Do You Ever Let Someone Drive Your Auto?

If you own a vehicle, chances are you’ve let a friend or family member borrow it at least once. 

There are plenty of reasons to hand over the keys. Maybe you needed a relative to pick up your kids from school or you’re helping someone get to work after their car broke down. 

Did you know that in the event of an accident… it’s your auto insurance policy that  would have to pay? 

The number one misconception about loaning out your vehicle is that if you let your neighbor borrow your car, an accident should go on their insurance because he or she  was the one driving but in private passenger auto insurance, the coverage typically follows the vehicle, not the driver. 

Let’s break it down. 

DOES MY CAR INSURANCE COVER OTHER DRIVERS?

Insured drivers include: 

• Resident relatives: Most personal auto policies provide coverage to the named insured, their spouse or domestic partner and any other resident relatives. So if someone is a member of your family and lives in your home, they’re automatically an insured under your policy unless excluded. 
• Domestic partners: If someone lives with you but isn’t a relative, they are not named insureds under your policy. However, if you’re living with a domestic partner, they can be added to your policy as a named insured but only if your relationship is the long-term, committed type – you share domestic responsibilities and have joint financial obligations. All you have to do is call your agent and let them know. They’ll send out a short driver questionnaire and check your partner’s driving record to determine eligibility. 
  Someone with permissive use: If you loaned out your vehicle to a friend or neighbor, your policy generally will cover them – as long as you gave your permission. If they are a regular and repeated user of the car, they should also have coverage. The only exception is if a driver has been specifically excluded on your policy. 

Finally: If someone else is regularly driving your car, it’s important to let your agent know. 

Chances are, anyone you let borrow your car will fall into one of these three categories.  Car-Lotta reminds you that  just because someone is covered doesn’t mean loaning your car is risk-free. 

How Often Do You Wash Your Automobile?

Have you ever parked your car at the office or grocery store only to come back and find that a ‘helpful’ citizen has written ‘please wash me’ across the back?

 

 It’s  funny when that message is on someone else’s auto, but it’s extremely disheartening when that mud-caked dust-adorned vehicle belongs to you.

 

With a busy schedule and seemingly more important things to do, washing your auto often falls by the wayside-

The general rule of thumb is to wash your car every two weeks or so. There are special circumstances that might increase or decrease that frequency. If you live in a part of the country where some of the aforementioned hazards are quite common, you’ll need to wash your vehicle more regularly. If you keep it in a garage and only drive once or twice a month, such regular washing might not be necessary.

What’s important is that you take care of your vehicle—yes, even its outside. Washing your car frequently is a great and ultimately inexpensive way of protecting your investment in it.

Car-Lotta wants you to make sure you’re setting aside some time for routine  washes!

Ever Drive Through A Cloud On The Ground?

Fog is one of the most unpredictable weather conditions. Your view can be clear one minute and cloudy the next. Because after all,  what is  fog? — a cloud on the ground.

Driving through dense fog can feel like you’re driving blindfolded. You can’t control the weather but you  can control how you drive in unpredictable conditions like fog.

 

           HERE ARE FIVE TIPS TO HELP YOU DRIVE SAFELY THROUGH THE FOG:

• Slow down. Traveling at a reduced speed will give you more time to react and minimize the potential for any impact. If you think you’ll be driving in foggy conditions, be sure to allow extra drive time to make it to your destination safely.
• Brighten up. Turning on your headlights will help you see the road ahead, while helping others see you. And as their name suggests, fog lights also increase visibility by shining more light closer to the road surface. Just avoid using your high beams, which actually reduce visibility by producing glare.
• Leave some space. Low visibility can lead to slower reaction times. Increase the distance between you and the vehicles ahead to help account for any sudden stops. 
   
• Follow the lines. In dense fog, you won’t always be able to rely on what you see ahead. If your visibility is limited, focus on the road markings to make sure you’re staying in your lane.
• Pull over. If you can’t see in front of you, the best course of action may be to pull over. Turn on your hazard lights and pull off the roadway in a safe location, like a rest stop or parking lot. Then, wait until conditions improve. 

 Car-Lotta hopes these driving tips can help you navigate the foggiest of situations.

Would You Know What TO Do If Your Vehicle Overheats?

Outside temperatures climb during the  summer months.Temperatures inside your vehicle’s engine bay can near 200 degrees. In this type of heat, it’s important to keep your engine cool.

Your vehicles cooling system is usually up to the task. If the needle of your temperature gauge rises or you spot steam coming from under your hood, your car may be overheating.

When your auto overheats, it often means something is wrong with one of the cooling system components, which includes  your fan, radiator, thermostat, hoses and coolant. 

Here are a few steps you can take to help track down your problem and get back on the road.

• Turn up the heat. While it may seem counterintuitive, turning your heat on full blast can actually help disperse the heat coming from your engine. 
• Find a safe place to pull over. Driving your car when its overheating can cause serious – and sometimes permanent – damage to your engine, so it’s best to stop driving as soon as possible. Pull over, away from oncoming traffic, then turn off your engine.
• Open your hood. After parking your car, open your hood to let excess heat escape – then, stay back to let things cool down. Never touch a hot engine with your bare hands!
  
• Look for leaks. You may not be a mechanic, but some cooling system issues aren’t difficult to identify. Look at your radiator and hoses to see if you can find leaking coolant. 
• Fill your coolant. If you can’t find a leak, you may be low on coolant.  To check your coolant level, you’ll need to remove your radiator cap – but only after your engine has cooled off. Once your engine is cool, use a towel to slowly remove the cap. Your coolant should reach the top of the radiator. If it doesn’t, top it off. And be sure to check the plastic coolant expansion tank, if your car has one. Most cars use a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze, but you can just add room temperature water as a temporary fix.

If your car was low on coolant, you can start it back up after topping it off. Keep an eye on your temperature gauge to ensure that it is in a safe range. If you found a coolant leak, or your coolant was full, it may be  time to call your mechanic.

Do You Know How To?

If you’ve ever been forced to parallel park your vehicle, chances are these thoughts have crossed your mind. It’s sometimes an intimidating and frustrating task. The potential for embarrassment can leave you wanting to just find somewhere else to park. But in some cases, parallel parking may be necessary.

Here are  a few steps to help master the art of parallel parking:

 

1. Find a spot where parking is permitted. Check your local laws for specifics. In general, you’re usually not allowed to park on a sidewalk, crosswalk or bridge; in an intersection; or blocking a driveway or alley. You also can’t park too close to a fire hydrant or stop/yield sign, though the allowed distance tends to vary by state.
   
2. Be aware of your surroundings. Use your turn signal before parking and make sure to check your mirrors before coming to a stop.
     
3. Align your car. Pull up directly next to the vehicle that will be in front of you.
   
4. Back up. First, check behind you again to make sure there are no pedestrians or oncoming cars. Then, begin back up while turning your wheel to the right. (Just make sure you don’t clip the vehicle in front of you.)
   
5. Straighten it out. Once your front door passes the back bumper of the vehicle, straighten your wheels and keep backing up.
   
6. Pull in tight. Turn your wheel sharply to the left when your vehicle is completely clear of the one ahead. Back up slowly until you reach the vehicle behind you.
   
7. Center your vehicle. Turn your front wheels sharply to the right and center your vehicle in the parking spot. 

Of course, it’s easier said than done. But follow these steps and with a little bit of practice, you’ll be well on your way to parallel parking like a pro. 

Car-Lotta reminds you ...… If you’re on a hill, be sure to set your parking brake and turn your wheel left so your tires make contact with the curb. This will help protect your vehicle from going into oncoming traffic if anything goes wrong.