What To Know About Trim And Body Style
With any car, the base model is the trim level with the least equipment and features. A fully loaded model offers the most equipment and features. There are also trim levels in between.
Trim is usually designated by letters or numbers after the model name. Some common ones are: DX, LS, or a series, like 300 or 500.
Trim levels can affect:
- Transmission: automatic, automated manual, or all-wheel drive
There can also be model versions with different body styles. Body style refers to the shape of a car: coupe, sedan, SUV, etc. For example, the Mazda 3 is available as a hatchback or a sedan.
How trim level affects pricing
Here are some examples using the 2018 Honda Civic:
- Honda Civic LX : $20,635
- Honda Civic EX-L : $24,895
- Honda Civic Touring : $27,695
Where Do I Find The Make And Model
Most of the time, the make and model can easily be determined by looking at the exterior logos or badges. If for some reason, it is not clear or you dont have the vehicle in front of you, you can likely find the make and model in the following places:
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Vehicle registration certificate
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Use WithClutchs window sticker tool to decipher your VIN and receive your vehicles specs
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Your VIN may be located on the drivers side door or where the windshield meets the dashboard on the drivers side
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Car insurance policy papers
Do Classic Cars Qualify For Antique License Plates
In certain states, classic cars do qualify for special license plates. While that might be good news for some, its important to keep a few key facts in mind when it comes to antique license plates. Because, as it turns out, outfitting a vehicle with an antique license plate isnt always such a good idea.
While some states may have different regulations regarding antique plates, Nationwide reports that most states allow a vehicle to be designated as a classic after 25 years. If a car qualifies for a special license plate, a separate special registration form will need to be filled out.
What many dont know about antique license plates is that they come with many rules and stipulations. In fact, Hot Cars reports that cars with antique license plates can only be driven to and from car shows and exhibitions in many states. Cars with antique license plates must also be considered a collectors item by the owner, Hot Cars reports.
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How To Find A Cars Make And Model
To find the make and model of a car, look for the logos, badges, decals and emblems found on the vehicles exterior, usually on the trunk or front grille. However, the types, prominence and combinations of these identifiers are unique to each car model.
For example, Cadillac has a script logo, front grill badge and decorative hood ornament that distinguish the cars make from others in a line-up. You can almost always find the model name of a Cadillac written on the trunk, too. Another example is how Audi vehicles have a distinctive emblem of four interlocked chrome circles placed prominently on the front hood or grille, which is sometimes accompanied by the car model name. You can also typically find the model name for Audi vehicles on the trunk.
Impact Auto Insurance Rates
The make and model of a vehicle also dictate how much youll pay for auto insurance. It generally costs more to insure a Mercedes-Benz than it does to insure a Honda Accord, Williams said. This has a lot to do with the differing car values, repair costs and frequency and severity of claims for any given make and model.
There can also be big differences in crash test results and safety ratings from different models from the same make, Williams added. When your insurance company runs your VIN to help determine the premium amount, it takes into account the make, model and trim level, he noted.
An EX might look the same or almost identical to you as an LX, but they are different in some way, whether it’s equipment or amenities. To an insurer, they are different vehicles with different claims records. You could pay hundreds more to insure the same make/model, but with the different body style and trim levels.
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How To Find My Car’s Make And Model
A vehicle’s make and model is listed in several places. Here’s how you can find yours:
Outside of Your VehicleThe back of your car should have the manufacturer’s name on one side and the model on the other side. Plus, the car maker’s logo is usually on the front and back of your car.
Owner’s ManualThe make and model of the vehicle is usually located on the cover of the owner’s manual. Or, it can be found within its first few pages.
Title or RegistrationYour car make and model is prominently displayed on both documents.
Use the Car’s Vehicle Identification Number You can enter your VIN into the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s VIN Decoder web page. It’ll reveal your car’s make, model, and other details.
The VIN is a 17-digit code made up of letters and numbers. It can be found:
- On the driver’s side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield
Can a VIN tell you what model year a car is?
- 1st character: Country of manufacture
- 2nd character: Manufacturer
- 4thâ8th characters: Brand, body style, model, and series
- 9th character: Security check number
- 10th character: Model year
- Existing liens on the vehicle
- Past maintenance
What car body style do you like the best?
Your car make and model tells insurance companies a lot about your future driving behavior. See how it could affect your rates below.
