Roadside Fixes to Get You Back on Your Way

by Anica Oaks on 2014/12/12 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off on Roadside Fixes to Get You Back on Your Way

It’s inevitable. Cars break down. And when they do, it’s usually at the worst possible moment. While many breakdowns will require a tow truck and can only be repaired at a qualified shop, some can be remedied with a small repair on the roadside if you are equipped to do so.

Flat-Fixin

First, familiarize yourself with your vehicle before it breaks down. Know where the spare is, how to get the jack and tire iron out and how to use them. If you have wheel locks, know where the wheel lock key is. Changing a flat tire is one of the most fundamental repairs that one can do to get back rolling. Even if your vehicle has large oversized tires, replacing a flat tire with a spare can be done safely if precautions are taken. Make sure your vehicle is parked on flat level ground before getting the jack under it. When jacking the vehicle up, don’t lift it higher than you need to. You will have to lift it high enough to get the flat tire out, and the full spare under it. Going higher than that could make the vehicle shift and unstable. Make sure to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern in order to get a consistent tightness on the wheel assembly.

Breaking Murphy’s Law

Some basic hand tools in a repair kit kept in the trunk of your vehicle may get you back on the road quickly so you can get your vehicle serviced on your schedule, not at the mercy of Murphy’s Law. Even quick roadside repairs are inevitably dirty, so it’s a good idea to have some gloves or other protective coverings on hand in the event your vehicle would break down.

Toolin’ Around

In your hand tools, a Leatherman or multi-tool is a great tool to have. Most of them have needle hose pliers, at least one knife blade, screwdrivers and other useful tools to get you back on the road. Some breakdowns are caused by something as simple as a loose connection, clamp or fitting. By identifying the problem and using some hand tools to tighten the offending part, you could remedy the problem yourself with the spin of one tool.

Call a Tow Truck

Sometimes it’s best to recognize when you are in over your head and call a tow company. Some services will bring you fuel or do minor fixes, and others will come to your location nearly regardless of conditions outside. For getting your 4×4 out of that gutter, consider a company like Mike’s Auto and Towing that specializes in difficult recoveries.

Release Your Inner MacGyver

For those old enough to remember MacGyver, he had a fix for everything—and most of it involved duct tape. There’s a good reason for that. It’s durable, flexible, and under the right conditions, can make a near water-tight seal. A blown radiator hose once cleaned up a bit and allowed to cool can be fixed temporarily with a couple rounds of duct tape just to get you to a shop for a permanent repair. If the hose is broken close to the clamp, it may be possible to remove the clamp, cut off the damaged portion and put the hose back on with the clamp moved further up the hose. This only works if there hose has enough length. Again, this is a temporary fix.

 

Sometimes, the repair is just too much to do on the side of the road. Times like these, sometimes the best tool to have in your toolbox is a cell phone and the number to a reputable towing service.

5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Car Insurance

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/12/10 in Auto Insurance with Comments Off on 5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Car Insurance

In order to get the most out of your car insurance, a driver must be informed. They must be informed about how their car insurance policy works with the kind of car that they have. There are several ways to get the most out of their car insurance. Some are widely known while others are not. The following will present different ways to get the most out of your car insurance.

Show Your Repair

Inform your car insurance of any recent auto repairs to your vehicle. Provide them with receipts as proof to those repairs. Doing this will increase the value of your vehicle. If your vehicle were to be later damaged, you will get a greater compensation for you losses. Keep in mind that this is just for general repair. If you are in a car accident that causes significant damage to your car, you will have to show the reports to your insurance company anyway if you want them to cover any of your expenses of your car repair.

Contact the Department of Insurance

If your vehicle is damaged or totaled, meaning either unrepairable or repair costs are at least 75% of the retail value of the vehicle, your insurance company should cover the loss. However, if you feel that their offer is unfair, you can contact the Department of Insurance in your state. The Department of Insurance will then review your claim and assist.

