Automotive Technical Schools Keeping Up With the Times

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Recent and proposed changes in emissions laws as they pertain to newly manufactured automobiles has prompted the auto industry to rethink it’s focus on fuel economy. Though manufacturers have reacted to legislative changes by developing and promoting hybrid and fuel cell powered vehicles, very few car owners have made the switch. The expense of research and development in addition to revised manufacturing platforms has put environmentally friendly vehicles out of reach for the average consumer. Still, the writing is on the wall in terms of the automotive industries future regarding reduced emissions.

Despite the fact the low emission vehicles make up less than one percent of the nations overall vehicle ownership, many in the industry are preparing for eventuality of a market dominated by hybrid cars and trucks. Automotive technical schools, the institutions by which the mechanically inclined learn the skill sets and knowledge necessary for auto and diesel repair work, are already gearing up for the changes. In addition to teaching the intricacies of gas and diesel powered vehicles, several automotive technician schools are incorporating coursework that pertains to the specialized fuel systems and engine components of hybrid vehicles. Some are even offering entire programs based on the vehicles that have already been developed and are currently available on the market.

As with the information technology sector, educational institutions that offer automotive related programs must constantly keep abreast of trends in the industry as sweeping changes can happen seemingly overnight. Automotive technical schools are one of the few institutional entities that cater to modern technology and must keep their course offerings relative to the marketplace in order to adequately prepare graduates for what they will experience when employed. Unlike educational providers that offer IT curriculum, however, automotive technical schools are able to stay ahead of market driven changes as the average price of new vehicles keeps consumer spending relative to the age of technological advances.

Online Automobile Loan Tips

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The internet is a booming marketplace. Online automotive lending is an industry that has begun to boom. There are several benefits of getting an automobile loan online, but there are some tips you should follow to fully utilize those benefits.

Online Credit Score The internet is a quick and hassle free place where you can purchase goods/services and acquire useful information. Your credit score is one piece of information that is extremely easy to get online. Before searching for auto loan quotes online, be sure to acquire your credit report and credit score. If online lenders constantly request credit reports, it could lower your credit score slightly. One click of your mouse can save you headache in the future.

Loan Payment Calculator Many online automobile lenders offer car loan payment calculators. These are simple tools that allow you to plug in values such as desired loan term, payment amount, or interest rate. Then the tool tells you how much you will pay, how long you will pay, or at what interest rate you will pay your auto loan. It is in your best interest to use this car loan payment calculator when you are quoted a loan. There are dishonest lenders that will quote you one interest rate, but your payment reflects another. This calculator can prevent you from falling victim to this type of scam.

Compare quotes The internet provides a perfect venue for you to quickly and efficiently compare auto lender quotes. A useful tip for comparing is to use online sites that encourage lenders to compete for your business. This competition leads to lower interest rates and possibly shorter auto loan terms.

The internet is a great resource for individuals looking for an auto loan. If online features, such as credit scores, payment calculators, and competition sites, are used to their fullest, the borrower will always win.

How To Get Affordable Automobile Insurance In South Carolina

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Driving without insurance in South Carolina isn’t really an option. The moment an insurance policy lapses or is canceled on any registered vehicle in South Carolina the state is informed. 20 days later, if a new insurance policy has not been added to that vehicle the registration tags and license plates are canceled and your driver’s license is tagged. Reinstating a vehicle at that point becomes very time-consuming and expensive.

Rather than put yourself through all of that hassle, why not simply use the information in this article to help you get affordable automobile insurance in South Carolina. It’s probably easier than you think.

If you are considering buying a vehicle check with your insurance agent first. Not all vehicles cost the same to insure and before you set your heart on a vehicle that you can’t really afford to insure, ask your agent for a list of vehicles that cost the least to insure.

How you drive is even more important that what you drive. If you really want affordable automobile insurance then you need to keep your driving record as spotless as possible. You don’t want it littered with speeding tickets or other moving violations and you definitely do not want any convictions for DUI or DWI on your record. Even one DUI or DWI conviction and you will not be seeing affordable automobile insurance for at least 3 years – and maybe much longer!

