Whether you travel by plane, train, or automobile, sitting in confined spaces for long periods can cause a number of problems ? considerable pressure on joints, crimped circulation, increased risk of blood clots, stiff, cramped muscles, increased fatigue, back and neck pain and knee discomfort.
Travel tips for planes and trains:
Good posture and proper body mechanics are the key to prevention of back, neck, and joint discomfort when traveling. Try these:
? Make frequent posture changes: get up every forty-five minutes or so to walk or stand.
? Adjust the seat as best you can to an upright position.
? Slide your bottom back, until it touches the back of the seat.
? If there’s a big space between your lower back and the chair seat, use a lumbar pillow or rolled sweater and place it behind your back.
? Use a traveler’s pillow to decrease neck strain when snoozing.
? If your feet don’t touch the floor, place a backpack or carry-on on the floor to rest your feet on.
? Shift weight frequently to reduce prolonged pressure on any given point.
? Hips and knees should be at ninety-degree angles.
? Keep shoulders relaxed.
? Let forearms and elbows rest on armrests.
? If armrests are too low or hard, use a small pillow under each forearm.
Travel Exercises:
1. Circle feet in one direction then the other.
2. Pump feet by lifting heels, keeping toes on floor.
3. Pump feet like pushing on a car accelerator.
4. Tap toes like windshield wiper blades on a car. Keep your heels on the floor and tap toes from left to right.
5. Inhale, pull oxygen all the way down to the bottom of the rib cage. Feel your chest expand. Exhale and pull your abdominals in. Hold them in to a slow count of ten. Do not hold your breath. Relax and repeat often.
6. Shrug and circle shoulders.
7. Press shoulder blades back towards spine and then down towards waist.
Travel tips for automobiles:
We all spend a lot of time coming and going in our cars. Most of the time, we’re slumped over the wheel. Good driving posture can help a driver stay comfortable and alert.
Adjust your car seat so it will help keep your body properly aligned while you drive. All these little adjustments will make a big difference in your posture and comfort.
1. Bring the back of your car seat to its straightest position. Ideally, it should incline no more than 110 degrees.
2. Sit with your bottom all the way back, so it touches the back of the backrest. Make sure rib cage is not drooping. Lift it up slightly.
3. Adjust the headrest so you can sit with the back of your head resting against it. This position puts your head directly over your spine and allows your neck muscles to relax while your drive.
4. Most of us were taught to hold the steering wheel at the ten and two o’clock position. They don’t teach that anymore in driving schools. Now they ask you to hold on at an eight o’clock and four o’clock position.
This position is safer in the event that your airbag deploys. This position is also better for your posture as it allows your arms to hang more vertically by your sides, which allows your neck muscles to relax, greatly reducing discomfort and fatigue.
5. Don’t forget to buckle up your seat belt.
Car exercises:
The following exercises can be done when you are stopped at a red light. They will help strengthen your mid and upper back as well as your abdominals.
1. Lift up your rib cage and press the back of your head against the headrest. Stay lifted that way while you drive.
2. Press the back of your shoulders into the seat as if you were trying to bring your shoulder blades closer together. Hold for ten seconds without holding your breath then relax. Repeat several times.
3. Tighten your abdominals. Take a deep breath. As you exhale, pull your belly button toward your spine and hold for ten seconds. See if you can feel the bottom of your rib cage pull in. Don’t hold your breath. Gradually build up to holding the abdominals for thirty seconds.
Article Tags: back, hold, position
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Aug
27
2008
It is certainly true that without an automobile we can?t even imagine our lives, whether we take it for our personal or business lives. Rather, today it is requisite for our regular running existence. When we go into the market, in order to purchase an automobile, our pocket doesn?t allow us to do so; may be due to either of the reasons firstly, rocketed price of an automobile and secondly, limited earnings. These problems may be faced by each and every person earning a limited income. It is possible that in such case we may drop our idea of purchasing an automobile but we can still rethink of buying a used automobile as the price of a used car is very less as compared to a brand new car. So, used auto loan will provide us a helping hand in buying a used automobile.
Used auto loan can be used to buy a second bike, truck or lorry or any other automobile as per our needs. Used auto loan is designed in such a manner to assist those, who will not be able to pay for a new automobile.
