Home Florida Cars & Motor Vehicles

Cars & Motor Vehicles

New	Cheap Gas
Used	Renting, Leasing & Carpools
Accidents & Injuries	Repossessions
Insurance Matters	Repairs, Tags, Recalls & Other Ownership Issues
Motor Vehicle Laws & Departments	Where To Go For Help

New Cars
Buying
Lemon Laws
Loans
Getting Your Car Fixed While Still Under Warrantee

Back To Top

Buying A New Car

Pricing A New Car (Consumer-SOS)
Internet Resources on how much you should pay.

Buying A New Car (Florida)

Car Ads-What To Watch Out For (Florida)

Checklist-Buying Or Selling A Vehicle in Florida

Wise Buys (Florida)
Tips on how to protect yourself when buying a new or used car.

Cosigning A Loan (Florida)
What cosigning a loan involves and what your obligations will be.

How to Buy/Lease a New Car (Florida)

Tips On Buying A New Car

New Or Used Cars-Which Should You Buy?

Car Models-Which Ones Cost The Most To Insure

NADA Guides
The National Automobile Dealers Association web page allows you to find values for new and used cars, trucks, recreational vehicles, boats, and even airplanes.

Car Loans

Auto Financing (Florida)
Types, tips, etc.

Car Financing (Florida)
How to shop around. What to look out for.

Cosigning A Loan (Florida)
What cosigning a loan involves and what your obligations will be.

Where To Find Low Rate Loans

www.eloan.com
Search thousands of loans with no hidden lender fees.

www.bankrate.com
Get the Best Rate! To get the rate of your choice,
click on "select a state" in the box above and then click on your choice.

Auto Loan Finder

Google Search On The Lowest Rates
Get the best savings for auto loans, credit cards, savings accounts and CD's, home equity loans & mortgages and unsecured credit lines.

Back To Top

Used Cars

Buying	Deceptive Practices & What To Do
Selling	Sample Complaint Letters
Lemon Laws	Where To Go For Help

Buying A Used Car

Buying A Used Car (Florida)

How to Buy a Used Car: Step By Step Advice & Law (Florida)

How To Buy A Used Car: Peach or Lemon? (Florida)

Service Contracts (Florida)
What to consider before buying a service contract for a car or major appliance.

Wise Buys (Florida)
Tips on how to protect yourself when buying a new or used car

Used Car Pricing Guide (Various Makes and Models)
Determine price by vehicle's make, model, year, mileage and accessories.

Auto Loans (Consumer-SOS)
Where to find low rates.

How To Buy a Used Car & Avoid Scams
In depth and with lots of links.

New Or Used Cars-Which Should You Buy?

Finding A Low Priced Used Car Nearest You (AutoTrader.com) Select make model and year and then enter your price range. Auto Trader will find the best deal nearest you.

Pricing Used Cars & Trade-Ins (Websites)

Learning About Prior Defects Before You Buy (Consumer-SOS)

Buying From a Dealer vs. a Private Seller

NADA Guides
The National Automobile Dealers Association web page allows you to find values for new and used cars, trucks, recreational vehicles, boats, and even airplanes.

Government & Non-Profit Brochures

Buying a Used Car (BBB)

Don't Get Soaked Buying a Flood-Damaged Car (BBB)

Donating Your Used Car to Charity (BBB)
From December 1997, so tax laws may have changed.

How to Get a "Peach" Instead of a "Lemon" (FTC)

Back To Top

Selling A Used Car

Selling Your Car
Tips on selling your car, preparing it for sale, negotiating your trade-ins and more.

Pricing Used Cars & Trade-Ins (Consumer-SOS)
Websites that will show you the value of your car and where to sell it.

Tips On Where To Advertise , Trade-In Values, etc.

Advertising Through Auto trader
For about 30 dollars, Auto Trader can display your ad to a bevy of buyers in your area.

Back To Top

Auto Repair, Tags & Other Ownership Issues
Repairs
Auto Tags
Damage Caused By Pavement
Auto Recalls
Where To Go For Help

Repairs

Avoiding Auto Repair & Service Station Gimmicks (Florida)

Trouble Shoot Your Car's Problem By Plugging in The Symptoms
Find out what's wrong with your car using our troubleshooting guide. All you need to know is what the problem feels like, looks like, smells like or sounds like.