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Examine Your Buying Patterns
In addition to the formula for car affordability, recognizing your own car-buying habits, good and bad, can offer clues to the best strategy for you.
For example, are you someone who buys a car, pays it off and then keeps it for a few years? Buying a new car would work for you: You have a track record of shopping within your means, finishing off the loan and going payment-free for a while. That’s smart.
Do you get bored with a car after a few years? Then leasing is your best bet. What good is it to take out a six-year loan if you’re going to trade in the vehicle during the fourth or fifth year? You’ll likely owe more than the car is worth and will have to roll that balance into the next loan. You’d be better off leasing and paying less per month. Leasing also lets you get a nicer car for less money.
Finally, are you trying to make the most financially sound decision possible? Then buy a lightly used car, pay it off, and keep it for many years. The first owner takes the depreciation hit, and you’ll have a car that’s new enough to avoid major repairs for a while.
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How Much Car Can I Afford
Fitting a car into your household budget is no easy task, and financial experts do not agree on how to determine its affordability. One school of thought holds that all your automotive expenses gas, insurance, car payments should not exceed 20% of your pretax monthly income. Other experts say that a vehicle that costs roughly half of your annual take-home pay will be affordable. Then some frugal personal-finance gurus say you should spend no more than 10%-15% of your annual income on a vehicle purchase. Pretax, post-tax, annual income these terms are enough to make a person ask: “How much car can I afford?”
There’s no perfect formula for how much you can afford, but our short answer is that your new-car payment should be no more than 15% of your monthly take-home pay. If you’re leasing or buying used, it should be no more than 10%. The reason for finding a vehicle that falls below 10%-15% is that the payment isn’t the totality of what you will be spending. You’ll need to factor in the costs of fuel and insurance, and many people overlook that. We put those costs at another 7% of your take-home pay. So, all in, you’re looking at a total budget that is ideally, no more than 20% of your monthly take-home pay.
While the 10%-15% rule may not work for everyone, it’s a good starting point for finding a target price that won’t leave you scrambling to pay your bills every month. Here’s how you can get a more customized number for yourself.
The Company That Manufactures/assembles The Car
The make of a car in this case is the company that makes the car. Quite straightforward. You pay for a car at a car showroom, you get your car with the logo of the company. But the entire car is not built by them. Most manufacturers rely heavily on external vendors for many of their components. Hence, even if you spot a logo on your cars hood, that company may not have built your entire machine.
For instance, a Ford Edge bought in the US may have components from different companies. The airbags may be supplied by Autoliv from Sweden and the sunroof may be built by Webasto Roof & Components from Germany. If you are curious about the part suppliers of Ford, this list may help.
But Is This Reliable?
Most car companies around the world employ third-party vendors to manufacture components for them. This has remained a successful business model for vehicle manufacturing over decades. The quality of these parts is closely monitored by the vehicle manufacturer, ensuring that the components meet the safety standards set by the parent company. So, if Toyota means quality, all component suppliers for Toyota should aspire to keep up that quality level.
But this can go wildly wrong too. If you even remotely follow vehicle recalls, you may have heard of the name Takata Corp. The frontal airbags made by this company from 2002 through 2015 were used by 19 different car companies.
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How Much Should Your Car Cost Compared To Your Salary
Warning And Tips Before Buying A Used Car
Buying a used car can seem like a bit of a gamble. While its the smart thing to do if you want to save money, you cant really be sure that the vehicle is in good shape, even if it appears to be. Thats why its important that you check the vehicle history of the car you intend to buy. While this may seem tedious, its, in fact, a rather straightforward and simple process. On MyVehicle.ie, you can perform a vehicle history check using the VIN to know if the car is defective or has been written off. Further, the check will also indicate if the vehicle was stolen, imported, used as a taxi, has outstanding finance on it, or has been clocked.
Our vehicle history check service helps you purchase the best vehicle for you, so it lasts you a long time!
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Differentiate Price Point And Features
Make and model are important for distinguishing a certain vehicles price and characteristics. Using Chevrolet as an example, say you want an entry-level car. You could get a vehicle like the Chevy Spark.
However, if you want a step-up in size and amenities, you could look into the Chevy Malibu. Or if you prefer a sports car, you could opt for the Camaro. Each model within the brand/make can be a step up or step down, and this all affects price point, Andrius said.