Like any other loan, used auto loan can also be availed in two forms that is, secured and unsecured. It totally depends on our decision that which form we want to avail. Each of the form has its own advantages. For instance secured form will enable us to avail a loan with low interest and longer repayment period as compared to unsecured loan. And in unsecured form, approval time is very less as there is no asset valuation. So, if we want money urgently to buy a used automobile, in such case unsecured used auto loan will serve us the best.
We can avail used auto loan either from a dealer or from the other financial institutions. But it may be possible that getting loan from a dealer may cost us more than availing loan from any financial institution. The dealer includes his profit in our loan terms and not only the cost. Moreover, it also restricts our choice.
The use of internet makes our task of searching a lender offering used auto loan easier. Internet offers us the convenience of place, time and cost. In other words: ? We can apply from anywhere, either from the house or office. ? It can be applied any time as per our convenience and above all it saves time as it reduces documentation. ? It provides cost effectiveness as there is no processing fees.
Besides, these three advantages, it also helps us in availing competitive loan deal that is, with competitive annual percentage rate.
About the Author:
Karl Harris is offering loan advice for quite some time. To find a used Auto loan, bad credit auto loan,new auto loan, poor credit auto loan, auto loan quote in US visit http://www.advancedautoloan.com
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Have you ever looked closely at historic images of cities, say from the 1930’s? The social atmosphere is very different. The fronts of buildings were positioned close to the sidewalk, families lived close to the center of town with a place to sit outside to greet the passersby, and the traffic was chiefly pedestrian. As a result, dating has drastically been affected by modern changes in the past 50 years.
The pedestrian and social enemy, the automobile: Since the invention of the automobile, designers and builders had to make space for parking. Well, this was a challenge at best as each automobile requires around one hundred square feet. A person requires approximately four square feet of space. Vehicular lanes had to be accommodated, restricting space for pedestrians, and adding vehicular and pedestrian conflict. Moreover, the vehicle is now regarded as the most important component of our transportation infrastructure with regard to safety and efficiency. What does this do to our social space? After the engineers design a street, and the builders accommodate the parking at the front of the buildings, the once social space turns into dead, vehicular only, depressing places. Imagine walking next to the parking lot of a shopping mall, next to a six lane arterial highway. Not much chance that you will find another pedestrian with which to rub shoulders. Conversely, a historic place such as Boston, is packed with life, and very little suburbs. In suburbia, the place to find your next date, the Circle K convenience store.
Prior to the proliferation of the automobile, people met on the streets. Pedestrians filled the streets with life that we can easily imagine, and is demonstrated in most historic cities around the world. In the historic town of Ybor City in Tampa, an old Cuban cigar manufacturing city, the workers had little houses called “casitas” which exhibited high ceilings, raised floor for air convection, and a quaint and approachable front porch. Every Saturday, the family would walk to the center of town to meet the neighbors, rub shoulders with others, and do the weekly shopping. Vehicles were not necessary, neither were large houses. The outside public spaces served as an extension of the interior space of their homes. This experience is still shared in many towns in Europe.
How are we easily able to meet new people during these modern times of suburbs, proliferation of the automobile, and a new understanding of an internal world. Computers and cell phones have been the crutch for the absence of social places. It would be nice to revive the values we once had, on the safe pedestrian filled streets and plazas.
About the Author
Patrick Hood-Daniel is an Urban Designer/Architect that pays special attention to our social atmosphere in relation to our physical environment. He is also the developer of http://www.datinganddating.com an online dating service where members can find dates in a totally unique way.
Aug
26
2008
In the present scenario, it is possible for all the bad credit scorers to afford an automobile of their choice by means of poor credit auto loans. Poor credit auto loans don’t take into account the credit rating and reason for their poor credit score. It has been specially designed to meet the financial needs of such people, who have been denied for loan, due to their poor credit score.
Poor credit auto loans are easily available with majority of the lenders in the financial market. And, the presence of number of lenders in the market makes the market further competitive. Other than, lenders in the physical market, there are many online lenders who offer poor credit auto loans on better and competitive rates. The reason as to why they offer low rates is that it involves very low cost. And, along that it is also considered as an effortless way to apply for poor credit auto loans. The benefit of applying for poor credit auto loans through online mode is that the borrower can apply either from office or from house, that is, as he feels convenient.
