Minivans offer a full range of comfort and practicality for families. If you’re in need of a larger vehicle with better gas mileage, go ahead and embrace your decision to become a minivan mom or dad. Minivans boast plenty of family-friendly amenities, including comfy “captain’s chairs” for driver, front row passenger, and second row seating, while offering a “separation zone”, or third row of seating to help prevent sibling rivalries from getting out of hand. That being said, not all minivans are created equal, and they’ve changed a lot since the early 2000s. Here are the top five features to seek out in a new minivan purchase: 1. DVD Video Bluetooth Systems Gone are the days of the kids annoying you with “I spy, with my little eye….” on your morning commute. Instead, most 2018 minivans come outfitted with a DVD video Bluetooth enabled system, which distracts passengers with on-demand connectivity to your kids’ favorite movies, HDMI access, and a high-quality onboard sound system that’ll keep the passengers entertained on short and long trips. 2. Full Storage Roof Rack Got paddleboards, skiis, or are you transporting a new mattress home? Luckily, you have a full roof rack on your minivan.

Sedans are often known for their luxury and high cost. However, 2071-2018 offers an impressive line up of luxury SUVs at competitive prices. By nature, a sedan is a passenger car engineered in a three-box configuration with two rows of seating, and adequate passenger space in the rear compartment for passengers and storage. The rear cargo compartment of most sedans offers additional storage. Based on reports from  new- and used-vehicle owners in 2017, these sedans offer the best in luxury at affordable prices: 1.  Lincoln Continental No, Matthew Mcconaughey doesn’t’ get all the credit for boosting this midsize luxury sedan among the younger, professional generations. The newer features are really cool, including hidden door handles, sleek styling and the choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive, and standard V-6 engine or two, twin-turbocharged V6 engines. Plus, the reliability depended upon by generations of Lincoln owners. 2. Buick Verano While Buick isn’t typically cast in the “luxury” line up. This sedan has scraped the once compact Verano of years past for a sedan with sleek sporty leather trim (in choice of color), the option for a turbocharged engine, and an impressive 180-horsepower 4-cylinder engine. 3. BMW 3 Series When it comes to popularity and affordability, the BMW 3 Series may offer the most versatility.

Sure, if you spend your hard earned money on a used car, you want to protect your investment. However, is an extended warranty a smart buy for a new-to-you used vehicle? It doesn’t matter if you purchase a new or a used car, the dealer is likely going to try to upsell you on the benefits of an extended warranty. It’s important for you to take the time to research the make and model of vehicle to decide if an extended warranty is really worth it or it it’s cheaper to cover the costs of regular services and repairs on your own. Here’s a few things to consider before buying an extended warranty on a used car… 1. What’s your story? Take a good long look at your current lifestyle and needs before you decide to shill out for that extended warranty. For example, do you commute. If so, consider the amount of mileage currently on the vehicle and how much more the warranty covers. If there’s not much mileage left over, an extended warranty may not be worth your money. 2. Are there restrictions on services and repairs? By this I mean does the warranty restrict you from taking your car to be serviced by your own mechanic.

When it comes to considering an extended warranty from your auto manufacturer, many folks shrug off the offer of extended coverage beyond the factory warranty. Many folks expect the purchase a new automobile to last 5- to 10-years…or even longer. Yet they often won’t pay for an extended warranty. Here’s why paying extra for that extended warranty might not be worth it… Con #1: Don’t pay for a warranty you’ll never use When you’re feeling pressured by the dealer to purchase an extended warranty on your brand new car, consumers often feel overprotective of their new purchase. However, many think of the extended warranty on a car like health insurance, in reality you might be paying money for coverage you’ll never need if you maintain your car regularly. Con #2: Too many exclusions Sure, an extended warranty is meant to make consumers feel peace of mind. The idea that your car will be serviced in the future is supposed to take the stress out of car ownership. However, have you ever read the fine print on your extended warranty? There certainly are a lot of exclusions (meaning things the warranty won’t cover). Considering all of the parts, repairs, and systems not covered by the extended warranty, is it really worth it?

When you’re in the market to finance a car, the last thing you want is to be turned away because you don’t have the proper documentation. Both in person dealer purchases and online lenders will require the following personal documentation in order to approve an auto loan. Consider obtaining and bringing along these basic documents in order to qualify for new or used car financing… 1. Proof of identity If you are seeking financing through a dealer or via a new banking institution, you will need proof that you are who you claim you are. Thankfully, if the loan is being obtained through an institution you currently bank with, they will already have your personal identification on record. To provide proper identification you will need a form of photo identification with your signature (i.e., license or passport). 2. Proof of address Yes, proof of residence is also required if you are applying for car financing. Proof of residence can be provided to a lender in the form of a utility bill (i.e., hydro, gas, water) as long as it’s addressed to your name and current home address on your photo identification. 3. Proof of assets In addition to showing you pay your utility bills on time, your lender may require proof of assets in the form of savings (i.e., bank statements and investments) as well as titles to your home and other vehicles.

You’re driving along on a nice sunny afternoon, when suddenly out of nowhere, a stone flies up and leaves a tiny stone chip in your windshield. It’s ironic that the tiniest of specks from gravel, sand, ice, a pebble, fallen debris from trees, and even a bird can chip or crack your windshield, sunroof, or side and rear windows of your vehicle. Most auto insurance plans will cover the repair or replacement of these glass surfaces if they’re damaged by a stone, storm, vandalism, or an animal collision. However, just because you have the comprehensive insurance coverage doesn’t mean you have to pay for the deductible. Before you opt to go through your insurance, consider the following… What is your deductible? Before you agree to have insurance fix your damaged windshield, consider your comprehensive deductible. Most insurance companies will cover the cost if you pay a deductible, and depending on your policy, the cost of the deductible (or what you pay) will differ. Obviously, it makes sense to pay out-of-pocket if the cost to repair your windshield is less than your deductible. However, if you need an entire windshield or window replacement, it would be wise to pay the deductible and file an insurance claim if the cost is more.

