Sir, do you know why I pulled you over today? It's your illegal window tint.

Considering that it doesn’t take long to become familiar with the tint laws in your state, and considering that doing so will spare you a headache (traffic stops, citations and fines are all possible outcomes for disregarding tint laws), why not bone up a bit on window tinting laws in the USA?

Why Are Tinted Windows Regulated?

There are two main reasons that states have chosen to enact tint laws:

1. Visibility while driving at night. Heavily tinted windows are difficult to see through in low-light conditions.
2. To promote safety of law enforcement officers. States want to protect police offers (and other enforcement agents) during a traffic stop or any other time they approach a vehicle. If an officer can’t see inside a car s/he stopped, it makes for a potentially dangerous situation.

However, despite the universal nature of window tint laws, the specific rules and regulations can vary widely from one state to the next. Whatever the specific laws are in your state or community, they generally address three key issues:

1. Darkness Restrictions & VLT (Visible Light Transmittance)

Each state requires a certain amount of light to pass through your car windows. The actual darkness is measured in units of VLT (visible light transmittance). For example, a film with a VLT of 40%, would allow someone outside the vehicle to see 40% of the light passing through the windows. These restrictions are likely to be strictest on the front end of your vehicle (all glass the driver looks through), and typically most lax on the left and right rear windows. This is so an officer can see a driver clearly in the event of a traffic stop.

It’s best to check where your state stands on darkness regulations. This is the most prominent rule, and with reason: It’s the one drivers are most likely to break. When it comes to car window tinting, understanding VLT restrictions can save quite the hassle.

2. Can I Tint My Windshield?

Since a lot of sun will enter your vehicle at a forward angle, it’s a completely valid question.  However, if you want to tint an entire windshield, most states will require you to obtain a medical exemption.

However, if you wish to tint only the top portion of your windshield, you’re likely in luck. Many states allow vehicle owners to tint the top 4-7 inches of their windshield, and on many cars this can make a world of difference. Other states allow tinting all the way to the windshield manufacturer’s AS1 line (assuming your windshield has this line, as not all of them do).

Next to darkness restrictions, this is the next most likely tinting law to be broken, so pay attention.

3. Do I need to Have a Certified Tint Sticker on My Car?

The answer depends upon your state. Some states require all film sold to be certified. Others don’t regulate this aspect. Many states requiring certified film also require a sticker to be placed in a specified location on your vehicle to designate that the tint is legal.

For instance, if you live in Connecticut, you’ll be required to have a sticker on your window tinting to prove the film is legally certified. But if you call Nevada home, no such restriction would apply. Understanding this small part of the law is easy, and in turn, can save a lot of hassle.

In all, window tint, when installed within the law, can provide solid benefits to drivers. Aside from heat protection and glare reduction, many motorists fancy car tint for it’s privacy and aesthetic features. Yet it’s crucial to understand the laws where you live before installing any tint. It’s safe to say that nobody wants fines and citations. Follow the rules, and you’ll have nothing to worry about.

Guest Author Jared Diamond is a window tinting expert who writes for DetailWiz.com

The new Ford Edge navigation system

Once you are sat down in the car and have turned the Ford’s ignition on, the GPS dashboard system should automatically initiate, although on some older models you might need to activate it manually by pressing the “NAV” button to the left hand side of the system console. This will switch you in-car entertainment system into navigation GPS mode.

You can now press the “MAP” button which is located on the display itself, which is touch-screen, using similar operating graphics to the radio and CD player options. The GPS will take a short few seconds to jump into operation and it is ready once you see the digital maps appear – which will also now show you your exact location using the GPS networks orbiting satellites. The map view will be top-down and will display the street names and area that your car is currently in.

Now it is possible to tell the Ford GPS where you want to go. This is very simple, so press the “DIRECTIONS” button on the display. You can now type the address in to where you want to go, or even type in the name of a business. So for example, type in “Walmart” and it will return the ones that are nearest to your location letting you then press “GO” in order to drive to them. If you do wish to navigate to an address then you will need to know the exact city, street, and zip code in order to let the Ford Navigation System do its magic.

