Auto Insurance 101

Posted by Karen Ford in News on Jun 12th, 2013 | 0 comments

No one wants to be in a car accident. In fact, everything that you’re taught from the time that you learn how to drive is directed towards teaching you how to drive safely and avoid being in one. But the reality is that accidents happen and the frequency increases each year. No matter how careful you are, the possibility of meeting one cannot be totally discounted.

This is the reason why everyone needs to have their vehicles insured. The regulations may differ from one state to another but the bottom line is that all cars should have insurance coverage. Companies offer different types of limits that ranges from the most basic coverage to comprehensive plans. A plan that covers a wide scope of benefits will naturally cost more than a plan with minimum coverage.

A lot of places in the US maintain the same two elements as BC auto insurance coverage. One is bodily injury liability which refers to financial compensation for a person who is injured in an accident and property damage which covers the cost of destructed property. There are required minimums for both and the amounts are usually set by the state. In some areas, this is limited to around $12,500 for bodily injury and $7,500 for property damage. So make sure that you know the policies that are enforced in your area because it will help you get the right amount of insurance for your car.

Know more about the different plans so you can choose the one which fits your need and budget perfectly. Insurance providers like differ in a lot of things starting from their plans to the business hours that they keep, the turn-around times that they observe for filed claims, and the overall quality of their service. Researching about these factors will help you short list the companies that you would consider buying a plan from.

Your basic auto coverage should meet the minimum requirement for your state, which could be a combination of liability and property damage. Other additional forms of coverage that you can consider include:

• Collision. This is a great coverage to have when you have a new car because it encompasses the cost of repairs to your car regardless of who is at fault. It however, requires you to settle an agreed amount, called a deductible, before the insurance company takes over the remaining costs.

• Comprehensive. This type of insurance covers practically all kinds of damages to your car which include fire, theft, any event that resulted in damage to your vehicle including acts of nature.

• Personal Injury Protection. This takes care of medical expenses and covers lost salaries because of a person’s inability to proceed to regular work after an accident.

Saying Goodbye to an Old Car

Posted by Karen Ford in News on Jun 6th, 2013 | 0 comments

If you car keeps breaking down, it might be time for you to let it rest and get a new one. This is simple enough if you have the money because all you have to do is to get to some show rooms and start test driving. But in these difficult times, the smarter option would be to get one that would perform reasonably well and not break your bank as well.

There are a lot of practical ones out there that costs only a fraction of the price of a new car – think used cars now. These often come with “salvage titles” and are priced cheaply. You just have to make sure that you do your homework first and not get the first unit that’s shown to you. Some of the important things that you have to take into account include making sure that you understand the concept of a salvage title. This term refers to a vehicle that has incurred damages worth approximately 75% of its original cost.

The laws regarding the handling and sale of used cars differ from state to state so make sure that you know the applicable policies in your area. Getting cash for cars in Orlando for instance, maintain regulations that consider a car to be a salvaged unit only if the damage cost is equivalent to 80% of its value. This means that you are probably looking at vehicles that have sustained a lot of damage or are really old. This would mean a lot of trouble and expense for you in the future so make sure that you know the provisions of the law.

There are a lot of reasonably priced models that you can choose from and since the main purpose is to be able to transport yourself from one point to another, it will do just fine. You may have to get rid of your old car first to make room for a new one. Again, there are policies to consider when you’re disposing your old car. You need to prove that the unit is a total loss before you can sell it to a junk shop. Most shops like the Clunker Junker make the process easy for sellers by simply requesting basic info about the used car and where it is located. Then you get a quote for the price that they’re willing to pay and if you agree to it, all that’s left for you to do is to schedule the pick-up and get the payment.

But if your old faithful car falls is in such disrepair that the cost of fixing it up is too much, you can dispose of the unit by submitting it to an authorized treatment facility where it will be issued a certificate of destruction. It then passes on to where all the other old cars go, which could be a final stint at a facility like the http://www.scrapmonster.com/

Car Care Tips For Summer

Posted by Karen Ford in Automobile, Tips on Apr 23rd, 2013 | 0 comments

Now that summer is fast approaching, it is very important that you know how to take care of your car properly. You should know that there are numerous safety hazards not only for your car but for you as well due to the blazing summer heat!

During the summer months, your car needs extra special care. After all, unlike you, your car cannot cope with the summer heat all by itself. Therefore, you have to be aware of the things that you should do in order to keep your car in good condition for a longer time.

