Car rental companies are cutting back on the fleet purchases

Car rental companies are cutting back on the fleet purchases

When the car rental companies are setting up or expanding their geographic cover, they go into the market for buying new vehicles in volume. Suddenly the manufacturers have a guaranteed buyer for a significant slice of its immediate production. It's worth offering substantial discounts to attract this business and, in their efforts to dig themselves out of the pit caused when the economy tanked in 2008, Ford, General Motors and Chrysler have been looking to the fleet buyers to keep their production lines turning over at economic levels. This year has seen a slight change in buying patterns.

The majority of the fleet buyers came to the manufacturers for delivery rather earlier this year than last, and asked for smaller numbers. Both Ford and General Motors have reported significantly lower sales. This has affected the stock market's view of both companies with GM's sales down 6% as against last year. Ford's loss of sales to the fleet buyers was off-set by a rise in private sales but its performance remains disappointing. Why is this happening? In part, the car rental companies have decided to extend the life of their fleets. They used to routinely replace all vehicles based on age and without making any individual evaluation of the state of the vehicles. As a result, they were selling a mixed bag of well and and poorly performing vehicles at the same price to the secondhand trade. Now the rental companies have become slightly more discriminating and keep the well-maintained and lower milage vehicles for longer. This increases the return on capital invested and boosts profits.

Sadly, the overall effect on US manufacturers is not so good. The Chrysler Group continues to hold about 11% of the market with a good dividend record, but Ford and GM have both lost market share to Toyota and Honda as Americans in general allow their private vehicles to age rather than buy new. The average age of vehicles on our roads today is eleven years. With the continuing downturn, an increasing percentage of owners have decided to delay buying new. So, when you pick up your next rental car, you can expect to find an older model.

Car rental companies are cutting back on the fleet purchases

Car rental companies are cutting back on the fleet purchases

When the car rental companies are setting up or expanding their geographic cover, they go into the market for buying new vehicles in volume. Suddenly the manufacturers have a guaranteed buyer for a significant slice of its immediate production. It's worth offering substantial discounts to attract this business and, in their efforts to dig themselves out of the pit caused when the economy tanked in 2008, Ford, General Motors and Chrysler have been looking to the fleet buyers to keep their production lines turning over at economic levels. This year has seen a slight change in buying patterns.

The majority of the fleet buyers came to the manufacturers for delivery rather earlier this year than last, and asked for smaller numbers. Both Ford and General Motors have reported significantly lower sales. This has affected the stock market's view of both companies with GM's sales down 6% as against last year. Ford's loss of sales to the fleet buyers was off-set by a rise in private sales but its performance remains disappointing. Why is this happening? In part, the car rental companies have decided to extend the life of their fleets. They used to routinely replace all vehicles based on age and without making any individual evaluation of the state of the vehicles. As a result, they were selling a mixed bag of well and and poorly performing vehicles at the same price to the secondhand trade. Now the rental companies have become slightly more discriminating and keep the well-maintained and lower milage vehicles for longer. This increases the return on capital invested and boosts profits.

Sadly, the overall effect on US manufacturers is not so good. The Chrysler Group continues to hold about 11% of the market with a good dividend record, but Ford and GM have both lost market share to Toyota and Honda as Americans in general allow their private vehicles to age rather than buy new. The average age of vehicles on our roads today is eleven years. With the continuing downturn, an increasing percentage of owners have decided to delay buying new. So, when you pick up your next rental car, you can expect to find an older model.

Car rental companies are cutting back on the fleet purchases

Car rental companies are cutting back on the fleet purchases

When the car rental companies are setting up or expanding their geographic cover, they go into the market for buying new vehicles in volume. Suddenly the manufacturers have a guaranteed buyer for a significant slice of its immediate production. It's worth offering substantial discounts to attract this business and, in their efforts to dig themselves out of the pit caused when the economy tanked in 2008, Ford, General Motors and Chrysler have been looking to the fleet buyers to keep their production lines turning over at economic levels. This year has seen a slight change in buying patterns.