Can you use public transportation for many of your “driving” needs? If you can reduce your monthly driving down to 500 miles or less you can qualify for a rather hefty Low Mileage Discount on your insurance.

In a similar vein if you can carpool to work you can also save on your car insurance each month. If you have recently stopped working for any reason, and you are no longer driving back and forth to work at all, then be sure to let your agent know as this can reduce your monthly insurance premium by quite a bit.

Do you have a garage where you can park your car at night? If so, this can also save you money every month.

If your car is so old that it no longer has any Kelly Blue Book value then you are wasting your money if you continue to pay for collision or comprehensive insurance.

If you combine all of your insurance policies – homeowner’s, health, life, etc. – with the same insurance company you will receive a break on your car insurance payment each month.

Don’t make a lot of small claims. Save your claims for the big stuff. The longer you can go without filing any claim the more of a break you’ll get on your insurance. Some companies begin offering discounts as quickly as 6 months without a claim.

Drivers under 25 can save 5% a month on the cost of their insurance simply by staying in school and maintaining at least a 3.0 grade point average.

Drivers over 55 can often save 10% a month if they take – and pass – a special driving course. Ask your agent if you qualify for this discount.

Ask your agent if you will save any money by purchasing – and using – a steering wheel locking device or a simple electronic device that shuts off your fuel pump unless you key-in a secret code.

Increasing your deductible is a fast and reliable way of reducing your monthly insurance premium, but it can also be a double-edged sword. If you ever have a claim you will need to come up with your deductible in cash before your insurance company will pay the rest of your claim, so don’t offer to pay more than you can actually come up with.

The final step in getting affordable automobile insurance in South Carolina is to get online and find 3 different websites that compare the cost of automobile insurance from different companies.

The trick here is to use the information in this article to enter the exact same information onto the form at all 3 websites so that your comparisons really have some value. Now simply choose the cheapest company and you’re done. That’s it! This is how you get affordable automobile insurance here in South Carolina and save money month after month and year after year.

Ladies And Gentlemen, Start Your Careers! Automotive Technicians Wanted

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It can be a challenge to land a prime spot on a race car pit crew. Yet vehicle dealerships across the country are scrambling to find qualified automotive technicians for their own “pit crews”-even with salaries of $30,000 to $70,000 or more, depending on the market and the technician’s level of training.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the auto industry will need 35,000 new technicians every year through 2010.

Lucrative But Overlooked Careers

With that in mind, an unusual contest is getting into gear with the purpose of increasing awareness about this lucrative and rewarding yet often-overlooked career, and support training opportunities for future technicians. It’s called the No. 29 Goodwrench Expertise Challenge. And it is a challenge. “Historically, being an automotive technician has been depicted as a dirty, dead-end kind of job,” said Peter Lord, executive director, GM Service Operations. “That old stereotype could not be further from the truth. Today’s cars and trucks are very sophisticated-the computer technology in them alone, for example, is nearly 1,000 times more powerful than what took the Apollo mission to the moon.”

“Dealerships need trained, qualified technicians because they know that satisfaction with vehicle service and repair work is closely tied to how customers view their vehicles and the dealership.”

The Challenge benefits automotive technician training like this: If driver Kevin Harvick’s No. 29 car wins two out of 12 selected NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races beginning May 28 with the Coca-Cola 600, GM Goodwrench will set up a $200,000 scholarship fund to encourage Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES) high school students to continue their automotive technical education by attending GM Automotive Service Educational Program (ASEP) colleges. AYES is a nonprofit business and education partnership that creates automotive technology career opportunities for promising young men and women at automotive dealerships. It was founded in 1995 by former GM Chairman Jack Smith as a way to address the growing need for technicians.

Spreading The Word

“There are thousands of NASCAR fans-and others-who are ideal candidates for a career as an automotive technician,” said Larry Cummings, CEO of AYES. “The Expertise Challenge is a fun and engaging way to help spread the word about these great career opportunities.”

