Those looking at buying a used car in New York may have great credit and a knowledgeable dealer or auctioneer, but they could still be paying extra because of points on their license.

Getting tickets or other violations may add points to a driver’s license, increasing the price of insurance to cover the vehicle, and until now going to class may have seemed like a tough prospect.

A new online defensive driving course may allow used car buyers to lower the costs of operating a used auto in New York without having to step foot in a classroom.

If they take the Improv Aware course, they can knock up to four points off their license and reduce their car insurance bill by 10 percent for up to three years.

“Traditionally, students who were required to take a defensive driving course in New York would have to give up a Saturday or a few evenings during the week to complete the class, which is often difficult for those who work long hours or have families at home,” said Improv Aware founder Gary Alexander.

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Buyers looking at used cars in New York may not be completely positive about the details of their warranty, which puts them at risk for a scam that the Federal Trade Commission is trying to stop.

So-called robocalls are pre-recorded messages telling consumers that their vehicle is about to expire, but the problem is that they are not from the dealers or auctioneers that sold the vehicles, but from fraudulent companies trying to sell add-on insurance or repair packages, according to the FTC.

VoiceTouch and its subsidiaries were recently issued a cease and desist order by Judge John F. Grady in response to government efforts to stop the telemarketing; another company was issued a temporary restraining order.

“The FTC has disconnected the people responsible for so many of these annoying robocalls,” said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz. “We expect to see a dramatic decrease in deceptive auto warranty calls, but we are still on high alert.”

Other companies may still try to make similar efforts, so those looking for used cars in New York should refer to the place of purchase to make sure that any warranties they got with their purchase are current.

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It may not seem like it, but simply cleaning out one’s car can help improve the fuel mileage, according to a report from the Congressional Budget Office that found that the heavier the vehicle is, the less fuel efficient it will be.

Used car owners could even luck out like a man from Portland, Oregon did, who cleaned out his glove box and found a lottery ticket worth $2.6 million, according to a KGW report, more than four months after the original drawing.

While windfalls like that may be rare, reducing the weight of a vehicle by 100 pounds could net fuel economy benefits of around 2 percent according to figures from Shell Canada.

They recommend taking out anything unnecessary from the backseat or trunk, including winter items such as tire chains or other gear that can weight a car down.

One man in Germany recently found out how costly it can be to not keep track of what’s on one’s backseat.

He was test driving a convertible and roughly $4,000 in bills blew away from an open envelope he had left on the backseat, according to a report from The Local.

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More drivers are expected to be on the road this Memorial Day weekend, an increase of roughly 500,000 over last year, according to a new survey.

Conducted by AAA, the total number of travelers could reach roughly 32.4 million, a number that is still lower than the 35 million who took to the road in 2007 before the economic downturn.

“The good news is sharply lower gasoline prices and plentiful travel bargains have Americans feeling better about taking a road trip this summer,” said Randy Williams, president, AAA Minnesota/Iowa.

For the safety of the driver and their families, considering that an estimated one-third of Memorial Day vacationers will be traveling with loved ones.

Checking on commonly ignored items like the battery may ensure that while the car may be slowed down by traffic, it won’t be stuck on the shoulder needing repairs.

Higher temperatures can mean that “the underhood battery can be 140 degrees,” said Gale Kimbaugh, Technical Services Manager with Interstate Batteries.

He recommends inspecting one’s car battery before long trips because “these temperatures can cause problems, especially for car batteries, which withstand extreme heat under the hood.”

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Radar detectors are a great alarm clock to remind used car drivers who may be zoning out that they are speeding and should watch out for police officers who may be more alert and mindful of traffic regulations.

But in tight economic situations, people may have to choose between an iPhone or other data-friendly cell phones or a warning device, and for residents of Virginia, radar detectors aren’t an option since the device is illegal for drivers traveling within state lines.

A new service called Trapster helps to fill in the gap by allowing users to incorporate Twitter and Facebook data about areas commonly used for traffic enforcement, using the GPS information transmitted by many newer phones to help locate hot spots.

“Helping friends avoid unnecessary tickets is a natural behavior, but we thought we could better support those inclinations with crowd-sourced data and real-time alerts via Twitter and Facebook,” said Trapster founder Pete Tenereillo. “People are using social media to alert their network of speed traps on the go, so we’re just making the process immediate, rich with data, and safer.”

