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2011 was not too bad for the car industry. Sales were up 10.8 percent compared to 2010, which is the highest level since 2008. Overall, Americans bought more Midsize SUVs than a year earlier. Up 45%.

Big winners last year were the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 topping the top 10 list. Toyota Camry is still a top seller among midsize sedans, selling more than 308,500 units last year. Ford managed to get three of models on the top 10 and Chevrolet two, with recently launched Chevrolet Cruze as a top-selling newcomer. Among the cars on the list, Ford Escape made the biggest jump, with a 33% increase in sales last year.

The Car of the Year, the Hyundai Elantra, landed outside the list but saw sales increase 41% in 2011.

The list below is based on the list by edmunds.com, where each model in a series are listed on its own.

1.	Ford F-150
2.	Chevrolet Silverado 1500
3.	Toyota Camry
4.	Nissan Altima
5.	Ford Escape
6.	Ford Fusion
7.	Toyota Corolla
8.	Honda Accord
9.	Chevrolet Cruze
10.	Hyundai Sonata

 

Right now, you will find the largest cash back rebates offered through Nissan and Chevrolet. Typically, you can find $5,000 cash back on the leftover 2011 Nissan Titan and, with some luck, $4,500 cash back on many Chevrolet models, like Silverado and Avalanche.

The Nissan Titan is a serious, full-size pickup truck designed for work and play. It is available in both rear-wheel and four-wheel drive configurations, with two body styles: extended (King) Cab and Crew Cab.

There are also several 0% financing deals and good lease deals around, and expect this to continue through spring. As an example, Ford is offering 0% financing for up to 36 months on most Ford and Lincoln models. Check your credit and ask if you qualify.

You can also find some deals on 2011 leftover models from GMC, Chrysler, and Ford. Rebates run as high as $5,250 on some 2011 models.

Even though Hyundai is still suffering from a lack of inventory, it continues to offer nice incentives on cars that are generally priced below the competition. Look for $1,000 cash back on the 2011 Santa Fe and Veracruz.

Ford has increased both sales and production last year. Several good deals on full-size pickups and large SUVs. On leftover 2010 models, Ford is offering some large hidden dealer rebates. 2011 Ford Focus has $1,500 cash back plus $2,000 in hidden dealer rebates.

Toyota and Honda are playing it low, with mostly the same incentives as the past few months. They are still having problems with building up inventory to sufficient levels.

Source: realcartips.com

 

Allstate introduces The Claim Satisfaction Guarantee. This new guarantee was tested last year in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Georgia. It came with your car insurance at no additional cost. The guarantee is now expanded to 31 states, and more is planned later in 2012.

With this new guarantee, eligible customers who are not happy with the outcome of their claim can receive a credit to their auto insurance premium, if they write to Allstate within 180 days.

If the customer isn't happy, then we haven't done our job, Chief Marketing Officer, Mark LaNeve says.

Allstate customers are backed by one of the largest claims teams in the industry, available 24 hours a day every day of the year. In case of an accident, downloading Allstate's worksheet is a simple way to stay organized. It helps you to keep all the facts, phone numbers and report numbers in one place.

Source: Allstate

 

With recovering economy, many of us will be shopping for a new car in 2012. Finding the right car and finding a way to finance it can be a stressful experience. With so many options out there it's hard to know what is right for you. Dealers also use a complicated jargon when trying to sell you a car. Sometimes, you end up paying a lot more than you thought. Unfortunately, financing is one area where dealers might use all kinds of tricks to make you think you are getting a better deal than you are.

If you are a first-time car buyer, you might think you must accept the financing terms your dealer offers you. In some situations, dealership financing could be your best choice. Especially, if you qualify for a special 0% offer or if you don't have a credit history. Otherwise, you need to cover all your options.

Get Your Credit Report

First, get your free annual credit reports from all three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.) Some states have laws that allow additional free yearly credit reports. These states include Colorado, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and Vermont. Make sure you take advantage of this.

Both the dealer and your auto insurance company will examine your credit reports. To get the best deal, you want to make sure the reports are accurate and that there are no outstanding problems. In addition, keeping track of your credit history is a simple credit protection. You don't want to be one of the thousands of Americans that are victims of identity theft each year.

If you are in doubt about your history and score, you should get reports with credit score. Those reports you must pay for. If your score is below 700 it might be difficult to get a loan at a really low APR.

Find the Right Auto Loan

When you know your numbers, shop and compare auto loan rates from various sources. There a many resources on internet, check them out. Talk with your bank as well. You will probably find that you receive the best offers from an online auto lender or a credit union.

It is also important to remember that unless you are paying cash, always work out your car loan first, then choose your car.

You should also make sure the loan is approved before you drive away with any car.