NEW YORK, May 26, 2020 -- According to Pretected.com, one of the largest insurance comparison websites in the US, the most popular car in America for the first half of 2020 is the Toyota Camry, followed by the Honda Accord in second place. In third place is the good old Ford F-150.

In the last decade, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), that includes a lot of well-known brands (including: Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Mazda, Subaru, Yamaha, Kawasaki and more) has invested billions of dollars in convincing US drivers to drive Japanese cars. As well as opening many local manufacturing plants. And it seems like it's paying off.

Although the two most popular models come from overseas, Pretected also names the top 10 most popular car makers overall in America for 2020, With the American manufacturers leading the list:

As shelter-in-place orders are eased and dealerships across the country begin to reopen, experts say Memorial Day presents an opportunity for the auto industry to capture some deferred demand

SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 20, 2020 -- Consumers in a position to purchase a new car can look forward to bigger bargains than usual this Memorial Day weekend, according to the car shopping experts at Edmunds. Edmunds' experts say that prior model year selldown efforts were severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic: Edmunds data shows that 1 out of 10 new vehicles on dealer lots in May were 2019 model year vehicles, which means that shoppers can find more clearance vehicles to choose from this holiday weekend compared to years past.

Edmunds analysts also note that since this is the first big holiday shopping event since the outbreak of coronavirus, and it's happening as states begin to ease up on shelter-in-place restrictions, Memorial Day weekend presents a good opportunity for automakers and dealers to attract buyers after bleak sales numbers for the industry in April.

"We're seeing far more generous incentives and deals out there than we typically would for Memorial Day weekend, and since more consumers might be looking at vehicles for summer road trips instead of airline travel, things might look up a bit for the industry," said Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds' executive director of insights. "We're optimistic that sales could improve after the record lows we saw in April, but there's still a layer of uncertainty around whether consumers will really show up en masse to shop given the severe effect that the pandemic has had on personal finances and the economy."

Sadly, not everyone has an honest mechanic that they can trust with their auto repairs. And, not everyone has a trustworthy auto repair shop servicing their vehicle. That brings us to this question: how do you know if you’re getting a fair price for auto repairs?

The short answer is … sometimes, you DON’T know. But, by asking some questions and doing a little research, you can certainly find out.

Tips for getting the best price on auto repairs

There’s no question that vehicle maintenance and repairs can be expensive. That’s why it’s so important to plan ahead and ask the right questions. Here are some great tips to follow:

Avoid surprise auto repairs when possible.

Often, the most expensive auto repairs are the ones that catch you by surprise and become an emergency. You know, when you get stuck beside the road because something breaks and you just can’t drive your vehicle any further. In addition to a potentially large repair bill, you’re also hit with a towing bill to get your vehicle to the repair shop. Or, you only have one vehicle and need it repaired ASAP.

But, how do you prevent surprise repairs? The truth is, they can’t always be prevented. However, if you pay attention to how your vehicle looks and sounds, you may be able to detect small problems before they become big ones. Solving the problem before your car breaks down means no tow truck bill. And, you can choose which auto repair shop you use instead of having to settle for one that’s simply nearby.

Practice preventative maintenance.

There are some vehicle parts that are meant to be maintained and/or replaced on a regular basis, even if they’re not broken. This is part of a regular or preventative maintenance schedule. When your vehicle is in the shop, your mechanic may notice something that is starting to wear or hear a sound that you never noticed. These can be clues that further investigation and/or repair may be warranted. By taking heed to these warnings, you can plan for upcoming repairs.

How does this help you get the best price? Well, you can budget for repairs if you know about them … and that means that you can potentially pay cash and not have to finance the repairs or put them on a credit card with high interest rates. Also, it means you have the chance to …

Most vehicles start out with a “new car smell,” but there are other specific odors that motorists should never ignore. Identifying these suspect smells early on can help car owners be car care aware and avoid the hassle and expense of an unexpected breakdown, says the Car Care Council.

“Unusual smells can be the sign of serious, and potentially costly, trouble for your vehicle. By acting quickly and making necessary repairs, you’ll be able to breathe easy knowing there is no harmful damage to your car,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council.

The Car Care Council recommends a sniff test of your vehicle to identify any unusual smells, including the following six warning signs:

1. The smell of burnt rubber could be slipping drive belts or misplaced loose hoses that might be rubbing against rotating accessory drive pulleys. Do not reach in if the engine compartment is hot.

2. The smell of hot oil could mean that oil is leaking onto the exhaust system. To verify the leak, look for oil on the pavement or smoke coming from the engine area.

3. The smell of gasoline is likely the sign of a gas leak in some area of the vehicle such as a fuel injector line or the fuel tank. Any smell of fuel can result in a possible fire hazard, so immediate attention should be given.

Pump prices continue to increase across the country with nearly every state’s average pushing more expensive on the week, on average by four cents. At the start of the Memorial Day work week, the national gas price average is $1.87.

The last time the national gas price average leading into the holiday was under $2/gallon was 17 years ago in 2003. That year motorists paid, on average, $1.50 to fill-up. Gas prices this year won’t be as cheap as 2003, but today’s national average is a dollar cheaper than one year ago.

“Gas prices around Memorial Day have not been this cheap in nearly 20 years. However, as the country continues to practice social distancing, this year’s unofficial kick-off to summer is not going to drive the typical millions of Americans to travel,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson. “Despite inexpensive gas prices, AAA anticipates this year’s holiday will likely set a record low for travel volume.”

For the first time in 20 years, AAA will not issue a Memorial Day travel forecast due to COVID-19 impacts on the underlying economic data used to create the forecast.

Americans can expect gas prices to continue to push more expensive, possibly hitting $2/gallon in the next few weeks. This is mostly due to demand increasing as states re-open. This week will also bring the Environmental Protection Agency’s waiver on the sale of winter-blend gasoline to an end. Stations will switch over to summer-blend gasoline, which has a lower Reid Vapor Pressure to prevent excessive evaporation when outside temperatures rise. Reducing the volatility of summer gas decreases emissions that contribute to unhealthy ozone and smog levels. Typically, the switchover to summer-blend can cause gas prices to spike during the summer driving season, but that will likely not be the case this year due to the impact of COVID-19 on demand and crude oil prices.

Quick Stats

The nation’s top 10 largest weekly increases are: Idaho (+17 cents), Pennsylvania (+8 cents), Wisconsin (+7 cents), Iowa (+7 cents), Colorado (+7 cents), Kansas (+7 cents), Maryland (+6 cents), Utah (+6 cents), Nebraska (+5 cents) and Minnesota (+5 cents).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive markets are: Mississippi ($1.51), Arkansas ($1.52), Oklahoma ($1.52), Missouri ($1.54), Texas ($1.56), Alabama ($1.57), Kansas ($1.57), South Carolina ($1.60), Louisiana ($1.60) and Tennessee ($1.62).

West Coast

Pump prices in the West Coast region are among the most expensive in the country, with more increases expected as states in the region ease restrictions this week. When compared to a week ago, California (+4 cents) and Nevada (+4 cents) saw the largest increases in the region. Arizona (-1 cent) saw the only decline. Hawaii ($3.17) and California ($2.80) remain the most expensive markets in the country. Washington ($2.45), Oregon ($2.38), Nevada ($2.35), Arizona ($2.07) and Alaska ($2.05) follow.

According to EIA’s latest weekly report, total gas stocks in the region decreased from 31.2 million bbl to 30.8 million bbl last week. As more motorists take to the roads in the region this week, gas demand is expected to continue to grow. Higher gas demand, amid falling gas stocks, will likely lead pump prices to increase this week.