Car Buying: Where to Find More Information
AARP
Driver Safety Program
Learn here about classes near you and auto insurance discounts,
and test your driving knowledge. A link leads to information in Spanish.
Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety
Click "Vehicle Ratings" on the home page to find results of tests
for models you're considering. Tests measure structural design, occupant
protection, effectiveness of bumpers, and ratings for head restraints.
This site offers information in Spanish about air
bags and sells videotapes about reducing injury risks in accidents.
Consumer
Reports
The site of Consumers Union, an independent rating organization, rates
and ranks reliability, safety, customer satisfaction, the value of
models according to class and price ranges, fuel efficiency, and some
accessories, among other considerations. A Spanish-language section
contains articles about auto insurance, descriptions of some models,
best options, cautions about special officers, and how to get the best
deal.
National
Automobile Dealers Association
The "Find a Car" search feature on the home page lets buyers see lists
of dealers' inventories. The lists give prices but not features, and
they're limited to participating dealers.
Automobile
Club of Southern California
Despite its name, the
site contains make-and-model information for buyers nationwide. Click
on "Research and Pricing" to build your new
car. You'll see what options are available, including paint and interior
colors.
Autofusion
Corporation
The Build-a-Car tool
permits side-by-side comparisons of models' options
and other features, and it shows wholesale and manufacturers' suggested
retail prices of options packages.
Kelley
Blue Book
Find the trade-in value
of your old vehicle, the price of a new vehicle, and tips and links
that help consumers
approach the buying chore from
various points of view.
Edmunds.com
At
the "True Cost to Own" feature, plug in your make, model, year,
and ZIP code, click, and you'll get five years of cost estimates for
depreciation, financing, insurance, taxes, fuel, maintenance, and repairs.
The site also offers information about incentives and rebates, pricing
and warranties, as well as payment calculators, model specifications,
and vehicle reviews.
IntelliChoice,
Inc.
The publisher of The Complete Car Cost Guide and The Complete
Small Truck Cost Guide offers online information about the cost
of ownership for specific models. This is based on annual costs of
maintenance, fuel, and depreciation, among other factors. The site
also has loan and affordability calculators, and a list of manufacturers' current
rebates.
Insurance
Information Institute
The site explains what auto insurance covers, how to buy a policy,
save money on it, and how to file a claim. The glossary, accessible
from the home page, explains insurance terms in easy-to-understand
language. Portions of the site have been translated into Spanish.
These links are provided for informational purposes only. AARP does
not endorse, and has no control over, or responsibility for, the linked
sites or the content, advertisements, materials, products, or services
available on or throughout these sites.
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