Once your destination is verified, the Ford Edge Navigation will take you there using spoken word turn by turn directions and commands. Newer models are now also coming with voice activated technology which allow you to speak where you want to go, with the system having around a 90% comprehension rate of US and North American locations.

One last thing, the digital maps you see on the display are stored on the device itself and will require updating. The new software maps come on DVDs which you can buy once a year. Please visit FordNavigationDVD.net, a website run by Ford enthusiasts to learn more and find the cheapest online prices and deals on navigation updates.

Author Bob Simmons writes for FordNavigationDVD.net, a website offering Ford Navigation System Update DVDs for all Ford vehicles, including the Ford Edge.

When your child begins driving, you will need to buy car insurance for your child as well. It makes sense that you would want to shop around and find the most affordable car insurance possible.

Consider Shopping for New Quotes

You may be perfectly happy with your current car insurance company and the rate you are paying. However, when you add a teen driver to your policy, you may find that your insurance costs increases significantly. Rates in general are often higher for young drivers, but some insurance companies may have more affordable rates for younger drivers than the insurance company you are currently with. You should first take time to talk to your current insurance company. You can get a rate quote and learn about possible discounts that you or your teen driver may qualify for. Then take a few minutes to shop around for additional quotes for comparison.

Increase Your Deductible

Your deductible is the amount of money you pay out-of-pocket when you get into a car accident or otherwise file a claim. After this amount is paid, your insurance policy will pay the rest of your expenses up to your insurance limits. Unless your limits are very low or your accident is very severe, insurance may pay for the entire cost of the accident except for the deductible. By increasing the amount of your deductible, you can lower your premium cost. You do want to ensure you have cash on hand to pay your deductible after an accident, so be sure to have this balance available in a savings account to use when needed.

Adjust Your Coverage

Your coverage limits can easily be adjusted with a quick call into your insurance company. By reducing yourage cover limits, you will pay a lower premium. However, you do want to consider this change carefully before following through with it. Keep in mind that if your coverage limits are too low, your insurance policy may not be sufficient to pay for the full amount of your claim after an accident. When this happens, you will need to pay for costs that your insurance policy does not cover. This may provide you with immediate savings on your premium, but it may cost you in the long run if you or your child are involved in a costly accident.

Parents today do want to find ways to cut back on expenses and save money. When teens start driving, costs can quickly mount. There are fuel costs, the cost of the car itself, and auto insurance to pay for. There are several different ways that frugal parents may be able to reduce the cost of car insurance. Some options like shopping for auto insurance rates and adjusting your deductible can be great solutions, but adjusting your cover limits may have a few downsides that you may have to contend with in the future.

You can keep these tips and strategies in mind as you shop for quotes and consider your options for lowering the cost of auto insurance today.

About the Author: Chris is experienced internet marketer interested in key web technologies to boost clients’ business online exposure to a maximum. During his career he worked for some of biggest Australian brands in finance, tourism and IT niche. Currently employed as a marketing consultant at leading Australian car insurance company.

Vintage car insurance ad. Image copyright Flicr user jbcurio - click image for more details.

1. Shop around. You don’t have to stick with a particular company just because you’ve always been with them. Get quotes from several different companies and choose the one that best fits your needs at the price you can best afford. But, keep in mind that many companies offer discounts when you have both your car insurance and your homeowner’s insurance with them. You may qualify for even better rates if you have other policies with them as well. So take those discounts into consideration when you’re price-shopping; your current company may still have the edge because of multiple policies.

2. Ask about discounts. This may sound too simple to be useful, but give it a try. Many insurance companies do offer discounts for features you may already have, or things you may already be doing. Your company may offer discounts for anti-theft devices or anti-lock brakes on your car, or you may get a lower rate if you park your car in your garage instead of on the street. You may qualify for discounts if you pay your premium for the next six or twelve months all at once. These are only a few examples; talk to your agent and find what discounts are available to you.

