Fact or Fiction: What Really Shows Up on Your Driving Record

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/07/30 in Auto Insurance with Comments Off on Fact or Fiction: What Really Shows Up on Your Driving Record

If you’ve been in an accident or are just wondering how to cut back on insurance expenses, you need to know what is reported on your driving record. Insurance companies are interested in what is in your record for many reasons. Your driving record can negatively impact your insurance rates, and you can even be denied insurance. Like with any big payment, some "urban legends" about what does and doesn’t affect you exist. Be sure you know which is really fact or fiction. See how knowledgeable you are in the examples below.

Fact or Fiction 1: Your Credit Score and Food Stamp Eligibility Affect Your Driving Record

Do you believe that your credit score and assistance program status affect your driving record? Then you are one of many people who would be wrong in this case. Your credit score may affect the type of vehicle you can purchase, but does not affect your privilege to drive any vehicle. This "urban legend" has been around at least since the 1970’s, when many employers began using formal hiring processes. These processes are now commonplace, and include your permission to check your background, driving record, credit report, and ask questions regarding your assistance program(s) eligibility and benefits status.

Fact or Fiction 2: A No-Fault Accident Will Not Be on Your Driving Record

A tree falls into the road while you are driving, and you cannot reasonably avoid it. It hits your car, causing considerable damage. This is not your fault, so it won’t go into your driving record.
Most states require that all accidents, regardless of fault, are recorded in your driving record. The time the accident remains on your record may be less than an at-fault accident. Be sure to check your specific state laws regarding accident reporting and your driving record requirements.

Fact or Fiction 3: Taking a Defensive Driving Course can Expunge My Driving Record

Hitting a light pole, or running over the neighbor’s mailbox may not be the highlight of your day. In these cases, many lesser infractions can be removed from your record by taking a defensive driving course. Halifax auto insurance recommends you take the course in person rather than online to show your dedication. Check with your state regarding removing traffic violations, and how to pay for the class plus any tickets you may have.

Know your driving facts, so you are not caught off-guard by urban fictions! Always check with your state public safety office to find out the exact information that can be retained in your driving record and for how long.

5 Common Car Noises and What They Mean

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/07/28 in Brakes with Comments Off on 5 Common Car Noises and What They Mean

If you’ve ever tuned into an episode of “Car Talk,” you know your family car is capable of a wide range of noises, from the boom of a backfire to the squeak of a loose belt. Here are a few common noises and what they mean for your car (and your wallet).

Rattling

Rattling and rumbling noises from under your car may indicate a hole or loose joint somewhere in your exhaust system.  Exhaust problems can be minor, and many can go a long time without being repaired, but it’s better to have them looked at early on.

If you ignore the problem for too long, you may lose part of your exhaust system. This may cause you to lose control of the car if it happens while the car is in motion. Leaking exhaust fumes may also enter the cabin of your car, exposing you and your passengers to chemicals that can cause:

  • drowsiness
  • slowed response time
  • brain damage

Simple exhaust repairs, such as replacing a pipe or patching a hole, may cost as little as $100. More complex repairs, like installing a new catalytic converter, may run anywhere from $150 to $1500 depending on the make, model, and year of your car.

Hissing

Hissing noises under your hood while your engine is idling may indicate a cracked or loose hose. Depending on which hoses are affected, this can be a minor problem that does not need to be addressed immediately. However, if the hissing is accompanied by rising engine temperature or steam or smoke coming from under your hood, take your car in to the shop immediately.

Replacing a radiator or coolant hose can run anywhere from $75 to $200 (if you have to replace both at the same time). For some heavy-duty SUVs or off-roading vehicles, pieces of the engine may need to be removed to access the hoses. This will increase the labor costs of the repair.

Squealing

Squealing brakes usually means your brake hardware is worn out. The squealing is caused by your brake pads scraping the discs. Have a service professional take a look. Minor wear may not require replacing your braking components. You can also try using adhesive to hold the pads closer to the pistons.

However, if you want to get rid of the squeal or if your brake pads are worn to the point that they cause excess heat or no longer brake effectively, you will need to have them replaced. You can expect to pay about $150 per axle, but the repair could cost $400 or more per axle if your rotors are warped or need to be resurfaced.

