How to Understand Car Safety Ratings

Learn how car safety ratings are determined and how to use them when buying your next vehicle.

Although vehicle safety may not always be the #1 factor you consider when buying a new car, it's something that you should always be aware of before driving off the lot. Thankfully, car safety ratings can help demystify the comparison process. But while these ratings can help you make an informed decision when buying your next vehicle, it's important to understand how these ratings are determined and what they mean for your safety.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, or IIHS, conducts detailed safety tests for every vehicle on the market in the U.S. These tests determine the car safety ratings for each vehicle. You can search for test results for a specific make and model directly through the IIHS website.

There are five principal tests that IIHS analysts use to evaluate vehicles.

Front Crash Tests

Because front-end collisions lead to so many traffic injuries, they're given particular scrutiny when it comes to crash tests.

The IIHS conducts moderate overlap tests and small overlap tests for front crashes. In this case, "overlap" refers to the amount of the front bumper that makes contact with the barrier. They conduct two separate front crash tests to see how the car performs in different situations:

In the moderate overlap tests, roughly 40% of the width of the vehicle strikes a barrier head-on at about 40 mph.

In the small overlap tests, 25% of the total width of the vehicle strikes a barrier at the same speed. Small overlap front crash tests are meant to simulate things like a crash into a tree or a telephone pole.

The IIHS uses the following ratings criteria for a front crash test:

The strength of the structure or safety cage that's supposed to insulate the driver or passenger from much of the impact of the front crash.

The extent of injuries, using crash test dummies, and the movement of the dummy in the simulated collision.

The resulting scores indicate how much safer a car is than the average:

A “good” rating means a driver or passenger is 46% less likely to die in the crash.
A “marginal” or “acceptable” rating means a driver or passenger is 33% less likely to die in the crash.

Side Crash Tests

In side crash tests, a large barrier of 3300 pounds hits the side of the vehicle traveling at 31 mph. This effectively simulates many kinds of crashes where a vehicle might run into another one from the side, such as at an intersection.

Ratings criteria include:

Injury measures by looking at the crash test dummies
The extent of head protection, using evaluations of head movement during the simulated crash
The vehicle’s structure or safety cage

In a side crash test rating:

A rating of “good” means a vehicle occupant is 70% more likely to survive.
An “acceptable” rating means a vehicle occupant is 64% more likely to survive.
A “marginal” rating means a vehicle occupant is 49% more likely to survive.

Roof Strength Test

Since many injuries occur when the driver's vehicle flips over and ends up upside down, IIHS analysts also evaluate vehicles in terms of roof strength.

Vehicles have to be strong enough to maintain cabin structure to help you stay safe. And since many large vehicles have a high center of gravity (which can lead to overturning), roof testing is a critical measure of the safety - especially if you're buying an SUV or truck.

In roof tests, research teams push a metal plate against one side of the roof at a constant speed. This is used to record a strength-to-weight ratio for the vehicle. The IIHS looks at the peak strength-to-weight ratio before the roof is crushed 5 inches.

In a roof strength test:

A “good” IIHS rating on roof tests requires a strength-to-weight ratio of at least 4 (which means the vehicle must stand up to a force of at least four times the vehicle’s own weight)
An “acceptable” rating, requires a strength-to-weight ratio of 3.25
A “marginal” rating requires a ratio of at least 2.5

Restraint Tests

In addition to the front impact, side impact and roof strength tests, the IIHS also tests a vehicle by evaluating head restraints and other types of restraints. In this type of test, analysts looks at how well the seats support the torso, neck and head of crash test dummies.

By simulating a rear end crash with a low speed of around 10 mph, analysts try to judge the car's performance during lower impact accidents that can cause whiplash and other types of injuries.

The head restraint ratings depend on a number of specific criteria, including the amount of torso acceleration and the neck sheer force on a restraint. By combining various ratings, the IIHS issues a final dynamic rating for restraints and seats.