Clean Your Vehicle

If possible, clean your vehicle after damages. If your vehicle is totaled, you can lose money on your estimate simply by having soiled seating. Cleaning your vehicle will prevent it from losing value and help you get the highest settlement. Avoid cleaning any evidence of the accident such as skid marks. The insurance company will need to view all damages caused by the accident in order to access its worth.

The Driving Classes and Other Discounts

Consider taking defensive driving classes and lower your premiums after you complete the course. Paying less for the same coverage is certainly getting the most out of your insurance. Check with your insurance company and local Department of Motor Vehicles for inquiries.

You can also look into other discounts. Many insurance companies will offer discounts for being a good student and getting good grades. Be sure to talk to your insurance provider to see what kinds of discounts that they offer and try to achieve them if they are possible for your current situation.

More Tips

Some more ways to get the most out of your car insurance are assuring that your insurance company has the correct mileage, condition, features, and cover options of your vehicle. You also always want to compare prices of competing companies. Lastly, drivers are often left with a balance after settlement which can be very stressful. Securing GAP (Guaranteed Auto Protection) insurance will help in covering the remaining balance after a settlement.

As presented, there are many ways to benefit the most from our insurance. Saving money, increasing or maintaining the value of your vehicle, and receiving the highest settlement all account for getting the most out of your car insurance. Drivers who are informed and diligent will achieve this goal.

Off the Road: Make Sure You’re Ready for Your Driving Test

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/12/08 in On the Road with Comments Off on Off the Road: Make Sure You’re Ready for Your Driving Test

Taking a driving test (also known as a "road test") and earning a driver’s license is easily one of the most relatable experiences in a person’s life. For some, it’s a rite of passage. To others, it’s a necessary career step or job requirement. You might be a teenager looking for more freedom, or a driver for a corporation that needs to upgrade to a commercial driver’s license. Either way, there are some pitfalls to watch out for.

Doing Your Homework

While the difficulty of your driving test may depend on the strictness of the administrator (or even their mood), it is absolutely necessary to know the laws in your state or place of residence. Study your local driver’s manual thoroughly. Most driver’s manuals also contain information related to actually earning a driver’s license, so take the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the process as well.

Getting Behind the Wheel

Going straight from earning your learner’s permit (or local equivalent) to taking your driving test is not advisable; you don’t want your first time behind the wheel to be the day of your driving test. Driving can require acclimation, so make sure to get a suitable amount of practice in a vehicle you’re comfortable with driving prior to taking your driving test. Doing so near the place where your test will be administered, and getting the lay of the land (and roads) can provide a worthwhile advantage as well.

Restoring Your Driving Privilege

A driver’s license can be suspended for any number of reasons, including the health concerns of the driver, and criminal offenses. In this case, the driver will need to go through a unique process that addresses their specific situation. Acquiring the help of a professional can be extremely helpful in these circumstances. For example: in the state of Pennsylvania, being convicted of underage drinking will result in one’s driving privilege being suspended at least until they turn twenty-one. A DUI conviction will yield similar consequences. With the professional help of a Newmarket lawyer, however, completion of a rehab program can make expungement a possibility.

Successfully completing a driving test can be tricky business. It requires careful preparation in the form of lots of studying and practice. Earning your driver’s license back once it is suspended is even more difficult and (usually) more complicated. Nevertheless, with a little bit of perseverance, most anyone capable of driving safely will be able to hit the road.

Five Quick Fixes Every New Driver Should Know

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/12/03 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off on Five Quick Fixes Every New Driver Should Know

New drivers may be tempted to take their car into the shop for every minor problem just because they do not have much experience fixing automobiles. But this is often a very expensive route to take. Taking the time to learn several quick car repairs will make driving much easier and your wallet fuller. These five quick fixes can be learned quickly by every new driver to save money and time. 

Flat Tire

While you never want to get a flat tire while driving, preparing for the worst is always a wise decision. If you never learn how to change a flat tire, then you will be forced to wait hours on the side of the road, when the problem can be fixed in a few minutes. 

