in their New York Stock Exchange prices from the 1996-98 period in which they scooped up auto retailers at a breakneck pace.

Says Mr. Thompson, "We are trying to bolster our regional platforms and are holding off on more purchases for the present, although there are a lot of great opportunities out there in major markets."

Three factors have contributed to investors' negative view of consolidators' stocks, says Mr. Hollingsworth.

They are:

* The "underperformance" of top-volume consolidator AutoNation.

* Increased interest rates.

* The "unknown" impact of the Internet on auto retailing.

Group 1's latest acquisitions include the Boston-based Ira Automotive Group, with 10 franchises. Other recent acquisitions are Victory Dodge, Medford, MA; New Orleans' Bohn Automotive Group, with five franchises; Key Ford and Shamrock Chevrolet, Pensacola, FL, and Benchmark Mercedes Benz, Oklahoma City.

UAG early this year purchased two stores: Long Ford, Jacksonville, TN (renaming it Landers Ford North as part of its Little Rock, AR-based platform) and Mercedes-Benz of San Diego, Kearny Mesa, CA.

In the largest recent single acquisition by a consolidator, Sonic Automotive take over the 29-store FirstAmerica chain of northern California and Nevada.

Sonic CFO Theodore M. Wright says that boosts the firm's annualized "run rate" to a projected $6 billion for 2000. It could push it into first runner-up position behind AutoNation among all consolidators.

Sonic's 1999 net profit rose 141% to $44.7 million. Sonic more than doubled its 1999 revenues to $3.4 billion as it acquired 73 dealerships, raising its franchise total to 165.

Lithia Motors Inc.'s total revenues for 1999 advanced 74% from the previous year's $1.2 billion. Lithia's 41 stores in six Western states raised the group's net profit 78% to $19.1 million.

Lithia President and COO M.L. Dick Heimann says the consolidator purchased 13 stores last year, bringing its franchise total to 98.

"Lithia is well-positioned to continue its current disciplined growth," he says, adding that it's working with $115 million to do that.

AutoNation has made no acquisitions since early 1999. Instead, it has concentrated on Internet development and its first two metro pilot operations -- Denver and Tampa, FL. The former rolled out Dec. 26 under the "Autoway" label at 12 locations.

The CarMax Group of Circuit City Stores Inc. reported January sales of $163.2 million, an 18% rise from the comparable 1998 month.

Circuit City Chairman Richard L. Sharp says CarMax would show "break-even to modest-loss results" for the company's 1999-2000 fiscal year, which ended Feb. 29. CarMax lost $5.4 million in fiscal 1998-1999.

Continuing to add franchises in or near its 38 used-car superstores, CarMax for the first time built a new-car facility.

It's the Laurel Toyota dealership adjacent, to its superstore in Laurel, MD, between Baltimore and Washington, DC. CarMax now has 20 new-car franchises. Its original plan was strictly to sell used vehicles.

This vital update provides investors with timely information regarding companies that will be reporting their earnings in the coming week, how companies' earnings faired the week prior, exclusive sector rankings and earnings commentary. Below you will find a synopsis of this week's earnings commentary including estimates and the Zacks Rank for the previously mentioned companies:

Companies Making an Announcement This Week:

Ticker Company Name Date EPS Estimate ZacksRank(a)
------ ------------ ---- ------------ ------------

BBY Best Buy 3/30 1.56 4
CC Circuit City 3/30 .55 2
COGN Cognos, Inc. 3/31 .48 3
KMX Carmax 3/30 .28 3
RHAT Red Hat 3/31 .06 4

To see the complete Weekly Earnings and Sector Update with the entire list of companies reporting this week and sector rankings, click http://at.zacks.com/?id=106

4Q 2004 Earnings Scorecard - S&P 500

491 companies in the S&P 500 have released 4Q 2004 earnings results as of 3/25/05.

66% (of the companies) exceeded estimates

16% matched estimates

18% missed estimates

Synopsis of Weekly Earnings and Sector Update by Nick Raich

Over 98% of companies in the S&P 500 have released fourth quarter 2004 earnings. The results have exceeded Nick Raich's expectations. The final fourth quarter 2004 results will mark the fifth consecutive quarter of earnings growth exceeding 20%. As he factors in Zacks estimates for the companies yet to report with the companies that have already released results, Raich believes the final fourth quarter earnings results for the S&P 500 will easily exceed the beginning of the quarter consensus estimate of 15% growth. His best estimate is for final earnings growth of 28%. Strong year-over-year earnings gains in the Materials, Energy and Technology sectors have been driving the results.

In total, 491 S&P 500 companies have released fourth quarter 2004 earnings results as of 3/25/05. Of those that reported, 82% have met or exceeded their estimates. Average earnings growth has been 28% from last year with sales growth up 13%. Despite sounding like fantastic numbers, the market has shifted its attention to next quarter where the current first quarter 2005 consensus earnings growth figure is only for 10.5%. In Raich's view, this figure is too low and he expects the final first quarter 2005 earnings growth figure to be 16%. Although if oil prices continue to rise, he believes first quarter figures will only slightly exceed current earnings expectations and forward guidance will not be raised. If this occurs, Raich believes it will not be good for a rising stock market. He cautions that the market could face continued near-term selling pressure without the raised earnings guidance.

Focus over the next two weeks will be on first quarter 2005 preannouncements. Over the past thirty days, Raich believes earnings guidance has been relatively positive with 1.35 companies lowering earnings guidance for every company raising it. Over the past five years, this negative to positive ratio has averaged roughly three to one. Therefore, the current guidance should be viewed favorably. In his opinion, this further supports the belief that current first quarter estimates are too low.