3. Do you have a teenage driver? Invest in a driver’s education course and ask about other discounts. Unfortunately, car insurance rates generally go way up when you add a teenage driver to the picture. New drivers, of course, are more likely to end up in an accident, so they’re greater risks to insure. But ask your agent about ways you can reduce those costs. Insurance companies often offer discounts to teenage drivers when they’ve passed a driver’s training course. Another popular discount is available to teenagers who make good grades. So there’s yet one more reason to encourage your teen to do well in school.

4. Change coverage for older cars. If your car is getting old and significantly decreasing in value, it may make sense to drop full coverage and retain only the liability insurance. If you are at fault in an accident, liability will cover damages sustained by other vehicles, but it won’t pay for damages to your car. But, considering you’ll only receive an amount up to the current value of the car, the extra coverage may not be worth it to you.

5. Increase your deductible. You’ll want to be careful with this, because you don’t want your deductible to be so high that you’ll be in financial hot water in the event of an accident. But the lower your deductible is, the higher your premiums are. Look for that sweet spot in your coverage where both your deductible and premiums seem manageable.

Car insurance is probably an unwanted expense for most people. The good news is that there are ways you can make those car insurance payments lower.

Christopher Jensen is a writer and car enthusiast offering advice on how to get an auto insurance comparison when shopping for alabama auto insurance rates.

Do you think this heavily modified Toyota Tundra is insured? Image courtesy TundraHeadquarters.com

The changes that must be reported range from fancy new rims to strut bars to new spoilers. A good rule of thumb: If you’re not sure, go ahead and mention the modification to your insurance company. Full disclosure can make sure you will be covered if you ever need to file a claim. Here’s why:

Rims, Wheels, and Tires

Every car has specific manufacturer guidelines for the proper wheel size and rims. Replacing your standard rims with something more sporty might seem like a cosmetic change, but the insurance company could claim that going outside the manufacturer recommendations can cause the car to handle differently and make it more dangerous to drive. If you switch out your wheels, rims, or tires for something a little racier than stock, you should let your insurance company know about it.

Suspension

The car’s suspension controls how the car handles on the road. Any major changes to the struts, strut bars, or steering mechanism should be mentioned to your insurance company right away. If you install a lift mechanism or lower the body, the insurance company needs to know about that, too. Sometimes simply installing aftermarket parts to the suspension system of your car is enough to change the car’s classification for an insurance policy. A quick check with your insurance agent when you make the modifications could save you a lot of time and money later.

Body Modifications

Most of the modifications that you do to the body of the car do not need to be reported to the insurance company. Tinting the glass, changing the paint, or installing extra lights are not things the insurance company would be interested in. The only body changes the insurance company needs to know about are any modifications designed to make the car go faster. A spoiler, a scoop on the hood, or scoops along the sides of the body need to be reported to the insurance company. All of these can change the way the car handles, which changes the way the insurance company determines your rates.

Engine Power Enhancements

Report any engine modifications that you make to your car, no matter how insignificant you may think they are. There are very few engine changes that cause a car to behave less efficiently. Usually every engine modification is designed to make the car accelerate faster or run differently, which is something the insurance company needs to know about. Modifications to anything from gas delivery to exhaust need to be reported so that you stay out of trouble if you ever need to file a claim on that car.

Potential Consequences of Keeping Quiet

The problem with keeping secrets from a car insurance company is that you never know when you will need to file a claim. As soon as you are in an accident or your car is damaged in some way, your insurance company will send someone to assess the damage so that they can begin to process your claim. If modifications are discovered after the claim has been filed, the insurance company has the right to deny your claim. It is also possible for the company to drop your insurance coverage entirely. You could be left with a broken car that you have to repair out of pocket because you failed to mention those modifications.

Author Dan Nielson is a contract electrician and blogs for truckspring.com, a site that specializes in suspensions for trucks. They have everything from Bilstein shocks to air bags suspension kits.

