Talk Cars With The Best Of Them

Quick Stop Online Can Give Any Non-Car Guy The Info Needed To Talk Cars With The Best Of Them

(NAPSI)-With football season upon us, you know your buddies will be talking about cars over a few cold ones. But you don't know anything about cars! Don't put your foot in your mouth or lose points on your "guy" card by confusing a stick shift with a crankshaft, a Dodge Challenger with a Chevy Camaro, or a V-8 engine with a V8 drink.

A quick stop at some popular Web sites can arm you with all the information you'll need to hang tough and engage in serious car talk with the best of them.

• AutoTrader.com has about 3 million new and used cars listed for sale. Visit the site to check out best-selling models, compare car specs and prices, get the inside skinny on options and upgrades and more. From the Honda Accord to the Nissan Z, they're all here, so do your research and be ready with the facts, figures and model info that will have you at the center of the conversation.

• BP's Web site, BPInvigorate.com, can help you "get smart" on what's going on in your car's engine, and offers tips on helping cars run younger for longer (check tire pressure, get regular tune-ups, remove unnecessary weight from the trunk) and how to get more miles out of every tank. Share some of these simple tips to keep the conversation rolling and help your pals keep their cars running younger for longer.

• Toyota popularized the hybrid in the United States, so what better place than Toyota.com to get the info you need to sound like a hybrid expert? Learn the difference between mild and full hybrids, what regenerative breaking does and even how a solar-powered sunroof works and what good it does. Hybrids are mainstream now, so weave some of this info into your next car talk.

These sites are just as helpful if you're a woman who is married to, dating, the daughter of or otherwise connected to a rabid car guy and you're hoping to keep up the next time he starts talking RPMs, MPG and MPH (revolutions per minute, miles per gallon and miles per hour).

Car Insurance Coverage

Know Your Car Insurance Coverage. Car insurance policy coverages differ from company to company and policy to policy. Make sure you know what your coverage is.


(NAPSI)--Last year, Progressive Insurance received 29.6 million phone calls from customers. In this article, it shares three of the most frequently asked questions-and its answers-so that you can be confident when making decisions about your car insurance:

1. How can I make sure I have "full coverage"?

Generally, people ask for "full coverage" when they want more than just what's required by the state. Most states require that all drivers carry liability coverage, which pays for damage to other vehicles or injuries to other people that you cause.

By adding what is commonly referred to as "physical damage" coverages, which include Comprehensive and Collision insurance, damage to your own vehicle is also covered, regardless of who caused the crash.

Once you've chosen these coverages, you might also want to add insurance that will cover your medical payments, protect you if you're hit by an uninsured driver or come to the rescue if you break down on the side of the road. Your insurance company or agent can walk you through all your options and help you choose the policy that's right for you.

2. If I get into a fender bender when driving a rental car, would it be covered under my car insurance?

Generally, if you have liability and physical damage coverages on your car insurance policy, there's a good chance you'll be covered in a rental car. Call your agent or insurance company to get the facts before you turn down that extra coverage.

Another option: Check with your credit card company. Some credit cards provide coverage at no charge if you use their card to pay for the rental. Restrictions may apply, so be sure to ask for an exact description of what's covered.

3. A friend just borrowed my car. Will my car insurance pay for the damages if he causes an accident?

In most states, insurance coverage follows the car, so your car insurance would pay for the damage if your friend causes a wreck. Two things to keep in mind: If the cost to repair that damage exceeds the amount allowed by your policy, your friend may need to make a claim on his insurance policy to pay the difference; and, secondly, your rate may go up as a result of the claim.

Learn More

For more information or to find a nearby agent, visit www.progressiveagent.com.