Companies in the Auto-Tires-Truck sector have been warning about earnings the most as measured by a 3:1 negative to positive ratio. Retail, Finance and Medical companies also had warnings that ran above the overall average.

Within the Basic Materials and Oils-Energy sectors, more companies were raising earnings estimates than lowering them over the past month. In fact, S&P 500 companies in the Basic Material and Energy sectors actually had their 1Q 2005 estimates raised by almost a full percentage point over the past two weeks. Every other sector within the S&P 500 either had 1Q 2005 estimates that remained unchanged or declined.

Of course, Raich will closely monitor the rest of the guidance this month, which will ultimately help him determine how first quarter and even the remainder of 2005 will go for earnings.

(a)About the Zacks Rank

What is the Zacks Rank? A stock ranking system that for over 15 years has proven that "Earnings estimate revisions are the most powerful force impacting stock prices." Stocks are ranked from 1 (Strong Buy) to 5 (Strong Sell). Since 1988 the #1 Ranked stocks have generated an average annual return of +33.4% compared to the (b)S&P 500 return of only +12.2%. Plus this exclusive stock list has generated average gains of +28.6% during the last 4 years; a substantial return compared to the large losses suffered by most investors during that time frame. Also note that the Zacks Rank system has just as many Strong Sell recommendations (Rank #5) as Strong Buy recommendations (Rank #1). And since 1988 the S&P 500 has outperformed the Zacks #5 Ranked stocks by 133.5% annually (12.21 % vs. 5.23% respectively). Thus, the Zacks Rank system can truly be used to effectively manage the trading in an individual investor's portfolio

NEW YORK -- The notion that "a rose is a rose" can apparently be extended to retailing, too.

"We can apply our expertise in electronics retailing to auto retailing." This was the mantra repeated by Circuit City chairman and ceo Richard Sharp during an address at an automotive retailing conference held here recently.

While the fledgling CarMax division received most of the focus, given the theme of venue, Sharp noted that the core electronics chain had compounded sales and earnings growth of 26% and 18% since 1986, and that Circuit City's domestic expansion will continue to fuel corporate sales.

So far, 1996 has been difficult for most electronics retailers, including Circuit City. Its sales for September were flat while comp store sales declined 13%, largely due to lower gross margins and soft PC sales.

Nonetheless, Circuit City has managed to open 15 superstores year-to-date, giving it 394 units, and enter two new markets: Pittsburgh and Detroit. Other units were recently opened in Denver and Colorado Springs, Colo.; Atlanta; Los Angeles; Salt Lake City; Seattle; and Greenville, N.C. An additional 35 superstores will open during the remainder of the year, which will give it 429 units. During 1997, the chain plans to enter New York City, but Sharp would not elaborate on these expansion plants. As for CarMax, Sharp noted that the company has big plans for the used car division, which opened its first lot three years ago in Richmond, Va. It will open its sixth unit Nov. 6 in Orlando, Fla. CarMax will open eight to 10 lots in 1997 and 15 to 20 stores per year thereafter, with openings in Miami and Tampa, Fla.; Dallas; Houston; Washington, D.C., Baltimore; Tidewater, Va.; Chicago; Los Angeles; and San Francisco. The company plans to have 80 to 90 units chainwide by 2001.

Circuit City realizes that the glaring similarly between power retailing and auto retailing lies in managing costs and finding a way to differentiate its concept from the hoards of new and used car dealerships.

RELATED ARTICLE: Syms, Loehmann's open as NYC debates big box zoning

NEW YORK -- Manhattan is now home to another pair of superstores from the off-price apparel sector.

Loehmann's used an Oct. 21 celebration as fanfare for the opening of its 60,000-sq.-ft. location on Seventh Avenue. The store is sited near the "Ladies' Mile" concentration of power retailers that includes Bed Bath & Beyond, Old Navy Clothing, Burlington Coat Factory, T.J. Maxx, Filene's Basement and Barnes & Noble.

The flagship Syms store on Manhattan's Park Avenue, set to open Nov. 14, will boast 70,000 sq. ft. on five floors. "The merchandise mix is essentially the same," as a typical unit, vp of marketing Doug Meyer told DSN, "but the store is updated. We're showing more contemporary colors and some lifestyle photos."

Voth chains are committed to larger footprints. That means 25,000 sq. ft. to 30,000 sq. ft. for 73-unit Loehmann's, while Syms' newer stores range from 40,000 sq.ft. to 70,000 sq. ft.

"For new Syms sites, we're looking in several markets where we have stores already, including Atlanta, Houston and Detroit," said Meyer, adding that in March, the 40-unit chain opened a 45,000-sq. ft. stores in Cincinnati.

The future of superstore development in New York is complicated by current political maneuvering.

With the debut of Kmart's two locations at Penn Station and Astor place (which opens this month), the imminent arrival of PriceCostco, and the continued transition of highbrow 57th Street and Fifth Avenue into an entertainment/licensed theme mall, New Yorkers are in a hightened state of megastore mania.

Well-to-do Upper East Siders have nearly exhausted their legal appeals in their campaign to block an 80,000-sq.-ft. Toys "R" Us store in their midst. And an Oct. 23 vote by the City Planning Commission upheld Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's zoning plan, which would open the door to streamlined approval of stores up to 20,000 sq. ft.