The majority of the fleet buyers came to the manufacturers for delivery rather earlier this year than last, and asked for smaller numbers. Both Ford and General Motors have reported significantly lower sales. This has affected the stock market's view of both companies with GM's sales down 6% as against last year. Ford's loss of sales to the fleet buyers was off-set by a rise in private sales but its performance remains disappointing. Why is this happening? In part, the car rental companies have decided to extend the life of their fleets. They used to routinely replace all vehicles based on age and without making any individual evaluation of the state of the vehicles. As a result, they were selling a mixed bag of well and and poorly performing vehicles at the same price to the secondhand trade. Now the rental companies have become slightly more discriminating and keep the well-maintained and lower milage vehicles for longer. This increases the return on capital invested and boosts profits.

Sadly, the overall effect on US manufacturers is not so good. The Chrysler Group continues to hold about 11% of the market with a good dividend record, but Ford and GM have both lost market share to Toyota and Honda as Americans in general allow their private vehicles to age rather than buy new. The average age of vehicles on our roads today is eleven years. With the continuing downturn, an increasing percentage of owners have decided to delay buying new. So, when you pick up your next rental car, you can expect to find an older model.

Car rental companies are cutting back on the fleet purchases

Car rental companies are cutting back on the fleet purchases

When the car rental companies are setting up or expanding their geographic cover, they go into the market for buying new vehicles in volume. Suddenly the manufacturers have a guaranteed buyer for a significant slice of its immediate production. It's worth offering substantial discounts to attract this business and, in their efforts to dig themselves out of the pit caused when the economy tanked in 2008, Ford, General Motors and Chrysler have been looking to the fleet buyers to keep their production lines turning over at economic levels. This year has seen a slight change in buying patterns.

The majority of the fleet buyers came to the manufacturers for delivery rather earlier this year than last, and asked for smaller numbers. Both Ford and General Motors have reported significantly lower sales. This has affected the stock market's view of both companies with GM's sales down 6% as against last year. Ford's loss of sales to the fleet buyers was off-set by a rise in private sales but its performance remains disappointing. Why is this happening? In part, the car rental companies have decided to extend the life of their fleets. They used to routinely replace all vehicles based on age and without making any individual evaluation of the state of the vehicles. As a result, they were selling a mixed bag of well and and poorly performing vehicles at the same price to the secondhand trade. Now the rental companies have become slightly more discriminating and keep the well-maintained and lower milage vehicles for longer. This increases the return on capital invested and boosts profits.

Sadly, the overall effect on US manufacturers is not so good. The Chrysler Group continues to hold about 11% of the market with a good dividend record, but Ford and GM have both lost market share to Toyota and Honda as Americans in general allow their private vehicles to age rather than buy new. The average age of vehicles on our roads today is eleven years. With the continuing downturn, an increasing percentage of owners have decided to delay buying new. So, when you pick up your next rental car, you can expect to find an older model.

Car rental companies are cutting back on the fleet purchases

Car rental companies are cutting back on the fleet purchases

When the car rental companies are setting up or expanding their geographic cover, they go into the market for buying new vehicles in volume. Suddenly the manufacturers have a guaranteed buyer for a significant slice of its immediate production. It's worth offering substantial discounts to attract this business and, in their efforts to dig themselves out of the pit caused when the economy tanked in 2008, Ford, General Motors and Chrysler have been looking to the fleet buyers to keep their production lines turning over at economic levels. This year has seen a slight change in buying patterns.

The majority of the fleet buyers came to the manufacturers for delivery rather earlier this year than last, and asked for smaller numbers. Both Ford and General Motors have reported significantly lower sales. This has affected the stock market's view of both companies with GM's sales down 6% as against last year. Ford's loss of sales to the fleet buyers was off-set by a rise in private sales but its performance remains disappointing. Why is this happening? In part, the car rental companies have decided to extend the life of their fleets. They used to routinely replace all vehicles based on age and without making any individual evaluation of the state of the vehicles. As a result, they were selling a mixed bag of well and and poorly performing vehicles at the same price to the secondhand trade. Now the rental companies have become slightly more discriminating and keep the well-maintained and lower milage vehicles for longer. This increases the return on capital invested and boosts profits.