Students enrolled in GM ASEP two-year programs earn while they learn, rotating their time between classes and interning at GM dealerships and other GM service centers. There are 66 GM ASEP participating schools in 38 U.S. states, 15 in Canada and one in the People’s Republic of China. Successful students graduate with an associate’s degree, and either are ready for or have passed their National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification test. More than 2,000 students are currently enrolled in the program, and there are more than 14,000 graduates.

If Harvick and the team meet the Expertise Challenge by winning two of the 12 select races, GM Goodwrench will award 29 Grand Prizes, which consist of an all-new 2007 Chevy Avalanche, a $1,000 GM vehicle maintenance certificate and a trunk full of Reese’s products.

Program Rules Available

If only one race is won during the promotion, two lucky winners will be awarded an all-new 2007 Chevy Avalanche, a $1,000 GM vehicle maintenance certificate, and a trunk full of Reese’s products. They will also donate $25,000 to the GM Goodwrench Scholarship Fund. If no races are won during the promotion, the promotion will still give away an all-new 2007 Chevy Avalanche, a $1,000 GM vehicle maintenance certificate, and a trunk full of Reese’s products to one lucky winner, and provide a $25,000 donation to the GM Goodwrench Scholarship fund.

How To Choose The Right Automobile For Your Family

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In this day and age most families could not fathom doing without the convenience of an automobile, which makes the buying process an important one. When attempting to choose the right car for your family, it’s important to consider a variety of factors that will help to make sure your ride is a smooth one.

First and foremost, you will need to ensure that your family’s automobile is a safe one. As a consumer, you can check the results of government crash test and/or safety ratings online or by asking your local dealership for further information. If purchasing an SUV, for instance, it may be especially important for you to consider the rollover capability. If you are like most, you will also find it beneficial to learn how the automobile held up in crash test ratings.

If you have children, interior space is likely to be a priority on your list of auto amenities. Whether it’s storage space for toting sports equipment, musical instruments for band practice or just a little extra room for a special trip to the toy store, it’s a good idea to consider comfort in terms of available space, movability and leg room.

Whether you are purchasing a new or used automobile, a warranty is an important consideration. New vehicles typically come with a manufacturer’s warranty, while previously owned automobiles may have a portion of the manufacturer’s warranty remaining or possibly even one that is offered directly from the dealership. If the original manufacturer’s warranty has expired, there may be an option of purchasing an extended warranty from the manufacturer upon request. This is typically only available on newer model vehicles, but it is a consideration for those investing in a previously-owned ride.

If you purchase a used automobile, it’s advisable to ask the seller for the VIN number and/or Carfax report. If the dealership or private owner doesn’t have a Carfax report, you can obtain one yourself using the VIN number. This information is helpful in determining the vehicle’s actual mileage, accident record, service or repair history and more. Additionally, a Carfax report can let you know whether or not the automobile has ever been involved in a recall and/or reported as stolen, both of which are important to know when choosing a vehicle for your family.

For new cars it is possible to request to see the invoice for the car, which will tell you how much the dealership had to pay for the vehicle at their wholesale cost. Many car dealers will bargain to a price within a thousand dollars or so of this invoice price if you negotiate with them. This of course doesn’t apply to some companies like Saturn, which does business at sticker-price only.

Be aware that any “factory rebates” are technically reimbursements from the manufacturer, not the dealer. As such, it isn’t entirely uncommon to be able to purchase a car for BELOW the invoice price if there are a lot of factory incentives available for the model car you are purchasing and the dealer is being particularly flexible on pricing.

Last but not least, the cost of operation for an automobile is a significant consideration when choosing the right vehicle for your family. Gas mileage and the cost of auto insurance are both important in terms of affordability. In general, an SUV uses more gasoline and will carry a higher cost of auto insurance. The age of an automobile also plays a role in the cost of auto insurance, which is typically more expensive on new vehicles than on earlier models.