The Giuliani plan targets hundreds of acres of New York City's idle manufacturing land.

Giuliani's proposed zoning change won on an 8-to-5 vote only after it was amended to allow closer citizen review of traffic plans. But further modifications are likely. Giuliani's rivals in the 1997 mayoral race are raising the ante on this issue, and at least 20 of New York's 51 City Council members reportedly want serious amendments to give community boards greater say over potential developments.

Byline: Mac Gordon

Brisk certified used-car deliveries are giving a needed boost to the automotive remarketing industry that's seen prices and sales soften as a result of generous incentives auto makers have offered going on two years now.

Most major dealer groups report increased used-car sales for the first half of 2003 compared to same-time 2002. Certified programs are credited for the increase.

"Our used-car sales and revenues jumped 25% in the first half, thanks to the certified programs, especially on luxury cars," says CEO Roger S. Penske of United Auto Group. "BMW certified was up 66%."

Auctions and franchised dealerships are enhancing their reconditioning shops to handle the action. Reconditioned certified vehicles come with warranties and sell for higher prices than conventional used cars.

Separate certified lines on used-car lots have proven to be effective in selling, along with turntable displays in showrooms and auto shows. The growth of certified-vehicle programs has helped offset the impact of new-vehicle incentives, according to Tom Webb, Manheim Auctions' chief economist.

He says, "Incentives bring them in to the showroom, and then they might find more affordable payments on a certified car that has passed the 100-points checklist and has been reconditioned like a new model with a long warranty.

"That raises certified sales which, in turn, raises off-lease residual values. It's a win-win situation. Manufacturers support the trend with certified advertising campaigns and higher sales and profits result for the dealers."

William T. Heard's 17-dealership network, based in Columbus, GA, upgraded reconditioning services to retain its position as the second largest privately owned seller of used vehicles, with 37,739 sales in 2002.

Heard says his dealerships strive for consistent reconditioning work.

"We use quality-control checkers, recruit for technicians constantly and coordinate with auction staffs on their sales to us," he says.

The largest privately owned seller of used vehicles, the 53-store V.T. (Van Tuyl) network headquartered in Shawnee Mission, KS, retailed 69,352 units last year.

The V.T. brand, added to GM's four certified pre-owned programs, accounted for healthy used-car sales at strong prices despite the counter-effect new-vehicle incentives have on the remarketing industry, says co-owner Larry Van Tuyl.

"Certifying used vehicles and reconditioning them to be 'like new' is attractive to payment shoppers," Van Tuyl says. "Certified vehicle buyers get a better warranty than non-certified , and their sales are continuing to go up as terrific values."

According to Autodata Corp. and automakers, sales of certified vehicles jumped 24.5% in the January-July period of 2003 to a record 885,531 units - compared with 711,276 in the same 2002 period.

GM's certified sales led the industry with 283,117, followed by Toyota/Lexus, 166,089; Ford Motor brands, 135,014; Honda/Acura, 120,638; DaimlerChrysler, 82,511; BMW, 39,396; Volkswagen/Audi, 34,323; and Nissan/Infiniti, 22,048.

Toyota's strong showing has spurred the Japanese auto maker to speed up its remarketing channel to Toyota and Lexus dealers. Dealers are alerted to off-lease vehicle returns via the Internet. They're allowed three-five day purchase options, prior to units going to dealer-only auctions.

Toyota Financial Services' national remarketing manager, Kent Pace, says the automaker plans to sell about 100,000 off-lease vehicles to dealers this year, 30% of them coming from Toyota Dealer Direct and Lexus Dealer Direct.

"If the residual is above the market price, Toyota adjusts its price to factor that in - which is a good deal," says used-car manager Roy Durham of Longo Toyota, El Monte, CA.

As the nation's No. 1 dealer in gross volume, Longo sold 3,930 used vehicles in 2002 in addition to record new-car deliveries of 19,300 units.

Certified vehicles account for 65% of the used-vehicle volume at Longo, which is owned by Roger Penske's Penske Automotive Group. That's up from 60% last year. Durham would like to hit 70% in 2004.

The National Auto Auction Association (NAAA) is devoting a big portion of its membership services to guidance on reconditioning and online purchasing. A panel on reconditioning at NAAA's Salt Lake City convention last month urged that members improve training for reconditioning writers, step up recruiting among minorities and insist on accurate descriptions of vehicle conditions in Internet purchasing.

Byline: Steve Finlay

How important is the finance and insurance department to dealers?

They wouldn't be in business without it, says Mark F. O'Neil, CEO of DealerTrack Inc., who gets out his crystal ball and looks at the future of this crucial profit center.

His firm operates an online platform that connects auto dealers to a network of banks and captive financing sources. DealerTrack automates and accelerates auto financing, a process that otherwise can try a customer's patience.

As new-vehicle margins get smaller, F&I has become a major source of dealership income. It accounts for the largest slice (43%) of an average store's gross profits, O'Neil tells an F&I Management and Technology conference.

Driving modern F&I are technology, training and 'touch,' or human interaction with customers seeking anything from vehicle financing to extended warranties to credit life insurance.

Technology increases productivity and decreases customer time in the F&I office "if consistently used."

Training boosts margins and enhances customer satisfaction.

"Touch is the human element that won't go away," no matter how automated and paperless F&I may get. Ironically, technology fosters touch because "the focus shifts from paper to building relationships." The human element is especially important to customers over age 50.

