How to save money on Car Insurance.

Car Insurance is a costly expense but it is not an option. Auto Insurance is the law. Finding the best rates for affordable car insurance can be overwhelming and challenging. Here is some information for you on how you can save on car insurance.

You may already have car insurance in place however you should not always assume that your current insurance company is giving you the best rate. You should shop around for auto insurance every year before your policy is about to expire. Insurance companies compete with each other and we should use that to our benefit. You may find that you will pay half of the insurance premium you paid a couple of years back.

It is wise to have all insurance policies with the same insurance company. This will give you a discount on all your policies and can save you up to 10%. Whether you own a home or have a spouse or child with a car in the same household, it makes sense to insure them all with the same company.

If you didn’t take a driving education course when you first got your license then now is the time. Most insurance companies offer discounts for drivers who have taken training.

Many car insurance companies base their rates not only on who is driving but also how much you will be driving. You can expect to pay more if your commute to work is long than if you worked around the corner.

Your driving record will affect your insurance premium. Most people already know this but if your driving record is blemish free, your premium will be lower than if you’ve a conviction or accident. If you have a claim then most car insurance companies will increase your premium.

Increase your deductible. The deductible is the amount of a claim that you are willing to pay. If you have a $500 deductible and you put a claim for $1500 then you will pay the first $500 and the insurance company will pay $1000. Increasing the deductible can reduce your premium by 5% to 10%.

Before you purchase a vehicle, be sure to get insurance quotes that you are planning to purchase. The type of car you drive will affect your insurance premium.

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Trading in Your Car - A Good Idea?

If you're thinking that a new car is in your future, you've got options. Finding a quality used car is one of the best ways to save money since someone else takes the value depreciation instead of you. Of course, you're already in a car that you may not need when you get a new one, so it may be worth thinking about trading in your car.

Trading in has several advantages, from helping you get the car you want and the loan you need to simplifying the process considerably. But it's worth looking at the whole picture to ensure you're making the right call.

First of all, it's worth looking at the pros to trading in your car. A major one is that it can help you get the car you want and the loan you need by lowering the total amount you'll have to pay on the quality used car you're hoping to get.

• You can apply the trade in value of your old car to the price of the newer one.

• They won't be giving you a huge sum, of course, since they'll need to make a profit as well. But you can expect to have at least a bit taken off the overall price, making it easier to afford the previously owned vehicle you may be considering.

• Also, take the time to agree on a purchase price for the quality used car you want to buy before you discuss the trade in value of your current one.

• This keeps the deals separate, and makes it easier for you to figure out just how much of a loan you're going to need for the newer car.

To get the most from your current previously owned vehicle when you trade it in, be sure it needs no repairs and that you have it cleaned completely before you bring it in.

There are plenty of reasons to trade in your car, but bear in mind that if you still owe payments on it that those will have to be paid off by the trade in amount before anything can be applied to the new car, otherwise you may not be able to get the car you want and the loan you need at all. If you keep these factors in mind you should be able to decide on the right course of action for you, whether you opt to buy a second car or trade in your current one. 

For more valuable information contact www.prudentvaluecars.com

Save Money by Preparing your Vehicle for Winter Sooner than Later

Take time to make sure you are prepared for winter and it will save you money in repairs and prevent accidents from happening. Before you know it, temperatures will cool off and there will be snow on the ground. The colder months ahead can really take their toll on your vehicle. A few simple preventative measures taken now will keep your car safe and in good condition during the long, harsh winter ahead.

Get an oil change. Take a look at your owner’s manual to make sure what kind of oil to use. Oil gets thicker as it gets cooler so it won’t do a good job in lubricating or turning your engine over if it’s to thick.

When is the last time you changed your windshield wiper blades? If they are not clearing the rain well, then they probably will not move the slush and snow when you need them the most. Get a new set put on.

Change the windshield fluid. Make sure it is rated for below freezing temperatures or else you may need to replace all of the fluid lines if they crack and freeze below zero.

Check your antifreeze. Make sure you have a 50/50 ratio of antifreeze and water. If you are not sure, drain it and start with new pre mixed antifreeze.

Snow Tires. Snow tires are made using a different type of rubber that sticks to snow and ice better. Changing your tires sooner than later is a good idea. You never know when freezing rain or frost may come.

Check your tire pressure and make sure it’s where it should be. Once again, air condenses in cold weather and your tires may look flat.

Be equipped for winter. Do you have: snow brushes, ice scrappers, first aid kit, flairs, jumper cables, blankets, flashlights and candles?

Check your Battery. If your battery is weak, has corroded cables or connectors, consider replacing it. Batteries only have a four to six year life expectancy.

Check your breaks. Take your car in for a break inspection. Here are a few signs that you should get your breaks looked at: when you break, your car pulls to one side or another, you hear a grinding or squeaking noise and especially if the pedal feels to soft when you press down to stop.