Car Repairs and Repair Shops, Tips & Florida Law

Tips on Brake Jobs (Florida)

Tire Purchase Tips (Florida)

Motor Vehicle Repair Complaint Form For Florida (Must print out)

Chronic and Persistent Car Trouble (Florida)
Your car repair could be covered by a company product recall, a warranty or possibly a safety recall from the National Highway Safety Administration.

Auto Repair Fraud: Protect Yourself! (Florida)
The shop must give a written estimate for repairs over $100.

List Of U.S. Car Manufacturers (Includes Links)
Plus some tips on resolving complaints.

Deceptive Practices & What To Do (Consumer-SOS)

Lemon Laws For New And Leased Vehicles (Consumer-SOS)

Auto Repair Encyclopedia

Where Else To Go For Help (Consumer-SOS)

BBB Brochures

Auto Repair and Services

Back To Top

Cheap Gas

Tips To Save Gas (For Your Car)Cheapest Gas Rates In Your Area (Gasbuddy)

GasPriceWatch
Has about 380,000 volunteer spotters. Prices are color-coded for freshness, and users can filter out old entries.

Motor Vehicle Laws
Driving Related Agencies
License, Tags, Emissions....
Violations & Penalties
Laws On Safety

Driving Related Agencies

Florida Department Of Motor Vehicles

Motor Vehicle Departments (All 50 States & DC)
(Left Side Bar) Learn what you need to know about taxes, titles, insurance, licenses, fees, and fines, etc.

Department Of Transportation (DOTs) (All 50 States, Not DC)
For help with car related issues ie, car damaged caused by pavement, unsafe streets, traffic, bridges and roads, etc.

Driver-Related Forms & Applications (Consumer-SOS)
Title and registration forms, driving record forms and more.

DMV Procedures Manual
Forms, fees procedures and memos the Florida DMV must follow.

Florida Motor Vehicle Forms

Florida Driver's Handbook (Points, DUI and Driver's Privileges)

Driver-Related Forms & Applications (Consumer-SOS)
Title and registration forms, driving record forms and more.

Practice For The Written Driver’s Test (50 States & DC)
Links to the official state practice test for your state, and to other practice tests when not available.

License Renewal Procedures For Older Drivers (All 50 States & DC)

Driver's License & Traffic Accident FAQs (Nolo.com)

Emission Testing in All 50 States & DC
Chart with Basic Facts, Fees, & other requirements for every state and DC.

Decoding Your Vehicle Identification Number
Free online VIN decoder that allows you to see the information about your vehicle like make model year and place of origin.
Click Here for an alternate site.

For More Help See Repairs, Tags, Recalls & Other Ownership Issues

Florida Driver's Handbook (Points, DUI and Driver's Privileges)

DUI & Open Container Law (Florida)

Odometer Fraud & The Law (Florida)

Vehicle Impoundment & DUI (Florida Law)

DMV Procedures Manual (Florida)
Forms, fees procedures and memos the Florida DMV must follow.

FAQS About Traffic Citations (Leon County Specific)

Points & Driving Violations in DC & 50 States
If you've recently received a traffic ticket, DMV.ORG can tell you how to interpret the citation, help you find out how the ticket will affect your driving record and auto insurance rates, or advise how to fight the ticket if you believe you're not guilty of the offense. Also find out if your state offers the option of paying your traffic ticket online.

DUI Laws (All 50 States & DC)

Traffic Laws For All 50 States & DC
Rules of the road, speeding, points, etc.

Search Past Questions and Attorney Answers (All 50 States & DC)
Attorneys give state specific answers to questions relating to family law, divorce, adoption, child custody, insurance law, product liability, landlord/tenant, real-estate/real property, traffic law, probate-wills, trusts-estates, workers comp, tax law and more.

Lemon Laws For New And Leased Vehicles (Consumer-SOS)

Driver's License & Traffic Accident FAQs (Nolo.com)

Laws On Safety

Florida Driver's Handbook (Points, DUI and Driver's Privileges)

Speed Limits For Passenger Vehicles (All 50 States & DC)

Requesting Driving Records (50 States & DC)
How to do so in every state.

Minimum Levels Of Required Auto Insurance (All 50 States & DC)

Traffic Laws For All 50 States & DC
Rules of the road, speeding, points, etc.

Seat Belt & Child Restraint Laws (All 50 States & DC)
Not sure how often this is updated. Also check link below.