An example of increased technology is the expanding use of electronic credit applications, he says. Less than 10% of credit applications were electronic in 2000 compared with 65%-75% in 2005, and a projected 95% in three years.

Consumers have become smarter, better-informed car buyers in recent years, largely because they use the Internet to research vehicles and comparison shop.

The same customers are less savvy when it comes to F&I, but that will change, predicts O'Neil, who previously served as president of a Pennsylvania dealer group and co-founded the used-car retail chain, CarMax.

"The same research by consumers that you see for vehicles, you'll see for financing, given time," he says. "Customers will be more informed."

He envisions website software that will allow dealership customers to begin purchase negotiations online.

"I can foresee the day of putting a tool like 'desking' on a consumer website so the consumer creates the first 'pencil' of a deal," he says. "Dealership people may say, 'Why give them that?' Because they'll ultimately take it anyway."

Other changes he sees up the road:

Adjusting the F&I process to accommodate more vehicle accessory purchases "so that the consumer finances $2,000 in accessories with the dealer, rather than putting it on a credit card at a detail shop." Showroom sales people and F&I managers must work together on this one, he says.

By 2010, compliance with F&I ethical standards and government regulations will be "a given," compared with five to six years ago "when it wasn't a frequent topic of discussion." Compliance with data security regulations is a particularly high priority at dealerships.

Its 21 new-car franchises helped nail down CarMax's first net profits for two consecutive quarters.

Yet CarMax President W. Austin Ligon says the Circuit City division will keep focusing on its core area over the past six years -- used vehicles.

"New cars still account for less than 35% of CarMax Group sales," Mr. Ligon says. "But we do need more superstores in metro markets, because customers there will drive no more than 15 miles to a dealership, whereas they'll go up to 25 miles in mid-size markets."

For the first half of the 2000 fiscal year, CarMax reported net earnings of $6 million. This compares to a net loss of $6.2 million for the same period of fiscal 1999. CarMax lost $23.5 million for the latest fiscal year.

"The first-half profits were driven by improved profitability of our used-car superstores and continued strength of our new-car franchises," says Richard L. Sharp, chairman and CEO of Circuit City Mr. Sharp cautioned that it will be tougher to sustain the profit string into the second half, "which is the slower season of the year for auto sales."

CarMax now has 37 locations. Thirty two are used-car superstores carrying 16 new-car franchises. There are five franchised new-car dealerships separate from used-car superstores. The first two new-car franchises -- Chrysler-Plymouth-Jeep--were acquired in 1997.

Mr. Ligon says CarMax is testing home delivery of cars at its Los Angeles new-car store and planning an Internet site on which vehicle prices can be checked.

You are a car owner and you are having a car insurance policy. But if not then for what you are waiting, why don’t you get car insurance quote from various online insurance providers and get insurance policy. Enjoy the real car driving by taking an appropriate car insurance policy.

Car insurance quote helps in getting information about various car insurance. Car insurance is the best way of keeping your car safe and free from any bad incidence. Car insurance helps in meeting any immediate mishaps. To avail a car insurance policy you need to collect different free car insurance quotes from car insurance providers. But the selection of suitable car insurance is also an important task. It might sometimes also create headache in selecting a suitable insurance.

The car insurance can cover all losses and expenses incurred in case of accident like medical expenses and loss of personal belongings in the car that was lost and damaged during accident etc. Car insurance can also cover the loss in case of theft or major accident by replacing the car. Car insurance is only for the car and may not include music or any other system that was not part of the standard car and those accessories which were not the part of car at the time of insurance. Hence, before going to make claim it is important to go through the handbook which is given with the policy.

Insurance comes with a premium so before opting for any car insurance provider, less premium charges should be your prime concern. Car insurance provides a lot of safety measures not only to the car but also to the car owner. So premium is not a big deal.

When you go online you will get the car insurance quotes from different insurance providers. The best way to get the accurate information will be to go online and check the car insurance quotes from different insurance providers. Before the internet, getting real quotes from auto insurance companies was difficult. But, now with a few clicks of a mouse, you can get instant access to various car insurance quotes based on the coverage you choose. Online car insurance quotes also allow you to look at the details of each plan, so you can compare the quality of coverage. Then you can compare all and select an appropriate insurance.

I am a Houston Farmers auto insurance agent. I often talk to people that use the term “full coverage” to describe their auto coverage. I interpret this to mean that they have some level of liability insurance plus comprehensive coverage for their car. Sometimes customers think this means “Full coverage protects me from everything”. That is NOT correct!

The liability part of an auto policy covers injury to another person or damage to their vehicle. (See your policy or agent for complete terms) In my state of Texas the minimum required by law is 20/40/15 or $20,000 for an injured person, $40,000 for more than one person injured per accident, and $15,000 for damage to another persons auto. If you take this minimum coverage and add coverage for your vehicle, some would say they have full coverage. If there is a serious accident and the injuries and lost wages are $300,000, this policy would leave the customer responsible for paying about $260,000 from their assets to settle the claim. At that point the customer probably would not feel like they have full coverage! My opinion is that the liability part of a policy is VERY important. Talk to your agent for advice and consider getting the maximum coverage available and not the minimum required. You should also consider possibly getting an umbrella policy to increase your limit to a higher level that what is available on an auto policy.

It is important to have enough liability coverage to protect your current assets from lawsuits, and to protect your future assets from judgments that could result from an injury lawsuit. In addition it is important to be able to cover your moral responsibility to be able to "make it right" if you injure someone! How would you feel if someone you love is very seriously hurt and the driver only has $20,000 to offer as settlement. ...You don't want to be the one that only has the $20K if you hurt someone.

