Auto Magazine

Teen Drivers: Everything you Need to Know about Taking Care of your Car

by Carsurfer Admin on 2016/02/22 in On the Road with Comments Off

When you are becoming a new driver you are probably only thinking about one thing and one thing only. Freedom. Being able to drive yourself wherever you want to go is very liberating, but what do you do when you vehicle breaks down and needs maintenance. With this freedom also comes responsibility. You have to take care of your car so it can keep giving you your much desired freedom.

As a teen driver, having your own vehicle can represent fun and freedom of motion; freedom to go out with friends and be away from the nest as you explore your community. Since many teen drivers tend to drive older vehicles that are purchased cheaply or are hand-me-downs from parents, though, you will need to learn how to take care of your car or you will likely have mechanical problems down the road. Here are the top areas to consider in taking care of your vehicle as a new teen driver.

Oil and Fluid Changes

Your car’s vital systems include engine oil, engine coolant and automatic transmission fluid that need to be changed over time. Ignoring these periodic maintenance steps can quickly lead to engine or transmission damage, so learn to change your car’s oil and fluids yourself or take it by the shop for periodic servicing. You don’t want to spend all of your money being a new driver are extensive car repairs. Make sure you are taking care of your car’s oil and fluids to make sure you are getting the most out of vehicle.

Tires: Changing and Rotation

A vehicle’s tires are its only point of contact with the road, and having a good set of tires is the most cost-effective modification you can do for safety and performance. Companies like Free Service Tire Company carry tires from Michelin, BF Goodrich, Goodyear and others, so inspect your tires with a penny to check for good tread life. If you line up Abraham Lincoln’s head with the groove in the tire and any of Lincoln’s head is obscured by the tire, your tread is worn out and it is time for a change. Your tires also need to be periodically rotated to ensure even tread life, which is also a good time for a technician to check for proper wheel alignment.

Brakes: Fix Now Or Pay Later

Any car needs a good set of brakes to ensure safety behind the wheel, but when your brake pads become worn and scored over time, you need to replace them or you will be looking at a big repair bill down the road. Brake rotors are much more expensive than the pads themselves, but you will not usually damage your rotors unless you let the pads go. Listen for a squeaking sound when you brake; this is the telltale sign that your pads are worn out and are in need of replacement.

If you would like to keep your freedom of mobility as a new teen driver, follow these steps to proper vehicle maintenance and know that no car will ever be trouble-free forever. The key is to tackle small issues as soon as they pop up to avoid big problems just down the road.

Understanding the Criminal Penalties of Drunk Driving

by Carsurfer Admin on 2016/02/19 in On the Road with Comments Off

Operating a motor vehicle while drunk can put yourself and others on the road in serious danger not only to yourself, but to everyone else on the road around you and to anyone that may be riding in the car with you. However, if you are caught driving while intoxicated, you could face a variety of criminal penalties. These penalties could erode your financial stability, your ability to progress in your career and have an impact on personal relationships. In other words, drunk driving is a very serious crime.

You Could Face Jail Time

Even for a first-offense, you could face as little as 24 hours in jail to as much as six months in jail. While a judge may be willing to let you do community service or probation in lieu of jail time, it may be mandatory if you have previous convictions for drunk driving. You could also face many months or years in jail if you hurt or kill someone while driving drunk or have a BAC over .10 when you are pulled over. This becomes an even more serious crime if you are in a car accident with another driver. Jail time could turn into prison time especially if you have more than one offense against you. If anyone is killed in the result of your drunk driving accident, you could potentially face up to several years in jail depending on the state law.

You May Be Ordered to Pay a Fine

In addition to legal fees and increased insurance costs, you may be required to pay a fine ranging from $100 up to $1,000 or more depending on the facts in your case. While an attorney such as one from the Johnston Law Firm, LLC will attempt to keep your fine to a reasonable amount, state statutes may also dictate a mandatory minimum fine.

Your License Could be Suspended or Revoked

If your license is suspended or revoked, you cannot drive any vehicle under any circumstances. In some cases, you may be granted the right to drive to work or school or drive during certain hours to pick up your children from work or school. If you refuse to take a breath test when you are pulled over, your license is automatically suspended for one-year. If your license is taken away, it will drastically limit your freedom in terms of work, school, and having a social life.