Check your car’s hoses and belts. Usually a car is due for a tune up every 50,000 kilometers so have them inspected. With winter coming your hoses and belts could snap or break in the cold.

Make sure you can defrost your windows and your heater is working. There is nothing worse than not being able to see through the fog or freezing inside while trying to steer.

Start to keep your fuel tank full so that you don’t have condensation building up and water forming. If the built up water freezes it could block the flow of gas to your engine or dilute the remaining gas.

Hope this simple reminder helps keep you safe throughout the winter months. For more valuable tips and information, visit www.prudentvaluecars.com

Save Money by Do It Yourself Spring Car Cleaning

Spring is here and your car has been through a lot this winter so now it’s time to get your car back into shape for the good weather ahead. To save yourself some time, money and aggravation, here are some tasks you can do on your own. Replace wipers – After a harsh winter, your wipers may need to be changed. It`s important to have wipers in good working conditions to keep you safe, especially during intense rain showers. Also remember to keep extra windshield wiper fluid on hand. Tires – Remove winter tires and replace with all season tires. Not only will this allow your car to drive more efficiently, you will also save money on gas. Check your tires including your spare. Check if the tread is worn out, check the tire pressure and tighten up any loose nuts and bolts. Fluids – When you`re under the hood take time to look at your fluid levels. The reservoirs on most cars are easy to read. There are also dipsticks for oil and transmission fluid. Check your brake and power steering fluids but make sure you refer to your manual for procedures. The level of coolant in the radiator should also be checked. Before you remove the radiator cap, make sure the engine is cooled down. Lights – A great tip for checking if your lights are all in working condition is to drive to the glass of a store window and test all your lights. Turn your headlights on and off, test your highbeams, test your parking lights, your turn signals and then turn your car around to check that your brake lights are working, reverse lights, parking lights and turn signals. Also confirm that all interior lights are in working order. Cleaning – De-clutter your car. Check the trunk and clean out the wintertime mess. Make sure you have your emergency kit in order. Vacuum your car thoroughly. Using a damp towel, wash down your seats and carpeting. If the salt debris, mud or dirt is tough, use a carpet cleaning machine if possible. Organize your compartments, shine the windows inside and out, remove hubcaps and wash them down, wash the exterior of your car and give it a good wax. Now you`re ready to enjoy driving in the warmer weather and remember a properly maintained vehicle is safer, more cost effective and last up to 50% longer. For more valuable information and tips, visit http://www.prudentvaluecarsblog.blogspot.com/

How to save gas and money.

As we approach summer months gas prices are on the rise. It’s the time of year when we do the most driving. There are many things you can do aside from buying a more fuel efficient car that can help cut down on gas expenses. Here are some tips to help you conserve gas and money.

1. Less acceleration – A car consumes more gas as it accelerates. You will not get anywhere any faster with that extra speed. Drive the speed limit. Try taking off smoothly and slowly when leaving a stop light. It’s not a race, the fastest person across the intersection is just wasting more gas. Drive the speed limit. Keep at a steady pace, if you’re stuck in traffic try to use the brake less by paying attention to the cars ahead of you and keeping at a good distance.

2. Revving is not cool – Revving your engine just stresses the engine especially when the engine is cold but even if its warm, you’re wasting gasoline not to mention the wear and tear on the engine.

3. Turn off your air conditioner – This is a tough one especially if you’re living in Arizona. When your air conditioner is running you get much worse mileage. Use your air conditioner sparingly. If you have a lower setting, use it. Turn it on until your car gets cool and then use the fan to circulate the cool air. Don’t run the air conditioner while your windows are open. Turn off the air conditioner 5 minutes before you get to your destination and try to park in a shaded area. Remember to open your window at low speeds and using your air conditioner at high speeds gives you better fuel economy.

4. Check tire pressure – Under inflated tires increases fuel consumption so check the air pressure on your tires more frequently. Keep your tires on your car inflated to the manufacture’s recommendation.

5. Idling is not for the car – Try not to idle your engine for long periods of time. When you turn a car on, it uses a bit of gas but when your car is idling, it uses a fixed amount of gas over a period of time. If you foresee your car idling for more than 1 minute, you should consider turning your car off. Pay attention to those times you’re waiting in line or waiting in a driveway.

6. Don’t fill up when the price is high – If you need gas and the price is high, fill with what you need and then return when the gas price drops if at all possible. Filling up at high prices only let the gas companies know that you are willing to pay ridiculous prices for gas. Study the gas patterns of your area. Quite often gas prices go up on a Friday going into the weekend. If that’s a consistent pattern make a habit of filling up on Thursdays.

7. Keep your car tuned up – Cars that are not maintained and are in poor running condition use more gas.

"We hope that these tips will not only help reduce emissions but will leave you with extra change in your pants pocket. Looking for a late model, reliable vehicle? Check out our inventory at http://prudentvaluecars.com/