A so called “full coverage” policy could also be lacking uninsured motorist coverage, personal injury protection, towing/road service, rental car reimbursement, gap coverage, and more.

If you’re a female driver, you already have a head start for getting cheap car insurance. Car insurance companies take into consideration statistics claiming that, overall, female drivers are:

• More likely to drive a safer car than male drivers.
• Less likely to commit traffic violations and get traffic tickets than male drivers.
• More likely to choose an economical car that gets good gas mileage and doesn’t cost a fortune to repair.

According to statistics, female drivers also file fewer car insurance claims to their car insurance companies than do male drivers; whether this means that female drivers are involved in fewer accidents or that they just don’t report every bump and scratch is up for interpretation.

In any event, statistically speaking, most female drivers are less risky to insure than most male drivers, which means they are more likely to get cheap car insurance than are male drivers.

However, if you’re a young female driver, you still have an obstacle to overcome. It’s a big obstacle, actually – your age. Young drivers, regardless of gender, normally don’t get the cheap car insurance quotes that older drivers get. Car insurance companies take precaution when offering car insurance quotes to young drivers – male and female – because they are inexperienced. Of course, inexperience means a great risk for car accidents.

Don’t let these statistics discourage you. Being a young female driver also means you have time to start taking the necessary steps to build a great driving record. As long as you drive safely, preventing car accidents, and obey the rules of the road, preventing infractions and tickets, you will avoid points on your driving record. Car insurance companies look at a driver’s driving record when deciding how cheap the car insurance quote should be.

Also take a driver education course. Most high schools offer them, but if yours doesn’t you can take one from a private company in your area.

Obviously, everyone wants a car insurance company that offers them the best coverage at the best rates; however, there are more things to consider when you are shopping for the best car insurance company. You want to choose a car insurance company that isn’t just out to lure policyholders – you want an insurance company that will treat you right.

Keep these factors in mind.

Rates, Payments, and Rewards

You want to choose a car insurance company that offers different payment options, rather than just one option of payment set in stone. Many car insurance companies allow their policyholders to choose between paying in installments – usually monthly or quarterly – or paying the entire premium at once. Some companies even offer discounts to policyholders who choose to pay their premiums in one lump sum.

Ask if the insurance company recognizes drivers who do not drive much; some companies lower rates for that. Some also offer discount rewards for those driver who go long periods of time without filing any claims.

Discounts, Discounts, Discounts!

Look for companies offering a multitude of discounts. You may not be eligible for every one of them, but the more they offer, the higher your chances are of being eligible for a few of them. A few discounts that may be of interest to you include discounts for safe drivers and teenage drivers who make good grades; discounts for active or retired military personnel; discounts for buying more than one insurance policy from the same insurance company; and discounts for having anti-theft and additional safety equipment installed in/on your car.

Extras

Car insurance companies offer various extras that policyholders can add on to their car insurance policies. An example of an extra would be roadside assistance. While some companies offer roadside assistance as a standard extra, some offer it as an add-on. These add-ons are nice, but if you’re not careful they could simply hike up your premiums.

Yes, it is true – well, in most cases. Many lady drivers are able to get cheaper car insurance quotes than men drivers. Are men drivers cursed by their gender? Perhaps not. They just need to know the secrets of lady drivers.

Buy a safe vehicle. Safe vehicles get cheaper car insurance quotes than vehicles considered unsafe, and safety does not only include seatbelts, air bags, and child proof locks. A safe vehicle will also include anti-theft devices.

Buy a modest vehicle. Modest vehicles are less likely to be stolen, and vehicles that are less likely to be stolen are less like to be expensive to insure. You don’t have to buy a minivan to get a cheap car insurance quote, but buying a Jaguar isn’t going to work in your favor.

Be good to your vehicle. Being good to your vehicle means not putting your vehicle in situations where it can become damaged or stolen. Drive like you have some since – do not push its limits. Park your vehicle in a garage when it is not in use. If you do not have a garage, find out about renting garage space in your area – if you have one within walking distance, or installing a bright outdoor light near where your vehicle is parked.

Drive responsibly. Driving responsibly includes driving the speed limit, obeying road signs and traffic lights, and following the general “rules of the road” altogether. When you drive responsibly, you avoid traffic citations and car accidents, and when you do not have these kinds of blemishes on your driving record, car insurance companies see you as a responsible driver. Your efforts do not go unnoticed. Responsible drivers with clean driving records get cheaper car insurance quotes.

Grow up. Alright, maybe “grow up” would be better phrased “grow older.” The older and more experienced a driver gets, the lower the car insurance quotes and rates become – regardless of gender.

If your car is completely paid for, chances are you’ve dropped the full coverage car insurance your lender was requiring and now simply have your state’s minimum liability insurance requirement. However, there’s no getting around it – when you need to buy a new car, you need to buy a new car. Having your state’s minimum liability insurance is not worth your safety, after all; nor is it worth the money you will spend in repairs if your car is in bad shape.

The good news is it’s possible to get a cheap car insurance quote when you buy a new car. You just have to keep that cheap car insurance quote in mind as you are shopping for your new car.

The surest way to get a cheap car insurance quote when you buy a new car is to make sure your new car is as safe as possible; undoubtedly, the safety features of your new car will affect your decision anyway. The safety features most car insurance companies look for include those that keep everyone safe; those that prevent your car from being broken into and/or stolen; and those that are compatible with external safety features.

