Monday, May 28, 2012

Happy Memorial Day!



          Memorial Day is a United States Federal Holiday observed on the last Monday of May .



Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. soldiers who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War. It was extended after World War I to honor Americans who have died in all wars.

It has become a long weekend increasingly devoted to shopping, family gatherings, fireworks, trips to the beach, and marks the start of the summer vacation season!


Car-Lotta Credit Car Sales will be closed Monday, May 28 th in observance of Memorial Day and will re open Tuesday, May 29st at 9:00 am.

Monday, May 21, 2012

What To Do If Your Vehicle Catches Fire

Vehicle fires are one of the scariest things that can happen on the road – and they happen more often than you think. The National Fire Protection Association  states  33 car fires are reported every hour in the U.S., and 18 percent of all reported fires occur on a road or highway and involve a motor vehicle.


These statistics, while sobering, don't mean you should worry that your vehicle is going to spontaneously combust on your drive home from work.

Safe driving and regular maintenance are important to reducing your chances of being involved in one of these incidents.
1. If you smell burning plastic or rubber, pull over safely and investigate. Don't try to make it home before   you determine what the trouble is. Signal, immediately move to the closest safe place to stop, whether that's a side lane or a median.


3. Get the vehicles stopped and shut off the engine while getting yourself and all passengers out of the vehicle.
4. Get as far away from the vehicle as you can, at least 150 feet, but make sure the area you move to is safe and secure.

5. Dial 911, so the dispatcher can notify the fire department.

6. Warn onlookers and others to keep away, as well. If you have some signaling device, you can also attempt to warn oncoming traffic.

Monday, May 14, 2012

5 Facts You May Not Know About Auto Insurance

1. That new car you just bought may not be covered. Your existing auto insurance policy may cover your new car if it is a replacement for another vehicle, but only for a specified period of time. (It is important to notify your insurance company of any changes as soon as possible)


2. You may not have coverage if you lend your car to a friend or family member. Your auto insurance policy generally will cover your car when you occasionally lend it to a friend. If your friend uses your car regularly or you let someone in your household who is not a listed driver on you auto insurance policy use your car, your policy may not cover them.  If you lend your car and it is in an accident that results in a claim with your insurance company, it will be on your record and could result in higher premiums.



3. Paying your electric bill late could boost your auto insurance premiums. One of the many factors most auto insurance companies now use when setting your premiums is your insurance credit score. ( Paying  your bills on time and how much debt your have are  used to calculate your credit score)


4. You may not be covered if you hit a deer or your car is damaged in a hail storm. Collision coverage does not cover your car for damage resulting from weather events such as flooding, wind or hail; collisions with animals; vandalism; or fire or if your car is stolen. You need comprehensive insurance coverage to pay for damage or loss in these situations.


5. Your personal auto insurance policy may not cover your car when it is used for business. This can be a grey area, especially for the self-employed, so it is a good idea to talk to your insurance agent about when and how your personal car may be used in your business to determine whether you need commercial coverage.



Monday, May 7, 2012

If You Thought The Price of Gas Had You Hot Under the Collar BEFORE....

Get ready for more pain at the pump now that warm weather is here. Blame simple physics: cold contracts, heat expands.  Simly put.... you lose at the gas pump when temperatures rise. Here’s why.



The government has standards for measuring gas. According to that standard, fuel should be measured at a temperature of 60 degrees. A change in temperature changes the composition of the gas.Gas  expands or contracts percent for every 15-degrees above or below 60 degrees. In other words, the fuel contracts in the cold. So when you buy a gallon, you get more energy for your money. In the heat, just the opposite is true: even though you’re still buying a gallon of gas, you get less energy for your money than you do in cold weather.

If you buy 25 gallons of gas at 75 degrees at a price of $4 a gallon, the higher temperature can cost you an extra $1. At 90 degrees, you’ll spend an extra $2. With gas at record high prices, it’s hard to justify spending even a few cents more than necessary for a fill-up.


So ....what can you  do? You can eliminate some fuel loss from evaporative emissions by filling up at night or early in morning, when temperatures are cooler. Look for gas stations that do a high volume business. It’s likely the tanks at those stations will be refilled more often, so the gas will have less time to heat up to the environmental temperature.