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While the two bicyclists he allegedly swerved to avoid are okay, and the driver only had cuts and scrapes according to police, the SUV he was driving reportedly didn’t fare so well after rolling twice and ending upside down in Tennessee.

Brad Davis, 18, of Collierville reportedly told police that he was trying to access his cell phone while driving on a local road when he maneuvered too close to two bicyclists, according to a Commercial Appeal report.

Police told the news provider that the Acura SUV that Davis was operating left the roadway, flipping twice before ending upside down, but he emerged relatively unscathed save for some cuts and bruises, and several tickets because of the incident.

Incidents like this have led to efforts by some legislators to ban cell phone use while driving, with some looking to limit texting while others focus on any use of the devices.

Although a measure to restrict cell phone usage has been tabled by the Delaware State Assembly, according to the Delmarva Daily Times, similar efforts have led to bans in nearby New Jersey and Philadelphia.

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Those bumpy roads, potholes and questionable road surfaces may not just be a daily annoyance, they could be driving up costs for used car owners, according to one report.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials estimates that the average American pays $400 per year in extra maintenance costs on their automobiles because of roads in poor repair, and that figure almost doubles for those who live in cities.

Although the country has invested $1.75 trillion in road construction and maintenance, according to John Horsley, AASHTO executive director, more people are driving on those roads, 41 percent more in 2007 than in 1990.

Following the idea that an ounce of prevention prevents future potholes, Michigan Department of Transportation Director Kirk Steudle said that every dollar spent in maintaining good quality roads saved six dollars in later repairs.

With less than 10 percent of the roads in the New York – Newark metro area rated in good condition, the organization is hopeful that used car owners and buyers will be willing to spend a little now to see their own tax and repair bills go down in the future.

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Although used car buyers may not always check their owner’s manuals for the recommended mileage for brake service, NAPA’s best technician in 2008 says that using the five senses may help keep cars driving, and stopping well.

Jack Gregory says that listening for grinding or scraping sounds allows used car drivers to hear their brake’s early warning system that brake pads may need to be replaced.

If drivers see metal flakes or the brake system lights turn on in newer vehicles, it may be a sign that service is needed on either brake pads, rotors, or fluid that helps connect the pedal to the brake system.

A less likely scenario is if the rotors or calipers are misaligned, causing a burning smell that may be caused by a malfunctioning hose, or pushing down on a “squishy” pedal that Gregory says could also be a sign to check with one’s local repair technician.

Using all of those may help drivers avoid that coppery taste of fear in their mouth when they go to use their brakes and realize that the system has failed.

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While propellers may be spinning, a new project at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is definitely not cleared for take off.

The airport has installed 10 turbines that will generate electricity for a new electric-powered utility vehicle used mainly by parking management officials in an initial study of how to be more environmentally friendly and fiscally responsible.

“We will monitor how well the wind-power generators and the electric vehicle perform at MSP to determine whether they might play a bigger role in the airport’s future,” said Jeff Hamiel, Metropolitan Airports Commission executive director.

The turbines cost about $94,000 and have a designed lifetime of 20 years while the vehicle cost a little over $22,000, but for those looking to be environmentally conscious while research is done on how to set up electric charging stations, biodiesel might be one possibility.

Biodiesel is an especially attractive option for those who are somewhat handy, as conversion kits for older diesel cars from BMWs, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen as well as light trucks allow drivers to go to restaurants and pick up used cooking oil to fuel their eco-friendly vehicles and limit the drain on their wallets as well.

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For used car buyers concerned about common problems with their potential purchase, a new online partnership may help them figure out what’s wrong with their vehicle.

RepairPal is a website that allows car owners to gauge what certain repairs should cost based on the problem and the make and model of the car they own, and it and other resources are now available at Cars.com thanks to an agreement between the two sites.

Other resources available to car owners include being able to ask certified mechanics for advice about conditions, updated recall information, and common problems organized by model for used car buyers.

“Through our new relationship with RepairPal, we are able to offer consumers innovative auto repair content, making Cars.com a comprehensive destination for all of their automotive needs,” said Cars.com CEO Mitch Golub.

For those who are truly on the go, the new partnership will enable those with certain cellular phones to access estimates of repair prices no matter the location, and a database of user reviews may enable used car owners to pick the best local service shop for their next repair.

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