For most of us, our vehicle is one of our most-prized possessions. Cars give us a chance to be free to go anywhere, as far as we feel like going, and at whatever time we want. You must have worked hard to put enough money away for a down payment. Each month you have to keep covering the costs of insurance and your car payment. But when your car needs car care, the costs can really hurt your wallet. This is the reason why these tips for getting inexpensive auto parts and auto repair tools can make a big difference in your month-end finances.
Save Money on Maintenance and Car Repair Tools
If you have a minor repair such a maintenance problem, why not cut costs by doing it yourself? There are many books and videos that show you how to get these simple tasks done quickly. The bonus is that you'll only be spending money on the parts and supplies.. Repair facilities usually mark up auto parts significantly, plus, you'll pay around $60 to $70 an hour for someone else to do the work for you. If you aren't comfortable with doing any of these tasks yourself, ask your friends and family if they can help you out or consider taking your car to a college campus to have supervised students do the work. Family members are usually happy to help and don't expect much in return; training schools offer ultra-low-cost repairs that really save you money.
Maintenance and Car Care Don't Have to Cost an Arm and a Leg
Additional non-major repairs that require a little more skill can still be accomplished by yourself. Take, for example, diagnosing an engine code, getting your rotors resurfaced, changing out your spark plugs, or rotating your tires. Local automobile parts stores oftentimes offer less-expensive diagnostic and resurfacing services than at the specialized repair shops. Diagnosing engine codes can be especially frustrating. In some states, auto parts suppliers have the tools to help diagnose problems on the spot. However, in some states they don't allow this, but the tool itself is offered for sale for around $200. The dealer charges about $80-$100 per visit to diagnose a problem code. But for the cost of 2 diagnostic tests you can have this handy tool at your convenience right at home!
Basic Maintenance and Car Care Don't Have to Break the Bank
Rotor resurfacing can be especially challenging because they have to be of a certain thickness in order to be resurfaced. A specific range of rotor metal in millimeters must be met so that they remain at a nominal thickness. Don't worry, however, because the resurfacing shops will tell you on the spot if they meet the thickness requirements. Moreover, they will either resurface them for you or can help you purchase new rotors. In an equally easy manner, spark plugs are available for purchase at the car care and supply store and the minimum gap is displayed visibly on the package. A gapper tool for your spark plugs costs only $50 or less if you don't already have one. With only a standard lifting jack, you can rotate your own tires.
You can save hundreds of dollars each year by doing your own minor repairs on your vehicle. You can make your car last longer while making your dollars go even farther, and use the additional cash to spend more time having fun with family and friends!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Protect Your Vehicle from Auto Theft in Seattle, You May Even Save Money on Your Car Insurance
It might surprise you to know that auto theft is big- big business in Seattle. In fact, car theft worldwide, is a multi billion dollar a year business for auto thieves. Automobile theft costs the car insurance companies huge amounts of money in Seattle, and is a big part of the reason that auto insurance rates for Seattle are what they are.
So, as drivers and car owners in Seattle, what can we do to make it harder for thieves to target our vehicle? And, is there a way to get a break on your car insurance quote for the Seattle area by implementing one or more of these strategies?
Some of these recommendations are such common sense, that you may wonder why even mention them? Suggestions like locking your car may seem ridiculous, but the fact of the matter is that almost half of all stolen vehicles were left unlocked. It only takes once.
So here are some simple tips to better protect your car and encourage would be thieves to move on and look elsewhere:
* Lock Your Car. Almost half of all vehicles stolen are left unlocked. At minimum, take your keys with you. (One out of every five vehicles stolen has the keys in it.) Don't hide an extra set of keys in your car. Thieves know where to look for them. Close your car windows and sunroof.
* Don't make your car a more desirable target for thieves by leaving valuable items in plain sight. In fact, keep your car tidy inside, as stuff left lying around, may suggest that something of value may be there. Use the glove compartment and trunk to keep things out of sight.
* At night, park in well-lit areas. Day or night, try to park in attended lots. Thieves do not like to be seen committing their crimes. Also, don't give the parking attendant easy access to your glove box and trunk. When necessary, give only the car ignition/door key to the parking attendant. If the trunk and glove box use the same key as the ignition/door key, consider having one of them changed. On your way out, you may want to quickly check the tires, spare, battery and lights to insure that they are the same as the ones that you arrived with.