How to Assess IIHS Safety Ratings

The IIHS maintains a full set of top safety pick winners for each model year, right up to the current year. You can look for top safety picks for all vehicle segments, including mini cars, small cars, midsize cars, midsize luxury cars, large cars, large luxury cars, small SUVs, midsize SUVs, midsize luxury SUV's, large SUVs, minivans and large trucks. In addition to searching by category, you can also search by the year, make and model of a specific vehicle.

To view the safety ratings of each vehicle, look for the full series of test indicators, all of which use a system with values of good, acceptable, marginal and poor. These combined ratings are how IIHS assesses which vehicles are safer than others.

If safety is a primary concern, car safety ratings can provide an invaluable tool for making an informed decision.

For more details about Toco Warranty feel free to visit: https://www.linkedin.com/company/toco-warranty

8 Overlooked Car Maintenance Services

Some routine car maintenance services, like regular oil changes and periodic checkups, end up becoming almost second-nature to diligent drivers who want to keep their cars in good shape. But there are plenty of car maintenance tasks that are just as important that often get overlooked by even the most savvy vehicle owners.

Sure, some parts of your car don't require much ongoing maintenance. But there are a lot of vital systems that respond to wear on a gradual basis, which can cause big changes in your vehicle over time if they aren't addressed.

Here are some of the most important preventative car maintenance tasks that often go overlooked.

1. Air Filters

Most vehicles have an air filter for the engine and another one for the cabin. While these air filters are cheap and accessible, a lot of us don't replace them because we don't see them as vital. However, doing a routine or periodic air filter replacement can not only help preserve your car’s core systems, it can help improve air quality when you're behind the wheel.

2. Transmission Fluid

Most of us know enough to put oil in the engine, but we may never check the transmission fluid for years on end. Just like motor oil, transmission fluid can get contaminated as the vehicle ages. It's also important to check the transmission filter, check and clean the transmission pan and generally make sure that this important vehicle system is working smoothly. Warning signs of a bad transmission include grinding or knocking sounds during gear changes, and bright red fluid leaking out of your vehicle.

Your transmission fluid dipstick is usually located towards the rear of the engine and looks similar to your oil dipstick. To check your transmission fluid level, remove the dipstick and check your fluid level against the markings on the end of the dipstick. Note: check your owner's manual to see if you should check your fluid level while your engine is on or off.

3. Battery Terminals

Most drivers don't spend a lot of time messing around with their car battery, for obvious reasons. But neglecting your car battery entirely might eventually leave you stranded somewhere.

If the battery connection is even a little bit loose, your vehicle won't start. Every time you change your battery, make sure all of the connections are tight. If you notice a whole bunch of powdery or foamy stuff around each terminal (like a cauliflower or as if someone sprayed it with foamy soap), your battery terminal is probably corroded. That means it’s time to get your terminals cleaned. You can buy a battery cleaning brush or set of brushes for this purpose, or take it to a mechanic who will step in and clean them so that the car has a better chance of starting every time the ignition key is turned.

4. Motor Mounts

Motor mounts play an important role in stabilizing your engine, but many drivers don't know that motor mounts can become loose or break over time.

Your biggest indicators that your motor mounts need attention are going to be motor noise and shaking, as the loose engine causes the vehicle to shimmy around while idling. These aren't expensive items, but they're important and they'll often be checked in an annual inspection.

It may seem like common sense, but it's important to note that making sure your engine is correctly held in place should be part of any regular car maintenance schedule.

5. Wheel Alignment

If your mechanic doesn't offer wheel alignment, there's a good chance you aren't going to go out of your way to have your wheels aligned. That's a bad idea.

The problem is that improper alignment wastes fuel and can cause uneven tire wear. Improper alignment can also void the warranty on your tires and can lead to problems where a tire can go flat or blow out on the road.

Next time you're getting your oil changed or having your car serviced, make sure to ask about wheel alignment service if you haven't had it done recently.

6. Proper Tire Tread and Inflation

Tire tread level is something that a lot of people keep track of in order to determine when they need to get new tires. Tire inflation, on the other hand, isn't something that most drivers think about regularly.

When you're driving around on low tires, you're wasting fuel and wearing down your tires quicker than normal. You’re also not as safe on the road. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has found that tire under-inflation does affect crash rates.

