The competition starts with the auto industry choosing a list of cars and trucks for inclusion into the competition. Then, a panel of 50 people who are automotive journalists study the features of each vehicle and judge them, based on each vehicle’s merits of new technology and improvements. There were 17 cars in the car of the year division and 7 trucks listed for the truck of the year division. They have chosen three finalists in each division.

The M-Class series didn’t reach the final three, however, the fact they were nominated shows that great improvements have been made to the SUV. Some of the newest features include:

• 7 speed automatic transmission with touch shift
• Electronic Stability along with 4 wheel drive
• Navigation System
• Dual Zone Climate Control
• Privacy Glass on the rear doors

These features and more were what helped Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV be nominated into the Truck of the Year competition. Mercedes-Benz dealers are very proud as customers come in to view the new SUV to see for themselves all the new features.

The winners of the 2012 North American Car Of The Year will be announced in January during the American International Auto Show in Detroit, MI. Visit your local Mercedes-Benz dealer to view the new M-Class along with the other models and see the new features and improvements. You just may go home in a new M-Class.

Here are a few car buying terms you should know before you sit down to discuss your Mercedes financing options.

• HEV – Hybrid electric vehicle. Whether you’re looking for a new Mercedes or a used model vehicle, if you are shopping for a hybrid, then you should know the acronym your car dealer will use to designate this type of vehicle.
• FWD/RWD – Every vehicle has a driveshaft. The more common driveshafts are front wheel drive (FWD) and rear wheel drive (RWD).
• AWD/4WD – All wheel drive and 4-wheel drive. Do you know the difference? An all wheel drive vehicle uses all four wheels for traction control all the time. 4-wheel drive vehicles require you to switch from 2-wheel drive to 4-wheel drive.
• SOHC/DOHC – Single overhead camshaft and dual overhead camshaft.

There are plenty more terms to know before you go car shopping. This is just a primer. But if you’re shopping for a Mercedes, then it’s important to know your terminology as well as your finance options.

But there is a company that is threatening that reputation and you should be aware of it.

This company has set up a fake Kelley Blue Book website designed to get you to put your money in “escrow” under the guise of a buyer protection program. Kelley Blue Book doesn’t have such a program and you shouldn’t fall for this scheme.

When it comes to judging automotive values, including the values of new and used Mercedes-Benz’s, there are few names you can count on. Kelley Blue Book is one of them. We respect KBB and we ask that you show your respect and support for the organization by not throwing your good money away after bad value. Instead, hold onto your cash until you visit a reputable Mercedes-Benz dealer. And only buy from dealers you trust.

Any time you purchase a new vehicle you’ll have to purchase insurance for that vehicle. Many states require owners of new vehicles to purchase full coverage for those vehicles. In Pennsylvania, financial responsibility is required before you drive your vehicle off the lot. You may want to purchase full coverage for your new Mercedes-Benz.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when purchasing auto insurance for your new Mercedes-Benz.

• Decide how much insurance you need for your Mercedes-Benz. Besides full coverage, you’ll need to decide whether you’re going to get uninsured motorist, funeral benefits, or bodily injury coverage and how much of each type of coverage you’re going to purchase.
• Next, review your driving record. If you have a lot of tickets and accidents, that will affect the cost of your insurance premiums.
• You should also review your current insurance policy. Are you adding someone to your policy or taking someone off? That will also affect your premiums. Other variables can also affect how much insurance you can purchase for your Mercedes-Benz.
• Research insurance companies. Not all insurers are created equal. Research insurance companies and their financial strengths. Will your insurance carrier be able to pay if you get into an accident?
• Ask for discounts. You may be eligible for discounts based on age, driving record, type of vehicle, and other factors. Ask your insurance agent for discount information.

Purchasing auto insurance for your Mercedes-Benz requires research and extra time. Be sure you start researching your options before you purchase your new vehicle.

Here are 5 reasons why insurance premiums are higher today than they’ve ever been before.

1. Fraudulent personal injury claims – Frauds make everyone pay more. Just in the past ten years, personal injury claims due to auto collision have gone up by 70%. Frauds are staging accidents and making claims, which increases everyone’s insurance premiums as the insurance companies seek ways to win back their losses.
2. Higher legal costs – Let’s face it, the economy has got everyone seeking higher premiums – even attorneys. Fuel prices have gone up and anyone who drives a vehicle needs to raise more money to pay for the fuel. So legal costs are going up and that means insurance companies, who end up paying a good percentage of those legal fees, must charge more for their policies.
3. Expensive foreign auto parts – Unfortunately, this affects Mercedes-Benz drivers. The rising cost of replacement parts means insurance companies must charge more for their premiums.
4. More uninsured and underinsured motorists – When the economy tanked, a lot of people canceled their auto insurance. Illegal? Yes. Do these drivers care? No. They were, after all, doing what we all do. They looked at their family expenses and had to make some cuts. That means insurance companies with uninsured and underinsured policy holders have picked up the slack, which means your premiums have gone up.
5. Less trust in young drivers - Young drivers get a bad rap when it comes to driving and insurance costs. It is deserved, however. Their inexperience and risk-taking behavior means they are more likely to be involved in an auto accident, and statistics prove that. If you’re between the ages of 17 and 22, you’ve probably seen your insurance premiums go up by 51%.

