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Donating a car is one of the most unique and easy ways to give back to the community. If you have a vehicle that you are not using, why not donate it for a good cause? Read below for what to donate, the why you should donate, the where you should donate and how you should donate your unused vehicle.

For many of us, the thought of having to try and sell our old car that we have had for years is a bad one. Haggling over price with a car dealer and having to spend money to ensure the vehicle is in good enough condition to sell is a nuisance. In fact, spending the time and money on an already old car is sometimes actually counterproductive and ends up costing more money than it’s worth. When you donate a car to charity, you are not required to see that your vehicle is up to working standard.

One of the first things that people question when they are thinking of donating a vehicle is why. There are many, many reasons to donate items such as these for charity. Donate Car for Charity is part of the Family Care Foundation, which is a nonprofit that assists with many humanitarian goals.

Speaking of money, one of the great benefits of donating your car to charity is that you are eligible for a tax deduction. In the United States, if you donate to a charity classified with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, you may be eligible for a tax deduction. Before donating your car, it is useful to know the fair market value, which can be assessed by using one of the several guidebooks on the subject.

There are several different ways to donate depending on which program you use, what state you are a citizen of, and how you need to give the car. The very first thing you must do is that which is listed above: determine what item you are going to donate. This of course will depend on your needs and goals.

To prevent over-estimate, the IRS requires people who donate their car to produce a document from the charitable organization specifying the resale price of the car after the car is sold off. Automobiles with retail values up to $500 are exempt from this rule. In any case, make sure you get a receipt detailing your car donation. Requesting a receipt may also be necessary if you have your taxes prepared by a paid preparer.

Donations aren’t limited to only cars. Trucks, vans, RV’s, trailers and boats are also accepted as donations. If you have any questions about if your vehicle will be accepted as a donation it is best to call a registered charity.

What do the following activities have in common: ordering pizza, renting movies, checking your bank account, taking drivers ed..? They can all be done online! Taking drivers education on the internet can be a great option for the classroom-phobic or the super busy, but is it right for you? Read this article before you sign up - we’ve got lesson one for you right here.

What it’s great for:

Virtual drivers ed can be a more self-paced and interactive alternative to regular drivers education class. It lets you work at your own speed, tailored to your personal schedule. It’s usually cheaper than paying tuition at a regular driving school, and your parents save time and gas money since they don’t have to drive you to and fro. But watch out: only in certain areas can you take classes online to meet the 30 hour drivers ed requirement for teens. You’ve lucked out here if you live in: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania or Texas.

As for those of you in the other 41 states: you’re still required to do it the old fashioned way - find a driving school and sit through the required classroom time (don’t worry, it’s really not that bad!). But you can still sign up for an online course to qualify for an insurance discount or to purchase practice questions for the written test. There are even several companies that will refund your money if you don’t get your permit on the first try!

If you are interested in lowering your auto insurance rates (and who isn’t..!?), completing an online drivers ed class can qualify you for a discount of up to 10% - and it doesn’t matter where you live or how long you’ve been driving. But first, check with your insurance company to make sure they have a policy of rewarding drivers who take “safe driving” courses.

What’s not-so-great:

One important thing to keep in mind is that you will still have to take driving instruction even if you’ve completed an online drivers ed class in accordance with your state’s requirement. This means you’ll need to actually get behind the wheel with either a qualified instructor or a parent, depending on what your state allows. The requirement is usually around 6 hours, but varies from state to state - so check out your driving manual to be sure.

Take into consideration what type of learner you are: while online drivers ed may be a more convenient and flexible alternative to traditional class, don’t think you can cut corners and skip the material! You’ll need a bit of discipline to make sure you stay focused on the work, even for just 20 minutes a day. If you’re too easily distracted by all the other cool stuff online like games, IM, and MySpace, you’ll never finish the course. If you learn better in a structured classroom environment, then this option may not be for you.

And finally.. once you do decide to take an online drivers ed course, research the company you choose to make sure they’re reputable: do a web search for reviews, or check their record with the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org). Now you’re all set - good luck and safe virtual driving!

