What Should You Do If You Were Stranded In Bad Weather?

Getting stranded in your vehicle  is bad enough, but being stranded in severe winter weather could be dangerous. It is estimated that 46% of all crashes involving bad weather take place in the winter.

If conditions are hazardous, it’s always  best to stay off the roads, but there are times when  travel is unavoidable. In these cases, you need to be prepared for the dangers of being stranded in your vehicle.
 

If You Become Stranded in bad weather remember to.....

•Don't leave your car unless you know exactly where you are, how far it is to possible help, and are certain you will improve your situation.

•Light two flares and place one at each end of the car a safe distance away. Hang a brightly colored cloth from your antenna.

•Run the engine and heater for about 10 minutes every hour or so depending upon the amount of gas in the tank.

•Use the woolen items and blankets to keep warm and to protect yourself from frostbite and hypothermia .

•Keep at least one window open slightly so snow and ice don't seal your car shut.

•Eat a hard candy to keep your mouth moist.

 

Car-Lotta wants  you to be Safe!!!  

Working On Your Credit Score This Year?

Did you  make a resolution this year to get your credit on track this year? Getting started can feel a bit daunting. It may sometimes seem as if credit agencies want to keep you in the dark about how scores are calculated. No worry ….- with some diligence on your part and a little insight into the world of credit score-keeping, you can get back on track in 2020.


Credit scores follow an algorithm first developed by the data analytics company FICO years ago. Credit scores weren't always  the primary force behind a credit decision but over time the impact of a credit score became more and more important. Most  loan programs available today have a minimum credit score.

There are five characteristics of your credit history that make up your three-digit score: your payment history, account balances, the length of your credit history, the types of credit used and how often you've applied for new credit. Credit scores will improve much more quickly by paying attention to the two categories that have the greatest impact on a score: payment history and account balances.



Payment history accounts for 35 percent of the total score. If  someone makes a payment more than 30 days past the due date, scores will fall. An occasional "late pay" won't do much damage to your score but continued payments made more than 30 days past due  will. Preventing late payments is a key to recovering your score.

Account balances compare outstanding loan balances with credit lines and make up 30 percent of your score. If a credit card has a $10,000 credit line and there is a $3,300 balance, scores will actually improve, as the ideal balance-to-limit is about one-third of the credit line. If  the balance grows and approaches or exceeds the limit, scores will begin to fall.

The remaining three have relatively little impact. How long someone has used credit accounts for 15 percent of the score, but there's really nothing anyone can do to improve this area other than to wait. Types of credit and credit inquiries both make up 10 percent of the score. Concentrating on payment history and account balances, scores will improve significantly over the next few months.

Car-Lotta Credit and Car Sales is NOT Credit Based when making loan decisions!  

Do You Use Winter Wiper Blades?

 Winter Blades have a rubber sheath over all of the moving components inside of the wiper. These are springs built inside of it to actually hug the wiper blade tight to your windshield. You have probably already noticed in the wintertime, you're driving along and try and use your wiper blades, they won't touch all of the windshield itself. It'll actually leave streaks and portions of it that are un cleaned. This is from is from ice, debris, and snow, getting inside of the springs and keeping them from contacting your windshield. What the rubber sheath does is keep those formed particles from affecting the way the mechanics of the wiper blade has been designed to operate.

Is it a good idea if you do a lot of driving in the wintertime to go ahead and change out your wiper blades?

 

Car-Lotta wants you to  decide!

Thinking Of Buying A Vehicle Online

You can buy just about anything online these days. And  that list now includes vehicles.

A vehicle is one of the largest purchases you’ll make in your lifetime. You may think buying a new car, truck or SUV sight unseen would be enough to scare away most buyers.

The market for online auto sales is growing.  And many car shoppers are finding they prefer it.

How can you buy a car online? And more importantly – should you? Here’s what you need to know about the world of internet car shopping.

WHERE CAN I BUY A CAR ONLINE?

The internet has changed the way people research and buy cars. Today, most traditional auto dealers also display their vehicle inventories online. This allows you to search for the perfect car across the U.S.

If you’re looking to complete your entire purchase online, there are several options. Some popular online car sales sites include:

• Carvana
• Shift
• Vroom
• eBay Motors

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BUYING A CAR ONLINE?

Here are some reasons some shoppers opt to skip the dealership and head to the computer:

• Selection: Unlike your neighborhood car dealership, buying a car online allows you to choose from a large national inventory containing thousands of new and used vehicles.
  
• Price:  Recent studies found that people who bought a vehicle online saved an average of $185 or 0.8%, depending on the model. But keep in mind that you often can’t negotiate online car prices the way you can with a salesperson.
  
• Transparency: When you buy online, you get the details of your car’s pricing and fees upfront.
  
• Convenience: Buying a car online means you can shop 24 hours a day to find the right make, model and year for you. Because you’re making the purchase from the comfort of your home, you won’t spend half your Saturday signing paperwork at the dealership. And your car can be delivered right to your door.
  
• Return policy: Since you won’t have a chance to test drive your new car, many online auto sellers offer a return policy. It usually ranges from 5 to 7 days after your purchase.

ARE THERE ANY DISADVANTAGES TO BUYING A CAR ONLINE? 

For all the benefits of online car buying, there are some downsides, too:

• Test drives:  For many  not getting a feel for how your new car rides and handles before the purchase can be a deal breaker. You can always test out a similar vehicle closer to home, but you won’t get to experience the ride of your  own new car firsthand if you buy  online.
  
• Inspections: Buying a car can be a big decision to make off online photos alone. You won’t get a chance to “kick the tires” before your  purchase. While most online sellers claim to thoroughly inspect their vehicles, it may be worth paying for a pre-purchase inspection  out of your own pocket. The peace of mind can be worth the cost, and  save you from any potential surprises.
  
• Service perks and warranties: Your local dealer can give you access to perks like loaner vehicles or service discounts. And if you’re purchasing a used car, factory certified warranties can be more generous than what you’ll get from a third party.
  
• Delivery cost: If you’re buying  from out of state, you’ll need to get it to your garage somehow. Whether you fly to pick up your car and drive it home, or have it delivered to your door, be sure to factor in any delivery expenses.

• Personal service: For many,  a big purchase is more than just a transaction… it’s about building a relationship. When you buy from a local dealer, you have a go-to person you can trust to treat you right and be there for whatever’s next.