Tesla Motors Inc. wants to sell their electric luxury cars directly to consumers, bypassing car dealers.

The company recently won a victory in New York. Residents in New York and a few other states can buy vehicles at Tesla-owned stores.

The established car dealers, of course, like things the way they are and want keep what is essentially a kind of monopoly.

The latest battleground is North Carolina. Tesla wants to sell cars over the Internet directly to buyers in the state. Last month, the Republican-controlled state Senate proposed a bill that would block Tesla from selling online.

Nearly all states require manufacturers to sell their vehicles through dealerships and direct sales violate those franchise laws.

Strange, isn’t it? How these laws have protected car dealers from much of the online sales that have swept through other sectors, like electronics, books and music.

The bill in North Carolina updated the law governing the relationship between automakers and dealers. The bill also makes it unlawful for residents to make online purchases directly through manufacturers.

The simple fact is that people buy cars out of state every day. There is nothing illegal about that. So why not online?

Buying online is usually efficient and very beneficial for the consumer. Fair competition is in fact one of the corner stones in a free market.

Politics should not dictate what you buy or how you should buy it.

Our Practice Tests

South Carolina practice tests have been updated.

We offer more than 500 questions based on the South Carolina Driver’s Manual. It covers all different areas from the manual and should help you pass the written knowledge test the first time. No other site offers this variety of questions for free.

All tests are random and we don’t require any sign-up or valid e-mail address. Just click and go.

The Knowledge Test

The South Carolina written knowledge test will contain questions regarding driving rules, laws and regulations, safe driving practices, and highway signs. You will find information needed for the test in the South Carolina Driver’s Manual.

You may take the knowledge test at any DMV office that provides full driver license services for classes D, G, and M.

The knowledge test is required when you apply for an original license or upgrade to a different class of license.

The manual or other testing aids cannot be used while taking the knowledge test. Tests will be treated as a failure if a handbook or other types of testing aids are used during the test. If you are caught using a cell phone, using a camera device or found talking to others during the test, you will also fail the test.

The Road Test

To make the road test, you should schedule an appointment. Appointments are available Monday through Friday, 2:00-4:30 p.m. in all DMV offices.

To make an appointment, call the office and leave a voice-mail message with your name and phone number. DMV staff will return their call within one business day.

DMV accepts walk-in customers from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. However, during the afternoon hours, 2:00-4:30 p.m., DMV will not accept walk-in road test applicants unless the office has a cancellation. Customers who arrive late 10 minutes or more for an appointment could lose their scheduled appointment time to a walk-in customer.

Beginner’s Permit

To get a Class D Beginner’s Permit:

• You must be at least 15 years old.
• You must bring your birth certificate, social security card, proof of residency and insurance information.
• If you are under 18 years of age, you must bring your parent or legal guardian with you to sign your application.
• You must pass the vision and knowledge tests.

Moving to S.C.

If you move to South Carolina from another state and have a valid driver’s license, you can use it for 90 days. After 90 days you must surrender it and obtain a South Carolina driver license. You are not required to take the knowledge test.

If you own any vehicles they must also be registered in South Carolina. You have 45 days to transfer your out of state vehicle registration.

Touch-screen? Yes, no problem. But not in my car!

Ford has been one of the first car companies to install mobile-phone-based technologies, like voice recognition and touch screens, in its cars.

SYNC with MyFord Touch uses Bluetooth wireless technology to pass information between the car’s computer system and your phone. You can use voice commands to make and receive calls or listen to text messages. Whatever your phone can do, SYNC lets you do so you can keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.

It is believed that 80% of Ford buyers this year choose a vehicle with the Sync or MyFord touch system, and that these features are one of the top reasons customers choose the vehicle.

Never the less, Ford’s ranking by J.D. Power & Associates plunged in 2011 and 2012 after MyFord Touch was launched.

The system has had flaws. At times it would freeze, run slow or simply stop functioning correctly. Another thing that bothered customers was the inability to quickly change the channel or volume on the radio through familiar knobs.

Ford will now add back the old tuning and volume knobs for the radio as it redesigns existing models.