Reported Problems

The 2012 study takes a look at owners of 2009 vehicles and their reports of problems. Overall dependability is determined by the level of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100); the lower the score, the higher the quality.

Among brands, Lexus easily finished first, with owners reporting 86 problems per 100 vehicles over the past 12 months. Porsche was second at 98 PP100 and Toyota tied with Cadillac for third at PP104. Scion placed fifth with a score of PP111. The industry average was PP132 with 12 brands beating the average and 20 finishing behind the curve. Importantly, scores surged in the latest study with the average increasing by 19 points.

Toyota Winners

The four Toyota brand winners included the Toyota Yaris in the subcompact category, which was followed by the Scion xD and Honda’s Fit. In the compact car category, the Toyota Prius finished first followed by the Toyota Corolla and Hyundai’s Elantra. In several instances Toyota had second and third place finishes. Among minivans, the Toyota Sienna finished first followed by the Honda Odyssey. For large pickup trucks, the Toyota Tundra won out, finishing ahead of the GMC Sierra HD and the Chevrolet Silverado LD.

Other Toyota brand models performing well included the Toyota Camry in the midsize segment, finishing third behind the Ford Fusion and Mitsubishi’s Galant. Toyota’s Avalon finished behind Buick’s Lucerne and ahead of the Ford Taurus among large cars. Among compact SUVs the Toyota RAV4 placed third behind the Chevrolet Equinox and the Honda CR-V. The Toyota Highlander finished third in the midsize SUV segment, behind first-place winners the Ford Explorer and the Nissan Murano.

Lexus, Toyota’s luxury brand took top honor in the entry level premium car segment as the ES 350 tied with the Lincoln MKZ. In the midsize luxury crossover category the Lexus RX350 won out. Scion’s two winners were its tC compact sporty model and its xB, winner of the compact MPV segment.

Customer Perceptions

The annual Vehicle Dependability Study is a good measure on how cars will perform once they have been owned for several years. Keep in mind that we’re looking at 2009 models — vehicle offerings change as do customer perceptions. Yet, if you’re looking for a trustworthy source for gauging a brand, then the Vehicle Dependability Study offers you a measurement you’ll want to keep in mind the next time that you shop for a new or a dependable used car.

Matt Keegan is editor and publisher of the online Auto Trends Magazine. This website features industry news, automotive specifications, book reviews and related information about new cars and products.

The Britax Boulevard 70 convertible car seat

So, which convertible car seats are the best? Consumer Reports, the highly respected testing company that rates consumer products and makes recommendations, ranked 4 seats at the top.

The Evenflo Momentum 65 DLX

The Evenflo Momentum 65 DLX scored well in Consumer Reports, but wasn't well reviewed on Amazon.com

Consumer Reports (CR) rated the Evenflo Momentum 65 DLX convertible seat near the top.  It’s a solid seat that’s rear facing from 5-40 pounds and then faces forward until a child reaches a weight of approximately 65 pounds.

CR gave the Momentum high marks in safety and how easy the seat is to use.  I also like to use Amazon.com to read owner reviews as this is very important feedback.

The Evenflo Momentum Scored Low with Owners

The Evenflo seat scores very low on these customer ratings.  There are only 14 reviews and the average review is 2.5 stars out of 5 stars possible.
The negatives that owners mention are that the straps are not user friendly, the seat seems to be made cheaply and that their children don’t seem comfortable.

The advantage to this seat is the price.  It’s selling for around $125 and this may be why it was rated so high by Consumer Reports.  CR gives a lot of weight to price in their rankings.

Britax Convertible Car Seats

The other three seats that scored at the top of the list by Consumer Reports were all Britax seats.  The seats were the Britax Boulevard 70, the Britax Boulevard 70 CS and the Britax Advocate 70 CS.

The fact that these 3 highly rated seats are all made by Britax isn’t a surprise.  Britax makes some of the safest and best convertible car seats on the market today. All of these seats are designed to be rear facing from 5-40 pounds and front facing up to 70 pounds.  They have many safety features such as their extra side impact protection benefits.

