Improving the Exterior Style of Your Car

There are many approaches you can take to bring your car from average to amazing. Most of the instant improvements should be made to the exterior of your car to get the most effective difference. This will make the biggest initial impact because the exterior is what most people see. The interior of your ride is mostly for your comfort and appeal.

So what can you do to the exterior of your car to make improvements? Well there are many modifications you can make. You could add a body kit to get the most drastic customization. A body kit usually will include replacement bumpers, and new side skirts. Some body kits will also include a spoiler, or even wide fenders for a wide stance. A carbon fiber hood is a common upgrade that will help in reducing the weight of your vehicle and giving it a sleek look. These carbon fiber hoods come in many styles with unique designs. There are many other carbon fiber products that can really accent your cars body. Add a carbon fiber wind splitter, rear diffusers, and side mirrors for performance improvement and nice body accents.

One of the most common upgrade that people do when they get a new or used car is to replace the factory wheels with custom wheels. Usually a larger size with lower profile tires to get that sport look. Pick the color and style of your wheels based on the look and paint of your ride. Some great color combinations are blue, with carbon fiber add-ons and black rims, black car completely blacked out with black wheels with some silver accents.

A newer style in car customization is to black out a car completely. This is done by painting the car completely black including all emblems grills and everything. Tinting the windows is a must to continue the blacked out look all around.

Adding some of these simple body components or add-ons will give you a quick personal upgrade and an eye catching appearance. A body kit, carbon fiber hood, wheels, tinted windows, and custom paint or graphics with give you the ultimate in style and design.

How to Not Void Your Auto Warranty

There are very few things that can reassure us when we buy a new car, and one of those is a good auto warranty. While your warranty can be a great source of reassurance for the moment, helping with repairs when you may not be able to afford them on your own, it can turn into something of contention at a time when the dealer says that the warranty has been voided.

How can you avoid this costly mistake? This short article will discuss a number of common reasons that a manufacturer will cite for why they will not honor a warranty.

Reckless Driving

This includes off-roading, overloading the vehicle and racing. Even a vehicle that is designed to be driven at high speeds or off-road could be denied their warranty coverage, so may sure that you think twice before you take part in risky activities with your vehicle.

Maintenance

Most warranties will require a vehicle to be regularly serviced. This can mean if your engine fails due to dirty oil buildup, the repairs will not be covered under the warranty. Even though the vehicle might be under the warranty, getting the oil changed every regularly is something that is covered under the requirement of regular maintenance. You do not have to necessarily have it maintained at your dealer, but ensure that you keep receipts for personal records.

Not Reading Fine Print

One important thing you should do is read the fine print of your vehicle warranty. Many warranties will contain conditions that are not listed in an article like this so you will be losing money if you violate them, even if it is accidentally.

Salvage Title

When any vehicle is found as a total loss, the original title will turn into a salvage title. An insurance company will not allow a warranty to be eligible on a salvage title. It does not matter if the vehicle has been repaired because insurance companies will no longer think of it as valuable enough to receive warranty repairs.

Aftermarket Modifications

This specific condition of warranties can often be very confusing for a consumer. While people may think that this means they ca not make alterations to a vehicle at all, there is a certain act named the Magnuson-Moss Act of 1975 that says the dealer has to prove the aftermarket modification led to the problems for the part or modification to cause the warranty to void.

Environmental Damage

Warranties, no matter where you get the vehicle or warranty, will not cover any damage caused by nature. And this will include environmental disasters like floods, fires and earthquakes.

Updating Your Car Insurance Coverage to Reflect Vehicle Upgrades

Car Insurance companies calculate auto insurance premiums based on factors that include your location, driving record and the type of vehicle you drive. Vehicle modifications can impact the rates, and even leave you uninsured.

Here you can learn the difference between general upgrades, performance upgrades, and aethetic upgrades. We'll then explain why many auto insurance companies are loathe to cover many types of modifications. When they decide to, the coverage offered may be subject higher rates and less flexibility; you'll discover why below.

"Typical" Modifications Versus Performance Upgrades

If you plan to own your vehicle for several years, you'll likely make a few upgrades over time. That's normal. For example, you might have a new stereo system installed to replace the original unit. Or, you might want an in-vehicle DVD entertainment system in your SUV. You may install rally lights on the roof of your car, or get a hands-free bluetooth telephone receiver.

While the upgrades described above are geared for comfort, others are designed to give your vehicle an attractive veneer or a boost in performance. For example, new leather seats, shiny aftermarket rims, and window tints all make your car look more aesthetically appealing. On the other hand, a racing transmission, performance exhaust, and hi-flow air intake are designed for performance.

All of the above modifications should be reflected on your auto insurance policy. Otherwise, they are unlikely to be covered. Worse, in some cases, a particular upgrade may render your policy null and void. That could be disastrous if you are involved in a traffic accident during which your vehicle is totaled.

Why Insurance Companies Refuse To Cover Souped-Up Vehicles

From the insurer's perspective, a car that has been modified with expensive performance upgrades represents an enormous risk. Some car owners spend two to three times the cost of their vehicle on upgrades and modifications. This is problematic for car insurance companies for two reasons.

Firstly, performance parts and systems added to the vehicle often times cost more than the car itself. If the vehicle gets wrecked, the replacement value for all the upgrades would exceed the value value of the car.

Second, performance upgrades suggest the car's owner has a propensity for racing or other similarly risky driving behavior. That elevates his (or her) risk class and implies a greater likelihood of a traffic accident.

Taken together, these two factors cause many auto insurers to decline policies to motorists with souped-up cars. When a new policy is extended, or an existing policy is appended, it typically comes with limitations and higher rates.

Limitations When Insuring A Modified Vehicle

Many auto insurance companies are willing to cover cars that have been upgraded with modified parts... for a price. Their main issue is a the high probability of an insurance claim. To that end, they will usually cap the number of miles you're allowed to drive each year and place additional restrictions on the type of driving you do - for example, racing. Such policies will often restrict policyholders to driving less than a certain number of kilometers throughout the year.

The replacement cost reflected in these type of policies is based on an agreed upon value or a stated value. The former is a number that is negotiated between you and the insurer. In the event of a loss, the insurer agrees to pay the negotiated value. The latter is also a negotiated number. The difference is that the insurer agrees to pay the lesser of the stated worth or fair market valuation in the event of a claim.

Can You Find Better Coverage With Lower Rates?

As you might expect, your auto insurance premiums will normally be much higher for a souped-up vehicle. Moreover, many insurers will refuse to cover some types of modifications. There's no time like the present to shop for the insurance your require at the rates your can afford. When you contact your insurer to update your policy with recent upgrades, determine the effect those upgrades will have on your premiums. Then, look online for lower car insurance rates.

Many people don't believe they have time to comparison shop for the best package (i.e. open coverage options, a better service, and lower insurance premiums.). You may find that doing so uncovers surprisingly attractive deals.