Oil Change

Changing the oil may seem like a major hassle to most new drivers, but it is something that has to be done to ensure the car runs correctly. Depending on the vehicle, your oil should be changed every 5,000 to 10,000 miles. While an oil change is far cheaper than a Calgary transmission repair at a body shop, oil and a funnel can be purchased for only a few dollars at many grocery stores. 

Jump Starting a Car

Learning to jump start your car is another skill new drivers need to learn so you are not stranded on the side of the road for hours. There is no reason to wait for roadside assistance when you can jump a car in seconds. While jump starting a car will require the assistance of someone else, it should not take long to find a willing person in most emergencies. 

Replacing Filters

Replacing the oil and air filter regularly will guarantee your car continues to run properly. As National Transmissions says, it only takes seconds to make sure your filters are still clean. Since replacement filters can be easily installed, every new driver should handle the fix themselves. 

Changing Battery

When batteries get too old, they will stop working, and it will be impossible to start the car. Car batteries can be purchased at most auto part stores. They will even install the battery for a fee, but this is fee can easily be avoided. New drivers may have to take some time learning how to replace a battery, but this skill will be used several times throughout your life. 

Learning these five quick car fixes will keep your car running properly, save you money, and save you time. Everyone who regularly drives a car should know how to maintain it properly, and that starts with learning these easy repairs.

Costly Cars: World’s Most Expensive Autos

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/12/01 in Auto Manufacturers with Comments Off on Costly Cars: World’s Most Expensive Autos

The world’s most expensive automobiles are custom-tweaked European sports cars built for the rich and famous. We call them supercars because they are at the top of their class in just about every category (except, perhaps, fuel economy). Taking the lead so far for 2014 are all-new products from Lamborghini, Bugatti Veyron and Koenigsegg.

2014 Lamborghini Veneno

For 2014, Lamborghini is celebrating its 50th anniversary and the supercar maker has decided to debut a special edition open-racing prototype named after a homicidal bull. The Veneno was born with the ambition of making a Le Mans-worthy racecar that’s actually legal to hit the highway.

The Veneno borrows an especially aggressive drivetrain from the Aventador, but souped-up for a top speed of 220 mph. You can accelerate from a standstill to sixty mph in a breathtaking three seconds. A work of aerodynamic genius, the Italian supercar is made almost entirely of carbon fiber. It has an extravagant starting price of $4.5 million. Just nine of these exquisite, pricey roadsters will be made.

2014 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse

Lamborghini may be the most expensive, but that doesn’t mean it’s the fastest kid on the block. The French are one-upping the Italians with the ‘fastest production roadster in the world.’ Bugatti’s newest sixteen-cylinder Veyron boasts a top speed of 255.5 mph. It’s one of the few cars on the planet boasting a horsepower over 1,000. For 2014, the convertible makes an astonishing 1,200 hp.

Imagine insuring a new supercar like the Veyron. For such a highly specialized sports machine, specialty insurance is the ticket. Of course, specialty servicing is mandatory, too. You couldn’t take the Grand Sport Vitesse to just any old mechanic—this car needs a trained and certified specialist to maintain. The starting price for a Vitesse is $2.5 million.

2014 Koenigsegg Agera S

For now, the Swedish-made Agera S slots in behind the Veyron for sheer horsepower, but a prototype in the works will reportedly smash the record with a face-melting 1,400 hp. Still, the current model makes over 1,000 horsepower with half as many cylinders as the Veyron.

The Agera S has just been made available in the U.S. in the last few months and it’s already generating buzz. With a zero-to-sixty time of 2.9 seconds or, if you like, a 0-to-188-mph time of less than 23 seconds, much of it is the buzz in your ear as it whips past you. The starting price for the Agera S is $1,520,000

Though most can never even dream of owning such a splendid machine as any of the above listed cars, for some they can become a prized possession. If you end up owning a supercar, a license renewal specialist from Registrations Are Us recommends familiarizing yourself with your region’s traffic laws to ensure you operate your vehicle safely and responsibly. The last thing you want to do, once you’ve secured a top-of-the-line supercar, is lose it to a wreck or the impound lot.

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