True Auto Protection Extended Vehicle Warranty

Auto Warranty and Maintenance Blog

admin

Recent Posts

Thief trapped in car, forgets how to manually unlock the door

on

 

Thief trapped in car with dead battery, forgets how to manually unlock the door

Forgetting How to Manually Unlock the Car Door,

Brent Morgan, a 20-year-old Canadian, decided to seize what he thought was a golden opportunity by jumping into a Corvette that was idling in the owner's driveway. The Prince George Citizen reports that when the would-be thief attempted to drive away, the car stalled. It turns out that car was idling to charge the battery. The dead battery meant that Morgan's attempts to unlock the doors were in vain, so he tried instead to break the glass with a small hatchet.

"When police arrived, the suspect had just smashed the driver side window and was attempting to exit the vehicle," Prince George RCMP spokesman Corporal Craig Douglass told the news source. "As it turns out, all the suspect would have had to do was manually slide the door lock to the side and the door would have opened."

Morgan was arrested and charged with three counts of property-related crimes as well as a weapons charge.

While a dead battery saved the Corvette in this story, the same issue could cause major problems for other drivers. This is why it is important to get regular maintenance and repairs so you don't end up stranded or trapped. An extended warranty can even cover the costs so you have one less thing to worry about.

 

Continue Reading

Small cars and family-sized sedans offer drivers best value

on

 

Small cars and family-sized sedans offers drivers the best value for their money

Picking out a new car can be a challenge,

especially at the beginning of the year when automakers are starting to launched their latest models. Consumer Reports' annual list of the best new cars available assessed more than 200 new cars and trucks for cost of ownership, reliability and performance, and they found that the Honda Fit is, for the second year in the row, the best vehicle in the list. Overall, small cars like the Toyota Prius Hybrid and family sedans such as the Nissan Altima provide the best value for drivers.

"A low price doesn't necessarily make a car a good value," said Rik Paul, Consumer Reports' automotive editor. "A cheap vehicle can wind up costing you more money over time or can be disappointing down the road."

Spending a little more up front can be beneficial when your car runs better and is a better fit for your driving habits. This strategy can also give open the door to more fuel-efficient vehicles, so you can recoup the extra money you spend at the pump. Another way to save big down the line is to purchase an extended car warranty. This way, you will be covered if any auto parts need to be repaired or replaced.

 

Continue Reading

Scientists develop technology that can detect changes in drivers’ health

on

 

Scientists develop technology that can detect changes in drivers' health

Researchers from the BMW Group and the TU Muenchen Chair of Micro Technology and Medical Device Technology developed a new sensor system that may be able to monitor a person's health while they are behind the wheel.

"Our vision is to get the vehicle to detect when the driver is no longer feeling well and to initiate the appropriate measures," said Professor Tim Lueth, the lead researcher. "When a stress situation is detected by means of skin conductance values, phone calls can be blocked, for instance, or the volume of the radio turned down automatically. With more serious problems the system could turn on the hazard warning lights, reduce the speed or even induce automated emergency braking."

For example, this system can be an effective way to reduce the number of accidents caused by fatigued driving. The Sleep Foundation reports that 1.9 million drivers have crashed due to driving while drowsy, and more than half of drivers polled in their survey report driving drowsy at least once in the past year.

If a driver is involved in a crash caused by fatigue or another health-related problem, a car warranty can cover the cost of the repairs.

 

Continue Reading

Polk finds average age of vehicles still on the rise

on

 

Polk finds average age of vehicles still on the rise

Americans have been holding onto their current vehicles longer since the recession first hit back in 2008. While the economy is slowly recovering, it appears as though many drivers are still reluctant to trade in their cars for newer models. Polk, an automotive data provider, recently reported that the average age of cars and light trucks on the road has increased yet again.

Last year, the average age of passenger cars was just about 11 years, but one year later the age has increased modestly to about 11.1 years. Light trucks, which encompasses pickups and SUVs, saw a slightly more noticeable change from 10.1 years to 10.4.

"The increasing age of the vehicle fleet, together with the increasing length of ownership, offers significant business growth opportunity for the automotive market," said Mark Seng, Polk's global aftermarket practice leader. "Dealer service departments and independent repair facilities, as well as aftermarket parts suppliers, will see increased business opportunity with customers in need of vehicle service."

Drivers who want to keep their cars on the road as long as possible should consider investing in extended warranties. This way, they will be able to bring their vehicles to the mechanic when a problem arises. The car warranty will cover the cost of repairs and replacements of certain parts.

 

Continue Reading

Allstate announces safest cities for drivers

on

 

Allstate announces safest cities for drivers

Allstate, a leading automotive insurance provider, analyzes its claim data each year to determine the safest and most dangerous cities in the country. Fort Collins, Colorado, was found to be the safest city for the second year in a row. On a national scale, the average driver will be involved in a car crash once every ten years. The frequency at which the average Fort Collins resident experiences a wreck is 28.6 percent less often than the national average – once every 14 years.

The report also ranked cities with populations over one million separately, as drivers in larger populations can expect to be involved in accidents more frequently. Phoenix, Arizona, may have placed 55th in the top 100 safest cities, but it is number one for larger populations. The Southwestern city has held that spot since Allstate started conducting this study seven years ago.

Drivers who want to be safe behind the wheel can take steps to lower the risk of an accident, such as taking care to travel at safe speeds. Getting tune-ups and making sure that the vehicle is working properly can also increase safety on the road. A car warranty can help drivers save money on maintenance work and repairs.