In order to keep yourself, your passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians safe, make sure the new car you buy has anti-lock brakes, automatic safety belts, and air bags for each passenger. You may also want to look into child safety locks.

Help keep the new car you buy from being broken into and stolen by purchasing a car with automatic locks and a safety alarm system. If you can’t find a car with a safety alarm system, you can always have one installed.

External safety features include child safety seats, and many car manufacturers are now designing cars that are more compatible with these seats.

There are many ways to get cheap auto insurance for your car. Perhaps you want to switch auto insurance companies in order to obtain cheap auto insurance for your car. Or, maybe you want to make some safety changes to your car in order to get cheap auto insurance for your car. Whatever you want to do, chances are you will spend some time searching for the auto insurance company that will give you the cheapest auto insurance quote for your car.

However, the situation can change when you are buying a new car. You may or may not already have an auto insurance policy. You may or may not want to keep that auto insurance policy. Whatever the case, part of the shopping process when you are shopping for a new car is to make sure you have an auto insurance policy before you drive it off the lot.

Instead of frantically searching for an auto insurance company that will give you cheap auto insurance for your new car, take advantage of one of the new features some car lots have integrated into their customers’ car-shopping experience. These car lots have set up computers with Internet access to allow their customers to search for cheap auto insurance policies for their new cars!

Not only is this extremely convenient for customers; this is also a wise financial move for car dealerships. Many times a car salesman has a sale just within reach and loses it because the customer needs to figure out his or her auto insurance situation first. With this new addition to the car shopping experience, customers can shop for cheap auto insurance policies for their new cars right inside the car dealership!

If you have the chance to use this auto insurance shopping feature, make sure you compare as many cheap auto insurance policies as possible. Don’t rush just because your new car is waiting for you.

When you are looking for a cheap car insurance broker, consider shopping online. There are several benefits to shopping online for anything, and those benefits do not stop when it comes to shopping online for a cheap car insurance broker.

Shopping for a cheap car insurance broker online…

…pretty much ensures that you will get a quick response. Conducting business online is almost always much speedier than conducting business in person or even over the telephone. Of course, after the initial online contact you may feel more comfortable speaking with the cheap car insurance broker over the telephone or in person, which is perfectly fine. Just give him a call; by this time you will be well on your way to getting a cheap car insurance policy.

…allows you to get rates from several different cheap car insurance brokers in the same time – or in less time – than it would take you to get a rate from one cheap car insurance broker. We know how important it is to shop around when we are looking for a cheap car insurance broker. Shopping around online is much quicker than calling or visiting several different cheap car insurance brokers. You may end up spending an entire Saturday doing what you could do in an hour online.

…makes it possible to do some quick, and thorough, research about the various cheap car insurance brokers with whom you are considering doing business. You can read up on the car insurance company’s rating from any independent rating company while you chat with your friend about any experiences he or she has had with the cheap car insurance broker in question.

Consider shopping online the next time you are in the market for a cheap car insurance broker. Your search will be much quicker, more widespread, and even more thorough than if you shopped by calling or visiting each cheap car insurance broker on your list.

To be truly successful at shopping for car insurance online, the consumer must find the best deal available on the Internet, not merely the first offer for cover that appears on the screen. The good news is that the World Wide Web alleviates the need to travel from one insurance office to the next, as a click of the mouse has replaced the need for an afternoon off, a telephone call, and even a tank full of petro for the car.

It may or may not come as a surprise, but there are quite a few factors that influence the price and coverage of your car insurance policy, including the vehicle you drive. If you’re insuring a car you already own, be sure to check with a variety of insurers for the best deal. If you’re out shopping for a new auto and looking for the best prices, such things as the car’s age, engine size, power, and theft rate each have a different effect on the overall premium cost.

Another important factor when shopping for car insurance is one that a driver has absolutely no control over, and that’s their age. For the newer drivers, the lack of experience usually leads to more moving violation and accidents, which translate into more claims and loss of funds for the insurer. Generally speaking of course, the premiums for your auto insurance will drop as you gain more experience. The average 50 year old searching for the best insurance deal will be much more successful, more quickly than someone who has just graduated from school.

If your auto has a loan on it from a bank or other financial institution, it’s a wise idea to carry “gap cover” on your insurance policy. This type of coverage will protect both you and the bank from an accident in which your car is completely destroyed and the worth of your car falls short of the loan balance due. If you don’t have the proper gap cover, you will be ultimately responsible for paying the remaining balance of the auto loan. This is also considered to be “paying for a car you don’t have”, so be sure to talk to your insurer about having the adequate cover to protect both your car and your personal finances.

Finally, the last bit of guiding involves shopping around and getting a variety of quotes for an assortment of coverage options from several different insurers. But just when you thought the Internet couldn’t have made life any easier, websites devoted to the auto insurance industry pop up to make comparison-shopping easier than anyone ever thought possible.

If you think you're paying too much for your existing auto insurance, put the internet to work and with a little effort it's easy to find cheap auto insurance quotes that can save you money right now, here's how...

Compare quotes

Only by shopping round for competitive insurance quotes can you find cheap auto insurance quotes. Most people don't bother or compare just 2 quotes with little thought to the factors insurance companies base their prices on.

Cheap auto insurance quotes aren't necessarily the best, it's more involved than comparing the bottom line. The manner in which insurance claims are processed and approved is an important consideration as is the speed that claims are settled.

