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Buying a car can be bewildering. You step on the lot, and you see soooo many cars. Some are autos you wouldn’t ever want to drive (but you can easily afford) to your dream vehicle with all the bells and whistles. As you walk through the lot, you start looking at the price tags, and sticker shock starts to set in. You know you have enough money to afford a car payment, but you might not know exactly how much car you can get with that money. This is where a pre-approved car loan can be your best friend. Rather than picking out a car and then getting a car loan, many buyers prefer to go the other way around. So why should you get a car loan approval before stepping on the lot?

No credit is not the same as bad credit. Having no credit doesn't mean that you aren't a responsible person, it typically means that you haven't had a need to establish any credit at this point in your life. Lenders understand that people have to start somewhere, sometime. They just want to be assured if they agree to offer you a loan, that you are good for the money.

People with no credit are usually younger, in college or just getting out into the workforce. We all started with no credit at some point. Welcome to the world of financial responsibility!

So, what is a hybrid car? Simply put, a hybrid car is a vehicle that uses more than one form of "onboard energy" to propel itself down the road. It accomplishes this by supplementing the power of an internal combustion engine with a battery powered electric motor. In the USA, hybrid vehicles are powered by combination power plants consisting of an electric motor and a gasoline engine. In other parts of the world they also use a diesel/electric combination.

Every year we see new articles touting the “Safest Car of the Year.” Car safety has changed a great deal throughout the years, from the implementation of the lap-type seat belts, moving up to shoulder type seat belts, then on through airbags, crumple zones, and now we are coming to an era of autonomous cars. Just like all improvements in technology, these added safety benefits come at a cost. How much safer are drivers and passengers with these added features? Do the benefits always outweigh the costs? Let’s take a look at a few of the more common improvements in automotive safety in the last decade.

Tax time is here and you are looking at getting a decent chunk of change on your return. You start thinking about all the things you can buy with your return, but then your concentration is broken by the sound of your old hooptie quietly rusting in the driveway. Though it is not pretty, it has gotten you to work safely (*knock on wood), gotten the kids to practice, and even made a few trips to the beach. The old grocery-getter has seen better days; you keep a pair of well used jumper cables in the back seat, and duct tape is keeping the rear-view mirror from falling off in traffic. It is possible that you are thinking of adding auto repair to your resume of skills! Uncle Sam’s refund will be enough to cover replacing it outright, but there is a certain charm to your whip that you don’t want to part with. So, the question remains, replace or repair.

Walking into a used car lot, or searching through ads on the local classified listings can be an exhausting experience. You often don’t know much about the care that was taken by the previous owner, and you do not know what work needs to be done. Here is a simple used car checklist of things to look for when you are buying a used car. 

Pets are part of the family. They keep us company on the couch when watching movies, but sometimes we want to share the outside world with them. Just like bringing a baby along for a trip, there are certain things we need to consider when traveling with pets. The considerations increase when we are planning to take them for longer rides or overnight. Here are a few things to think about when bringing your furry friend out with you!

Pets are family too, and we love bringing our dogs wherever we go. Whether it’s just a trip to the hardware store, or a cross country galivant, car safety for dogs should be a priority. Your pup should be just as safe in your car as you are. Here are four tested and well regarded ways to keep your dog safe while traveling with you.

Let’s face it; your car never breaks down on a gorgeous afternoon next to a nice restaurant and repair shop. The odds are that you broke down in the middle of nowhere on a freeway where nobody wants to stop, the nearest exit is 12 miles in either direction, it is 38 degrees and raining, and your cell service is intermittent. Now that Old Man Winter has shown his face, it is time to check your emergency gear before you find yourself shivering on the side of the road. Winter survival gear can save your life!

Fortunately for folks in Hampton Roads, significant and long term snowfall is not the norm in our area. But, just because you don't need to slap on a set of snow tires for the winter doesn't mean that tires should be ignored or that there aren't other vehicle winterizing routines that you should be doing. Winter is coming.... are you prepared?