Vehicle shipping or auto transport is the process of shipping or moving your vehicle from your city to another city or country. Have you ever wondered about those people who wanted to ship their vehicles in the early days? They had no choice, other than just selling their most adorable vehicles. But now we are living in a century where technological developments are in the peak, thus auto transport is possible, and it also proves to be robust and efficient.

How to ship my vehicle?

Vehicles become a part of a person life, that's why each person would strive to maintain their vehicle carefully. Now, when it comes to auto shipping the same amount of security should be provided to the vehicles. So check out whether your auto-shipping company has the necessary requirements to shield your vehicle from dents and scratches.

Before you select a vehicle shipping company, scrutinize the details about their shipping process. Because it is very important to confirm whether, your most beloved vehicle is in safe hands. Select a vehicle shipping company which offers reliable service for the price you are paying.

It is always better to check whether the company implements efficient technology during the shipping process. The auto transporters should be aware about the dynamics of your vehicle, and only shipping experts satisfy this condition. The company should be able to provide prompt and consistent delivery service.

Shifting from one place to another proves to be a strenuous task; you should be able to balance a number of mishaps in the process of shifting, so at least your auto transportation should be accomplished without any hindrance. Sometimes people might have experienced nightmares during the vehicle shipping process, this is due to extreme delays in the shipping process, some delays may be unavoidable and some may be due to the carelessness of the company. So the task of selecting an efficient auto shipping company is in your hands. Enquire about their shipping timings before hand, so that you may equip yourself accordingly.

Nowadays all the shipping companies provide insurances, they act as a kind of protection for your vehicle. The auto shipping company must be able to give its customers the updates of the shipping process, like if their vehicle is loaded on the vessel then, the company should notify its customers.

Auto shipping is the only way of transporting your vehicle to any place around the world. Another very important task is to make a study on the various auto shipping companies regarding their prices. Because it is very essential to select a company which quotes fair and economical price rates. Auto shippers generally transport any kind of vehicle ranging from motorcycles, cars, vans. So whatever be your vehicle you can get it shipped.

Conditions imposed on customers

•Most of the auto shipping companies would not ship vehicles which are not in running conditions; only if the vehicle is functioning properly, it would be shipped.

•Likewise the company would insist on your vehicles to be empty, sometimes they may allow you to pack few things.

•The vehicle owner should provide his proof of ownership when the vehicle is being delivered in the destination; if the owner is not available then an authorization letter is required from the registered owner.

Frederick Richard Simms and Charles Harrington Moore formed the RAC back in 1897, although at that point it was called the Automobile Club Of Great Briton. It was loosely based on the French version the Automobile Club de France, by copying their constitution. In those days, I would imaging even the most optimistic motorist could not image how the motorcar would change everyone’s lives. By 1901 it had already started to employ the first uniformed patrolmen in Great Briton.

In 1907 the Automobile Club of Great Briton got Royal approval and then became the Royal Automobile Club or the RAC as it became popularly known as.

For many generations the RAC has been at the forefront of motoring, initially as patrolmen offering breakdown cover, to more modern times when all aspects of motoring are taken care of.

In 1926, it organised the first British Grand Prix at Brooklands and by 1932, the RAC started a long relationship with motor sport in particular Rallying. In 1932, the RAC held its first RAC Rally. It covered over 1000 miles, although drivers all started from different points all heading to a finish at Torquay on the south coast of the UK. There were 367 entries of which finished 259 with an average speed of 25mph. By 1960 the starting point was Blackpool and the finishing point was Brands Hatch, covering over 2000 miles. Then in 1961, the forestry stages were introduced where high speeds could be achieved and where rallies were now won or lost and became the basis of how we understand rallying now. This was to expand to more recent times with the Network Q rally covering the whole of the UK as part of the World Series. It is now known as the Wales Rally GB. Unfortunately you no longer see the RAC sponsorship.

There are many collectors and classic car enthusiasts who collect memorabilia from their early days. You often see a classic car with an old metal RAC badge on their grill, some take it more seriously and collect old RAC telephone boxes and motorcycles. This is of course is from their breakdown cover days, with motorcycle patrols and vans. Now everything is more technical, with major developments in communication and engineering.

By the 1970’s the RAC started to hit hard times and then by 1999 the breakdown recovery and other services were bought out totally by Aviva and are now called RAC services. However what I did not know until recently is that the Royal Automobile Club still survives. It may not offer any uniformed patrols anymore but is still a motoring club and is based at Pall Mall in central London and at Woodcote Park, Epsom, Surrey,

It’s a shame that RAC Services is pretty much an insurance organisation now and no longer is associated with a the history of motor sport and although publishes it opinions, can no longer can associate itself with the Royal Automobile Club as we know it. But it is good news that the Royal Automobile Club still survives and was not totally destroyed through bad times and still is connected with historical racing and events throughout the UK. Long may they stay!