What Does Make And Model Mean
‘Make’ designates the brand of automaker that builds the car. ‘Model’ is a name given to a specific vehicle within a manufacturers lineup.
You probably see hundreds of cars pass by you on the road each day, and the reason most of those vehicles look, perform, and sound different is that most are different makes and models. Vehicles make and model tell buyers who makes a particular car, what type of car it is, what the car is for, and helps keep that car separate from others.
Makes include car manufacturers like Ford, Chevrolet, Audi, Nissan, Toyota, Lamborghini, Honda, and many others. Model is usually the name given to the vehicle by each manufacturer, like CR-V, Corolla, Mustang, Corvette, X1, A4, and Malibu. For most people, putting the make and model together, like in the case of the Honda Accord, Ford Focus, or Volvo XC90 paints a clear picture of a specific vehicle.
Model is usually more complicated than a vehicles make. Sometimes there is more to a model name than just that, a name. In the case of some manufacturers, a model name helps designate what kind of engine a car has. Trim levels and body styles can also be factors when considering different car models within each make. We are going to dive into vehicle make and model to clear up any misunderstandings you might have.
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What Is Model Of Car
The term model of a car refers to a certain variant of car produced by any specific vehicle manufacturer. It may include different trim levels, colour, model year, or a specific class of vehicles.
All vehicles available on the road can be classified in different categories according to their body style, such as Sedan, Hatchback, SUV, Coupe, Convertible, Wagon, etc.
The interior design of the vehicle is commonly known as trim level and it can be different for a given car model. As an example, Honda Civic sedan car offers different trim level choices to the buyer like LX, EX, EX-T, etc.
The model year also provides a key piece of information about the model of a car. It explains in which year the car was designed for. As an example, the 2018 Honda Civic car model says that the car was designed for the year 2018.
Most countries often put extra taxes on luxury car models. Similarly, they also offer various subsidies on economic car models and low emission car models.
The model of a car can easily be identified by the batch behind every car. Vehicle producers also mention the car model number on the VIN of the vehicle.
Do You Need Special Car Insurance
As it turns out, in many cases, classic cars do need special insurance. According to the IIHS, to qualify for classic car insurance, vehicles must meet certain criteria. Beyond age specifications, the car cant be used for everyday errands or commuting. Instead, it can only be used for car shows and exhibitions. Many insurers also require that the vehicle be stored in a locked, enclosed, private structure to qualify for this type of insurance.
The good news is that this type of car insurance can be immensely helpful in keeping a classic car in good condition. According to the IIHS, this type of auto insurance should provide the flexibility to bring a classic vehicle to a specialist, even if their rates are more expensive. Coverage for towing tends to be more comprehensive too, the IIHS reports.
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Why Should Vehicle Make And Model Matter To You
All these letters and numbers may be confusing since there is no universal naming convention for vehicle models. They do matter though, especially when it comes to insurance coverage, insurance costs, and insurance premiums. These costs will, of course, vary based on your chosen insurance company, but certain vehicle makes and models can even affect vehicle registration costs.
Safer vehicles usually bring lower insurance rates than less safe vehicles. Vehicles like the Honda Accord are more commonly stolen than many other vehicle models, raising insurance rates for its buyers. Sports cars are more expensive to insure since they are considered high-performance vehicles and generally bring a higher risk of accidents to their drivers.
New cars tend to have higher collision coverage rates because they are more expensive to fix than older models if they are crashed. The Subaru Outback, Subaru Forester, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, and Ford Escape are currently some of the cheapest cars to insure.
Beyond car insurance rates, it is always helpful to know the make and model of your own car if you ever want to sell it, if your vehicle is ever stolen, or if you want to buy a similar car from a more recent model year.
How Are Brands Owned By The Same Manufacturer Different
Its not uncommon for a manufacturer to own several individual brands. This could be the result of a previous acquisition or merger, as is the case for General Motors, which acquired Cadillac, Buick and Chevrolet in the early 1900s. Though some of these brands have sibling models that appear similar in nature, such as the Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave, they do differ in some capacity and still get sold separately under each individual brand.
Additionally, a manufacturer may have separate brands to target different audiences. For example, Ford Motor Company sells its more affordable models under the Ford brand, while it sells its higher-end models under the Lincoln brand.
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