Auto and Vehicle Tips

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11/02/2012

Small Business Tip: Small Business Saturday Helps Make a Big Difference

Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses on the busiest shopping weekend of the year.

03/01/2012

Four BBB Tips for Driving a Good Deal When You Sell Your Car

When looking to sell your vehicle, you need to know how to get your car into the right hands. Better Business Bureau recommends following a few key pointers to ensure that your sale goes smoothly.

02/03/2012

BBB Advice for Avoiding Automobile Repair Scams

When your vehicle needs repairs you should know how to find a reliable mechanic. Better Business Bureau recommends following a few key pointers to ensure that your automobile gets fixed without a glitch.

09/01/2011

Do Your Research before Driving into an Auto Repair Scam

While most auto repairmen are honest and forthcoming, consumers need to be on the lookout for those that are trying to make a quick buck. Better Business Bureau is advising consumers to do their research before turning their car over to an auto repair service.

08/02/2011

How to Stretch Your Gas Dollars this Summer

With the average U.S. family now paying nearly $1,000 more annually for gas than they were two years ago, BBB warns consumers to be wary of gas-saving claims that empty your wallet.

07/30/2010

Beware of Deceptive Auto Loan Modification Offers

Better Business Bureau recommends that consumers try to work out a deal with the lender directly before paying out hundreds in upfront fees to a loan modification company.

03/01/2007

FTC - Understanding Vehicle Financing

With prices averaging more than $28,000 for a new vehicle and $15,000 for a used vehicle, most consumers need financing or leasing to acquire a vehicle. In some cases, buyers use “direct lending:” they obtain a loan directly from a finance company, bank or credit union. In direct lending, a buyer agrees to pay the amount financed, plus an agreed-upon finance charge, over a period of time. Once a buyer and a vehicle dealership enter into a contract to purchase a vehicle, the buyer uses the loan proceeds from the direct lender to pay the dealership for the vehicle. Consumers also may arrange for a vehicle loan over the Internet.

02/01/2007

FTC - Home Equity Credit Lines

Using a credit line to borrow against the equity in your home has become a popular source of consumer credit. And lenders are offering these home equity credit lines in a variety of ways.

01/01/2007

FTC - High-Rate, High-Fee Loans (HOEPA/Section 32 Mortgages)

If you're refinancing your mortgage or applying for a home equity installment loan, you should know about the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act of 1994 (HOEPA).

09/01/2006

FTC - "Gas-Saving" Products: Fact or Fuelishness?

Gas prices are up, and so is the volume of advertising for "gas-saving" products. When gasoline prices rise, consumers often look for ways to improve fuel efficiency. Although there are practical steps you can take to increase gas mileage, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns you to be wary of any gas-saving claims for automotive devices or oil and gas additives. Even for the few gas-saving products that have been found to work, the savings have been small.

04/01/2006

FTC - Buying A New Car

A new car is second only to a home as the most expensive purchase many consumers make. According to the National Automobile Dealers Association, the average price of a new car sold in the United States is $28,400. That’s why it’s important to know how to make a smart deal.

04/01/2006

FTC - Consider the Alternatives: Alternative Fueled Vehicles and Alternative Vehicle

Driving a car fueled by something other than gasoline or diesel fuel is no longer the stuff of science fiction. In addition to conventional gasoline and diesel fuel, reformulated — cleaner — gasoline and alternative fuels now are sold in many parts of the country. Alternative fuels such as methanol, ethanol, compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and electricity produce fewer tail pipe pollutants than conventional gasoline and diesel fuel. Using them could improve air quality.

05/01/2005

FTC - The Truth About Advance-Fee Loan Scams

Advance-fee loan sharks are preying on unwary consumers, taking their money for the promise of a loan or credit, and leaving them in hot water. The scam artists often impersonate legitimate lenders to entice consumers into falling for their bogus offer.

01/01/2004

FTC - Need a Loan? Think Twice About Using Your Home as Collateral

If you need money to pay bills or make home improvements, and think the answer is in refinancing, a second mortgage, or a home equity loan, consider your options carefully. If you can't make the required payments, you could lose your home as well as the equity you've built up.

06/01/2003

FTC - Driving Overseas? Steer Clear of Bogus International Driving Permits

If you plan to travel overseas and drive while you're there, it's a good idea to get an international driving permit (IDP) to accompany your U.S. state-issued driver's license. But make sure your IDP is from one of two associations authorized to issue IDP's in the U.S. - the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA). According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, IDPs sold and issued by any other organization to U.S. residents are bogus and could cause problems with local authorities if you are caught driving with one.