Thumping

A thumping noise from your tires may be telling you that there is flat-spotting on your tire tread. Permanent flat-spotting can be caused by locking your wheels, grinding down the rubber in places. If the noise continues, check your tire pressure and tread. You may either need to live with the thumping or replace your tires with new, steel-belted tires.

However, if the thumping is loudest in the morning and goes away as you drive throughout the day, there’s no need to take your car to the mechanic. Overnight, especially in cold weather, your tires may develop minor flat-spots which will thump when you drive the car. This thumping will go away as the tires warm up.

Speedy Apollo Auto Service Centres, which provide vehicle diagnostic services in Calgary, recommend having any noise that is accompanied with the appearance of any maintenance light checked out as soon as possible. Before you take your car in for maintenance, you can use your owner’s manual to identify why the light turned on—it might be a quick fix you feel comfortable taking care of yourself.

Some noises won’t have a quick solution (or won’t need to be fixed), but you should listen for any changes in the noises your car makes as they may indicate serious problems.

Motorcycle Safety: Tips To Help You Stay Safe On The Road And Avoid Disaster

by Anita Ginsburg on 2014/07/25 in Motorcycles with Comments Off on Motorcycle Safety: Tips To Help You Stay Safe On The Road And Avoid Disaster

When you are on the road riding a motorcycle, you are at a disadvantage against other motorized vehicles such as cars and trucks. Safety should be your number one priority when driving your motorcycle to avoid accidents that could potentially be fatal. With these few motorcycle safety tips, you can be a step ahead when it comes to safety.

Buy The Proper Motorcycle Clothing

When riding a motorcycle, it is essential to have all the proper gear. A motorcycle offers no protection during a crash, so flip flops and shorts are not proper attire to be riding a motorcycle. Leather clothing can help protect motorcycle drivers in the case that their bike were to lay down and slide. Leather is a strong material that can help protect riders from road rash, bugs, cigarette butts and even small rocks.

Wear The Proper Shoes

The proper shoes for riding a motorcycle are sturdy shoes. To change gears on a motorcycle, the driver must pull up on the lever, which requires closed toe shoes. Soles on shoes should not be smooth because it makes it very easy to slip off the pegs on the motorcycle or to slip when coming to a stop and stabilizing the bike. The shoes should also be weather-proof in case you get stuck in a rainstorm.

Avoid Unnecessary Distractions

Any type of distracted driving is bad, but on a motorcycle it can be fatal. It is important to stay very aware of all of your surroundings when riding a motorcycle. Since motorcycles are difficult for some drivers of bigger vehicles to see, you must proactively be aware of these vehicles and stay out of their way to stay safe. While driving a motorcycle, your hands must also always stay on the handlebars to ensure proper balance and maneuvering.

Be Weather Aware

Motorcycles are a bit more unstable than a car in generally dry conditions, and wet weather can greatly increase the instability of the motorcycle. You should stay weather aware and avoid riding in heavy rain, ice or snow.

Get Advanced Motorcycle Training

Getting more advanced motorcycle training can help protect yourself and others from accidents on the roadway. A driving school can help everyone from beginners to advanced riders improve their techniques and skills while on their motorcycle, say the experts at Valley Driving School. Driving schools are able to train and assess a driver’s skills to ensure proper knowledge before getting on the road.

Always Wear A Helmet

Helmets protect motorcycle driver’s heads in any type of accident. Head injuries are the leading cause of death when it comes to motorcycle accidents, so it is that much more important to wear the proper motorcycle helmet anytime you are riding your motorcycle. The helmet should not fit too tightly or too loosely, and it should never obstruct your vision.

Motorcycle safety is easy when tips such as these are taken into consideration each and every time you ride your motorcycle. Any time you are on your motorcycle, you should strive to always put safety first.

5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Junk Car Scrappage Program

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/07/23 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off on 5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Junk Car Scrappage Program

So, you’ve finally decided to replace your old gas guzzler with a hybrid, but now you need to choose the right scrappage program to take your clunker off your hands. Here are five factors to consider when choosing a junk car collection program.

Price

If you’re hoping to sell your junk car for cash, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible. Some programs pay you a set cash amount, regardless of your car’s condition. However, many programs base your cash payment on the make, model, year, and condition of your car. Many of these junk car programs provide an estimate tool on their website so you can make sure you’re getting the best offer for your vehicle.