The only requirement in the poor credit auto loans is that the person availing loan must have regular employment and flow of income. It is true that the lender doesn’t consider credit score but it is one of the major factors which, is taken into account while determining the interest rate. The lender offers high interest rate when he finds that dealing with the borrower with poor credit score is riskier and vice versa.
This is the fact that poor credit auto loans carry high interest rate than other conventional loans in the market. However, it has also been found that the borrower thinks that paying such high interest rate is a big disadvantage of availing poor credit auto loans. But, in reality it also improves the credit score, if timely payments of loans are made to the lender. And, once their credit score gets improved then they can also avail loan on competitive rates that is, without any hurdles.
When the borrower avails poor credit auto loans from the lender; he must ensure that he is dealing with the reputable and authorized lender. He must go through each term and clause of the loan agreement. And, lastly he must try to make timely payments of poor credit auto loans in order to improve his credit score.
About the Author
Roman Pearce is solving several issues involved in auto loans through his articles. An MSc in Economics & Finance from the Warwick Business School is proof enough of the knowledge that he possesses in the field of finance. For further information of Poor credit auto loans, bad credit auto loans, auto financing, new auto loans, used auto loans, bad credit auto financing, luxury auto loans visit http://www.universalautoloans.com -
With the recent push by President Bush for alternative fuel strategies, much confusion has arisen regarding tax incentives for hybrid vehicles. This article clarifies the issue for you.
Tax Deductions for Your 2005 Hybrid Automobile
People buy hybrid vehicles for different reason. They are good for the environment. They get much better mileage, which saves money. There are tax incentives for buying them. With the recent energy plan put in place by the federal government, there is a lot of confusion regarding the tax incentives.
Specifically, the question for most people is whether they can claim a tax deduction or a tax credit when they buy a hybrid. Here is the breakdown:
The Good - If you purchased a hybrid vehicle in 2005, you can claim a tax deduction.
The Bad - If you purchased a hybrid vehicle in 2005, you cannot claim a tax credit.
The Ugly - If you had waited till 2006, you could have claimed a tax credit.
Tax credits save you a lot more money than tax deductions. Tax deductions are applied to your gross income like any other deduction. This helps lower your tax bill, but tax credits are much more powerful. Tax credits are not taken out of your gross income. Instead, tax credits are taken out of the exact amount of tax you owe the government. If you owe the government $10,000 after filling out your tax return and can claim a $2,000 tax credit, your final tax bill is $8,000.
You are stuck with a tax deduction tax deduction if you purchased a hybrid in 2005, but at least it is a nice one. The deduction amount is $2,000 for vehicles certified by the IRS. They include:
Ford Escape Hybrid: Model Year 2006
Mercury Mariner Hybrid: Model Year 2006
Lexus RX 400h: Model Year 2006
Ford Escape Hybrid: Model Year 2005
Toyota Prius: Model Years 2001 through 2006
Toyota Highlander Hybrid: Model Year 2006
Honda Insight: Model Years 2000 through 2005
Honda Civic Hybrid: Model Years 2003 and 2005
Honda Accord Hybrid: Model Year 2005
To claim this deduction, you must have purchased a NEW hybrid. If the hybrid was used, you get nothing. Assuming it was new, the deduction is claimed on line 36 of the 1040 form. Make sure to write Clean Fuel in the space provided.
About the Author
Richard A. Chapo is with BusinessTaxRecovery.com - providing information on tax and taxes. Visit us to read more tax articles and our new tax credits page.
Aug
25
2008
Ever since the automobile was invented, automobile engineers have been devising better vehicles to save fuel and increase the efficiency of the automobile. Majority of the cars run on petrol while some cars and heavy vehicles run on diesel. The cost of fuel is increasing everyday and the internal combustion engine is a big source of environmental pollution.
The rising fuel costs and concerns regarding environment made the engineers to think for economic and safer alternative and that is how they have come up with the idea of hybrid automobiles. There are a number of benefits of hybrid automobiles. A hybrid car is an automobile that runs on gasoline and an electric motor. Hybrid automobiles saves on cost of fuel because they are fuel efficient and consume less fuel as compared to non hybrid automobiles.
