Where You Live Could Affect How Much You Pay for Car Insurance

Where you live could greatly affect the rates your paying for insurance. This article from AOL Autos examines why insurance rates are higher in urban areas. How exactly car insurance companies calculate rates is a mystery, but we do know that they use a closely guarded calculation weighing obvious risk indicators like driving history and age with more surprising factors, such as gender, credit score and zip code. In fact, where you live can end up costing you hundreds of dollars extra per year.  Insurers use something called the "territorial rating system" to determine high-risk zip codes. Essentially, the more urban the zip code,...

Read more »

Purchasing a Car for Your Teen Driver

Will you be car shopping for your teenager anytime in the near future? If you are, the IIHS has a few tips to help you look for the safest, most cost-effective vehicle for your new driver. Help make sure you're teen is as safe as can be while they're on the road.  The recommendations on teen vehicle choice are guided by four main principles: Young drivers should stay away from high horsepower. Vehicles with more powerful engines can tempt them to test the limits. Bigger, heavier vehicles protect better in a crash. There are no minicars or small cars on the recommended list. Small SUVs are included because their weight is similar...

Read more »

Common Car Seat Mistakes Parents Make

The smallest error in properly securing a child's safety seat can compromise the effectiveness of the device in the event of an accident. AAA has put together a list of 12 of the biggest mistakes parents are making when installing a car seat. Read the tips here and learn how you can prevent them. AAA has put together a list of the twelve biggest mistakes parents make when using a car seat. Some items on the list may seem like insignificant oversights, but even the smallest error in properly securing these safety devices can compromise their effectiveness in the event of a crash.  Read on to see the mistakes parents are making and how...

Read more »

Must-Have Tools for DIY Car Maintenance

Do you ever do car maintenance in your own garage? If you do make sure you have these tools! AOL Autos has listed tools you don't want to be without when you do DIY car maintenance: 1. ScrewdriversQuality screwdrivers are some of the most basic tools you should buy. While you should have one medium-sized flat head screwdriver and one medium-sized Phillips screwdriver at the very least, you can often buy quality name-brand sets for less than $15 at your local home-improvement store. Having multiple sizes of screwdrivers can help you get into tight spaces, and can also prevent you from stripping delicate screw heads.  2. PliersPliers...

Read more »