The manner in which an insurer deals with you both verbally and in writing is important, they should be easy to contact, courteous and willing to help. Remember that following an accident you are likely to be in a state of stress and the last thing you'll need is a company you can't contact and doesn't take a personal interest in resolving your case.

Deductibles can save you money...

A higher insurance deductible equates to cheaper auto insurance quotes, when a claim is filed you will be responsible for the first $X's, the deductible, and the insurance company pays the balance. The choice you have to make is between a lower deductible with a higher premium but less out of pocket expenses if a claim is made or a higher deductible with a lower premium but higher costs to meet if a claim is made. It's a choice that only you can make but if you want a cheap auto insurance quote increasing your deductible from $200's to $1,200's will give you significant savings on your insurance premium, but there are risks...

Choose the highest deductible you can afford should the worst happen and enjoy the savings from your reduced premiums.

So select the maximum you can to pay—the higher the better because the difference in your car insurance premiums will mean more cash in your pocket.

Ask for a discount

Another favorite saying from my Grandmother was "If you don't ask you wont get" and that is so true, unless you ask they are very unlikely to offer additional discounts, there are many reasons why they may and I have outlined some important ones below...

Your existing insurance company probably offers lower rates to new customers and they might be persuaded to offer similar rates to keep your business.

Multi line discount is often on offer if you insure both your home and auto with the same insurance company.

Good driver discounts are offered if you have not had an accident or ticket in a long time

Installing car alarms and tracking systems is seen as reducing the risk of theft and most insurance companies will pass the savings to offer cheap auto insurance quotes.

Low mileage discounts are available if your average mileage is typically less than 40 miles per day you will be offered a cheap auto insurance quote.

You car makes a difference

A less desirable auto is less likely to be stolen and usually attracts a cheaper premium. Comparing rates between cars before buying might force you to reconsider your options if there is a notable difference between premiums, choose the insurance before deciding on your new car.

Finding cheap auto insurance quotes isn't difficult when comparing quotes online, in less than 5 minutes you can save hundreds of dollars off your annual premium, armed with the knowledge and the will to do so cheap auto insurance quotes are easy to find.

If you think you're paying too much for your existing auto insurance, put the internet to work and with a little effort it's easy to find cheap auto insurance quotes that can save you money right now, here's how...

Compare quotes

Only by shopping round for competitive insurance quotes can you find cheap auto insurance quotes. Most people don't bother or compare just 2 quotes with little thought to the factors insurance companies base their prices on.

Cheap auto insurance quotes aren't necessarily the best, it's more involved than comparing the bottom line. The manner in which insurance claims are processed and approved is an important consideration as is the speed that claims are settled.

The manner in which an insurer deals with you both verbally and in writing is important, they should be easy to contact, courteous and willing to help. Remember that following an accident you are likely to be in a state of stress and the last thing you'll need is a company you can't contact and doesn't take a personal interest in resolving your case.

Deductibles can save you money...

A higher insurance deductible equates to cheaper auto insurance quotes, when a claim is filed you will be responsible for the first $X's, the deductible, and the insurance company pays the balance. The choice you have to make is between a lower deductible with a higher premium but less out of pocket expenses if a claim is made or a higher deductible with a lower premium but higher costs to meet if a claim is made. It's a choice that only you can make but if you want a cheap auto insurance quote increasing your deductible from $200's to $1,200's will give you significant savings on your insurance premium, but there are risks...

Choose the highest deductible you can afford should the worst happen and enjoy the savings from your reduced premiums.

So select the maximum you can to pay—the higher the better because the difference in your car insurance premiums will mean more cash in your pocket.

Ask for a discount

Another favorite saying from my Grandmother was "If you don't ask you wont get" and that is so true, unless you ask they are very unlikely to offer additional discounts, there are many reasons why they may and I have outlined some important ones below...

Your existing insurance company probably offers lower rates to new customers and they might be persuaded to offer similar rates to keep your business.

Multi line discount is often on offer if you insure both your home and auto with the same insurance company.

Good driver discounts are offered if you have not had an accident or ticket in a long time

Installing car alarms and tracking systems is seen as reducing the risk of theft and most insurance companies will pass the savings to offer cheap auto insurance quotes.

Low mileage discounts are available if your average mileage is typically less than 40 miles per day you will be offered a cheap auto insurance quote.

You car makes a difference

A less desirable auto is less likely to be stolen and usually attracts a cheaper premium. Comparing rates between cars before buying might force you to reconsider your options if there is a notable difference between premiums, choose the insurance before deciding on your new car.

Finding cheap auto insurance quotes isn't difficult when comparing quotes online, in less than 5 minutes you can save hundreds of dollars off your annual premium, armed with the knowledge and the will to do so cheap auto insurance quotes are easy to find.

As with buying other products and services for your car, you can save yourself a good deal of money with online auto insurance. While there are still many ways to buy insurance in person today, the advantages of doing it online greatly outweigh the negatives, if there are any.

Buying on the web is:

• Simple – you can gather all your own information and enter it yourself
• Easy Access – you can do it from home, at 2 am, in your pajamas
• Economical – because you no longer need an insurance agent, costs are cut and passed on to you

It also makes it very easy to compare prices between several different online auto insurance companies, and to find special discounts that may not be mentioned by agents.

There are a few circumstances that make it a better idea to use an agent than online auto insurance. For instance, if you own a street rod or specialized and valuable car, you should talk to an agent to ensure you are covering all your bases. If you own a company fleet of vehicles that all need to be insured, or if you run a delivery company, you should also buy from an agent rather than online.