The hybrid cars have a dual mode and the electric motor powered by batteries take over once the car is in speed. The energy generated from braking and deceleration is used to charge the batteries. Thereby the hybrid cars are able to provide better fuel efficiency. Moreover, the engine of hybrid cars is shut immediately when the car is stopped. The biggest advantage of hybrid cars is in reducing the environmental pollution because of reduced emission of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases into the atmosphere. Some automobile manufacturers like Toyota, Ford and Honda have already introduced hybrid automobiles in the market.
There are two types of hybrid cars- series hybrid cars and parallel hybrid cars. A Series hybrid automobile has an electric motor run by batteries. It also has a gas engine but it does not power the vehicle on its own. The batteries are charged by a generator, which is powered by a gas engine. The electric motor remains on all the time and the gas engine can be put on and off when desired. Such hybrid automobiles provide better mileage in the cities.
A Parallel hybrid has a gas engine and batteries for electric motor. Both the gas engine and electric motor can be used to power the vehicle and turn the transmission. The electric motor is used to boost the power whenever required to increase the speed of the vehicle. Parallel hybrid cars are good for highway driving.
Hybrid automobiles have some unique features that provide many benefits. Lightweight materials used in the hybrid automobile save energy in propelling the car. Aerodynamic shape of the vehicle increases its energy efficiency. Tires of hybrid cars are made of stiffer material and filled with higher pressure. These help to provide better grip and reduce friction thereby increasing the overall efficiency of the automobile. Regenerative braking is used to transfer energy from the electric motor to the battery when brakes are applied.
In short, hybrid automobiles are the future of automobiles and you should consider a hybrid car to save money and discharge your responsibility towards providing a greener and cleaner environment.
About the Author
Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. Get patented car care products from http://www.stopwaxing.com -
Buying and Selling Automobile Dealerships ? Duties Negotiating the Contract
Duties of and to Shareholders
The sale of control of a corporation at a premium is not in and of itself a breach of duty. A “premium” is that amount an investor is willing to pay to gain control of a corporation.
But, a sale of control under the following circumstances may be actionable:
1. The sale of control is in effect a disposition of control over a business asset which the corporation may not use to the corporation?s advantage. Example: if a majority shareholder sells his shares to a party that is paying a premium for control over certain transactions, but who otherwise would not pay a premium for the corporation itself. 2. The majority shareholder failed to disclose receipt of a premium when a purchaser attempted to acquire the minority’s share; 3. The majority shareholder failed to disclose favorable employment contracts, profit sharing agreements and the like. 4. If the offer is to purchase all shares at the same price, but the majority first buys-out the minority at a lower price, without disclosing the higher offer the minority shareholder.
Although the law is still developing it appears the minority may be eliminated at a lower price, if there is a legitimate business purpose.
State case and statutory law is diverse on the question of minority shareholder rights. Given two identical fact situations, a sale by majority shareholder could, for example, give rise to a cause of action in California, while conforming to Delaware law. In sales involving several shareholders, the attorneys for each shareholder should research the question of “premiums”, with respect to both the state of incorporation and the state wherein the company’s principal place of business is located.
Duties to Other Purchasers
Probably the biggest case in this area was a Houston jury’s award of $7.53 billion in actual damages and $3 billion in punitive damages to Penzoil Co. In 1984, Penzoil was negotiating a takeover deal with Getty Oil Co., which Texaco eventually purchased for $10.2 billion. Penzoil then sued Texaco for $14 billion, charging that Texaco coaxed Getty into jilting Penzoil takeover deal.
Intentional interference with contractual relations, intentional interference with prospective business advantages and related torts are “hot ticket items” and general and punitive damages are almost unlimited. This exposure provides another reason both buyer and seller should involve their attorneys to a greater extent than just having them review the Buy-Sell Agreement.
Opinions as to Performance
Sellers inevitably opine how well a dealership will do with additional capital or a new owner and the courts have generally supported the adage “No one can predict the future” and refused to recognize a cause of action based upon one party’s predictions, to the other regarding future events, performance, opinions, or intentions.
Statements such as “there are no bad franchises — only bad operators”; the store was “a gold mine”; or that the buyer would make more money than before have been held “purely opinion, puffing, or conjecture as to future events” and as a matter of law not actionable.