If you are one who loves motorcycles you might consider starting a small business that has to do with motorcycle detailing. You can run this business from your home and put all the equipment you need inside of a trailer, a van or the back of a pickup truck and then travel to the customer’s home or business to detailer their motorcycles.

It is amazing how much people will pay you to detailer motorcycles. Many people have invested 20 and $30,000 in their Harley Davidson's. The best way to get motorcycle detailing customers is to go down to the local Harley Davidson shop and asked them if you could put a few flyers on their counter and ask the person in the motorcycle shop if they will spread your name around. If you do a good job they will continue to refer you and so will the people whose motorcycles you have detailed.

Sometimes Harley Davidson dealers take in trades and they might call you to detail those trade-ins so they can put them inside the showroom. Detailing high-end motorcycles can be there are rewarded and you could meet some really exceptional people. You would be surprised how many wealthy individuals, business owners and entertainers ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

I have been in the auto detailing business for over 27 years, I am not want to drop names, but let's just say that I have got to work for some very influential people in this country and some of the top stars too. If you love motorcycles and want to start a business of your own, then maybe you should consider motorcycle detailing as your next venture.

I see today that they're making a Ghost Rider movie. I discovered Ghost Rider when I was about thirteen years old, at my regular haunt, Collector's Comics of Wantagh, New York. I was a late bloomer to comic books, having been introduced to them by my D&D buddy, Marc Koenig. Like most things new in my life, I quickly became hooked and soon after, obsessed. I started small, with X-Men, Daredevil, and Thor. Oh, and I was lucky enough to be there for the Wolverine miniseries. The X-Men were about to embark on their second fight with the Brood, Daredevil was looking for direction after his lover had died, and I can't remember what was happening to poor Thor. What I do remember, though, was that crossovers got me to buy more books, and if I bought an issue I bought into the series. I was a Marvel man all the way, and they played me like a fiddle. At sixty cents an ish, I was soon spending twenty bucks a week and was a member of the discount club, adding to the savings I got by preordering my subscriptions. One of those that I ordered was Ghost Rider, the continuing story of the much-cursed Johnny Blaze, host to a demon motorcyclist.

Now a tale about a demonic motorcycle rider might seem like it's only appealing to tattoo artists and Harley salesmen, and perhaps tasteless teenagers, and that probably isn't that far off. Ghost Rider created solid objects out of Hellfire™ and spouted no small amount of preachy stuff about punishing the guilty, and all-in-all came off as a strange hybrid of Green Lantern and Captain America. However, after I went off to college and had no money for comics they retooled his character, making it less dependent on supernatural solids and moreso on his chain and "Penance Stare," whatever that is. I can't say I'm an expert on this character anymore, but I can say that the movie version looks really, really cool.

So why am I interested? Why don't I ever see issues of Ghost Rider laying in the waiting rooms of tattoo studios? Is Ghost Rider actually a multilayered allegory of truth and consequence, cause and effect, the dark nature within each of us? Is the carnival background of the oh-so-aptly-named Johnny Blaze a commentary of the estrangement that increases daily in our society, and the growing fear of the "other" that bears down on us? Given its original writing, would that "other" have once been Communist, and now have been transmogrified into the Islamist terrorists all over the news? And what of the motorcycle aspect? Man becoming his own worst nightmare by embracing technology? Pushing the limits of danger to finally push past the fear of death? Are these the deep, weighty issues that attract us to this much-misunderstood anti-hero?

Or is it that flames, motorcycles, and skulls go really well together?

Beginning on July 1, 2006, California granted its car-buying residents a new set of protections under the Car Buyer’s Bill of Rights. Not only will these new rights change the way cars are bought and sold in California, they're already spreading across the country and being adopted by other states as well.

The protections under the new law apply to vehicles (cars, trucks, SUVs) purchased in California for personal use from a dealer/dealership. They do not apply to private sales, out of state purchases, commercial vehicles, RVs and motorcycles.

What are the protections?

1. The Two Day Return

Used car buyers now have the opportunity to protect themselves with a two-day return option. This is designed to help buyers who may not have had the time to have the vehicle properly inspected by a mechanic, for those who are purchasing a car "as is," or for those car buyers who might have succumbed to the pressure to buy on the spot.

There are a few limits on the two-day return protection. First, the option only applies to used vehicles purchased through a dealership for personal use that cost $40,000 or less. Second, the dealership can charge you for this option (anywhere from $75 to $400, plus a restocking fee, all depending on the price of the vehicle). Additionally, the vehicle must be returned within two days, having been driven fewer than 250 miles, and be in the same condition as when it was purchased.