Sadly, the overall effect on US manufacturers is not so good. The Chrysler Group continues to hold about 11% of the market with a good dividend record, but Ford and GM have both lost market share to Toyota and Honda as Americans in general allow their private vehicles to age rather than buy new. The average age of vehicles on our roads today is eleven years. With the continuing downturn, an increasing percentage of owners have decided to delay buying new. So, when you pick up your next rental car, you can expect to find an older model.

Car rental companies are cutting back on the fleet purchases

Car rental companies are cutting back on the fleet purchases

When the car rental companies are setting up or expanding their geographic cover, they go into the market for buying new vehicles in volume. Suddenly the manufacturers have a guaranteed buyer for a significant slice of its immediate production. It's worth offering substantial discounts to attract this business and, in their efforts to dig themselves out of the pit caused when the economy tanked in 2008, Ford, General Motors and Chrysler have been looking to the fleet buyers to keep their production lines turning over at economic levels. This year has seen a slight change in buying patterns.

The majority of the fleet buyers came to the manufacturers for delivery rather earlier this year than last, and asked for smaller numbers. Both Ford and General Motors have reported significantly lower sales. This has affected the stock market's view of both companies with GM's sales down 6% as against last year. Ford's loss of sales to the fleet buyers was off-set by a rise in private sales but its performance remains disappointing. Why is this happening? In part, the car rental companies have decided to extend the life of their fleets. They used to routinely replace all vehicles based on age and without making any individual evaluation of the state of the vehicles. As a result, they were selling a mixed bag of well and and poorly performing vehicles at the same price to the secondhand trade. Now the rental companies have become slightly more discriminating and keep the well-maintained and lower milage vehicles for longer. This increases the return on capital invested and boosts profits.

Sadly, the overall effect on US manufacturers is not so good. The Chrysler Group continues to hold about 11% of the market with a good dividend record, but Ford and GM have both lost market share to Toyota and Honda as Americans in general allow their private vehicles to age rather than buy new. The average age of vehicles on our roads today is eleven years. With the continuing downturn, an increasing percentage of owners have decided to delay buying new. So, when you pick up your next rental car, you can expect to find an older model.

Car rental companies are cutting back on the fleet purchases

Car rental companies are cutting back on the fleet purchases

When the car rental companies are setting up or expanding their geographic cover, they go into the market for buying new vehicles in volume. Suddenly the manufacturers have a guaranteed buyer for a significant slice of its immediate production. It's worth offering substantial discounts to attract this business and, in their efforts to dig themselves out of the pit caused when the economy tanked in 2008, Ford, General Motors and Chrysler have been looking to the fleet buyers to keep their production lines turning over at economic levels. This year has seen a slight change in buying patterns.

The majority of the fleet buyers came to the manufacturers for delivery rather earlier this year than last, and asked for smaller numbers. Both Ford and General Motors have reported significantly lower sales. This has affected the stock market's view of both companies with GM's sales down 6% as against last year. Ford's loss of sales to the fleet buyers was off-set by a rise in private sales but its performance remains disappointing. Why is this happening? In part, the car rental companies have decided to extend the life of their fleets. They used to routinely replace all vehicles based on age and without making any individual evaluation of the state of the vehicles. As a result, they were selling a mixed bag of well and and poorly performing vehicles at the same price to the secondhand trade. Now the rental companies have become slightly more discriminating and keep the well-maintained and lower milage vehicles for longer. This increases the return on capital invested and boosts profits.

