We have now updated and enhanced the free Virginia DMV practice test at licenseroute.com.

All questions are currently based on Virginia 2011 Driver’s Manual, testing your knowledge about traffic signs, motor vehicle laws, and safe driving practices.

The DMV Test consists of two parts. The first part will test your knowledge about on traffic signs. You must correctly answer ten questions in this part before you can take part two of the exam. Part two tests your general knowledge with multiple choice questions. You must answer at least 80 percent of these questions correctly to pass.

In our practice tests, all questions integrated in the same test. Each test consists of 25 questions, and you should have 21 correct answers to pass (approximately 84%).

You can take your practice test several times, and see new questions each time. All tests consists of a set of randomly selected questions.

As always, all our practice tests are free and we don’t ask for your name or email address. No gimmicks, no tricks. Simply free.

More Resources:

• DMV Virginia
• New to Virginia? Here’s the information you need.
• Driver’s Manual

The 2011 Toyota Tundra comes with even better incentives. The same generous cash back plus $3,000 in hidden dealer discounts. MSRP starts at $23,935.

There are a lot of 2011 Corolla available nationwide, and they come with $1,000 cash back plus $1,000 in hidden dealer discounts. The Toyota Corolla is known as a low-key family friendly vehicle. Spacious, safe, and loaded with all of the latest features. The 2011 Corolla is available in 4 models: the CE, LE, S, and XRS.

The 2011 Venza has up to $1,500 in cash back and $1,250 in hidden dealer discounts.

Look for 2011 Toyota clearance sales at you local car dealer, and remember that you are shopping for a car that is considered a year old and that the dealer desperately want to sell it to you. This should give you a good price.

To get an accurate quote, you’ll need to start with the basics.

Write down information about the car or cars that you intend to insure: the make, model, year, trim line, and the vehicle identification number (VIN). How your vehicle holds up in a crash is very important to auto insurance companies. This should be a concern of your when you pick your car.

Modern cars usually have a lot of safety features. Make sure you know them. Installing extra safety and security devices on your vehicle is also something that can pay off. Be ready to ask your insurance company what kind of discount they are willing to offer you for things like anti-theft devices.

You’ll also need to give the age, sex, and recent driving record of all potential drivers.

Knowing how many miles you actually drive each year is also helpful. If you drive less than you think you do, it may help getting a better rate.

Where you live and where you normally park your car, is also something that many insurance companies will look at. Maybe, your current parking habits are something you can improve?

Finally, make up your mind about how much coverage you actually need.

With the facts at hand, you are ready to go shopping. An average consumer compares 3 rate quotes before choosing, you should probably ask for at least a handful of quotes. As long as they are free, you got nothing to lose.

Start by visiting The National Association of Insurance Commissioners website, look up your state and find your way to the local Department of Insurance. In most states, you will find a consumer buying guide that compares insurance premiums across a range of companies. Sample rates provided by the insurance companies will also give you a good idea about where to get the best deals.

Next, search for internet sites that let you get free quotes from different companies. Or look up the insurance company directly. Another option is, of course, to call the insurer and create a personal contact. You should, however, not go with your first offer, even if it sounds good.

The price might not be everything. Customer service can vary significantly between insurance companies. Proven track record in claims is probably something you also want to look at. Read reviews and talk to an agent. How does the billing and payment process work? Policy renewal and the claim-filing process? It is important that you choose a company that suits your personal needs.

As an example, you don’t see Amica very often on TV. In large surveys, however, its customers say Amica Mutual is terrific in many ways: low prices, helpful customer service and no hassles over claims.

So keep shopping!

If you start falling behind on payments, you probably know the consequences. Late fees, interest charges, credit score drop, and more. You know it sucks.

If you find yourself in that situation, you are not alone. A lot of Americans feel the pressure when it comes to meeting their financial commitments.

But there are things you can do to help yourself out of trouble.

First of all, act quickly and contact the lender. Never ignore the problem. Contacting the lender promptly will put you in a much better light than if you ignored the problem. The lender will most probably work with you to set up an alternative payment schedule, rather than demanding a missed payment straight away. Putting you in a better position to make future payments benefits both you and the lender.