2. Trade-Ins

With the two-day return option, the dealer is required to hold onto your trade-in until the option expires. If the dealer sells your trade-in early, you're entitled to the vehicle's fair market value or the price listed in the cancellation agreement, whichever is more.

3. Certified Used Cars

In the past, any used car that a dealer has had inspected by a mechanic could be advertised as a "certified pre-owned vehicle." This is no longer the case. Dealers can no longer advertise (or sell) certain problem cars as "certified pre-owned vehicles."

4. Seller Disclosures

Under the new law, auto dealers must provide the following in writing:

a. The price of the vehicle without extra options and add-ons.

b. The specific price for add-ons, such as anti-theft devices, fabric protection, extended service contracts and "gap" insurance.

c. A copy of your credit score if you're getting a loan through the dealership. Your credit score will range from 300 to 900, and reflect your credit worthiness as primarily determined by the timeliness of your past loan payments. If your credit score is high enough, you can often benefit from lower interest rates.

5. Limit On Interest Rate Markups

It's a common practice in the industry for auto lenders to pay dealers an incentive for getting buyers to pay a higher interest rate than they should be paying, according to their credit history. This additional boost in the interest rate is referred to as a "markup." The new California Car Buyer’s Bill of Rights limits the markup a dealer can receive from a lender to a maximum of 2.5% for loans up to 60 months and to 2% for longer loans.

The New California Car Buyer’s Bill of Rights is designed to make it safer for you to purchase your next used vehicle through a dealership without fear that you're going to get stuck with something you either don't want or something that doesn't live up to its advertising. Knowing your rights can save you both months of headaches and significant money, but only if you take advantage of them.

Do you want to know how much your motorcycle is worth? Are you curious as to what its trade in or retail value is? Maybe you just want to know what you should expect to pay for a new or used bike. Well you might be interested to know that there is more than one resource available to you for these purposes.

There are two main pricing guides in the United States - the Kelley Blue Book and The National Automobile Dealers Association or NADA guides. Some people feel that the NADA guides are a better source than the Kelly Blue Book because the National Automobile Dealers Association is currently the largest publisher of Appraisal Guides in the world. NADA has been in business since 1933 and their handbooks provide information for almost every motor vehicle that has ever been made.

Kelley Blue Book is the most well-known pricing guide and has been in business for more than 80 years. But they publish more than one price guide for used vehicles including motorcycles, so be careful if you are consulting a dealer because the one they are using is likely to be the version labeled "Kelley Blue Book Auto Market Report – Official Guide”. The book says that ‘suggested retail values’ represent Kelley Blue Book's estimated dealer asking price, but you can bet a dealer won't show you those figures. Better to grab your own copy and do some pricing research yourself so you don’t get taken advantage of.

Check out motorcyclebluebook.com for pricing on a huge selection of bikes. By selecting the make, model and year of the bike you’re interested in, the website will send you an email with information on the value and selling prices for any particular motorcycle.

One more pricing guide you may want to look into is Edmunds.com. This is an online information site which also supplies you with the value of your motorcycle, or expected pricing for the make and model that you are interested in.

You can purchase the books or visit any or all of these websites. Enter information about the condition of the motorcycle you presently own and want to sell or appraise, including any custom work and options, or do a query for pricing on a new or used bike you want to purchase. You will be provided with trade-in, suggested retail value and private party pricing. You’ll want to keep in mind also that motorcycle prices vary, sometimes greatly, depending on where you live, locally and globally. A good tip is to check the books or websites and your immediate market area to get the most comparisons for the best accuracy on cost and value.

There are many types of driving schools available today. Although some states require drivers training before new drivers under the age of 18 can obtain their drivers license, a good driving school can also be a wise investment. It's no secret that most insurance companies have identified qualified drivers training for insurance discounts. The reason is that new drivers can be certain to learn and understand the laws of the road prior to getting out alone or with friends.

In many states, a good driving school also can be certified by the state to administer the driving test. This means less time is wasted in line at the Department of Motor Vehicles!

Although the drivers handbook can explain the traffic laws clearly and can be studied, it takes real life practice to become comfortable with all the traffic and safety laws. Driving Schools exist to give the new driver the opportunity to gain experience and build a foundation of real, behind the wheel knowledge.

There are many different types of driving schools. New driver schools are by for the most popular. Specialty schools however are available to train drivers for different situations. These schools include defensive driving, anger management driving, advanced driving courses, big rig truck driving, motorcycle driving and more. Each offer a different and important skill set to the learner.

Driving schools are more than just driving around with an instructor. Quality driving schools feature study materials and some even study time.