"It is vital to educate American drivers about safe driving behaviors they can demonstrate on the road that will help make our roadways safer," said Mike Roche, the executive vice president of Allstate's Claim organization.

 

Continue Reading

Toyota recalls 550,000 vehicles worldwide for steering issue

on

 

Toyota recently announced a global voluntary recall of roughly 550,000 vehicles, the majority of which are in the United States. More than half of theaffected vehicles were sold in America, including the 2004 and 2005 Camry, Highlander, Sienna and Solara, the 2006 Highlander HV and the 2004 Avalon, according to The Associated Press. There are also about 137,000 Lexus vehicles that are being recalled as well – the 2004 and 2005 ES330 and RX330 as well as the 2006 RX400h.

The Japanese automaker began receiving complaints of steering problems in 2007, but they claim that none of the 79 reports have resulted in car accidents or injuries. What the car company claims may happen is that the outer ring of the crankshaft pulley can become misaligned with the inner ring. If the issue is not addressed, it can lead to the steering pump belt detaching from the pulley, which will make it harder for drivers to steer their vehicles.

This issue can cause noises and may illuminate the discharge warning light on the dash. Drivers who notice steering problems, but do not drive an affected Toyota, can consider purchasing an extended warranty. This will cover the cost of any necessary repairs to keep their vehicles' power steering in check.

 

Continue Reading

The NHTSA awards $2.25 million for development of anti-drunk driving technology

on

 

The NHTSA awards $2.25 million for development of anti-drunk driving technology

Within the next decade, blood alcohol content (BAC) readers could become standard in vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently awarded $2.25 million to the development company Takata in partnership with TruTouch, a manufacturer of BAC readers, to develop an in-car system to keep drunk drivers off the road.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 30 people die every day in crashes that involve at least one intoxicated driver, which is the same as one death every 48 minutes. TruTouch has developed a non-invasive method of accurately measuring a person's BAC with infrared light, and the grant will allow them to work with Takata to develop this technology for use in consumer vehicles.

"We are already enjoying tremendous success with this technology in the law enforcement, oil and drilling, military and transportation markets," said Dr. Richard Gill, the president and CEO of TruTouch. "Together with Takata, our mission is to help eliminate alcohol-impaired dangers on the road and save lives. This NHTSA award will help expedite the work to adapt the technology for…in-vehicle solutions to ensure safe vehicle operations."

Drunk drivers make the roads less safe for everyone, and if you get into an accident with a drunk driver, or anyone else for that matter, it can be helpful to have an extended auto warranty to cover the cost of any repairs.

 

Continue Reading

Teen monitoring devices may encourage better driving behavior

on

Safety technology aimed at teenage drivers is growing in accuracy and variety, and Newschannel Three recently teamed up with the Berning Family from Emmett, Michigan, to seehow accurate a GPS tracking system was when it came to checking in on their teenage son, Jordan.

"I'm surprised at the detail of the map when you bring it up," Gary Berning, a local father, told the news publication. "And you actually see the car moving down the road. He's going down Nine Mile Road right now and he's going 55 miles per hour, which is the speed limit there."

The news team reported that Jordan was given a GPS system for his car, but was not told that his parents could see exactly what he was up to until a few days later. He told reporters that he thought it would really help curb his friends' reckless driving habits.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that teenage drivers are four times more likely to get into an accident. Aside from monitoring their kids' driving behavior, parents may want to consider purchasing car warranties that can cover the cost in the event that the car needs work.

 

Continue Reading

Low sales of new Fiat prompt new advertising strategy

on

 

Sales of the 2012 model of the sport subcompact Fiat 500 are well below the projected goal of 6,000 units per month set by thecar company's chairman Sergio Marchionne. The blame is being placed on the third-party advertising agency, Impatto, and not the car itself, according to Advertising Age.

"I don't think we have a car problem, I think we have an awareness problem," Fiat's chief marketing officer, Oliver Francois, told AdAge.

Fiat's first national advertising strategy began a few weeks ago, with a commercial featuring pop icon Jennifer Lopez, Auto Blog reports. The 30-second commercial was taken from the music video for J Lo's latest single, Papi, and features the diva racing around a city in a 500c – top down, of course.

The commercial ends with two dancers lifting Ms. Lopez out the top of the 500 and placing her on the hood, where she danced briefly in high heels. Stilettos can really damage the finish of a car, so anyone who is planning to replicate J Lo's moves should consider investing in an extended warranty first. This way they can have the damages repaired, without paying a fortune, and the driver's wallet will be protected next time their car needs a tuneup or more autobody work.

 

Continue Reading

Study: Older drivers rule the roads

on

Researchers at the University of Michigan recently studied demographic shifts in licensed drivers between 1983 and 2008. They found that people over the age of 40 now account for more than 60

percent of drivers on the road, whereas in 1983, older adults made up less than half of the licensed population. Not only are there more older drivers than young, but a higher proportion of older adults have their licenses than they did in the 80s, according to the study's findings.

"Overall, the future evolution of these changes will have potentially major implications for future transportation and its consequences," said Michael Sivak, a research professor at UMTRI. "Specifically, licensing changes will likely affect the future amount and nature of transportation, transportation mode selected, vehicles purchased, the safety of travel and the environmental consequences of travel."

Even if the roads become safer, the risk of car accidents increases as drivers age, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For this reason, it can be wise to purchase an extended car warranty that will cover the cost of repairs should drivers get into accidents.

 

Continue Reading

Subscribe to Our Blog:

Click for a Free Auto Extended Warranty Quote or Call 877-397-1022

Recent Posts

True Platinum Protection Plan Fact Sheet

Posts by Topic

see all