Drivers who are really invested in their vehicles and attend to their needs will take them to an air fill-up station routinely and check inflation as part of a regular car maintenance schedule.

7. Check Brake Fluid and Rotors

Brake issues can be serious and even deadly. While your service shop will usually let you know if you're due for brake service, in between those annual checkups, it's important to pay attention to your fluid levels and other signs that something is amiss.

First, make sure you have enough brake fluid in the reservoir at all times so your brakes don't fail. Second, pay attention to any unusual sounds or indications that something is wrong. For instance, your routers may be miscalibrated and need to be corrected or replaced.

8. Evaluate Headlight Brilliance

Over time, headlights can become dimmer as their casings become yellow and dirty. This is another problem that you have to think about as your vehicle ages. Local shops will use a certain kind of chemical and polish to get lights bright again. It’s also important to keep checking the small brake light bulbs and other bulbs that illuminate parts of your car at night.

9. Prevent Damage, Protect Safety

We know you've got more important things to worry about than car maintenance all the time. But a little diligence and knowledge up front can save you a lot of time and hassle down the road. Some of these maintenance tasks will prevent direct damage to your engine and transmission parts and other core systems, while others can improve your safety.

Regardless of how old your car is, pay attention to what your car needs and you’ll get a lot more out of it, all while keeping yourself and passengers out of harm’s way.

For more details about Toco Warranty feel free to visit: https://tocowarranty.com/TocoCares/Blog/8-Overlooked-Car-Maintenance-Services

8 Overlooked Car Maintenance Services

Some routine car maintenance services, like regular oil changes and periodic checkups, end up becoming almost second-nature to diligent drivers who want to keep their cars in good shape. But there are plenty of car maintenance tasks that are just as important that often get overlooked by even the most savvy vehicle owners.

Sure, some parts of your car don't require much ongoing maintenance. But there are a lot of vital systems that respond to wear on a gradual basis, which can cause big changes in your vehicle over time if they aren't addressed.

Here are some of the most important preventative car maintenance tasks that often go overlooked.

1. Air Filters

Most vehicles have an air filter for the engine and another one for the cabin. While these air filters are cheap and accessible, a lot of us don't replace them because we don't see them as vital. However, doing a routine or periodic air filter replacement can not only help preserve your car’s core systems, it can help improve air quality when you're behind the wheel.

2. Transmission Fluid

Most of us know enough to put oil in the engine, but we may never check the transmission fluid for years on end. Just like motor oil, transmission fluid can get contaminated as the vehicle ages. It's also important to check the transmission filter, check and clean the transmission pan and generally make sure that this important vehicle system is working smoothly. Warning signs of a bad transmission include grinding or knocking sounds during gear changes, and bright red fluid leaking out of your vehicle.

Your transmission fluid dipstick is usually located towards the rear of the engine and looks similar to your oil dipstick. To check your transmission fluid level, remove the dipstick and check your fluid level against the markings on the end of the dipstick. Note: check your owner's manual to see if you should check your fluid level while your engine is on or off.

3. Battery Terminals

Most drivers don't spend a lot of time messing around with their car battery, for obvious reasons. But neglecting your car battery entirely might eventually leave you stranded somewhere.

If the battery connection is even a little bit loose, your vehicle won't start. Every time you change your battery, make sure all of the connections are tight. If you notice a whole bunch of powdery or foamy stuff around each terminal (like a cauliflower or as if someone sprayed it with foamy soap), your battery terminal is probably corroded. That means it’s time to get your terminals cleaned. You can buy a battery cleaning brush or set of brushes for this purpose, or take it to a mechanic who will step in and clean them so that the car has a better chance of starting every time the ignition key is turned.

4. Motor Mounts

Motor mounts play an important role in stabilizing your engine, but many drivers don't know that motor mounts can become loose or break over time.

Your biggest indicators that your motor mounts need attention are going to be motor noise and shaking, as the loose engine causes the vehicle to shimmy around while idling. These aren't expensive items, but they're important and they'll often be checked in an annual inspection.