Defensive and advanced driving schools train people for a much more dynamic driving abilities. These may include evasive driving techniques like hard stopping to change direction of your auto quickly, These classes and training are not for beginners but for specialized careers and those who are interested in taking their driving abilities to the next level. These classes usually include classroom and driving track training and last a day to several days depending on the depth of information to be taught.

There are also specialty driving schools like those that teach truck driving. These classes are focused more on the student obtaining enough road time and knowledge to become a truck driver. These schools focus on the career aspect of their training and work to provide all the information necessary for the student to take and pass all state certification driving tests.

Another specialty driving school focuses on motorcycle drivers training. Unlike most driving schools, most motorcycle drivers training teach a much more aggressive safety aspect. This is no doubt due to the seriousness of accidents involving motorcycles.

So in the end, driving school training can benefit almost anyone of any age. From the newest, almost ready to drive teen to those of us interested in a truck driving career, there's a driving school suited to the needs of everyone. Driving schools deliver the skills and knowledge that not only can save on auto insurance but also save a life.

In most cases, you can use the normal media channels to get the publicity you need for your product or service. And, although you don't need to come up with schemes to get attention, they do work.

Sometimes promotion departments of manufacturers' stage marathon events or contests with their products - especially with toys and games. Apparel companies may sponsor athletic races; manufacturers of motorcycles sponsor races.

Although promotion schemes do cost money to stage, the efforts usually pay off in a long run with the number of customers sold on the product.

For local coverage, charity drives and dinners are good ways to get in the paper. Some enterprises strive for a more national coverage with special prizes connected to sports events.

If you are clever enough, and there's no big news break that day, you may get your scheme on television. Even local footage reaches thousands and thousands of people.

What gimmicks can you think of that will pay off for their investment? How is your product or service used that it can commercially be exploited by the news? Can you keep going with it-making it an annual event, drawing customers from near and far?

What if you don't want to do the publicity yourself? If your product or service is a natural for free publicity, you can hire a company or a person to do your public relations work.

There are many freelancers in the large cities who have a number of clients that they publicize. They've already broken the ice with the editors and the media, so they can get their releases printed.

If you want to hire someone for a special project, get a person who has the contacts and who specializes in your product line. If you're a celebrity, use someone who has a reputation in the entertainment industry. If you are a manufacturer with new appliances, likewise consider a person with expertise in that field.

Check out the person or firm. Talk to other clients and find out what has been done for them. Have they increased their sales or public exposure?

Investigate the reputation with people in the media you want to publicize in, and be sure there is a clean slate with the local business associations.

Then work efficiently with the person who will handle your publicity. Communicate effectively and be sure your ideas are understood. Listen well and absorb any ideas thrown your way. Between the two of you, you can come up with an excellent publicity campaign that will make your business boom.

The wonderful thing about free publicity is that you have nothing to lose. A few phone calls; a few personal letters, maybe some investment in quick printing news releases. And, you can reap many times that investment in additional sales and orders.

Whether you have an international personality to publicize or a community barbecue, you can get that information to the public at little expense.

What is unique about your service or product? Is it the best? The most used? The longest lasting? Do customers return year after year? Consider all the angles, then consider again.

Be sure to make solid contacts and be thorough with your follow-ups. Being polite and efficient will always create effective business relations. Then exploit your own publicity. Use it again and again; post it in the store or rewrite it for more national distribution. Go as far as you can with your ideas.

Electric scooters are a surprisingly effective means of getting from A to B. Cheaper than a car or a motorbike, easier than a bicycle or roller-blades, they fill a need and they fill it well.

Essentially, scooters are mini-motorcycles with smaller engines. Historically, they have been petrol-powered, but the new generation of electric scooters has brought many advantages. Electric scooters are much less noisy than any other kind of motorcycle, and they require no fuel apart from being plugged in to the mains electricity. They don’t pollute, and generally need far less maintenance.

Of course, the real reason that many people ride electric scooters is that they are cheap, and you often don’t need a driving license to use one. These are such big upsides that people feel able to ignore the low speeds and distances that scooters can manage, seeing the scooter as a superior form of bicycle instead of an inferior form of motorbike. They are especially popular in Asia, where people have long travelled by bike in much greater numbers than in the rest of the world.

Scooters are often considered to be safer than motorbikes, as they don’t go as fast and don’t have so many moving parts exposed, and your feet can be safely tucked inside the bike. While they used to be considered quite dorky for this reason, modern scooters are often more than a match for motorbikes in terms of design and style. Still, scooter riders can feel unusual and excluded, and for this reason there are many scooter clubs around for scooter owners to join and meet each other. These clubs often hold events like races and cross-country rides, and are generally much more active than you would expect. While many will have retro or classic scooters, you will be more than welcome with a modern one, so why not go along?