Entries from December 2009 ↓

You may think that joining an auto club (like AAA) will give you only roadside service assistance and some discounts when booking a hotel, but there’s just a lot more to it than that. Even non-drivers should think about becoming a member of an auto club. There are just too many advantages of joining such a club to not getting into one right away.

Of course, not all stores, services and hotels will have it written about discounts right at their front desk, but it never hurts to ask. The savings you will get with an auto club member’s card are sometimes just so considerable that paying a yearly fee will look ridiculous in comparison.

Emergency roadside assistance

Probably the most beneficial feature you get with your auto club membership are the free road emergency services. Even in case you don’t have your own car, these services will definitely be very helpful when borrowing someone’s car or even being a passenger. These free emergency services include:

• Towing the car for a certain amount of miles
• Changing a flat tire
• Jump starting in case you’re accumulator is dead
• Extricating the car in case it is stuck somewhere
• Retrieving keys, if you’re quite lucky to lock them inside the car
• Adding gas in case you run out of it while being far from a gas station
• Undertaking minor adjustments and repair

Discounts rule!

Members of auto clubs usually qualify for numerous discounts (or in some cases get their cash back) on a wide range of services and products. These usully include:

• Staying at hotels, inns, motels and campgrounds
• Dining at restaurants or in bars
• Renting a car
• Booking train, bus and airline tickets
• Repairing your auto or buying spare parts
• Going to movies, parks, attractions and other entertainment facilities
• Buying computers and Internet connection
• Getting insured
• Shopping at outlet and retail shops Continue reading →

Unless there are major changes in the world’s climate, those of you living in the southern states can enjoy the same warm to hot weather all year round. The reality for those of us living in the northern hemisphere is there are four seasons so, as we pass out of Fall, let us anticipate the arrival of Winter with a few words of gentle warning. It is a sad fact that, as the first snows fall, the number of traffic accidents caused by the weather shoot up. Poor driving conditions pose challenges that many vehicle owners fail to meet. The winter period of December through February brings the highest number of seasonal claims in any year.

The first day of snow or icy conditions catches everyone unprepared. The perfect driver would always have the vehicle go through a maintenance check to ensure everything is ready for the stresses and strains of winter driving. The first item on the checklist is tuning the engine to maximize the chances of it starting at low temperatures. It then moves through tests of braking efficiency to steering to the tires – there is enough tread to maintain grip on icy roads, is there not? Except, somehow, our priorities never seem to include this precautionary maintenance and we find our vision limited by sleet and snow, or the vehicles failing to stop, or moving in unexpected directions as the ice forms under our wheels. Even the most experienced of drivers can be caught out. Of course, as the winter weather continues, we remember all our survival techniques and the number of accidents falls. But in that first few days, it can be murder on the roads.

Why should you care? Well, if you drive an older vehicle on the minimum liability cover, you simply accumulate more honorable scars in the battle and patch up the rest that cannot be ignored. Those of you with collision and comprehensive cover need to minimize the number of claims you make to avoid the premiums rising sharply. That means a few simple rules. The first is the obvious, “Do not drive unless it is necessary”. Staying at home with your vehicle in the garage whenever possible is the safest action during the first days of snow. Fit snow tires if the weather looks set in for a few days, and new windshield wipers will help you see where you are going. Program the numbers of your repair shop and a towing company into your cell phone so you can call for help. You should also put together an emergency kit so that, if you are caught in an accident at night, you can stay warm and safe until help arrives. Then, it’s just a case of defensive driving. Allow extra braking distances, keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front of you and drive more slowly. Continue reading →