* Don't leave your car running and unattended. Autos are often stolen at convenience stores, gas stations, ATM's, etc. Keep an eye on your vehicle if you let it warm up unattended on cold winter mornings.
* Park your car in the garage or behind a locked gate. If you have no garage, consider parking the least attractive vehicle in your household in such a way that it blocks the most attractive vehicle. If you have only one car and no garage, pull your car up as far up the driveway and as close to your dwelling as you can. Most cars are stolen off the street or from parking areas. Locked garages, gates and other obstacles create more levels of difficulty. Putting a bell or other noise-making device on a gate that does not have a lock is also a good idea, as is a light that comes on when motion is detected.
* Things like "clubs" and other cheaper security devices are of little use to stop a determined professional car thief, but they present an obstacle that will most likely stop the less experienced "crime of opportunity" seeking criminals. These types of devices are definitely better by far, than no security measures at all.
* Turn car wheels sharply toward or away from the curb and set the brake. If your car has a manual transmission, leave your car parked in first gear or in reverse. If you have an automatic transmission, use the parking gear. Once again, this makes it more work for a thief who is looking for an easy opportunity.
The following tips will not only make your car a less desirable target for thieves, but may also help reduce your auto insurance rate in Seattle:
* Install a car alarm, most especially if you park in a parking lot or on the street when at home. Here, the only debate is whether you should display the sticker advertising the fact that you have a car alarm or not, as you will likely save a decent amount of car insurance if you have one installed. (A professional car thief will be alerted that there is an alarm, and will likely know how to disable it, and steal your car anyway if they really want it, but, it probably deters most easy opportunity seeking criminals.) The biggest deterrent that a car alarm can offer is to alert witnesses as to what is going on and this makes most criminals very nervous.
* Install a GPS-based automobile security tracking device. This ingenious device can locate your stolen car wherever it is, and, from an insurance perspective, is a very good idea. You will likely get a decent reduction on your premium if you install this device. Once again, the only debate is whether you should display the sticker advertising the fact that you have this device installed, for the same reasons as were discussed earlier with the car alarm.
To deter the incidence of auto theft in Seattle, Washington, and the adverse effects that car theft has on auto insurance rates, action is required in two areas: (1) Law enforcement and prosecutors should make greater use of existing laws and tools to detect, investigate, and prosecute car thieves to the fullest extent possible; and (2) The public must aggressively take steps to prevent car theft before it happens.
It is hoped that this article helps to better educate more people about the simple things they can do to drastically reduce this crime that affects all drivers in Seattle, and collectively, our auto insurance rates.
So, as drivers and car owners in Seattle, what can we do to make it harder for thieves to target our vehicle? And, is there a way to get a break on your car insurance quote for the Seattle area by implementing one or more of these strategies?
Some of these recommendations are such common sense, that you may wonder why even mention them? Suggestions like locking your car may seem ridiculous, but the fact of the matter is that almost half of all stolen vehicles were left unlocked. It only takes once.
So here are some simple tips to better protect your car and encourage would be thieves to move on and look elsewhere:
* Lock Your Car. Almost half of all vehicles stolen are left unlocked. At minimum, take your keys with you. (One out of every five vehicles stolen has the keys in it.) Don't hide an extra set of keys in your car. Thieves know where to look for them. Close your car windows and sunroof.
* Don't make your car a more desirable target for thieves by leaving valuable items in plain sight. In fact, keep your car tidy inside, as stuff left lying around, may suggest that something of value may be there. Use the glove compartment and trunk to keep things out of sight.
* At night, park in well-lit areas. Day or night, try to park in attended lots. Thieves do not like to be seen committing their crimes. Also, don't give the parking attendant easy access to your glove box and trunk. When necessary, give only the car ignition/door key to the parking attendant. If the trunk and glove box use the same key as the ignition/door key, consider having one of them changed. On your way out, you may want to quickly check the tires, spare, battery and lights to insure that they are the same as the ones that you arrived with.