It may seem like common sense, but it's important to note that making sure your engine is correctly held in place should be part of any regular car maintenance schedule.

5. Wheel Alignment

If your mechanic doesn't offer wheel alignment, there's a good chance you aren't going to go out of your way to have your wheels aligned. That's a bad idea.

The problem is that improper alignment wastes fuel and can cause uneven tire wear. Improper alignment can also void the warranty on your tires and can lead to problems where a tire can go flat or blow out on the road.

Next time you're getting your oil changed or having your car serviced, make sure to ask about wheel alignment service if you haven't had it done recently.

6. Proper Tire Tread and Inflation

Tire tread level is something that a lot of people keep track of in order to determine when they need to get new tires. Tire inflation, on the other hand, isn't something that most drivers think about regularly.

When you're driving around on low tires, you're wasting fuel and wearing down your tires quicker than normal. You’re also not as safe on the road. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has found that tire under-inflation does affect crash rates.

Drivers who are really invested in their vehicles and attend to their needs will take them to an air fill-up station routinely and check inflation as part of a regular car maintenance schedule.

7. Check Brake Fluid and Rotors

Brake issues can be serious and even deadly. While your service shop will usually let you know if you're due for brake service, in between those annual checkups, it's important to pay attention to your fluid levels and other signs that something is amiss.

First, make sure you have enough brake fluid in the reservoir at all times so your brakes don't fail. Second, pay attention to any unusual sounds or indications that something is wrong. For instance, your routers may be miscalibrated and need to be corrected or replaced.

8. Evaluate Headlight Brilliance

Over time, headlights can become dimmer as their casings become yellow and dirty. This is another problem that you have to think about as your vehicle ages. Local shops will use a certain kind of chemical and polish to get lights bright again. It’s also important to keep checking the small brake light bulbs and other bulbs that illuminate parts of your car at night.

9. Prevent Damage, Protect Safety

We know you've got more important things to worry about than car maintenance all the time. But a little diligence and knowledge up front can save you a lot of time and hassle down the road. Some of these maintenance tasks will prevent direct damage to your engine and transmission parts and other core systems, while others can improve your safety.

Regardless of how old your car is, pay attention to what your car needs and you’ll get a lot more out of it, all while keeping yourself and passengers out of harm’s way.

For more details about Toco Warranty feel free to visit: https://tocowarranty.com/TocoCares/Blog/8-Overlooked-Car-Maintenance-Services

New National Car Maintenance Index Launched by Toco Warranty

National Index finds drivers score 76 out of 100 on performing routine car maintenance, 

showing nation’s drivers maintain their cars well, but there is room for improvement in the year ahead

Best performers are: Those who report having a vehicle service contract (Index Score = 80) Households with children under 18 (77) Urban and rural drivers (77) SUV (77) and Sedan (76) drivers

Studio City, CA, January 22, 2015 – An informative new National Car Maintenance Index was released today by Toco Warranty Corp.  The Car Maintenance Index provides a useful snapshot of how well drivers in the U.S. are maintaining their cars.

The Car Maintenance Index is 76, out of a possible score of 100.  In order to earn a perfect score, drivers had to indicate that they perform, or have a professional perform, each prescribed car maintenance item at the recommended frequency (or more often).  Of course, drivers should always check their owner’s manual for specific maintenance recommendations from the manufacturer.

For more information, view the infographic and read the blog.

“As drivers make their New Year’s resolutions, it is important to remember that good car care maintenance habits are essential to protect and extend the life of your car.  With the average car owner keeping their car for 10 years, drivers should resolve to stay on top of their car’s recommended maintenance schedule,” said George Laird, a Toco spokesperson. 

“Toco felt it was important to develop a consistent, easy-to-understand way of measuring how well people do the things necessary to help keep their car running well, and the National Car Maintenance Index does just that.  It can be used to assess changes in car care habits over time, and we hope will serve as a friendly reminder of the important role maintenance plays in keeping your car – and life – running well,” said Laird.