However, things don’t stop there. Making a realistic budget will help you understand how and why you are falling behind on your bills. Get ready for some hard questions, and be honest with your answers. Can you do without a car for a year? Can you downgrade your cable or your phone plan? Stop eating out?

Adjust your needs and wants to fit the amount of money you got to spend. If you don’t spend more than you have, you are less likely to have bills or debts that you cannot pay. This is called living within your means.

What is important is that you don’t make the problem any worse. Studies suggest that many people are taking out further credit such as credit cards, or another loan, to make their loan repayments. This will only postpone the problem.

When it comes to your car loan, look at the agreement. It probably says that they can repossess your car any time you’re in default. No notice is required. If your car is repossessed, you must pay the balance due on the loan, as well as towing and storage costs, to get it back. Otherwise they will sell your car.

In this situation, you may be better off selling the car yourself and paying off the debt before they take the car. That way it will not hit your credit report.

Gas prices taking a toll on your wallet? Which is the best way to save money on gas?

Getting a car with better gas mileage is, no doubt, the best thing you can do. See the list at the end of this post from Consumer Reports for the most fuel-efficient cars.

But there are things you do even if you don’t want to buy a new car. Read the following to save money!

Keep a lower speed. Driving at 55 mph instead of 65 mph will improve your fuel economy with approximately 5 mpg. When Consumer Reports increased the Camry’s highway cruising speed from 55 mph to 65, the car’s fuel economy dropped from 40 mpg to 35. Speeding up to 75 mph cost the car another 5 mpg. Aerodynamic drag increases exponentially the faster you drive, and at highway speeds, more than 50 percent of engine power is used to overcome aerodynamic drag.

You should also avoid hard acceleration and braking whenever possible. Frequent bursts of acceleration and braking reduced the Camry’s mileage in Consumer Reports’ test by 2 to 3 mpg.

Tires are another important factor. Under inflated tires can reduce your fuel economy with another mpg. On top of that, under inflated tires affect handling and braking, and wear faster. And they run much hotter, which can lead to tire failure. Getting tires with lower rolling resistance is also an improvement you can make.

You should also remember that engines run most efficiently when they’re warm. Multiple short trips and starting with a cold engine each time increase your fuel consumption. It also adds to air pollution and your engine wear. Try to combine short trips into one, avoiding long stops.

Does it really make a difference? Isn’t it easier to save money on car insurance?

You should do both. The driving behavior described above will save you at least 10% on gas. Shopping for a good price on car insurance might also pay off.

Note: Nissan Leaf SL and Chevrolet Volt runs on electric fuel.

When it comes to your credit report, you should know your rights.

There are three nationwide consumer reporting companies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. They are all required to provide you with a free copy of your credit report once every 12 months when you ask for it. The three companies have a central website, a toll-free telephone number, and a mailing address for you to order the free report. Go to annualcreditreport.com, call 1-877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form at ftc.gov/credit and mail it to:

    Annual Credit Report Request Service
    P.O. Box 105281
    Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

You should not contact the three nationwide consumer reporting companies individually or at another address, unless you want to know your credit score or need additional protection against identity theft. Such services all come with a fee. The annual report is only free through the channels mentioned above.

You are also entitled to a free report if a company takes adverse action against you, like denying your application for credit, insurance, or employment. You have to ask for your report within 60 days of receiving notice of the action.

Remember, it doesn’t cost anything to dispute mistakes or outdated information on your credit report. The law gives you the right you to ask a consumer reporting company to investigate information in your credit report that you think is wrong or incomplete. Some people hire a credit repair company to investigate on their behalf. It might save you some time, but you can also do it by yourself at little or no cost. There is no charge for dispute mistakes or outdated information.

Start by telling the consumer reporting company, in writing, what information you think is inaccurate. Include as much information as you can and copies (not originals) of any documents that support your position. Send your letter by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you can verify that the consumer reporting company received it.

You should also write to the creditor or other information provider that you dispute an item in your report.

If your dispute with the consumer reporting company isn’t resolved in your favor, you can ask that a short statement of the dispute be included in your file and in future reports. Use this if you still think your version is correct.