Reputation

Before you contact a company to come pick your clunker up, do your research. Check out their website. Read online reviews and testimonials. Ask friends, neighbors, and family member who have exchanged a car through a voluntary scrappage program about their experience and recommendations. Working with a reputable, reliable company ensures that you will receive the agreed-upon compensation in the timeframe the program gives you.

Convenience

Some scrappage programs require that you bring your car to a junk yard, while others will send a tow truck right to your home. If your junk car can no longer be driven, look for a scrappage program with pickup options that work with your schedule. If you go with a pickup program, make sure they serve your specific area. Many scrappage companies have restrictions on the amount of distance they will go to collect your car. For most programs, you’ll be paid either when your car is picked up or when you drop it off at a scrap yard.

Environmental Impact

Junk car programs were created to get energy-inefficient vehicles off the roads to reduce air pollution, but some programs are eco-friendly in name only. Environmentally-conscious vehicle scrappage programs repair cars that are not considered a “total loss” vehicle and recycle parts from the cars that they scrap. Many scrappage companies recycle tires, vehicle fluids, batteries, and the scrap metal produced from demolishing the vehicle.

Don’t hesitate to ask about the company’s environmental impact. If the response is vague (or if there’s no explanation of the programs recycling process on their website), the company may be disposing of the cars they collect irresponsibly. Look for a program that doesn’t treat their environmental impact lightly. Improper disposal of car materials can create safety hazards and overcrowded landfills. The chemicals in car fluids can pollute groundwater and hurt wildlife, while scrap tires house disease-carrying insects and rodents and may cause dangerous, hard to control tire fires.

Requirements

Some programs have a set of requirements that your vehicle must meet in order for it to be exchanged. These requirements may include:

  • Record of a previously failed SMOG test
  • The car has been insured for the last six months
  • The car can still be driven
  • The car was made more recently than 1987

Requirements may vary from company to company or by state. If your car doesn’t meet the requirements of one company, keep looking. There are many programs that accept vehicles regardless of condition.

Considering these factors when choosing a car scrappage program can help you get the best deal for your junk car.  

Image Source: Wikipedia

Car Insurance: How Much Coverage Is Too Much

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/07/22 in Auto Insurance with Comments Off on Car Insurance: How Much Coverage Is Too Much

Buying car insurance coverage can be a confusing experience for many people, most of whom wind up purchasing more car insurance than they really need when they get full coverage insurance to protect their vehicles and others. Certainly, it is good and reassuring to have auto insurance coverage, and all Canadian provinces require some level of liability insurance to pay for injuries to others and property damage. But buying too much insurance coverage is almost as wasteful as not buying enough.

Full-Coverage Car Insurance Is Not Always Needed

Whenever financing the purchase of a vehicle, the lender will require full coverage insurance with a reasonable deductible amount to protect the loan collateral. But once that vehicle is paid off, maintaining full coverage insurance might not make sense. If the value has depreciated enough, paying for full coverage insurance is not a wise move. Most vehicles worth less than $5,000 don’t warrant full coverage unless they are financed, and insurers will refuse to provide full coverage insurance for vehicles that are worth only $3,000 or so, according to Underwriters Insurance Brokers (BC) Ltd., a provider of auto insurance in Vancouver.

Many Additional Protections Are Not Needed

When buying car insurance in Vancouver or other provinces, a lot of insurance professionals like to talk people into buying additional insurance coverage beyond liability, collision and comprehensive insurance. Most people do not need many additional insurance items, such as rental car insurance, towing coverage, trip interruption and other types of optional insurance protection. Most people have credit cards that provide free rental car insurance coverage, so having additional insurance through an auto insurance policy wastes money.

Trip-Interruption and Towing Not Always Needed

Likewise, trip-interruption insurance is good only for people who travel a lot by car. Those who only drive in town and use airlines, rail and rentals when traveling generally won’t benefit from trip interruption. Towing service also is relatively affordable, but in many cases, the benefit amount does not warrant several years of additional coverage payments. In most cases, a vehicle won’t be towed more than one or two times with a maximum benefit amount of $125 or so per tow and the bill paid up front.

Careful Planning Can Prevent Wasted Cash

When discussing insurance options with insurance producers, people need to ask about policies and the coverage they include. In many instances, they will find additional protections they likely won’t need. Eliminating unwanted coverage will make insurance more effective and more affordable and prevent people from paying for too much car insurance.

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