Your Car May Need an Ignition Interlock Device

An ignition interlock device stops your car from starting if your blood alcohol content is .02 percent or higher. You are responsible for buying it and paying to have it installed in your vehicle. If someone else blows into the device for you, that person could be guilty of a crime if you subsequently caught driving while intoxicated.

If you are charged with drunk driving, you should call an attorney immediately. Your financial future, your professional future and your freedom could all be on the line. If you are convicted, you may need to tell future employers when you apply for a job, which could interfere with your ability to find gainful employment.

Six Things That Can Quickly Ruin A Road Trip, And How You Can Prevent Them

by Carsurfer Admin on 2016/02/17 in On the Road with Comments Off

Road trips are one of the best ways to enjoy the freedom of the open road and experience new places with friends and family. Whether it’s an annual family adventure or a spur-of-the-moment get-away, road trips have long been a popular choice for travelers. However, while on your way to enjoy a distant attraction, a number of unexpected predicaments can quickly ruin the fun in a road trip.

Uncertainty and getting lost

A last-minute road trip could be a recipe for disaster if you don’t follow a calculated driving route. When driving in an unfamiliar place, it’s easy to get lost. Therefore, it’s critical to have a planned destination and specified pit stops for driving breaks. Navigation and GPS technology isn’t always reliable, so it would be wise to bring a paper map and printed route directions.

Mechanical problems or a flat tire

There is nothing worse than being stranded on the side of the road. It’s important to always pack a spare tire, jumper cables, emergency road kit and flares. Furthermore, you should never plan a long road trip with a car that has had a history of mechanical problems. Consider visiting a mechanic prior to a long drive to ensure that your car can handle it.

Weather

Severe weather can easily ruin a road trip. Be sure to keep an eye on the forecast for the duration of the trip. Just in case, you should pack clothes for a variety of weather conditions, make sure your windshield wiper works, top off your windshield washer fluid and pack an ice scraper. Weather can be unpredictable, so it’s important to always be prepared.

Boredom

Whether you’re driving across the wide open Great Plans or through a barren desert, boredom can set in and end up making your trip miserable. Passengers should bring books, portable gaming devices and other sources of entertainment. This is especially important if you plan a road trip with young children.

Exhaustion

Driver fatigue can set in after only a couple hours of driving. Therefore, it’s important to take breaks and change drivers if possible. Many preventable crashes are caused by driver fatigue. If you’re feeling drowsy while driving, the best thing to do is to find a rest area where you can get out of the car for a while.

Car Accident

While you may be safe and alert on the road, you can’t always predict what other drivers will do. Be sure that you always wear your seatbelt on road trips, and that you keep lose items more secure when possible to prevent injury in the event of an accident. If you do get injured on the road, be sure to speak with a lawyer. For example, Ladah’s commitment to helping people injured in Clark County can help in situations like this.

Road trips can be a great way to see the country. However, it’s important to always be prepared to face the unexpected. These tips will help ensure that your road trip is a success rather than a nightmare.

5 Easy Tips for Lowering Your Car Insurance Rate

by Anica Oaks on 2016/02/15 in Auto Insurance with Comments Off

Every time you flip on the TV or drive past billboards, you’re likely to see at least one advertisement for car insurance. Providers everywhere bombard us with their competitive rates and incentives for choosing their plans. But no matter your insurance provider, you can do several things to lower your rate. These few tips can get you started.

Drive a Low-Cost Vehicle

Driving a clunker certainly has its drawbacks, but insurance isn’t one of them. The lower the value of your car, the lower your premium.

Why?

Because car insurance is there partially to pay for any damages to your car in an accident. But if you’re driving a car from the ’90s in 2014, chances are that car wouldn’t last much longer after your accident anyway. For the most part, it costs your provider much less money to pay for those repairs.

This doesn’t mean you need to drive a straight-out clunker. Your premium will also be lower if your car is considered safe. If your car scored highly in a crash test, your provider will usually lower your rate for that too.

Drive Fewer Miles

Many auto insurance companies reduce your premium if you drive less than 7,500 miles per year. If you can, limit how much you use your car. Switch up your commute by taking public transportation or carpooling with coworkers. You don’t have to drop your car altogether (why else are you paying auto insurance?). Just cut back on unnecessary miles.

