CARFCO

Everything costs. And sometimes your car, truck or SUV can seem to take up your entire pay cheque to keep it on the road. Keeping your vehicle in good repair can seem expensive, but it’s usually a lot cheaper to maintain a vehicle you own than to go out and try to finance a new one. And there are a few secrets to keeping costs in line that also ensure your ride is in fine shape for a long time to come.

First, switch away from the premium gas. There’s just no real evidence that premium makes your car run better, longer, or more efficiently. At anywhere from 8 to 10 cents more per litre, that adds up to a whack of cash.

Second, pump up your tires. Now here there is good research that shows properly inflated tires do save you money. Generally, if you keep your tire pressure at 30 PSI, you’ll get about 3-4% better gas mileage-but of course, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. You can also extend the life of your tires as much as 6% by keeping them properly inflated. So, since most gas stations let you check and fill up your tires for free, why not be sure yours are fully pumped?

Third, slow down. Transport Canada has made the news lately because of the growing number of young drivers traveling at extremely high speeds. Only recently, one driver was clocked at a whopping 150 km/hour. Besides being illegal, driving fast costs. Estimates are that for every 10 kilometres over 100 km/hour you drive, you pay another 10 cents in gas. So if you drive 100 km/hour, and the fast fellow next to you zooms by at 120 km/hour, smile and wave. For every dollar you pay in gas, they’re paying $1.20-a lot of cash just to go fast.

Fourth, find gas stations that give you a discount if you pay with green. Some places drop the price by 2 cents/litre when you pay with cash instead of plastic.

When you add up your savings from slowing down, buying regular instead of premium, pumping your tires and paying in cash, your gas costs can plummet 30% or even more, a huge cost savings.

Regular maintenance is another key to keeping your car in tip-top shape. Sometimes, though, you need more work. Maybe your dog ate your back seat. Maybe you had a fender bender. Or maybe you just want to change up the look of your car with a new paint job. These kinds of repairs can be costly, and that’s where a car repair loan can be really handy.

Many people aren’t aware that you can get a car title loan to do car repairs. As long as you own your vehicle, and it’s less than eight years old, you may qualify for a vehicle title loan to give it some much-needed TLC. You can often get the loan approved in about one day for up to 40% of the wholesale value of your vehicle. Just fill out the application online, and see. Then keep your ride in great shape so you can drive it for a long time to come.

An Ontario man has filed a potential class-action lawsuit against GM Canada for rolling back their benefits. This lawsuit against the automaker has been made on behalf of himself and 3,500 additional retired white-collar employees of the company. Just as GM Canada had reconstructed itself from the impact of the recession, this lawsuit has been filed with claims the company violated its contractual obligations to the retired workers by cutting their benefits with their approval.

During GM Canada’s reconstruction process, the company said it would have to reduce or eliminate several of its post-retirement benefits it had earlier promised to its workers. GM Canada was forced to eliminate the semi-private hospital coverage its employees enjoyed, as well as reduce the annual maximum coverage for things such as orthodontic and dental benefits. It also increased the amount members would have to pay for their prescription drugs and it eliminate the life insurance coverage.

However, many of the retirees are upset because they rely on their prescription drug plans and extended health care benefits as well as the life insurance that GM had promised. These retired workers admit they cannot go back and demand more money for their work over the years, but at the same time, they do not feel it’s fair that the company take away benefits they feel they have already earned. They were not in a position to negotiate with GM when the company reconstruction was taking place and feel that taking away those benefits has breached the contracts GM Canada had with its retired employees. The are also claiming these benefits to be ‘an integral and fundamental part’ of the compensation they earned throughout the course of their employment.

According to the statement of claim. “GM Canada’s actions have had a serious impact on the class members as many of the class members live on modest non-indexed fixed incomes and they are particularly vulnerable as a result of their advanced age, susceptibility to health problems and limited capacity to assume increased financial burdens or to seek additional employment income.”

The claim also adds that employees did not purchase additional life insurance or benefits when they were available at much lower rates and are now left with less coverage than they assumed they would have. This leaves the many claimants unable to pay for medications and treatments they previously could afford with their post-retirement benefits and struggling to continue treatment for ongoing or new health issues.

Have you heard of it? Chances are, you haven’t. But a car repair loan can be the perfect answer for you if you need repairs to your vehicle in order to keep it on the road, and you from the embarrassing position of having to beg for a ride. Or worse, out of a job because you couldn’t make it in to work. Keep your pride, and your ride, and check out a car repair loan.

How car repair loans work

This is, quite literally, a loan you take out against your car, using it as collateral for the loan. Because the loan is made against your vehicle, you’re almost assured of getting the loan. Most people do. In fact, about 99% of applicants get their car repair loan. Then, you take the loan and make the necessary fix-ups to your ride. It’s a great deal because you repair your car, increase its value, and still get to drive your car-and feel good about your ride again.

Who should apply for a car repair loan

Anyone who has a tough time getting money loaned to them from more conventional places such as banks, or anyone who has problems with their credit cards, or maxed out lines of credit, should consider this kind of loan. The car repair loan is especially designed for you if you have poor credit, down right bad credit, or even a bankruptcy in your credit history. The loan will work for you, too, to help you improve your credit rating, and get you back on track.

How to apply for a car repair loan

These loans are straightforward and easy to apply for. Just go online and fill out a simple application. It’s fast and you can do it all from the privacy of your home computer. In fact, most loans are approved within 24 hours. So you could apply today, and have your money tomorrow-direct deposited into your chequing account if you like.

So, if you own your vehicle-car, truck, SUV, whatever-and it’s less than eight years old, you may well be eligible for this loan. And, you could get as much as 40% of the wholesale value of your vehicle to put towards repairs. That’s a lot of bodywork, and practically a shiny, new ride.

So, if you’re worried that you might soon have to go begging for a lift to work, or even lose your job because you have no wheels to get you around, consider a car repair loan.