Along with a high rating by Consumer Reports, Amazon owners gave all 3 Britax seats at least a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 stars possible.

The Britax seats are all over $200 so they are a step up in price compared to the Evenflo Momentum car seat.  If your budget will allow it, the best convertible car seats made now are undoubtedly any of the Britax convertible car seats.

Jerry Patterson is a retired teacher, a grandfather and creator of the Car Seats Reviews site at http://www.carseats-reviews.com.  He has done a detailed review in the car seat reviews section of his site on the Britax Boulevard car seat.

A DUI can be hard to bounce back from, especially because of a sharp increase in car insurance costs

If you have received a DUI conviction, you know that there are many ways a DUI can disrupt your life. One of the biggest obstacles to getting back on the road can be the high price of car insurance after your conviction. A DUI puts you in the highest risk category with standard insurance companies, which means you will have to pay top dollar for regular coverage. In fact, some standard insurance companies might even reject your application due to the DUI conviction. Fortunately, there are car insurance companies that offer more limited high risk insurance at a decent rate to help you rebuild your driving history so that you will eventually qualify for more reasonable rates on standard insurance policies.

An Affordable way to Stay Legal

High risk insurance can be more affordable than a standard insurance policy because it is more restricted than typical insurance policies. If you buy a high risk policy through a traditional insurance company, your policy choices will be far more limited than the choices you had before your DUI. Some insurance companies specialize in selling only high risk policies. While these high risk companies are not as well-known as some standard companies, they usually offer the best rates and policies for the highest risk drivers. High risk specialty companies are able to offer lower rates because they do not offer any extra coverage features that might lead to more expensive claims.

High Risk Usually Covers Minimum Requirements

Regardless of where you purchase your high risk car insurance policy, you will probably only be allowed to buy the legally required minimum insurance coverage for your state until your driving history has recovered from the DUI. High risk coverage is meant to be a safety net to keep you legal and allow you to drive even though your record puts you in the category of drivers most likely to file a claim. In some states, the amount of high risk insurance you are allowed to buy is regulated by the state rather than the insurance company.

Part of Rebuilding Your Driving History

High risk car insurance is one of the building blocks that you need in order to put your DUI behind you. The high risk coverage allows you to drive legally and start your driving history all over again. The only way to earn a lower risk standard insurance rating is to get out on the road and drive safely for a certain period of time. Every year that you drive a car without getting into any accidents or being issued any further traffic tickets puts you closer to being able to purchase a standard insurance policy at a more affordable rate.

Check Quotes Regularly

Since your high risk insurance rates are tied directly to the amount of time you’ve been driving safely, you should compare insurance quotes every few months to see how they are changing. You will probably not see much change in the rates you are offered during the first year after your DUI, but the quotes should begin to fluctuate once you’ve driven safely for more than a year or two. Keep track of those changes so that you can take advantage the best coverage at the lowest price as soon as possible.

Author Brandon Everts is an insurance consultant and writes for GetInsuranceQuotes.ca, a provider of high risk insurance Canada, with knowledgeable auto insurance brokers as well.

The problem with a smartphone as a navigation device, however, is that using your phone’s navigation app can result in data charges – and even data roaming charges when you’re headed outside your primary coverage area. If you’re not careful, your phone’s “free” navigation app can actually cost you a small fortune.

As a result, many consumers are still happy to use their old portable GPS. But what about map updates? Depending on how long you have owned the device and which unit you have purchased, you may be able to download updates for free for for a nominal fee.

Here’s a short overview of the different options available for the different units.

Garmin Nuvi GPS Map Updates

Garmin offer three different download models: nuMaps Guarantee, nuMaps Onetime, and nuMaps Lifetime. The Guarantee option is the free map update version – but is only applicable to car drivers that are in the first 3 months of ownership of their Garmin Nuvi GPS. Should you wish to purchase new maps after 3 months of ownership, then you can buy the Onetime update for $50 Dollars, or the more expensive Lifetime update option (which is just what it sounds like – updates forever) at just under $80.

