Doing Anything Fun For Labor Day?

Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer. In high society, Labor Day is (or was) considered the last day of the year when it is fashionable for women to wear white.


 Labor Day marks the beginning of the NFL and college football seasons. NCAA teams usually play their first games the week before Labor Day, with the NFL traditionally playing their first game the Thursday following Labor Day. Most school districts that started summer vacation in mid June will resume school near this day.



The first Labor Day in the United States was observed on September 5, 1882, in Boston, by the Central Labor Union of New York, the nation's first integrated major trade union. It became a federal holiday in 1894. Singed into law as a National Holiday by Grover Cleveland.


All Car-Lotta Credit locations will be closed Monday September 2nd  in observance of Labor Day.



We will re open Tuesday September 3rd  at 9:00 am.

How Much Is Your Insurance Deductible?

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR DEDUCTIBLE....

 

It’s all about your budget – and your comfort level with risk.

 

Here are some things to consider about  when choosing your deductible.

1. Your budget: Ask yourself: What’s the amount of money I would be comfortable paying if I need to repair my vehicle? The lower your deductible, the less you will have to pay out of pocket if you have to file a claim, but your overall car insurance premium will be higher.
   It works the opposite way, as well.  If you have a high deductible, you will have a lower car insurance premium – but you’ll pay more out of pocket if you file a claim. This decision comes down to personal preference and what you can afford within your current budget.
    
2. Drive time: Think about the amount of time you spend driving on a daily or weekly basis. If you’re in your car a lot – or driving in more accident-prone areas – you might be exposed to more risk than someone who drives less.
    
3. Value of your vehicle: The more expensive the vehicle, the more it costs to insure. In that scenario, a high deductible could help you save on your premium. However, if you have a car loan, some lenders stipulate that your deductible should not exceed a certain amount. Check with your lender to be sure.

 

Car-Lotta Car Sales Suggests you keep your deductible at NO MORE THAN $500.00 but the decision is ultimately yours.

Is Your Oil Light On?

 

All vehicles  have a "low oil pressure" warning light. If the light comes on while you're driving, it may mean that your vehicle is dangerously low or completely out of oil.

It can mean that your auto has a serious leak that's causing a pressure drop, a clogged oil passage that's causing oil starvation, or the oil pump has failed or is failing.


 When the light comes on, pull off the road immediately and shut off the engine. Then check the oil level using the dipstick. If the dipstick shows you're out of oil or dangerously low, you should add more oil before restarting.

Driving a vehicle when the oil is  dangerously low or completely out of oil can destroy your engine in just a few minutes, and that can easily cost you $4,000.

 Don't think you can drive to the nearest store to get more! It's not worth the risk.

You should …. call a friend or family member and ask them to bring the oil to your location ( you can find the  recommended type and viscosity  in your owner's manual). Add it to the filler port and check the dipstick to make sure it's full. Do not overfill.
If the dipstick shows you've got oil, then the problem is even more serious and must be checked out by a mechanic.

There's really nothing you can do while you're on the side of the road. If the dipstick shows the engine is full, or you can't reach a friend to drop off more oil, call a tow truck! If you can't afford a tow, then you surely can't afford a new engine.

Car-Lotta Reminds You.....Never Drive When Your Oil Light is On!

How Often Do You Check Your Tire Pressure?

 

You can find testimonials from people  on the Internet who claim they upped their mileage simply by inflating their tires to the maximum pressure listed on the sidewall. What they don't tell you about is the rougher ride, premature tire wear, longer stopping distances and increased repair costs due to worn-out suspension components.

The recommended tire pressure for your automobile  is listed on a label inside the driver's door frame and it is 
based on vehicle weight along with the best possible handling.

Inflating your tires to the maximum pressure listed on the tire is okay if you're hauling a heavy load. You should reduce the tire pressure to the recommended pressure once you remove the load.

Driving a normal load on over-inflated tires reduces rolling resistance and that can increase your mileage slightly. This means you have less rubber in contact with the road, which reduces traction.

Over-inflation increases stopping distances, causes the tires to slip and/or  hydroplane on wet roads and reduces the life of the tire. Much harder tires also absorb less impact vibration so they transmit more road shock to your entire suspension system, causing a rougher ride. Additional tire bounce  can wear out your car's struts, strut mounts, shocks, springs, ball joints and control arms much faster.

 Any mileage gains you get from decreased rolling resistance are more than offset by decreased safety factors and increased suspension repair costs.

Car-Lotta wants  you to k now the facts so you can be safe.

Do You Leave Your Pet In Your Auto ?

Did you know the temperature inside your vehicle can rise almost 20º F in just 10 minutes. In 20 minutes, it can rise almost 30º F...and the longer you wait, the higher it goes. At 60 minutes, the temperature in your vehicle can be more than 40 degrees higher than the outside temperature. Even on a 70-degree day, that's 110 degrees inside your vehicle!

Your vehicle can quickly reach a temperature that puts your pet at risk of serious illness and even worse, even on a day that doesn't seem hot to you. And cracking the windows makes no difference.

Car-Lotta Car Sales reminds you....  before you put your pet in the vehicle, ask yourself if you really need to take your pet with you – and if the answer is no, leave your pet safely at home. If you must take your pet with you, make sure he or she is properly restrained so the trip is as safe as possible for both of you.

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!