However, for almost all purchasers of insurance, online car insurance is the way to go.

How To Buy Auto Insurance Online

To save yourself time, have all your car information together before you go shopping for online car insurance: your VIN; the make, model, and year of your car; the license numbers and birth dates of all drivers in your household; and records of previous accidents and traffic violations within at least the last three years.

Give yourself some time to work on the policy. You’ll be filling in a lot of information and answering a lot of questions, so don’t do this at work. Many online auto insurance companies advertise that it takes no more than fifteen minutes to get your policy; count on a half hour or more instead. And make sure you have a printer hooked up and ready to go, so that when you finish your policy and it’s approved you can print the documents and cards out right away.

Are you aged over fifty and currently on the look out for car insurance? Are you fed up with paying such high premiums for your car insurance? Are you looking for a very cheap car insurance quote? In this article, I am going to write about the ways in which people who are over the age of fifty can obtain a very cheap car insurance quote.

There are many companies now offering cheap car insurance to all of those people aged over fifty. If you are one of these people, it is time to take advantage of this. Insurance companies have realised that this group of people have grown out of their "boy racer" days and are far more content to drive in a relaxed manner. This of course in turn leads to far less overall claims and hence the cheaper premiums.

The next question has to be, where do I find these companies who are willing to offer this competive car insurance qoute? The first place to look has to be the internet. The web is not there just for the under forties to enjoy, many a silver surfer are known to browse the internet each and every day. I always like to search for products via Google.com. If you enter into the search box things like, very cheap car insurance for people aged over fifty, you will see lots of companies who are ready to quote you a price.

The insurance companies can also be found advertising on the television and on the radio. Whichever option you choose, make sure you do not miss out on the great car insurance deals that are currently available to you.

You could be spending $300, $400, even $500 too much for your auto insurance every year. Want to know how get cheap car insurance quotes in just a couple of minutes and put that money back in your pocket? Here's how ...

Examine Your Policy

Most of us never take the time to read our car insurance policies, much less understand them. Yet making a few changes in your coverage can save you hundreds of dollars on your insurance premium. Here are three things you can do to save a bundle your auto insurance premiums.

Increase Your Deductible Your deductible is the amount of money you have to pay before your insurance company pays a claim. Simply raising your deductible by a few hundred dollars can save you hundreds of dollars on your car insurance every year.

Install A Security System Most insurance companies will give you a discount if you install a security system on your car. Installing an alarm or an anti-theft device will not only save you money, it will give you peace of mind.

Decrease Your Mileage The number of miles you drive has a direct bearing on the amount of money you'll pay for insurance. To cut down on the amount of miles you drive, try carpooling to work or even taking the bus a few times a week. You might also cut down on your weekly shopping trips.

Shop Online

The best way to get cheap car insurance quotes is to comparison shop online. It's fast, it's easy, and it's free.

It only takes a few minutes online in the privacy of your home to get a number of quotes so you can compare rates from top-rated companies and get a cheap car insurance quote

Auto insurance is at its heart financial protection. You purchase insurance in order to prevent paying thousands of dollars in the event of a collision or other loss. Many different types of insurance are available, covering almost every conceivable means of loss or damage to your vehicle as well as others to which you may cause damage. Very few drivers need to purchase every single type of insurance, so it is helpful to understand each type in order to decide which ones you require.

Property Damage
Depending on jurisdiction, property damage insurance may also be called liability insurance or similar. This insurance covers damage that your vehicle may cause to someone else’s vehicle. Each state sets its own minimum requirement for how much property damage insurance you must carry, but the state minimum may not be enough in the event of an accident. If you cause damage that exceeds the limits of your insurance you may be sued for the difference. Always purchase as much property damage insurance as you can comfortably afford.

Personal Injury
This type of auto insurance is also generally required by law. Personal injury insurance pays a portion (usually 80 percent) of your medical bills and a different portion (often 60 percent) of your lost wages if you are injured in an accident. A small death benefit is often attached in case you are killed in the accident. This protection might extend to relatives, household members or even anyone who happens to be in the car, depending on state requirements and the individual insurance company’s policies.

Bodily Injury
Although bodily injury protection is not required by all jurisdictions it is highly recommended that this insurance be purchased. Bodily injury insurance protects you in the event that you are at fault in an accident. If the other driver is injured beyond the limits of his personal injury coverage, your bodily injury insurance will take effect. Otherwise, you could be sued for his medical expenses.

If you are injured in an accident that is someone else’s fault and your medical bills exceed your personal injury protection but the other driver does not have bodily injury coverage, your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage will protect you. Your other option is to sue the other driver but lawsuits take both time and money. This insurance is reasonably priced and will pay relatively quickly. Purchase this insurance if you can.

Collision
Collision coverage is designed to reimburse you up to the actual cash value of your vehicle, less your deductible, if you are at fault in an accident. Collision insurance is usually required if your vehicle is financed. Premiums are high and the insurance is generally not worthwhile for older vehicles with a low cash value.

Comprehensive
Comprehensive insurance covers the loss of your vehicle to theft or acts of God. As with Collision insurance, Comprehensive pays the actual cash value of the vehicle less your deductible. Comprehensive is usually required on financed vehicles but not worthwhile on older low-value cars.

Other auto insurance products will cover everything from a rental car to medical payments beyond your personal injury protection. Most of these products are worthwhile but not strictly necessary. If you have any questions regarding your coverage options be sure to speak to your insurance agent.