TomTom GPS Map Updates

TomTom offers free map updates via their TomTom Map Share Technology. This lets their customers upload their own changes to a centralised website resource – however, TomTom won’t guarantee the accuracy of these changes. Should you want official TomTom upgrades then you will need to register the device with them and sync your GPS up to the TomTom Home website to view all available options, as the pricing changes depending on the model and original purchase date.

Navigon GPS Map Updates

Navigon is a German company who also sold a lot of portable GPS units in North America. They run a map update service called Fresh Maps, but unfortunately it’s not possible to download any free updates. Instead, the customer has to purchase an update online with prices starting at around $120. Considering the cost, one might be better off with a new GPS device from TomTom (which offers quality free updates via Map Share).

More Information on GPS Map Upgrades

For a full list of other manufacturers and more information on the different options available, please visit the independent advice website at http://www.mygpsmapupdates.com. It contains full listings on all brands and models and lets the customer choose their GPS model and find out how to update the latest software install.

But is it wise to buy a used transmission? By definition, a used transmission is used. A portion (or perhaps a majority) of the transmission’s life is gone, isn’t it? How do you know when to buy a used transmission and when not to?

Is a rebuilt or refurbished transmission worth it? Image copyright Flickr user Brownpau (click for details)

Here are a few tips to help you determine whether a used transmission is right for you, and how to find a good one.

1. Do your homework. First, the importance of doing your homework cannot be overstated. If you spend the money on a used transmission without knowing what you’re getting into, you will be sorely disappointed. Shop mercilessly online to find the best price from an accredited seller. Shipping won’t be cheap on such a heavy item, so if you can find a seller near you, you might go pick your transmission up yourself to save a few bucks. If not, take the shipping costs into account when doing price comparisons. More times than not, what looks like the “best” deal will come with exorbitant shipping fees.

2. Know exactly what you need. This could also fall under the category of doing your homework, but you need to know precisely what you are looking for. On newer vehicles (say newer than 1992), you can usually match the transmission you need by knowing your vehicle’s engine, year, make, and model. However, that’s not always the case. SO, before you spend big money, make sure you find out the exact model number you need, or at least get the seller to guarantee it’s the right transmission (they can usually figure it out with your vehicle’s VIN number).

3. Get a guarantee. Don’t even think about buying a used transmission without an insurance policy or a product warranty. This will protect you from damage during freight, installation, and use. A warranty will refund or replace your transmission if it doesn’t work for any reason. Because of the relative anonymity of shopping online, you may feel you’re taking a leap of faith. The warranty is there to guarantee you are getting the best quality for your money. A good seller will have customer reviews available for you to read as well, so take advantage of these to help you decide. If you are satisfied with your purchase, do the next guy a favor and leave a detailed review. After you install the transmission, keep up with the maintenance to make sure you get the most life from your purchase.

4. Manual transmissions are easier. Manual transmissions are far simpler to work with than automatic. In most cases, even among seasoned professionals, damaged transmissions are considered a lost cause. Replacing a manual transmission is a more approachable task. So, if you have a dead manual transmission on your hands, take heart: buying a used or refurbished or recycled transmission is going to be easier for you than for someone with an automatic.

NOTE: That’s not to say that you can’t replace an automatic transmission with a used or rebuilt unit. It’s just harder sometimes, depending on the make and model.

Bottom Line: Used transmissions, or transmissions built from recycled or salvaged parts, are typically as reliable as their new counterparts and a good deal less expensive. Shopping online gives you the option to comparison shop, and even though you cannot thoroughly examine the transmission, you will be able to get a product warranty. Compared to hunting for a transmission at the local salvage yard – and then doing the dirty work of removing the transmission you find and rebuilding it – buying a used/refurbished/rebuilt/recycled transmission online makes a heck of a lot of sense.

Author Lawrence Reaves writes about Used Ford engine from Woodfins and Used Transmissions from Woodfins