Sadly, the overall effect on US manufacturers is not so good. The Chrysler Group continues to hold about 11% of the market with a good dividend record, but Ford and GM have both lost market share to Toyota and Honda as Americans in general allow their private vehicles to age rather than buy new. The average age of vehicles on our roads today is eleven years. With the continuing downturn, an increasing percentage of owners have decided to delay buying new. So, when you pick up your next rental car, you can expect to find an older model.

Car rental companies are buying fewer new vehicles, making raised rates for older cars...

Car rental companies are buying fewer new vehicles, making raised rates for older cars...

When the car rental companies are setting up or expanding their geographic cover, they go into the market for buying new vehicles in volume. Suddenly the manufacturers have a guaranteed buyer for a significant slice of its immediate production. It's worth offering substantial discounts to attract this business and, in their efforts to dig themselves out of the pit caused when the economy tanked in 2008, Ford, General Motors and Chrysler have been looking to the fleet buyers to keep their production lines turning over at economic levels. This year has seen a slight change in buying patterns.

The majority of the fleet buyers came to the manufacturers for delivery rather earlier this year than last, and asked for smaller numbers. Both Ford and General Motors have reported significantly lower sales. This has affected the stock market's view of both companies with GM's sales down 6% as against last year. Ford's loss of sales to the fleet buyers was off-set by a rise in private sales but its performance remains disappointing. Why is this happening? In part, the car rental companies have decided to extend the life of their fleets. They used to routinely replace all vehicles based on age and without making any individual evaluation of the state of the vehicles. As a result, they were selling a mixed bag of well and and poorly performing vehicles at the same price to the secondhand trade. Now the rental companies have become slightly more discriminating and keep the well-maintained and lower milage vehicles for longer. This increases the return on capital invested and boosts profits.

Sadly, the overall effect on US manufacturers is not so good. The Chrysler Group continues to hold about 11% of the market with a good dividend record, but Ford and GM have both lost market share to Toyota and Honda as Americans in general allow their private vehicles to age rather than buy new. The average age of vehicles on our roads today is eleven years. With the continuing downturn, an increasing percentage of owners have decided to delay buying new. So, when you pick up your next car rental, you can expect to find an older model.

Motorcycle theft statistics, preventive measures and auto insurance quotes

Motorcycle theft statistics, preventive measures and auto insurance quotes

Looking into the national statistics, one motorcycle is stolen somewhere in America every ten minutes. Now 52,500 or so thefts a year may not sound that big a problem to motorcycle owners but it's a big problem to auto insurance companies who pay out on claims. Keeping this real, many motorcycle owners spend time and money customizing the vehicle. There can be elaborate paint schemes, chromed parts and other features adding thousands of dollars in value over the base price. Not surprisingly, you take this trouble because the results look good. Unfortunately, that also makes the motorcycle attractive to thieves. More importantly, motorcycles are easier to steal than cars, trucks and SUVs. Manufacturers have yet to invest significantly in the technology to make it more difficult to steal a motorcycle.

Once stolen, the cycles can either be sold on whole, or stripped down for spares, or the parts from several cycles can be rebuilt into a cloned cycle. Because some cycles are prized by collectors, there's also a significant export market. Put all these together and the chances of recovering a stolen cycle are very small, i.e. around 30% whereas the four-wheeled vehicle recovery rate is around 56%. These statistics emphasize the need for you to take precautions when parking your cycle, particularly during the summer months when the rate of thefts rises sharply.

To give yourself the best chance, assume no parking space is safe. So always leave your motorcycle in a well-lit place where there are plenty of people passing. Now add security. Chaining or clamping your cycle to an immovable object slows down a thief and increases the chances someone will notice him. An alarm or immobilizer is good protection. The greater the care you take to avoid a claim, the lower your auto insurance quotes stay. If fewer motorcycles are stolen, this is a lower payout to be shared among all owners. As an individual policyholder, you earn additional discounts by staying loyal and remaining claim-free. No one wants their auto insurance quotes to keep rising faster than inflation so protect yourself.