Here are some good tips to keep your car looking cool during the summer.

Get it some shades.
Just like you, your car needs some shades to protect it from the sun. Obviously, the car version of shades is tinted windows. If you haven’t had your windows tinted already, do so before summer arrives. Make sure that you are following your area’s laws regarding tinted car windows first, though. Also make sure that the tint used also protects from harmful ultraviolet rays.

Also have a separate sun shade to further protect your car from overheating inside.

You’ll be thanking yourself later!

Cover it up.
If you need to strip down during the summer months, the opposite is the same for your car. You have to bundle it up! This is so that your car will have protection from the sun’s rays. The sun’s rays can also make your car’s paint fade quicker, so avoid exposing your car to the sun for too long unnecessarily.

Naturally, do try to keep your car in a cool place in the first place, before you cover it, or else you will just be trapping more heat inside it.

Cool it off.
You should monitor your car’s radiator coolant tank constantly, and you should always top it off for the best performance.

However, keep in mind that there is pent up pressure inside the coolant tank, making it dangerous if you just recklessly open it. The best time to check the fluid level is around an hour or so after you have last used your car, when the motor has cooled down, to reduce the possibility of pent up pressure busting out unexpectedly.

Water your battery.
Your battery needs some care too! Always check its fluid level and make sure that you top it off with some distilled water if needed.

Protect it!
It is not only your car’s paint that will suffer from the rays of the sun. You should also make sure to protect the inner parts as well, such as your dashboard and leather car covers. You can easily buy various kinds of protectant for any surface that needs that extra help.

Wash it up.
You should wash and wax your car often. This is so you can remove the dirt that actually absorbs heat, as well as the dirt that causes oxidation.

Reduce the pressure.
Tires are quite sensitive to full on summer heat. You need to regularly check your tire’s pressure to avoid accidents on the road especially. Don’t forget to check the pressure on your spare tire too!

Tips for Caring For Your New Car

Posted by Karen Ford in Automobile, News, Tips on Apr 23rd, 2013 | 0 comments

Now that you have your very own car, it is essential that you know all of the basic things that you should do in order to take care of it. Driving safely is only half the challenge. The other half is making sure that your car will be in tip top shape for the next couple of years!

So, here are some of the most basic tips that you will have to keep in mind pretty much as long as you have a car.

1. Familiarize yourself with your car.

Before anything else, it is very important that you are familiar with your car. Check every nook and cranny. Make sure to check and double every light, button, and adjustable and non adjustable part of your car. Read the user manual too!

This is so when something goes wrong, you can readily identify where and how to fix it. It is of prime importance, especially, that you are familiar with the various lights and buttons on your dashboard. You definitely don’t want to get stuck in the middle of nowhere with the “Check engine” light on with you having absolutely no idea what’s going on with your car!

2. Always make sure your tires are in good condition.

Your tires are your car’s base. They are probably going to be the most abused part of your car, so make sure to pay them special attention. You want to have good quality tires on your car, as much as possible. While they are more expensive, you can rest easier without the fear of suddenly busting a tire in the middle of the freeway.

When checking your tires, you should not only test the tire pressure, but you should also check the tread. The recommended amount of tread should be 4/32 inch, and any lower than 2/32 of an inch means it’s time to change your tires to prevent slippage.

3. Do not spend too much on “premium” gasoline.

Let’s face it – gasoline costs a lot, and premium grade gasoline costs even more. The fact is that most experts have the opinion that there isn’t really much difference between premium and regular gas.
It is therefore wiser to save that 40-cent difference between regular and premium, and put it to better use.

Also make sure that your gas tank is never filled past the maximum level as this is dangerous for your engine; not to mention unnecessarily more expensive as well.

4. Make sure to do regular oil checks.

It is recommended that you do an oil change every 5,000 miles for cars models 2002 and up, and every 3,000 miles for cars older than 2002.

Think of the oil as the blood of your car. It cools, seals, and lubricates your car’s engine, so make sure it is always in tip top shape.

5. Try DIY.

There are many things that your car requires which you can actually do yourself. It’s unnecessary and expensive to go to a mechanic for minor things, so it’s really best to learn how to DIY things like changing oil, replacing a fuse, and such.

Also, caring for your car personally is actually a fun and rewarding pastime as well!