June 2015

Ram Rebel to get Toyo Open Country A/T II tires

(June 10, 2015) CYPRESS, Calif. — Toyo Tire North America has announced that the new Ram 1500 Rebel pickup will be exclusively outfitted with the brand’s best-selling product, the Toyo Open Country A/T II. Inside the truck’s cab, the tire’s unique tread design is embossed on both the front and rear passenger seats.

A favorite among truck enthusiasts, the Open Country A/T II provides long tread life, exceptional all-season performance, an aggressive tread design, and a quiet ride.

Car insurance findings that may open your eyes

(June 9, 2015) In addition to being the unofficial start of summer, Memorial Day is also the year’s busiest weekend for car sales and the kick-off to a three-month period in which 27 percent of all annual car sales are recorded. That number may be even bigger this year, given record-low interest rates according to WalletHub’s Q2 Auto Financing Report.

With that in mind, WalletHub continued its analysis of the car insurance landscape in search of insights that may help consumers make more informed decisions when they hit the car lot.

Gas prices steady as summer driving season gets underway

(June 9, 2015) WASHINGTON — The national average price for regular unleaded gasoline has remained steady over the past week and continues to hover near at what many expect to be the highest average of the year, AAA reported Monday.

Today’s price of $2.75 per gallon is fractions of a penny higher than a week ago and is nine cents per gallon higher than one month ago. While pump prices across the country have increased since April, consumers are saving 90 cents per gallon compared to this same date last year.

How do you yet young people to stop texting and driving? One thumb at a time

(June 5, 2015) NEW YORK — Texting drivers are 23 times more likely to get involved in a crash, yet about 25 percent of teens respond to and 30 percent read a text message once or more every time they drive. That's why DoSomething.org, the largest organization for young people and social change, and Sprint have teamed up for the fifth year to give young people unique, impactful, and fun ways to take action on the issue of texting and driving.

NICB: Texas flooding damages up to 10,000 insured vehicles

(June 5, 2015) DES PLAINES, Ill. — The recent flooding in Texas means the end of the road for an estimated 7,000 to 10,000 insured vehicles that suffered water damage. That’s the current estimate from Copart, a company that works on behalf of insurers to handle the vehicles damaged in catastrophes.

About 2,500 cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs and other vehicles have already been towed to one of Copart’s locations, a 200-acre processing facility in Houston.

Summer safety 101: Getting your ride road trip ready

(June 4, 2015) — Whether historic U.S. Route 1 is your main vacation drag or you’re cruising for a day on Pacific Coast Highway or motoring west on the route that’s the best, summer means one thing to many Americans…road trip. 

Before you sally forth, you might want to tackle a few technical “to dos” to ensure your trip is as smooth as your driving style.

Hyundai Sonata tops Cars.com's list of 'Most Affordable Midsize Sedans'

(June 3, 2015) CHICAGO — Cars.com has listed the most affordable midsize sedans currently for sale. The list combines the cost to purchase the car and factors in five years of fuel costs as well as each car's residual value after five years.

The Hyundai Sonata SE was named most affordable taking into account purchase price, five-year fuel cost, and five-year residual value coming in at under $20,000.

Parents Magazine, Edmunds name the '10 Best Family Cars of 2015'

(June 2, 2015) NEW YORK — Parents magazine and car-buying platform Edmunds.com today revealed their annual 10 Best Family Cars list, a go-to resource for families considering a new car purchase. For the eighth year in a row, car and parenting experts partnered to evaluate hundreds of vehicles, narrowing down the list to the safest, most family-friendly vehicles on the road.

Transaction price for new vehicles likely at record high for May

(June 1, 2015) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — TrueCar, Inc. finds that May's average transaction price (ATP) for new vehicles was likely a record high for the month as U.S. auto demand, particularly for premium and utility vehicles, remains healthy. Amid the best auto industry and economic fundamentals in a decade, TrueCar estimates the ATP for new light vehicles was $32,452 in May, up 4 percent from a year ago.