The law says that you must pass certain tests to show that you can drive a car or motorcycle legally and safely before you can get your Oklahoma Driver License. You apply for your license and take your tests at a Driver Testing Facility operated by the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety.

For the Class D license, there are three tests: the vision screening, the written test, and the driving test.

The questions for a Class D license test are all based on the information in the Oklahoma Driver’s Manual. You will be asked about Oklahoma traffic laws, safe driving practices, and drug and alcohol laws. You should also know local traffic laws for your city or town.

How should you prepare?

You should always study the manual carefully. Some details in the manual might seem irrelevant or insignificant for your driving skills, but everything is there for a reason and questions on your test may be taken from all parts of the manual.

Take as many practice tests as you can. They help you understand what the real written test is all about. They also help you lose the fear and be more confident.

Our practice tests for the Oklahoma driver’s license or learner’s permit are now updated and contain many more questions, together with simple explanations.

Remember, the idea with our practice tests is not to try to cram everything into your short-term memory or for you to memorize answers.

You need to fully understand laws and safe driving practices. Don’t rush this knowledge.

Always read each question and all the answers given. Don’t jump to conclusions based on what you think looks familiar.

If you skip reading one or more of the answers for a question, you risk missing the best answer (which means you risk getting the question wrong).

Last year’s Toyota 4Runner, the 2013 model, scored too low to be recommended by Consumer Reports. The modest update to the 2014 model does not change that.

It is the fifth generation of the Toyota 4Runner and it includes a rugged new exterior design with color-keyed bumpers and over fenders, new exterior colors, and a redesigned front end with a new grille, a new bright Optitron instrument panel, new seats, and new audio systems.

Underneath it all you’ll find the same 4Runner.

According to Consumer Report’s review by Jeff Bartlett, this update does not address the clumsy handling, busy ride, low seating position, and wide 45-foot turning circle.

Toyota 4Runner has very good off-road abilities and is good for towing. But according to Jeff Bartlett, it is not good for much else.

The 2013 Mazda MX-5 Miata starts at $23,720 and makes it an affordable roadster.

The Miata is one of the world’s most popular two-seat sports cars. Pinpoint handling, instant power delivery, and a crisp manual gearbox are just a few of the things driver’s like.

It also has excellent fuel economy which is becoming more and more important.

Reliability is very good. Based on the latest survey, Consumer Reports expect reliability of new models to be 28% above average.

Consumer Reports also say it is hard to find a car more agile and fun to drive than this one. The steering is super responsive and provides plenty of feedback. There is a fair amount of body lean.

It is also the official vehicle of the Skip Barber Driving Schools, Racing Schools and Race Series. Among its fleet of 170 race cars, there are no less than 60 Mazda MX-5 Cup Miatas.

84% of Miata owners claim they would definitely purchase the same vehicle again.

Sources: mazdausa.com and Consumer Reports

Preparing for your written knowledge test in the state of Louisiana?

Do you need to practice for your learner’s permit? Do you want to know what questions you will get on the test?

Look no further. You have come to the right place. We have all the questions and all the information you need to pass your test.

To get a learner’s permit, you must be fifteen (15) years of age. You must also complete thirty (30) hours classroom instruction and eight (8) hours behind the wheel driving instruction.

New residents have to obtain a Louisiana license within 30 days of moving to the state. Some are required to take the knowledge test.

The knowledge test in Louisiana is actually a test consisting of two parts:

Traffic Sign Test

You must know the meaning of standard road signs and traffic signals and be able to identify certain signs by shape, color and/or symbol.

Knowledge Test

You will be given written questions about your responsibility as a driver, including knowledge of laws and safe driving practices. All subjects you need to know is covered in the Louisiana driver’s manual

Where Do You Take the Test?

Louisiana law allows Third party examiners to administer road skills tests for Class D and E licenses. Examiners must be certified through the Office of Motor Vehicles.

This Is The Free Alternative

Remember, this site will not charge for practice tests. You can take as many as you want. All for free. We also have the largest database with more than 500 questions.

Each test is randomly created and consists of 25 questions. 80% is our passing score, but you should aim for at least 90% to be sure to pass the real test.

Good Luck.