Car theft costs motorists and car insurance companies millions of dollars each year. The risk of having your car stolen depend very much on where you live. If you live in urban areas you are more at risk than if you live on the countryside. Port and border cities are also more at risk than other cities. In ports and close to borders cars are targeted for export by thieves who sneak them out of the country.

Even if every vehicle, no matter the make, model or year, is a target for thieves, certain makes and models are, no doubt, more popular with car thieves. Thieves have a preference for stealing cars that are easily stolen, and ones they’ve stolen before. Honda, and Toyota products are popular throughout the nation due to popularity and ability to resale it.

Of course, if a professional car thief really wants to steal your car, there is not much you can do to stop the him. What you can do, however, is to make it as difficult and time-consuming as possible.

Be aware of you surroundings, whether you are getting in or out of your car. Always check around you before getting in. Park in a well-lit, attended lot or area if possible. If you have a garage at home, make sure you use it at all times.

When you leave your car, always turn off the ignition, set the parking brake, take the keys with you and lock the car. Make sure all doors are locked and all windows closed. In some situations you may want to turn your wheels to the side to make it harder to tow your car.

Never leave your car with the engine running, that makes it far to easy for someone to drive off with your car. Even if you have been involved in an accident, always turn off the ignition and remove your keys. A common carjacking trick involves someone driving into the back of your car at low speed, and when you get our to take a look at the damage, somebody else jumps into your car and drive off.

Don’t leave the registration or title in the vehicle and, of course, never leave valuables in distinct view. Leaving laptop computers, bags, cell phones or other electronics on display is asking for trouble.

Consider investing in extra security. Many auto insurance companies provide discounts for vehicle anti-theft devices. As an example, you usually get a lower premium if your car has an alarm device with horn bell, or other sounding device activated by a door, hood and trunk sensor. Fuel cut-off, ignition cut-off, or starter cut-off device to prevent the car from starting or running are also basic devices.

Etching the vehicle’s vehicle identification number (VIN) onto the windshield and windows is also recommended. If nothing else, it makes your car less desirable for a thief. He or she would need to replace the glass before selling the stolen vehicle.

On the high-end you find stolen motor vehicle recovery devices that reports the location of the car to the police. They are expensive, but will affect your insurance premium.

Many things affect your premiums, like your age and where you live. Car insurance companies will often check public records for bankruptcy, collections, foreclosures, liens, charge-offs and similar.

Your credit history is also extremely important. You might as yourself why. The simple truth is that insurance companies believe that your credit history can be used to predict your claims-filing activity. Consumers with better credit will file fewer claims. If you have a bad credit, the insurance company will consider you a greater risk. This will lead to a bigger premium. Lack of credit history might also be a problem if you are a new resident.

Insurance companies can look at your credit information without your expressed permission, so there is nothing you can do about this. Or is it?

In order to improve your insurance credit score, know your numbers. Get your credit report directly from the credit reporting companies, and look for incorrect information. The three national consumer reporting companies are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Remember, at your request, they must provide you with a free copy of your credit report once every 12 months. This brochure, Your Access to Free Credit Reports, explains your rights and how to order a free annual credit report.

If you find an error, report it. The credit bureau must investigate the error and respond to you within 30 days. If you are correct, then the credit bureau must correct your credit record. You can also ask the credit bureau to send a notice of the correction to any insurance company that has checked your history in the past six months.

If you don’t succeed in getting a change, you have the right to file a 100-word statement explaining your side of the story and it will be included in your credit report.

If you credit history is correct and the contents is hurting your insurance premiums, make a plan to improve your score.

Number one is always to pay your bills on time. Pay at least the minimum balance due, on time, every month. If you cannot make a payment, talk to your creditor. Don’t think problems will go away by themselves, they won’t.

Limit the number of new credit accounts you apply for. But don’t cancel a credit card you have had for a long time. It may hurt you.

Try not to use more than one-third of your available credit.

When your credit score improves, ask your insurance company to reevaluate your insurance credit score at renewal. You might also want to consider comparing your premium with quotes from other companies.