The Car Book Blog


With the release of the 39th edition of The Car Booknow available online—we’re sharing some of our best tips for car buying and maintaining your vehicle after you buy. The Car Book 2019 provides today’s car buyer with in-depth ratings of the 2019 vehicles, The Car Book’s unique crash test ratings, comparative complaint ratings, and all of the information needed to make a smart, safe and informed vehicle purchase. For online users only, the site also includes over 1,000 used car ratings going back five years.
In each edition of The Car Book Blog, we’ll give you key advice on how to buy for safety. If you’re more interested in the safety of yourself and your family than moon roofs or cupholders, these posts are for you.


View the up-to-date catalog of The Car Book Blog below:
#1: Financing

You’ve done your test drive, researched prices, studied crash tests, determined the options you want, and haggled to get the best price. Now you have to decide how to pay for the car. The latest edition of The Car Book Blog is here to help!

#2: Price Depreciation and Maintaining Value

So you’ve found the new car that’s perfect for you and your family at a fair price…only to watch in horror as its value plummets over the years. Unfortunately, vehicles depreciate in price faster than almost any other major investment, and vehicle depreciation costs have steadily increased over the past 20 years. Check out our latest edition of The Car Book Blog for tips on maintaining your vehicle’s value!

#3: Leasing vs. Buying

Did you know that about 25% of new car transactions are actually leases? Unfortunately, most of us who lease new cars don’t realize that, in spite of the low monthly payments, leasing often costs more than buying, depending on the terms of your lease. Remember, when you buy a car, you own an asset, but leasing leaves you with nothing except all the headaches and responsibilities of car ownership with none of the benefits. However, if you think leasing a new car instead of buying it is right for you and your family, we’ve got some tips to save you money!

#4: Getting a Good Deal

You’re in the showroom…you just found the car of your dreams…and now all that stands between you and a fair price is a half hour negotiation with a slick, experienced car salesman. Sounds like a nightmare, right? Check out our newest edition of the Car Blog and make sure you walk away with a good deal on the car that’s perfect for you and your family!

#5: 5 Basic Steps to Car Buying

So you know you need a new car…now what? Buying a car can definitely be an intimidating experience. That’s why the Center for Auto Safety wants to help walk you through strategies to leave the showroom with the vehicle that’s perfect for you and your family!

#6: Secret Warranties

Did you know that if dealers report a lot of complaints about a certain part or system and the manufacturer determines that the problem is due to faulty design or assembly, the manufacturer may permit dealers to repair the problem at no cost to the customer even if the warranty is expired? That’s because the car manufacturers know they made a mistake–they just don’t want to admit it. Read this post to learn how you can take advantage of secret warranties!

#7: Maintenance

Maintenance for a car can run into the thousands of dollars. Before you put money down for a car, you should always look into how much you’ll be on the hook for down the line. That’s why the Center for Auto Safety wants to make it easy for you! Check out this blog post and learn more about maintenance costs.

#8: Comparing Warranties

Comparing warranties and repair costs before you buy a car can save you thousands of dollars down the road! There’s only one problem: most of us never read the warranty until it’s too late. That’s why the Center for Auto Safety wants to help you get the most out of your warranty by helping you check your coverage for five crucial items before you purchase a car.

#9: Buying for Safety

Many consumers mistakenly believe that handling and performance are the key elements in the safety of a car. While an extremely unresponsive car could cause an accident, most new cars have adequately safe handling. In fact, many people actually feel uncomfortable driving high performance cars because the highly responsive steering, acceleration, and suspension systems can be difficult to get used to…

#10: Saving Money at the Pump

#1 Pump ‘Em Up: 27% of vehicles have tires that are underinflated. Properly inflated tires can improve mileage by 3%, which is like getting 7 cents off a gallon of gas. Check the label on your door or glove box to find out what the pressure range should be for your tires. Don’t use the “max pressure” written on your tire…

#11: All About Insurance

Insurance is a big part of ownership expenses, yet it’s often forgotten in the showroom. As you shop, remember that the car’s design and accident history may affect your insurance rates. Some cars cost less to insure because experience has shown that they are damaged less, less expensive to fix after a collision, or stolen less. Auto insurance also covers different aspects of damage and injury…

#12: Reducing Insurance Costs

There are a number of factors that determine what coverage will cost you. A car’s design can affect both the chances and severity of an accident. For example, a well-designed bumper, which few cars have, may escape damage in a low-speed crash. Some cars are easier to repair than others or may have less expensive parts. Cars with four doors tend to be damaged less than cars with two doors. In this post, we’ll go over the basics on how to ensure that your insurance costs are as low as possible…