Get an Insurance Package

Insurance companies tend to provide a discount if you combine insurance plans. Rather than using three different providers for car, home, and life insurance, combine them into one package.

Make the Most of Good Grades

Insurance companies reward good students. If your teenager or college student is driving a car you insure and they do well in school, tell your provider. They’ll typically provide a discount (of about 15%) for students on the honor roll or with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Sometimes, the higher the GPA, the higher the discount.

Why?

Because good grades tend to indicate safer drivers. Insurance companies use statistics that show good students have better decision-making skills and safer driving habits. So if your student driver qualifies and is under the age of 25, get that discount.

Be a Safe Person

Hopefully, you have higher incentives than your car insurance to be safe, but safe habits will definitely lower your rate. Most providers recognize a clean driving record and habits that indicate strong decision-making skills, like grades do. Try the following ideas to be safer every day:

Kick bad habits like drinking or smoking. Drinking puts you at a higher risk for driving under the influence, and a DUI charge may mean that you must find a great DUI attorney in Athens or your particular area or risk a criminal record. Furthermore, both smoking and drinking risk your health. The healthier (and less distracted) you are while driving, the less likely you are to get in an accident.
Take a driver’s ed course. You’ll learn valuable skills like how to avoid accidents and combat driving in poor weather.
Avoid getting into accidents or getting tickets. Easier said than done, but drive defensively and stay within the speed limit. Be more careful with those preventive measures. Your driving record helps establish the rate you pay.
Establish good credit. Like good grades, solid credit indicates you’re responsible.

Inherent factors like your age and gender also play a role in your rate. If you’re an older driver or a female, you’ll pay less because you’re considered lower-risk.

Ask whether any of these qualities and habits qualify you for a lower rate. Wherever you get your auto insurance, it’s very likely you qualify for a discount and can cut back on that rate. Just communicate those qualifications to your provider so they can reward you for being a safe, low-maintenance driver.

Five Cars from 2015 with the Best Gas Mileage

by Carsurfer Admin on 2016/02/10 in Saving Fuel with Comments Off

Automotive technology has advanced a long way over the last two decades. The miles per gallon, or MPG, that cars can achieve today was impossible just a short time ago. And it come as no surprise the best cars in this area all hybrids or electric vehicles. Here are the five cars from 2015 with the best gas mileage from least to most efficient.

Nissan Leaf

The Nissan Leaf has been around a relatively long time. It has a reputation as being a very versatile and powerful electric car on the road. It is even commonly used in business fleets. The leaf is capable of getting 126 MPG driving in the city, and 101 MPG traveling on the highway.

Fiat 500e

The Fiat 500e is a sporty car that was designed to be fun and fuel-efficient. It has a unique appearance and a stylized interior, and its distinctive sports theme comes with a hatchback for loading in oversized items. The Fiat 500e can get 122 MPG in the city and 108 MPG going long distances on the highway.

Volkswagen e-Golf

The Volkswagen e-Golf is relatively new and was designed to look and feel like the other cars in the Golf line. It has the same sleek lines, precision manufacturing, and comfortable interior. The e-Golf can achieve at least 125 MPG city driving and 106 MPG on highways.

Chevrolet Spark EV

The Chevrolet Spark EV is a minicar designed to be exceptionally safe on the roads. The steel frame can resist hard impacts from all sides, and has even won awards for safety. It handles well and has an attractive design. In the city, the car gets 128 MPG along with 109 MPG on the highway. This is the second best gas mileage of any car from 2015.

BMW i3

The most fuel-efficient car of 2015 is the BMW i3 for the second year in a row. The i3 is stylish, satisfying to drive, and safe. It reflects many of the core principles of BMW and even has a fuel extender so you can keep going on extended trips. The BMW i3 gets an amazing 137 MPG in the city and 111 MPG on highways.

Although gas mileage has gone up in recent years, auto manufacturers are not done yet. Drivers can expect to see cars that can achieve 150 to 200 MPG in a very short time. Some concept cars can already do this and are the best options if you want to save money on gas. If you’re shopping for a car make sure you check an Autobank of Kansas City to see what kind of MPG you can get with your budget.