How to Spot What Makes One Car Safer than Another
Excellent sources of information exist out there going back many years for safety ratings on used cars. We’ll show you how to compile and understand the information to ensure you make an informed choice – and stay away from potential nightmares.
Understanding and Working with Used Car Salvage Titles
As you shop for a used car, you might come across the phrase “salvage title” in a used car advertisement. The price is going to seem right and you’re really going to want to buy it. Just make sure act with your brain and not your heart. Make sure you know what you’re getting into before purchasing a used car with a salvage title. Here are four things to consider: understand What a Salvage Title Is; Get a CarFax report; Get a Qualified Inspection; Weigh the savings vs. future costs
As you shop for a used car, you might come across the phrase “salvage title” in a used car advertisement. The price is going to seem right and you’re really going to want to buy it. Just make sure act with your brain and not your heart. Make sure you know what you’re getting into before purchasing a used car with a salvage title. Here are four things to consider: understand What a Salvage Title Is; Get a CarFax report; Get a Qualified Inspection; Weigh the savings vs. future costs
A Great Safety Website from the U.S. Government
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's SaferCar.gov website bills itself as the premier source of vehicle safety information from the government, serving the public interest. And, it's not exaggerating. There are safety ratings on used cars all the way back to that 1990 Geo Prizm you drove sophomore year in college.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's SaferCar.gov website bills itself as the premier source of vehicle safety information from the government, serving the public interest. And, it's not exaggerating. There are safety ratings on used cars all the way back to that 1990 Geo Prizm you drove sophomore year in college.
Look at the Insurance Losses
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has tables showing insurance losses for hundreds of passenger vehicles grouped by body style and size under six insurance coverages: collision, property damage liability, comprehensive personal injury protection, medical payment, and bodily injury. This information is a strong indicator of how safe a vehicle is.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has tables showing insurance losses for hundreds of passenger vehicles grouped by body style and size under six insurance coverages: collision, property damage liability, comprehensive personal injury protection, medical payment, and bodily injury. This information is a strong indicator of how safe a vehicle is.
A Thorough Look at Safety Info
This website is thorough in its presentation of safety data from all over the world (but with a strong emphasis on North American information). It’s a complete compendium of safety information. I find the site particularly useful for showing how European models, like Astras, that have been imported by Saturn perform.
This website is thorough in its presentation of safety data from all over the world (but with a strong emphasis on North American information). It’s a complete compendium of safety information. I find the site particularly useful for showing how European models, like Astras, that have been imported by Saturn perform.
Does Your Used Car Flunk The Safety Test?
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal, or poor based on performance in high-speed front and side crash tests plus evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal, or poor based on performance in high-speed front and side crash tests plus evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts.
Overrated Safety Features?
This story highlights the debate over whether accident avoidance items, like lane departure warning systems, blind-spot detection and emergency brake assistance are worth the extra price. It focuses mostly on new cars, but these features are already available on used cars.
This story highlights the debate over whether accident avoidance items, like lane departure warning systems, blind-spot detection and emergency brake assistance are worth the extra price. It focuses mostly on new cars, but these features are already available on used cars.