The Index was developed by conducting a nationwide online survey, on behalf of Toco, of 1,001 U.S. car owners/lessees age 18 and over.  Respondents were asked whether and how often they perform, or have a professional perform, a number of basic car maintenance items.  The index measures performance based on the survey results evaluated against generally accepted recommendations for how often such maintenance should occur.    

“In our Survey, we found that drivers have an almost perfect track record of performing the car maintenance items, but fall behind in doing them as frequently as recommended.  In fact, some items that drivers should be doing  often, such as checking the battery and engine belts, are ones fewer drivers are doing as often as recommended,” said Laird.

National Car Maintenance Index Key Findings

The following groups score better than others on the Car Maintenance Index, meaning there is a statistically significant difference in their car maintenance performance against the comparison group:

Those who said they …	…have a significantly higher Car Maintenance Index rating than those who said they:
Have a vehicle service contract (Index Score = 80)	Do not have a vehicle service contract (Index Score = 75)
Have children under the age of 18 living in the household (77)	Have no children under the age of 18 living in the household (74)
Have children under the age of 18 in the household who drive the family car (80)	Have children under the age of 18 in the household who do not drive (77)
Live in an urban (77) or rural (77) area	Live in a suburban area (75)
Drive an SUV (77) or Sedan (76)	Drive other types of cars (74)
Spent money on routine maintenance or repairs in the past 12 months (77)	Did not spend money on routine maintenance or repairs in the past 12 months (68)
Have later model year cars: 2001-2010 (76)	Have model year cars 2000 or earlier (74)
Are male (77)	Are female (74)

Who Performs Maintenance: Owner or Professional?

- Majorities reported that they have each car maintenance item performed by a professional, with the exception of checking the tire pressure/condition (60% do themselves) and washing the car (70% do themselves).

- Those in the Northeast are significantly more likely than those in the South and Midwest to enlist the help of a pro with all car maintenance items except changing the oil, checking the tire pressure/ condition and washing the car.

Is Maintenance Performed Often Enough?

- Though virtually all respondents perform the maintenance items on their cars, only 75% or fewer perform any of them at the recommended frequency applied in the Index.  In fact, some car maintenance tasks that drivers should be doing often, such as checking the battery or the engine belts, are things fewer drivers are doing on time.

- Half to three-quarters of drivers polled perform, or have a professional perform, the following tasks at the recommended times, according to the survey:

- Check the brakes (75%)
- Change the air filters (73%)
- Change the coolant (antifreeze) (62%)
- Check the spark plugs (59%)
- Wash the car (to remove road salt and grime) (57%)
- Change the oil (50%)
- Less than half do the following maintenance items at the suggested frequency:
- Check tire pressure and condition (41%)
- Check the battery, including terminals and cables (38%)
- Check the engine belts (27%)

How Much Money are People Spending on Maintenance?

- Eight out of 10 surveyed drivers (83%) report having spent money on routine maintenance and repairs to keep their cars running in the past 12 months.

- The average spend across all drivers polled was approximately $549.

​- More than a third report having spent less than $250 on routine maintenance and car repairs.

- Nearly one out of five people (19%) reported that they have a vehicle service contract (in other words, a contract for repair, or replacement for an operational or structural failure of a vehicle)

Summary of Maintenance and Timing

	% who perform service	% who perform service at the recommended intervals
Check the brakes	98%	75%
Change the air filters	98%	73%
Change the coolant (antifreeze)	97%	62%
Check the spark plugs	98%	59%
Wash your car (to remove road salt and grime)	96%	57%
Change the oil	98%	50%
Check tire pressure and condition	98%	41%
Check the battery, including terminals and cables	98%	38%
Check the engine belts	97%	27%

Methodology

The Toco Car Maintenance Survey was conducted online among a nationwide sample of 1,001 car owners and lessees age 18 years and older in the U.S.  Data was gathered in late 2014 by global data collection service provider, Critical Mix, on behalf of Toco.   

