The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at www.nhtsa.dot.gov. Each year, NHTSA crashes vehicles head-on into a wall and bashes them broadside to test their ability to protect their occupants. NHTSA focuses on evaluating vehicle restraints such as air bags and safety belts.

     The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety at www.hwysafety.org. A different test by the IIHS uses offset-frontal car crashes to assess the protection provided by a vehicle s structure.

     Consumers Union Consumer Report s annual auto issue rates vehicles in terms of overall safety. Its safety score combines crash test results with a vehicle s accident avoidance factors emergency handling, braking, acceleration, and even driver comfort.

To find out whether a manufacturer has recalled a car for safety defects, click on the Recalls link at www.nhtsa.dot.gov or call NHTSA at 1-800-424-9393. If a vehicle has been recalled, ask the dealer for proof that the defect has been repaired.

Used vehicles should also have a current safety inspection sticker if your state requires one.

Credit and Sublease Brokers:

Con artists often prey on people who have bad credit and who cannot get car loans. Credit brokers promise to get a loan for you in exchange for a high fee. In many cases, the broker takes the fee and disappears. Sublease brokers charge a fee to arrange for you to sublease or take over someone else s car lease or loan. Such deals usually violate the original loan or lease agreement. Your car can be repossessed even if you ve made all of your payments. You also might have trouble insuring your car.