Automobile dealerships are anomalies in the field of buying and selling businesses because by the very nature of the business both parties must be amongst the most knowledgeable people in the field, as the seller has already been qualified by both the factory and a financial institution as having that special knowledge and extra skill necessary to be approved as a dealer; and the buyer by virtue of the fact that the buyer intends to purchase the dealership has represented that he possessions the knowledge and skill necessary to obtain factory and finance approval, or that someone on his team possesses the necessary qualifications.
In Denison State Bank v. Madeira the defendant purchased an automobile dealership and in addition to refusing to pay his loan, he cross-complained against the bank alleging the bank misrepresented and omitted material facts about the dealership when he purchased it. In reversing a jury verdict against the bank the appellate court stated the defendant was a knowledgeable car man and although he testified he trusted and relied upon the Bank to furnish him complete, honest information, he could not abandon all caution and responsibility for his own protection and unilaterally impose a fiduciary relationship on the bank without a conscious assumption of such duties by the bank. See too: Kruse v. Bank of America where the court stated the plaintiffs could not have reasonably expected what they said they expected from the bank’s promises and assurances.
But Beware: In Martens Chevrolet, Inc. the owner of the dealership was negotiating with the plaintiffs to sell his dealership and in response to plaintiff’s inquires as to the profitability of the dealership the owner indicated that it was “mildly profitable” and offered produced a handwritten trend sheet prepared by his accountants supporting the statement and stating that the audited statements of the dealership’s operations were not complete or available.
After the purchase, the buyer learned that the dealership was operated at a loss as reflected in audited statements prepared prior to the negotiations and sale sued alleging breach of contract, deceit and negligent misrepresentation against the former owner. The Court assumed a duty existed between the former owner and the buyer and reaffirmed the tort of negligent misrepresentation against the dealer.
Special Rules for Accountants
There are three different tests employed by other courts to determine what, if any, duty an accountant has to a third party, in preparing a financial statement for his own client. These tests were:
1) The Traditional (Ultramares) Approach holds that before a plaintiff could sue an accountant he had to have privity, or a relationship equivalent to privity. The Plaintiff must establish (a) the accountants must have been aware that the financial reports were to be used for a particular purpose or purposes; (b) in the furtherance of which a know party or parties was intended to rely; and (c) there must have been some conduct on the part of the accountants linking to that party or parties, which evidences the accountants’ understanding of that party or parties’ reliance. See: Ultramares v. Touche and Credit Alliance Corp v. Arthur Anderson and Co.
2) The Foreseeability Approach holds that an accountant is liable to a third party whose reliance on the accountant’s services was reasonably foreseeable to the accountant. Accordingly, an accountant who prepares an audit report is liable to a third party for negligent misrepresentation if it is reasonably foreseeable that such third party might obtain, and rely on, the audit report. This is an expansive view of accountant liability and even a number of the small group of states that adopted it, have retreated from it. New Jersey, for example, passed a more restrictive statute: N.J. Stat. Section 2A: 53A-25 (L. 1995, 2000).
3) The Restatement Approach adopted over half the states that holds an accountant is liable to third party if he supplies information to a third parties that is actually foreseen as a user of the information for a particular purpose. In other words, for liability to attach the plaintiff must be a member of a limited class to whom the accountant intends to supply the information, or to whom the accountant knows the recipient intends to supply it, and who suffers a loss through reliance on the information for substantially the same purposes as the bona fide client. For example, the accountant may be held liable to a third party lender if the accountant is informed by the client that the audit report would be used to obtain a loan, even if the specific lender remains unidentified or the client names one lender and then borrows from another.
Libel and Slander
Every jurisdiction has statutory definitions for libel and slander, the elements of which include a false and unprivileged publication by writing or orally, which has a tendency to injury a person with respect to his office, trade, or business. Included are statements impugning the competency of a dealer to manage the affairs of a dealership.
During the course of negotiations, a buyer sometimes become frustrated with a seller’s actions and expresses those frustrations by impugning the seller’s ability to operate a dealership. Such statements, while generally harmless, assume a magnified significance, when the purchaser is negotiating to acquire a financially troubled dealership. At best, under such circumstances, lenders are apprehensive; at worst, they are neurotic. Invariably, at some point during the negotiations, a purchaser will meet the seller’s lender and at that point in time — more than any other — the prospective purchaser must realize that he has the ability to damage the seller and must be disciplined enough to be discreet when commenting upon the seller’s status, or abilities, regardless of how determined a lender’s inquires may appear.