Using car maintenance recommendations based on industry sources, Toco’s National Car Maintenance Index was created to provide a snapshot of how well drivers in the U.S. are maintaining their cars.  Respondents earned 5.55 points for each of nine common maintenance items performed (whether by themselves or by a professional) and earned 5.55 points for each item performed at the generally recommended frequency (or more often).  A perfect car care score would be 100[2]if a person performed each maintenance item at least as often as recommended.  The Index is based upon the following maintenance items and frequency intervals:

Car Maintenance Item:	Performed at Least:
Check Tire Pressure and Condition	Every month
Wash Your Car (to remove road salt and  grime)	Every month
Change the  Oil	Every 3mo/3,000 mi
Check the Battery, including Terminals and Cables	Every 3mo/3,000 mi
Check the Spark Plugs	Every 12mo/12,000mi
Change the Air Filters	Every 12mo/12,000mi
Check the Engine Belts	Every 3mo/3,000 mi
Check the Brakes	Every 12mo/12,000mi
Change the Coolant (antifreeze)	Every 12mo/12,000mi

About Toco Warranty Corp.

Toco is revolutionizing the VSC industry by basing its approach on the belief that no one should ever be grounded by auto repair bills they can't afford. The way we see it, a VSC should be a simple and affordable monthly expense, much like the utility bill. By paying an affordable amount each month, with no interest or down payment, you can keep your vehicle running well.  Our plans maximize coverage based on mileage and age while keeping fees affordable.  Benefits include:

- A low monthly payment,* with NO down payments, and NO interest charges. 

- It only takes a first month’s payment to sign up.

- Our “pay as you go” system allows customers to cancel any time before the next monthly billing cycle; however an administrative fee may apply. 

To learn more about Toco, visit.  http://tocowarranty.com/About-Us.

Article Resource: https://tocowarranty.com/TocoCares/Blog/New-National-Car-Maintenance-Index-Launched-by-Toco-Warranty

Toco Car Care Index Survey

Toco Car Maintenance Survey – Topline Results

Background and Methodology

The Toco Car Maintenance Survey was conducted online among a nationwide sample of 1,001 car owners and lessees age 18 years and older in the U.S. Data was gathered on behalf of Toco in late 2014 by global data collection service provider Critical Mix, to determine whether and how often respondents perform, or have a professional perform, basic car care items.  

1.    Do you own or have a lease on a car that you, personally, drive at least once a week?

Yes, own a car	95%
Yes, have a lease on a car	5%

2.    Age

18-­‐24	6%
25-­‐34	18%
35-­‐44	18%
45-­‐54	19%
55-­‐64	21%
65+	19%

3.    Gender

Male	49%
Female	51%

4.    Region

Northeast	20%
South	36%
Midwest	24%
West	20%

Today we would like to know about you and your car. For the remainder of this survey, please think about the car owned or leased by you that you drive most often.

5.   Which of the following best describes your car?

Sedan	49%
SUV	24%
Pick-­‐up Truck	9%
Minivan	6%
Sports car	5%
Other	4%
Station wagon	2%
Mini car	1%

6.   For what do you primarily use your vehicle?

Personal use	97%
Business use	3%

When it comes to taking care of your car, please tell us who PRIMARILY does each of the following—you or someone in your household, a mechanic/service professional or you have no idea—and how often they do it.

	Me or someone in my household	Professional	No one or I have no idea
7.   Check Tire Pressure and Condition	60%	38%	2%
8.   Wash Your Car (to remove road salt and grime)	70%	26%	4%
9.   Change the Oil	30%	68%	2%
10. Change Transmission, Steering, and Other Fluids	25%	73%	2%
11. Check the Battery, including Terminals and Cables	44%	53%	2%
12. Check the Spark Plugs	29%	69%	2%

13. Change the Air Filters	41%	57%	2%
14. Check the Engine Belts	29%	68%	3%
15. Check the Brakes	28%	69%	2%
16. Change the Coolant (antifreeze)	36%	61%	3%

Approximately how often does someone do each of the following things? [NOTE: Respondents not asked time interval for any maintenance items they do not do]

