June 2011

Consumers turn more optimistic over gas prices, study finds

(June 9, 2011) IRVINE, Calif. (PRNewswire) — According to the latest Kelley Blue Book www.kbb.com Market Intelligence survey concerning consumer sentiment and gas prices, new car and used car shoppers have drastically changed their minds about the coming fate of gas prices in the near-term. 

Ford, Honda, Toyota each place three vehicles on 'best family cars' list

(June 8, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Parents magazine and Edmunds.com today revealed their annual list of Best Family Cars. All fifteen of the cars on the list meet the demands of parents who have young kids, loads of gear to schlep, and tight budgets to balance.

In order to formulate the list, the car experts from both organizations scrutinized hundreds of vehicles focusing on safety and reliability as top priorities.

Record storms and flooding enable used vehicle scams

(June 8, 2011) (PRNewswire-USNewswire) — The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) warns consumers shopping for used vehicles to use caution when considering a purchase that just seems too good to be true.

As severe weather and flooding continues across much of the nation, many vehicles will be subjected to storm and water damage. Many of those vehicles will be declared as total losses by the companies that insured them and sold as salvage.

More people are seeking auto insurance rate quotes online

(June 7, 2011) WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — For the first time, a majority of new buyers of auto insurance initiated their policy purchase by applying for a rate quote online, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study.

The importance of an insurer’s website in generating new business among new buyers has been steadily increasing for the past five years, at the expense of more traditional local agency or call center sales channels.

Most popular car games for kids -- UK style

(June 5, 2011) CARDIFF, Wales (PRNewswire) -- Confused.com has revealed the 10 most popular games families play in cars on long journeys.

A car packed with kids, pets and picnics can be an ordeal. Gareth Kloet, head ofcar insurance at Confused.com said: "Keeping your kids entertained on long car journeys is always a challenge. Of course there are a lot of gadgets such as games consoles and DVD players that can help time pass more easily, but some families might prefer a more sociable solution.

Sales of hybrid, electric vehicles slump to 16-month low

(June 4, 2011) Sales of hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles fell to a 16-month low in May, dragged down by real and imagined supply constraints and increased competition from lower-priced gas-powered small cars, reports Edmunds' AutoObserver.com.

May sales of hybrid and electric-drive vehicles were off 35.8 percent from a year earlier, lead by dramatic declines in sales of Toyota and Honda models.

Study finds UK drivers feel ripped off by high gas prices

(June 3, 2011) CARDIFF, Wales (PRNewswire) -- Admiral has found motorists using their cars less and ignoring problems with their cars due to motoring costs.

Half of UK motorists say they have reduced the amount of driving they do due to the rising cost of fuel, while more than nine out of ten feel ripped off by the current price of gas and diesel. These are some of the findings of new research by car insurance  expert Admiral that illustrate how driving costs are affecting many drivers.

Half of Americans are cutting back because of high gas prices

(June 2, 2011) NEW YORK (PRNewswire) -- With Memorial Day comes various events that signify the start of summer. These range from the first cook-out to opening the swimming pool to planning summer vacations. It also means the beginning of the summer driving season, and higher gas prices are having an impact.

Edmunds predicts car sales won't return to pre-recession levels before 2016

(June 2, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- The auto industry will continue on a steady pace of recovery, but sales won't return to pre-recession levels before 2016, according to a new five-year forecast of U.S. automotive sales published by Edmunds.com.

TrueCar says automobile transaction prices highest ever

(June 1, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. (PRNewswire) — TrueCar.com estimated today that the average transaction price for light vehicles in the United States was $29,817 in May 2011, up $608 (2.1 percent) from May 2010 and up $215 (0.7 percent) from April 2011.