When you go to buy your next Mercedes-Benz, be sure you consider the cost of insurance in your calculation of owning the vehicle.

It’s true, and the reasoning is that hybrids and electrics are smaller cars. Small vehicles are likely to experience more damage during a collision, therefore higher premiums are issued on insurance for those vehicles.

Size is not all that matters when it comes to the insurance premium market, however. Other factors do influence the equation.

For instance, since many auto repair shops do not like working on hybrid vehicles and electric cars, auto insurance companies often have to transport vehicles involved in an accident further to have them repaired. That leads to additional costs for the insurance company, which are then passed on to consumers as premiums.

Mercedes-Benz auto parts are also more difficult to order for hybrids and electrics. That increases the cost of insurance premiums.

Even if an auto repair shop will work on a hybrid or electric Mercedes-Benz, the high technology nature of these vehicles makes it more costly to do so. That extra cost is passed on to the insurance company. Those costs are then passed on to consumers as extra premiums.

If you find an insurance company willing to insure your hybrid Mercedes-Benz, be sure to get a quote on all the same options that you would consider for a gas-powered vehicle. Do they offer uninsured motorist? How about personal injury and hospital coverage? Proof of financial responsibility is a necessity so be sure you factor in the cost of insurance when purchasing a new Mercedes-Benz.

According to Interest.com, national interest rates are currently between 3.78% and 5.24% for new cars and 5.58% and 5.74% for used cars. The low end on new cars is for a 72-month loan while the high end is for a 60-month loan. Loan periods of 36 and 48 months are somewhere in between.

Those are national rates. Local rates can be even less.

Financing a Mercedes-Benz is one of the most rewarding financial transactions a driver will ever experience. You’ll know with every rotation of your wheels on the pavement that you are riding in luxury and high performance. No Mercedes-Benz driver has ever regretted purchasing or financing a Mercedes-Benz. That’s because we’re all very proud drivers.

Now is the best time to finance an automobile because we have reached a low point where interest rates are concerned. We don’t see them going any lower. And because the economy is beginning to show signs of improvement, this is the perfect time to invest in looking beautiful.

Mercedes-Benz is proud to offer you a test drive. Find the model that is perfect for you and we’ll find the auto finance rate that is perfect for your car. Now is the right time.

Here are three reasons why I recommend financing that new Mercedes-Benz:

• Paying cash doesn’t make good financial sense – If you pay cash for your new Mercedes-Benz, you’ll be driving a car that isn’t valued nearly what you’ve paid for it. Every automobile, no matter how pretty and sleek, depreciates about two years of value the moment you drive it off the lot. Plus, you can take the money you spent on that vehicle and invest it in an instrument earning you more than your car loan finance rate. That makes better financial sense.
• It’s easier to trade up – If you are driving a vehicle you purchased through financing, it will be easier to trade up, especially if your Mercedes-Benz loses value between the time of initial purchase and the time you go to buy another car.
• It will improve your credit – At some point, you’ll want to make another purchase on credit. If you buy a Mercedes-Benz on credit, then that will improve your credit score (if you make all your payments on time). Keep your credit rating high and your life will be easier.

You can likely think of reasons to finance your Mercedes-Benz on your own. If not, consider these three reasons. Financing your new Mercedes-Benz has its benefits.

The type and amount of insurance necessary when purchasing a new Mercedes-Benz is dependent on a number of factors. Insurance is not a requirement if you can prove financial responsibility in other ways, i.e. you are independently wealthy and have necessary liquid assets to cover you in case of liability. This is governed by each individual state so you should check with state laws in the state in which you reside.

When financing, however, you may have to purchase additional insurance coverage based on how much you are financing. That, too, is regulated state to state.

The purpose for insurance is to protect the financial interests of a party to a finance transaction. Liability insurance allows you to compensate the owner of another vehicle if you are involved in an accident for which you are at fault. Full coverage insurance is a higher level of insurance that protects your finance company in the event that you are involved in an accident for which no party is at fault or you are involved in a collision for which the other party is at fault but does not have liability insurance. In either case, the damage to your Mercedes-Benz can be taken care of without you having to dip into your bank account. Insurance protects all parties involved.

So what are your financing options? Here are three ways you can finance your Mercedes-Benz:

• Mercedes-Benz Financing – A simple car loan. You go to your financial lender – a bank, local Mercedes-Benz dealer, or a company that specializes in car loans – and ask for money to make your purchase. This usually requires a down payment and if you have good credit then you should qualify.
• Auto Equity Loan – If you can’t qualify for a traditional auto loan then you might borrow on the equity in your home and make your Mercedes-Benz purchase with that.
• Lease Buyout Loan – Are you currently leasing a Mercedes-Benz? If you are short the cash necessary to make your lease buyout then you can borrow the money to make the buyout and pay off the loan like a traditional Mercedes-Benz auto loan.

Buying a Mercedes-Benz is like buying any other car. You have to have the income to purchase the vehicle you want, a good credit score, and the responsibility to make your monthly payments. Financing is leveraging your financial position so that you can live the lifestyle you want to live. You’ll be glad you chose to finance your Mercedes-Benz.