Interference with a Contract or Prospective Contract
Whether or not a prospective buyer becomes the ultimate purchaser, the prospect has a duty not to intentionally or negligently interfere with a contract, or, in many states, a prospective business advantage, of the seller. Again, during the course of negotiations, there are occasions when a purchaser is tempted to say or do something in order to frighten a competitive bidder and preserve an exclusive business opportunity. Such actions are proscribed and when called upon to determine the legitimacy of the purchaser’s actions the courts will generally consider the following factors: (a) the conduct (b) the motive; (c) the interests of the other with which the actor’s conduct interferes; (d) the interests sought to be advanced by the actor: (e) the social interest in protecting the freedom of action of the actor and the contractual interests of the other; (f) the proximity or remoteness of the actor’s conduct to the interference, and (g) the relationship between the parties. See Second Restatement of Torts and Buckaloo v. Johnson.
Summation
The increased dollar value, of dealerships, combined with the higher level of sophistication of today’s automobile dealer, versus the automobile dealer of twenty years ago, has led to more dealers being willing to litigate, when they have been damaged. Recently, that litigation has expanded from dealers suing manufacturers, to dealers suing dealers. If one had to predict the area in which litigation will expand, in the next ten years, one would have to include in that prediction the area surrounding buy-sell negotiations.
The courts have held, time and again, that hard bargaining is part of the American system [Sheehan v. Atlantic International Insurance Co., but they have also noted, that the notions of fair play and a sense of propriety are also a part of that system. [Rich Whillock, Inc. v. Ashton Development, Inc.] And, while many scholars agree that the most successful negotiations result in solutions where both parties, to one degree or another, win, the courts recognize that each party not only has a duty to protect their own interests and that of their shareholders [Cosoff v. Rodman (In re W.T. Grant Co.], but that people who do not affirmatively perform that duty [due diligence], have no cause of action against their opponents, because the opponents did not perform the duty for them. [See: Dennison State Bank v. Madeira, 230 Kan. and Macon County Livestock Market, Inc. v. Kentucky State Bank, Inc.].
In summation, the negotiation table is a business table, at which, both parties are expected to be at their best with respect to preparation, presentation and determination. If one party is lacking in one of the categories, it is not the responsibility of the other party to supplement the deficiency. To the contrary, the participants have a duty to themselves, their families and to their shareholders to obtain the best possible terms, without unjustly fettering the opposing party’s ability to respond.
John Pico is a vice president of Automotive Advisors. He has completed over 1,000 dealership transactions, and published the first books copyrighted in the Library of Congress on Buying and Selling Automobile dealerships. You can obtain his biography and more information, sources and references at http://www.automotiveadvisors.com/johnpico.asp.
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Aug
24
2008
With rapid advancement in technology, cars have undergone a paradigm change in their appearance as well as the speed that they are capable of achieving. The inventor, Mr. Ford himself would be surprised at the way his invention has got along. It is speed more than any other factor that has necessitated car safety measures to be kept at pace with the technological advancement in other spheres.
The automobile industry, fortunately, is very much aware of the need to prevent injuries and deaths caused to drivers and passengers alike due to rampant speeding which has become more of a rule than an exception.
Car seat belts did not serve the designed purpose till the time most of the states made it mandatory to fasten seat belts under threat of penalties under law. It even evoked some manufacturers to design seat belts that would automatically secure drivers and passengers after ignition.
The newer cars are nowadays equipped with another restraint system in shape of air bags for the safety of all those sitting in the car. In many models these air bags are placed in a way that will inflate and protect the driver and the passengers both in the unfortunate event of a collision. These air bags coupled with seat belts that can be adapted for child car safety seats provide sufficient safety to car users.
However, car safety should not only be the concern of the car manufacturer but also of the driving and traveling public. There is no way by which all accidents can be avoided but prevention is always better than a cure. It is incumbent upon us that we choose a car which is safe for us and our families and always make it a rule to use the restraint system available in the vehicle. A visit to http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov, the website of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will provide all the information about how different models rank with regards to car safety devices. The information that you may collect from there will prove helpful in making up your mind as to which vehicle to go for be it cars, pick up trucks, SUVs, or vans.
An informed decision while buying a new vehicle and adhering to the restraint devices installed in your car, will help to a great measure in ensuring the safety of your family and others traveling with you.
