The Useful Stuff Blog: Useful Stuff About Cars

How to Buy a Car
Buying a car, whether it's a first-time purchase or not, can seem like a daunting task. You've probably seen your share of car commercials on TV and recall hearing phrases like "down payment" and "APR." Although some of the terminology may seem confusing, once you break it down, buying a car is pretty straightforward. There is certainly a lot of information you need to understand before you run off to your local dealership. But once you know what the acronyms mean and how financing works, you'll be ready to get the best possible price on the car you've chosen... MORE... [Article contains good info and numerous links to even more car-related info]

ALSO SEE: Vehicle Ratings (from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) and Cars from ConsumerReports.org

Kelley Blue Book - "the trusted resource"
Need to know the value of any car, used or new, any make or year? Kelley Blue Book has been providing such reliable information for 80+ years. From the website: "Nearly one out of every three people who buy a new or used car in the United States visits the site. According to J.D. Power and Associates' AutoShopper.com studies, more car-buyers use kbb.com than any other three sites combined! The Web site has been named the most visited for eight years in a row." VISIT THE KELLEY BLUE BOOK WEBSITE

Carfax.com
Don't buy a used car without checking it out through Carfax first! Order a CARFAX Vehicle History Report... the first step to protecting yourself against buying used cars with costly hidden problems. CARFAX searches its nationwide database and provides a detailed vehicle history report in seconds. Just enter the VIN. MAIN WEBSITE HERE.

Autoshopper.com and AutoTrader.com - AutoTrader offers Research & Compare ("Find the perfect car with customer reviews, videos, 360 spins and more.") Try their section on New Cars or Certified Cars or Used Cars.

Autoshopper also offers opportunities to research cars as well as having many helpful links to subjects related to car buying, like: Browse Classifieds, Find A Car Dealer, Browse Magazine, Wanted Ads , Help Center, Auto Insurance, Automotive News, Events Calendar, Manufacturers, Vehicle Warranties, Average Vehicle Value, Loan Calculator , Accessories / Parts, Employment, Dealer Information.

This company has similiar websites/publications for trucks, boats, homes, RVs, and more.

Car Lemon - "Your One Stop Lemon Law Info Source"
Think your Car is a Lemon? Your State may agree, but maybe not to your liking. See how your State defines what a Lemon is and if your Car and its Repair History qualify. Nearly all State Lemon Law Statutes are similar to the Federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act which makes breach of warranty a violation of federal law. All States have enacted their own Warranty Acts and many States have enacted specific Statutes that pertain to Automobile Warranties. If your car is not considered a "lemon" in your State, you do have other recourses.

Lemon Law Summaries - Lemon Law Summaries for each State.
Lemon Law Statutes - Lemon Law Statutes for each State.
MAIN WEBSITE

Other laws and legal matters relating to cars and driving:

Insurance Law - Auto Insurance Information
State Drunk Driving Laws
Car Seat (infants & children) Laws by State
Seat Belt Laws by State
Current US motorcycle and bicycle helmet laws
Cellphone laws
National Highway Traffic Safety Commission

The '57 Chevy