	Every Month	Every 3mo/ 3,000mi	Every 6mo/ 6,000mi	Every 12mo/ 12,000 mi	Less often than every 12mo/ 12,000 mi	Don’t know	No not do this
17. Check Tire Pressure and Condition	41%	26%	17%	5%	2%	8%	2%
18. Wash Your Car (to remove road salt and grime)	57%	18%	10%	3%	3%	5%	4%
19. Change the Oil	4%	46%	35%	7%	2%	4%	2%
20. Change Transmission, Steering, and Other Fluids*	6%	14%	20%	17%	22%	18%	2%
21. Check the Battery, including Terminals and Cables	17%	21%	23%	15%	9%	12%	2%
22. Check the Spark Plugs	5%	14%	19%	21%	21%	18%	2%
23. Change the Air Filters	4%	18%	27%	24%	11%	13%	2%
24. Check the Engine Belts	9%	18%	23%	18%	14%	15%	3%
25. Check the Brakes	7%	19%	26%	22%	12%	11%	2%
26. Change the Coolant (antifreeze)	7%	14%	18%	22%	19%	16%	3%

*Item not included in the index.

27. In the past 12 months, have you spent any money on routine maintenance and repairs to keep your car running? This includes things such as oil and tire changes and repairs from general wear and tear, but does not include things like gas or repairs from an accident.

Yes	83%
No	15%
Not Sure	3%

28. Approximately how much have you spent on car repair and maintenance in the past 12 months?

	(base = 827)
Less than $250	36%
$250 -­‐   $499	23%
$500 -­‐   $749	15%
$750 -­‐   $999	9%
$1000 -­‐   $1499	8%
$1500 -­‐   $1999	4%
$2000 or more	3%
Not Sure	2%

29. Approximately how much of the above amount was covered by a warranty or vehicle service contract?

	(base = 827)
$0	72%
$1 -­‐   $249	7%
$250 -­‐   $499	6%
$500 -­‐   $749	3%
$750 -­‐   $999	3%
$1000 -­‐   $1499	2%
$1500 -­‐   $1999	*

$2000 or more	1%
Not Sure	5%

30. Which of the following categories includes things that were replaced or repaired on your car? [SELECT ALL THAT APPLY]

	(base = 827)
Routine Maintenance	73%
Engine	19%
Air Conditioner	13%
Cooling System	12%
Electrical	11%
Transmission	10%
Drive Axle	5%
Other	19%
Not Sure	6%

That’s it! The rest of the questions are for classification purposes only, so we can group your responses with people like you.

31. Do you live in an urban, suburban or rural area?

Suburban	54%
Urban	24%
Rural	21%

32. Approximately how many miles are on your car?

Less than 10,000	8%
10,000 – 19,999	6%

20,000 – 29,999	8%
30,000 – 39,999	9%
40,000 – 49,999	9%
50,000 – 59,999	10%
60,000 – 69,999	7%
70,000 – 79,999	6%
80,000 – 89,999	6%
90,000 – 99,999	4%
100,000 or more	25%

33. What model year is your vehicle?

1980 and earlier	1%
1981-­‐1990	3%
1991-­‐2000	16%
2001-­‐2010	54%
2011+	27%

34. Do you have a vehicle service contract (in other words, a contract for repair, or replacement for an operational or structural failure of a vehicle)?

Yes	19%
No	73%
Not sure	7%

35. Are there children under the age of 18 living at home with you?

Yes	35%
No	65%

36. Does anyone in your household who is under the age of 18 drive your car?

	Base =355
Yes	17%
No	83%

37. Which of the following best describes you?

White or Caucasian	80%
Black or African American	10%
Asian or Pacific Islander	5%
Hispanic/Latino	4%
American Indian or Alaskan Native	1%
Some other race	1%

38. Into which of the following categories did your TOTAL household income fall before taxes in

2013?

Less than $25,000	17%
$25,000 -­‐   $34,999	13%
$35,000 -­‐   $49,999	18%
$50,000 -­‐   $64,999	18%
$65,000 -­‐   $79,999	10%
$80,000 -­‐   $99,999	9%
$100,000 -­‐   $149,999	12%
$150,000 or more	4%

Article Resource: https://www.tocowarranty.com/TocoCares/Blog/Toco-Car-Care-Index-Survey