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Your Credit

Recently introduced into law under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act), consumers can request a free credit report from each of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies every 12 months. Because a high credit score is vital to receiving favorable financing rates, it is a good idea to check your credit report and score before applying for a vehicle loan or lease plan. By doing so, you can find any errors in your report and find out where you stand prior to applying for financing. Below are links that provide all the information necessary to check your credit report. Although the free credit report does not include your credit score, each of the services will offer the option of signing up for a service that will provide the score. If you choose, you can cancel the service within 30 days to avoid a fee.
Annualcreditreport.com

The three credit bureaus:
Experian
Equifax
Transunion

Fuel Economy

With today's high gas prices, fuel economy has become a very important factor when deciding on a new vehicle. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a web site that provides consumers with fuel economy information. Currently, window stickers for all vehicles except heavy duty trucks list fuel mileage estimates that are generally about 10% higher than drivers see in regular driving. These numbers are derived from old testing procedures from the 1960's. In these tests, neither air conditioning nor heating are used and they are based on lower speed limits and considerably less traffic on U.S. roads than we see today. These numbers listed on new car stickers found on the window at dealerships are set by the EPA, not car manufacturers. Finally, the EPA is implementing new fuel economy standards beginning with 2008 model-year vehicles.

Visit the EPA's web site

For a more detailed look at the old and new EPA standards, read an excerpt from a column by Car and Driver magazine editor-in-chief Csaba Csere.
(The full column can be found here)

Collision Repair & Service and Maintenance

Under Texas state law, after an accident, drivers have the right to have their vehicle repaired at the shop of their choice. While insurance companies usually provide the names of body shops they recommend, make sure your body shop is certified by I-CAR. This organization sets standards for all types of automotive repair specialties. Unfortunately, their web site does not offer an option to search for certified body shops, so make sure to ask if your preferred body shop is certified.

When it comes time for service and maintenance of your car, make sure your shop of choice is certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). This ensures that your vehicle is repaired by highly trained professionals. Not all shops are listed in their online database, so look for the ASE certification seal or ask if the shop is certified.
ASE Blue Seal Search