Home  Illinois  Cars & Motor Vehicles

Cars & Motor Vehicles

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

Back To Top

Buying A New Car

Auto Buying & Repair, Both New & Used Vehicles (Illinois)
Brochures on car repair, buying a car, new or used, and Illinois Lemon Laws

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

Buying A New Car: The Truth About Auto Financing (Illinois)

Buying Or Selling A Vehicle (Illinois)
One page checklist of what to do and where to get help.

Buying A New Or Used Car (Illinois)
How to choose, borrowing money, dealing with problems.

Consumer Laws On Purchases (Illinois)

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.

Back To Top

Car Loans

Buying A New Car: The Truth About Auto Financing (Illinois)

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 A 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.

Tips On Buying A Used Car & Odometer Fraud (Illinois)

Auto Buying & Repair, Both New & Used Vehicles (Illinois)
Brochures on car repair, buying a car, new or used, and Illinois Lemon Laws

Buying A New Or Used Car (Illinois)
How to choose, borrowing money, dealing with problems.

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

New Or Used Cars-Which Should You Buy? (Consumer-SOS)

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)

Vehicle History Reports: Learning About Prior Defects Before You Buy (Consumer-SOS)

Buying From a Dealer vs. a  Private Seller (Consumer-SOS)

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 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, Emissions, Titles, etc.
Damage Caused By Pavement
Auto Recalls
Where To Go For Help

Repairs

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.

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.

Back To Top
 

Motor Vehicle Laws
Driving Related Agencies
Tags, Emissions, Titles and Other Ownership Issues  
Violations & Penalties
Laws On Safety

Driving Related Agencies

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.

Back To Top


Violations & Penalties

Your Guide To Tickets & Illinois Traffic Court
Traffic tickets, penalties, court procedures, your rights and DUI law.

Illinois Traffic Offenses

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. 

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

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

Back To Top

Laws On Safety

Illinois Rules of The Road & Traffic Safety
From speed limits to what each street sign means. Also has safety brochures for bicycles and more.

Illinois Traffic Offenses

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

Title & Registration Facts and Forms (Illinois)

License Renewals Online (Illinois)

Address Changes To Receive Motor Vehicle Renewal Notices (Illinois)

Illinois Government Forms A-Z
Has forms for businesses, tax issues, voting, complaints, licenses, workers comp, etc.

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

Back To Top

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.)

Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services Division

Secretary of State Police (Illinois)
Regulates businesses involved in the sale of motor vehicles and vehicle parts through the enforcement of the Illinois Motor Vehicle statutes and the Secretary of State Administrative Rules and Regulations. The purpose of this regulatory function is the protection of the consumer against fraudulent motor vehicle transactions throughout the State of Illinois.

Illinois Attorney General

Free Legal Help Throughout Chicago & Illinois
May have to qualify based on low income.

Center For Disability & Elder Law (Cook County)
Free legal advice for those who are permanently disabled or 60 and over. Must also meet income requirements.

Services & Forms For Seniors, Veteran's & The Disabled (Illinois)

Illinois Government Forms A-Z
Has forms for Businesses, tax issues, voting, complaints, licenses, workers comp, etc.

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.

Better Business Bureaus (Throughout The U.S.)

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

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

DOT In All 50 States & DC

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.  

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).

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

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

Where Else To Go For Help (Consumer-SOS)

Back To Top
 

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.

Back To Top

Repossessions

Repossessions Your Rights & Responsibilities

The Consumer Guide to Relocation Towing (Illinois)
What Towing Companies Can and Cannot Do.

Safety Towing (Illinois)
What Towing Companies Can and Cannot Do.

Where Else To Go For Help (Consumer-SOS)

Back To Top