Child Safety Laws & Regulations (All 50 States & DC)
Child protection laws on car safety seats, seatbelts, helmets, consumer goods, swimming pools, playground structures, toys and more.

Driver's License & Traffic Accident FAQs (Nolo.com)

Back To Top

Driver-Related Forms & Applications

Florida Motor Vehicle Forms

DMV Forms & Publications (50 States & DC)
Choose your state. Many forms can be completed online.

Auto Recalls

Office Of Defects Investigation Car Recall Database

www.recalls.gov
A "one stop shop" for U.S. Government recalls. Has recall information on cars, boats, medicine, consumer products, food, cosmetics and environmental products. Just follow the tabs to obtain the latest recall information, to report a dangerous product, or to learn important safety tips.

List Of U.S. Car Manufacturers (Includes Links)
Plus some tips on resolving complaints.

Back To Top

Where To Go For Help (Also For Reporting Bad Car Dealers, Sellers & Repair Shops, Etc.)

Florida Attorney General's Office
The Attorney General's Office enforces Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, which is meant to protect individual consumers and legitimate businesses from various types of illegal conduct in trade or commerce. Pursuant to the Act, the attorney general investigates and files civil actions against persons who engage in unfair methods of competition, unfair, unconscionable or deceptive trade practices, including, but not limited to, pyramid schemes, misleading franchise or business opportunities, travel scams, fraudulent telemarketing, and false or misleading advertising.

Florida Department Of Motor Vehicles

A To Z Complaint Guide (Florida Government & Non Profit Directory)
Where to go when you have a problem.

Florida Directory of Legal Assistance Programs (Free & Low Cost Legal Help)

Search Florida AG's Office For Businesses Under Investigation
Enter in first or second word of business name but no more.

BBB National Complaint Database
Find the business by name, phone number or web address. To increase the chance of finding the company you are looking for just enter a part of the company's name.

Occupational Licensing Boards (Consumer-SOS)
Find out who regulates car dealers and repair shops.

Find The AARP In Florida
The AARP offers legal advocacy for seniors and may also have state specific consumer brochures which are available to everyone.

List Of U.S. Car Manufacturers (Includes Links)
Plus some tips on resolving complaints.

National Auto Dealers Association (703) 821-7144
Call their automated response line for disputes with new car dealers, vehicle problems, safety issues and recall information.

American Automobile Association (202) 942-2079
You may want to ask for their help in dealing with one of their bonded repair shops. They may be willing to act as an intermediary to help you resolve this matter.

The Automobile Manufacturer Who Supplies Cars To The Franchiser
The manufacturer has a right to know if the franchiser's shady practices are ruining its good name. Make it clear to the franchiser that you will file a complaint with the car manufacturer unless the matter is taken care of immediately. Remind them that if the manufacturer learns of their shady dealings they could lose their franchise and be put out of business. You can find a listing of U.S. car manufacturers and their consumer help lines at your local library or on the Web.

List Of U.S. Car Manufacturers (Includes Links)
Plus some tips on resolving complaints.

Call For Action
Volunteers hear consumer complaints and then act as mediators between the aggrieved consumer and seller. These volunteers often have the clout of a major TV station behind them and this makes sellers much more cooperative.

Find Your Local Newspaper, Magazine, Radio & TV Stations
Give them a little bad press and you're bargaining power increases tremendously. Select your state, and then click on your county or city for the proper media to report to. (DC Not Included).

Better Business Bureaus (Throughout The U.S.)

DOT In All 50 States & DC

National Help Orgs For A Variety Of Consumer Problems
The Elderly, Environment, Families, Fraud, Health & Safety, Insurance The Handicapped, Medical Problems, Telemarketing and more.

Back To Top

Deceptive Practices

Car Ads-What To Watch Out For (Florida)

Odometer Fraud & The Law (Florida)

Odometer Fraud: Don't Be A Victim (Florida)
Even owning a vehicle with a disconnected or nonfunctional odometer, is against the law.
It’s also against the law to sell a vehicle without providing a written statement that discloses the actual mileage at the time of transfer.

Where Else To Go For Help (Consumer-SOS)

Sample Complaint Letters

Complaint Letter To Used Car Dealer

Complaint Letter To Consumer Protection Agency

List Of U.S. Car Manufacturers (Includes Links)
Plus some tips on resolving complaints.

Repossessions

Automobile Repossessions: Protecting Yourself (Florida)

Repossessions Your Rights & Responsibilities

Back To Top