Science fiction has long been bringing about changes in our technology. Authors are known for creating controversy. Many of the technological advances based upon a science fiction novel have been controversial in their inception.

Stargazers throughout the ages have dreamed of space travel. People have dreamed of worlds further in space than our own from Copernicus to Gene Roddenberry. People have fought against it when it became possible no matter how much people wished to know.

Religious sects used their powers to defame space travel just as environmentalists have been fighting water-fuelled cars. The abundance of the resource does not matter to them. They will still claim that if we use the water, just as we have been coal, wood and petrol, we will use it all up and our grandchildren will live in a desolate world.

This claim is not possible since the world is 70% water and it replenishes daily. The water that goes through the engines dissipates into the air and becomes rain again. The water that goes through the engine then becomes drinking water, ocean water and fuel again.

The controversy over the water use has been long fought. Since the inception of the water driven electricity power plants people have been fighting the use of water. The claim is that the water is being polluted.

It is true that a percentage of the water has been found to have pollutants in it after it is used as a fuel. However, there are treatment plants along the rivers to clean any pollutants found in the power plant water. This does not clean the water completely.

When water first became a fuel, step has been taken throughout time to ensure that the people and animal life of the world does not die away. The use of water-fuelled cars is the main fear of those who are fighting against it. However this could happen, precautions have been taken to not allow it.

Another controversy derived from the idea of using water to fuel cars is the controversy created by the oil companies. Oil companies fear becoming obsolete if the water-fuelled cars can replace them. If there is a way to run a car on water, then there is a way to run home electricity on water and other things that require oil.

This controversy is a mostly hidden one that mainly exists covertly or in congress. There are lobbyists whose main source of employment is the blocking of patents and laws allowing the use of water as a main energy source. So far the lobbyists have been able to keep the water fuel referendums under their control.

This control is slowly being taken away as Japanese inventors have found a way to use water as a fuel for vehicles. As a country, Japan has been able to find ways to advance technology that other countries have only dreamed of. The first truly water-fuelled vehicle is being invented.

The patent for this vehicle is still under scrutiny and has yet to be given to the Japanese company requesting it. The controversy keeping this water-fuelled vehicle under wraps will not last long. Once the company has the patent, this patent will be publicly seen and the controversy will be over.

Are you looking for a good deal on a rental car? There are many agencies out there and it pays to shop around. Not only do rates vary from company to company but there are added discounts that you?ll need to know about to take advantage of. Here are some tips to finding the best deal for a car rental.

Searching Online

The internet is a great tool for finding the rental car that best fits your needs. There are online travel websites such as Expedia and Travelocity that will display available cars and rates for the dates you wish to rent. You will be able to easily compare price and options to find the rental that fits your budget and requirements. Keep in mind that some quotes don?t include taxes and fees so calculate that into your budget. It also pays to check individual rental websites since most companies reserve their specials for customers who go through their site.

Discounts

There are many discounts available and they’re rarely advertised so it?s worth doing some research and asking around. This includes student and senior discounts as well as discounts in conjunction with an airline or hotel. One of the most popular discount is a AAA car rental discount which will usually entitle you to a special rate or a percentage off a regular rate. To qualify you simply have to be a member of AAA and show your card when you pick up your rental. If you?re not a member then it can pay to join so you can get the discount as well as the other perks of an auto club.

When reserving your rental online there is usually a place to enter a discount code or a menu of available discounts. If you?ll be reserving over the phone advise the reservation agent. You are usually only able to apply one discount so research which one gives you the best deal. Some specials aren?t applicable for discount but they?ll usually be the cheapest option.

Packages

If you?ll be renting a car on your vacation then it?s pennywise to see if it?s a better deal to get a vacation package that includes a rental. Such a package will include hotel, airfare and car rental. It will usually give you a better deal than paying for each one separately.

Renting on a Budget

If you?re renting on a budget then there are some other ways to get a cheap car rental. Think about the size and model of car you?ll really need. Many times you?ll be able to rent a compact or economy size vehicle especially if you?re not traveling with others or don?t have excessive amounts of luggage. It can be tempting to rent a larger car since the daily rate can be only a few dollars but keep in mind that you?ll be paying more in gas.