Congratulations! You have a teen driver in the family. However, you teenager wants a car, but you know that adding a teen driver to your insurance policy is going to inevitably increase your insurance rates. The reason for this is statistically, young drivers are considered more of a risk than seasoned drivers, with increased accident, careless driving, speeding, and even tickets. You don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to insure your teen driver. Here’s a few tips to help you add a young driver to your policy cost-effectively… 1. Consider safety first Of course your teen’s desire for a sports car will be vetoed by your need for a safe, reliable vehicle. You’re paying after all, so put your foot down when it comes to speed induced sporty cars and opt for a car built for safety. Do your research on the safety rating of this year’s top makes and models. Keep in mind the safer the car, traditionally the lower the auto insurance rate. 2. Monitor your teen driver Parents who are willing to monitor their new driver’s in car behavior can be rewarded with an insurance break. For instance, certain insurance companies offer discounted rates for teen drivers with a GPS-based safety monitoring system installed in their vehicle.

Insurance policies of any kind are always so darn complicated. But automobile insurance is likely one of the most confounding and difficult to comprehend. The many myths about cars of certain models or colors only help perpetuate more false rumours. Let’s take a look at the four most common car insurance myths… 1. New cars are stolen most It makes sense that if you’re going to risk stealing a vehicle, you’d opt for the newest, shiniest model, right? Not quite so, in fact studies show that older model cars are stolen more often due to desirable and expensive parts. So just because you covet that new car with all the bells and whistles, doesn’t mean that a thief will. 2. Animal damage Yes, you should be extra cautious in deer and moose territory, but if you suffer an unfortunate collision due to an animal darting into your car, most insurance policies will cover the damage. The same goes branches that land on your car and birds that fly into your windshield. As long as you have comprehensive coverage on your insurance policy, the damage should be covered. 3. Color affects insurance rates No, the color of your car had no impact on the cost of your insurance rate.

Vehicle safety is imperative if your passengers are young children. However, in addition to the working order of your vehicle, childproofing the interior of your car, like your home, can ensure your child’s safety and even prevent injuries if you suffer an unfortunate accident while driving with a young child. Keep the following safety in mind when childproofing your car… 1. Child car seat placement The placement of your child’s car seat is important for many reasons. Firstly, by placing the car seat centered in the back seat, you prevent little hands from reaching locks and door handles. Secondly, the rear center seat is the safest placement should a collision occur. 2. Remove debris The back seat of any car can be a treasure trove of crumbs, loose lighters, and cleaning liquids that a child could potentially ingest. So make your back seat a safety zone by cleaning it of any loose and potentially dangerous things a child could choke on. 3. Buckle up To secure your child safely in their car seat, feed the seat belt through the car seat so it’s snugly holds the child in place across the chest. 4. Enable child locks Your rear door locks can be tempting to little hands so enabled the child safety function to prevent a child from unlocking and opening your doors while the car is in motion.

The idea of a driverless car might seem like it’s out of a science fiction novel. However, companies like the Waymo project (used to be called the Google self-driving car) are already testing its fleet of self-driving technology throughout the United States. Self-driving (or autonomous cars) are unmanned ground vehicles capable of sensing the surrounding environment and navigating without the control of a human driver. Even though autonomous cars are being tested currently in the states of Arizona, Texas, and California, you won’t be able to buy one until 2022. So if you see a driverless car being tested on the road, don’t panic. Here are four things you should keep in mind… 1. Autonomous vehicle types and categories Driverless cars fall under 2 categories and 5 various levels, according to how they’re automated. For instance, certain vehicles are fully automated and equipped fully with software and sensors that can comprehend their surroundings as well as nearby construction, pedestrians, cyclists, vehicles, etc. from a distance of 2 football fields. 2. They reduce traffic collisions Did you know that an estimated 90-percent of auto collisions are due to human mistakes on the roads? The aim is for driverless cars to remove the human element, reducing road accidents and deaths by roughly 300,000.

If you’re a car buff, there’s almost nothing as inspiring as the glitz and glam of Hollywood to get your engines roaring. Hollywood has certainly had it’s share of memorable cars on the big and small screen. Do you agree with our top picks for Hollywood’s coolest cars? 1. Die Another Day’s Aston Martin V12 Vanquish While the James Bond movies have certainly had their fare share of Bond villains and Bond girls, 007 has also had a really impressive line up of cars. Most memorable on our list is the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish from Die Another Day. This car was so impressive it was almost a hero of it’s own accord. So much so that it even had it’s own MI-6 codename, the Vanish. The vehicle was not only gadget packed like all Bond-mobiles, it also had a grill-concealed rocket launcher, autocannons, passenger seat ejector, and a camouflage cloaking system. 2. The Batmobile from Batman Returns Batman and the batmobile go hand in hand. Bruce Wayne is a millionaire so it makes perfect sense that he’d have a really nice ride to aid his crime fighting efforts. There have been many Batmans and batmobiles in Hollywood over the years, but it is and has seen a lot of incarnations over the years, but when actor, Michael Keaton, donned the rubber suit in 1989, he drove the most impressive batmobile, thanks to director Tim Burton’s vision.