About the Author:
Discover a collection of articles about more transport and travel concerns at http://transport-planet.com
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Perhaps the most commonly purchased type of insurance is automobile insurance, also called driver’s insurance or car insurance. Although laws vary somewhat, virtually all states today require drivers to carry some sort of automobile insurance to legally operate a vehicle on public roads. The penalties for driving without insurance can range from fines to a suspended license or, in the case of repeated infractions, possibly even a short jail sentence. Given that driver’s insurance is required in pretty much every state, it’s worth having some basic knowledge about the subject.
Types and levels of Coverage
The type of insurance coverage a person needs, and how much they will pay for that coverage, vary depending on a number of factors, such as the age of the driver, his or her driving record, the age and value of the vehicle, the dollar amount of the coverage, and whether the vehicle is fully paid for. While auto insurance can get pretty complex, there are four types that everyone should be aware of.
- Liability coverage is the most basic type of coverage; it protects the driver against any claims that might be brought after an accident or other incident that is the driver’s fault. This is usually the minimum coverage that a driver needs to be considered insured. Liability insurance usually has the lowest premiums, but it doesn’t cover any damage to the driver’s own vehicle; thus a lower monthly premium needs to be balanced against the risk of a potentially large financial burden. Also, most loan lenders require a driver to carry comprehensive coverage until the borrower has paid off the loan in full.
- Collision insurance covers part or all of the cost of repairs to the driver’s vehicle in the event of a collision, based on an estimate of the project cost for the repairs. While collision insurance can definitely pay for itself in the even of a car crash, the monthly premiums are higher than simple liability. Most policies are also subject to a deductible, which means that the policy carrier is responsible for paying a set amount before the insurance company pays. Deductibles vary widely; generally speaking, though, the higher the deductible, the lower the monthly payments, and the lower the deductible, the higher the monthly payments will be.
- Comprehensive coverage is typically required for vehicles that are still in the process of being paid for. Many vehicle owners also carry comprehensive coverage for expensive or otherwise valuable vehicles. Comprehensive coverage covers damage that isn’t the result of a collision - fire, theft, vandalism, and so on - although the exact items covered can vary quite a bit from one policy to the next.
- Uninsured Coverage protects you if an uninsured or underinsured driver hits you or your vehicle. Although insurance is a legal requirement in most places, that doesn’t mean that everyone on the road is insured. This type of coverage means that you won’t get stuck with the repair bill if someone less responsible than you involves you in an accident.
Each type of insurance is available at several different levels of coverage; the higher the coverage (in dollars), the higher the premium will be. Premiums will also increase if the driver is involved in an accident or receives tickets for traffic infractions. Additionally, premiums are higher for males than for females, for younger drivers, and for drivers in urban or higher-crime areas. Despite this, however, automobile insurance is a necessity for any responsible driver.
#1 American Insurance provides free insurance quotes for home insurance, auto insurance and life insurance. With #1 American Insurance you will get the best insurance quote in your area as our insurance agents are top rated in insurance markets.#1 American Insurance also operates #1 American Home Loans and, #1 American Financial
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Aug
23
2008
Your customers don’t buy cars the way your salespeople have been trained to sell them.
Factory Intervention in the retail sales game has changed things. Zero interest rates, huge factory cash rebates, Internet information and retail prices reduced to ?transactional pricing? have impacted on the buying approach of your customers. The result?
1st Reality Check - Your customers don’t buy cars the way your salespeople have been trained to sell them. Today, with the internet, now your customers have been educated to talk price from the get go. They are focused on the latest program, the best incentive available not your vehicle. Many customers appear to be impatient to get to numbers.
2nd Reality Check - The rules of the game have changed. Most of your salespeople don?t cope well with these aggressive prospects. And it costs you and your salespeople. Too many real buyers are walked, too many deals are lower profit than need be, too many low commissions and too many salespeople quit our business as a result.
The rules of the game have changed when it comes to selling automobiles at your dealership today! Has it occurred to you that maybe “the basics” don’t work anymore?
YOU BET!! Your present customer is very different from what he was in the ’70s through the ’90s. The sales process that you and your sales team take for granted may not be working.
3rd Reality Check - The old basics are not working!
Here is only one important example.
