If you are shopping for the right car shipping company, locating and comparing prices can be the biggest challenge. Rather than going around calling every single company in the phone book, you can search online for price comparison sites and tables to help you get a better idea of what is available.

A good place to get started is ProAutoTransport.com, which offers comparison tables for companies that ship within the US and Canada. Keep in mind that international movers are not included here, so if you’re looking to ship your car overseas, you need to look elsewhere. Also, the prices offered in sites like this should be considered general guidelines, not exact, billable totals.

If you want something more specific, you can look into www.autoshippingfinder.com, which allows you to specify your needs and car details and then sends your request to companies, which will then contact you directly with a price quote. While this is a lot more specific, it can also get confusing eventually, as there as many as 50 companies listed in their directories, and trying to remember what all of them said in separate emails can get overwhelming.

In the end, remember that taking your time to compare prices and services is essential to a safe and successful shipping, so research your options well, not matter how you do it.

Think the economic crisis has put an end to car loans? Think again.

Not only are loans still available, but companies are hurting to the point where they are willing to offer better rates than ever in order to get you to sign with them. So if you are in the market for a new car, don’t let sellers pressure you into a bad deal with the argument that “you won’t get any better out there.”

When shopping for the right car loan, you may be better off doing so online. Companies like Capital One Auto Finance and CarsDirect Car Loans offer a variety of plans to fit your budget and credit history. If your credit history is particularly bad, though, you may want to do as much as you can to clean it up before you apply for a loan, so you can get better rates. Always get a copy of your credit report and credit score before you head to the dealer. If you’re shooting for a 0% APR, you need to make sure you have the right credit history to support that amount.

Even if you receive a high loan interest rate, you should be able to negotiate and refinance it (sometimes immediately after getting it) by going online at places such as FirstAgain.com.

When searching for a car shipping company, price is only one of the many things you need to keep in mind. This is especially true if you are shipping an exotic or one-of-a-kind vehicle or if you have special circumstances that need to be addressed, such as the need for storage (rather than immediate delivery) once the car makes it to its destination.

If you’re searching online for a car shipping company, your best bet is to look into directories, which will list several companies and most likely offer comparison tables. Many directories are also arranged by state or city, so you can find a local company. This can help you cut costs and make things easier by dealing with an organization that knows your area and can arrange pick-ups faster.

If you have a special vehicle that you need shipped, such as a motorcycle or a boat, you want a company that specializes in that or that at least has a specific department or division that can deal with the particularities of shipping that. Large companies are not necessarily better than local ones, but they may have more manpower and experience, especially when it comes to special cases or shipping to particular destinations.

Not matter what kind of car you have, maintenance is still key to extend the life of your car and avoid costly repairs down the line. Experts agree that there are four basic things you need to do in order to extend the life of your vehicle:

• Change the oil regularly. It will prevent the engine from overworking and prevent burns and overheating.

• Wash and wax your car often. This is more than a cosmetic issue. Dirt, especially when it involves certain chemicals, can accelerate the rusting process and lead to peeling paint or corrosion.

• Don’t settle for imitations. If you need to replace a part, use only original replacements. This is especially important in exotic, expensive cars. Imitations can be badly made, causing the car to overwork or damaging surrounding parts.

• Fix small problems as soon as you notice them. Little things can turn into big issues if you wait, leading not only to more expensive repairs but also to more difficult, involved ones that can get your car out of commission for days.

Buying a car that fits the needs of the whole family is a lot harder than buying a “personal” car. This is because the vehicle will most likely be used for a variety of purposes, from driving the kids to school to taking camping trips into the backcountry.

The first thing you need to do, before anything else, is to take a look at your budget. Then factor in the cost of the car, how much gas it will use, how often you will need to do maintenance and how expensive it will be. If your budget is small, this first step will most likely take some options out of the running.

Once you know how much you can spend, the next step is to look into the particular needs of your family. If you have small children, for example, you will need a car with the right size backseat, so you can strap the car seat or pack large toys. Have a dog? Make sure there’s enough room in the back to store a cage, in case you need to travel long distances. Look also into the types of activities your family is into. If you take lots of family trips, you would do better with a car that gives you the most mileages per gallon. If you often go into the countryside, a small car not fit for 4×4 driving will get you into trouble.

If at all possible, take a 24-hour test drive. If you have your eyes on a particular car that you have never driven before, you can try renting it for a day to see how your family “fits” into it.