Most sales managers and most sales trainers still insist on the so-called basic ‘meet and greet’ for every showroom walk-in. The old ideal was ?meet all prospects with a warm, friendly smile, a warm friendly greeting ,then take them to your warm, friendly desk to counsel with them. Great in theory.
But, today the theory is fatally flawed. It would work, of course, if all your customers were Mr or Ms. Nice People? warm, friendly, cuddly customers who are delighted to meet your salesperson and can’t wait for his highly stimulating presentation.
4th Reality Check - Your customers are graduates from the New ?Buyer?s School?. Today, 50 % of your showroom prospects, do not fit the classic ‘meet and greet’ model your salespeople have been trained to use! Why is it not working and often annoying to your customers?
These internet informed people are ‘in your face’ type buyers. I call them the ‘Don Cherry School of Buyer’. “Rock’em, sock’em, take the salesperson to the boards quick,” technique. Your clients take control quickly.
The first thing these buyers say to your calm, pleasant, go-by-the book salesperson is, “Do you work here? I’m in a hurry and I just want your best price.” Or the price shopper, whose opening greeting is, “What’s your ‘best price’ on that blue Wombat over there? If your price is right, I’ll be-back.”
5th Reality Check - Most of your salespeople fail the grade when they are tested by these buyers. They don’t know how to handle this ?aggressive? customer. They misread his aggressive words and attitude as if he or she were not a buyer! In a recent boot camp sales training session for automobile sales consultants these experienced people really loved the sales process.
6th Reality Check - Your customers are more prepared to buy than salespeople are prepared to sell! Customers today only come to your dealership when they are informed and prepared to take on your sales consultant. The facts are: They have completed their decision making process, have a need to buy, have a vehicle in mind, know the prices, think they know the payments and are just shopping for a sales consultant to help them finalize the transaction.
7th Reality Check - Most sales consultants don?t close. Your sales people are still convinced that your customer is ?just looking?. Your sales consultants think your buyers are just starting to shop because of what they hear at the beginning of the sale. ?I?m not buying today, I just want your best price?. These graduates from the New Buyers school are so convincing that your salespeople don?t try to even close most of the time.
Your Reality Check - If you are depending on old sales ideas and training, you are not competing well today. Sales people need to be skilled, flexible and professional in their sales presentations today. Or they fail.
Focus on the ?how to? of improving the sales process to improve the buying experience and increase your sales and profits. Contact me if I can help. Great Success, Dave Dave Kemp, the Automotivator The Automobile Sales Coach.
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Thanks to rising accident rates, rising repair costs, and rising medical costs automobile insurance rates have skyrocketed. Even so, there is a way to find low cost automobile insurance rate quotes. Here’s how …
How much automobile insurance do I need?
Most states require you to have liability coverage. This insurance is divided into three categories:
1. Bodily injury liability - pays claims made against you if you injure or kill someone. It also covers family members living with you, and pays your legal fees if you’re sued.
2. Property damage liability - pays claims made against you if you damage someone else’s car or property.
3. Personal injury protection - pays your medical expenses and your passengers medical expenses if you’re in another car or are walking.
Coverage that’s not mandatory in most states but is good to have includes:
Collision coverage - pays for damage to your car caused by another car no matter who was at fault, or damage caused by any object .
Comprehensive insurance - pays for damage to your car from fire, theft, vandalism, and acts of nature (hail, wind, etc.).
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage - pays for you and your passenger’s medical bills and any property damage caused by an uninsured, underinsured or hit-and-run driver.
Where can I get low cost automobile insurance rate quotes?
The easiest way to find low cost automobile insurance rate quotes is to go to an insurance comparison website. There you can get quotes from a number of insurance companies so you can compare them and get the cheapest rate.
Some of these sites even have an online chat feature where you can get answers to your insurance questions from an insurance expert. (See link below.)
Rates for the exact same insurance coverage can vary as much as $1,000 from one company to the next, so it pays to spend a few minutes online to get the cheapest quote you can.
Visit http://www.LowerRateQuotes.com or click on the following link to get low cost automobile insurance rate quotes from top-rated companies in your area and see how much you can save. You can get more car insurance tips by checking out their “Articles” section.
The author, Brian Stevens, is a former insurance agent and financial consultant who has written extensively on low cost automobile insurance rate quotes.
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