* Don't leave your car running and unattended. Autos are often stolen at convenience stores, gas stations, ATM's, etc. Keep an eye on your vehicle if you let it warm up unattended on cold winter mornings.
* Park your car in the garage or behind a locked gate. If you have no garage, consider parking the least attractive vehicle in your household in such a way that it blocks the most attractive vehicle. If you have only one car and no garage, pull your car up as far up the driveway and as close to your dwelling as you can. Most cars are stolen off the street or from parking areas. Locked garages, gates and other obstacles create more levels of difficulty. Putting a bell or other noise-making device on a gate that does not have a lock is also a good idea, as is a light that comes on when motion is detected.
* Things like "clubs" and other cheaper security devices are of little use to stop a determined professional car thief, but they present an obstacle that will most likely stop the less experienced "crime of opportunity" seeking criminals. These types of devices are definitely better by far, than no security measures at all.
* Turn car wheels sharply toward or away from the curb and set the brake. If your car has a manual transmission, leave your car parked in first gear or in reverse. If you have an automatic transmission, use the parking gear. Once again, this makes it more work for a thief who is looking for an easy opportunity.
The following tips will not only make your car a less desirable target for thieves, but may also help reduce your auto insurance rate in Seattle:
* Install a car alarm, most especially if you park in a parking lot or on the street when at home. Here, the only debate is whether you should display the sticker advertising the fact that you have a car alarm or not, as you will likely save a decent amount of car insurance if you have one installed. (A professional car thief will be alerted that there is an alarm, and will likely know how to disable it, and steal your car anyway if they really want it, but, it probably deters most easy opportunity seeking criminals.) The biggest deterrent that a car alarm can offer is to alert witnesses as to what is going on and this makes most criminals very nervous.
* Install a GPS-based automobile security tracking device. This ingenious device can locate your stolen car wherever it is, and, from an insurance perspective, is a very good idea. You will likely get a decent reduction on your premium if you install this device. Once again, the only debate is whether you should display the sticker advertising the fact that you have this device installed, for the same reasons as were discussed earlier with the car alarm.
To deter the incidence of auto theft in Seattle, Washington, and the adverse effects that car theft has on auto insurance rates, action is required in two areas: (1) Law enforcement and prosecutors should make greater use of existing laws and tools to detect, investigate, and prosecute car thieves to the fullest extent possible; and (2) The public must aggressively take steps to prevent car theft before it happens.
It is hoped that this article helps to better educate more people about the simple things they can do to drastically reduce this crime that affects all drivers in Seattle, and collectively, our auto insurance rates.
Stolen Cars - Not Mine!
We have read about it and heard about it on the news, somebody's car getting stolen. But we never can imagine it happening to us. The fact of the matter is, if it hasn't happened to you, then you have been lucky as statically, a car is stolen every 23 seconds in the United States with a total of nearly 1.4 million vehicles stolen in all. According to the FBI, auto theft is an estimated $7.5 billion business,
Where is your car most likely to get stolen at? According to statistics, certain regions of the United States are more susceptible to theft than others. The highest amount of auto theft occurs in the Southern states, at a 35% rate. This is followed by Western states at 28%, Midwestern states at 20%, the last is Northeastern States at 17%.
Is there a time of year that cars are stolen more often? Not really. Crime rates only increase slightly between January and July. The lowest percentage of auto thefts occurs in February and April, probably because of fewer days in the month.
If you live in a small town, your percentages drop even more in regards to the theft averages. Most auto thefts typically occur in larger cities. Again, this may just be a matter of numbers due to the fact that there are more cars in cities and more people are parking on the streets or in open parking lots. In rural areas people tend to have garages or big properties with long driveways. Theft rarely occurs in rural yards that have dogs and seem more obscure.
If you are hoping to recover your car, again, you are more likely to have better results if you live in a small town or rural area. This is again due to the fact that there are fewer people and a smaller search area and therefore the police don't have to search as hard as police in large cities. In large cities there could be thousands of similar looking vehicles in traffic, making it difficult to pick out the stolen car.
How long does it take for a thief to steal your car? Statistics show that an experienced car thief can steal your car in less than a minute. While some cars are hot-wired other thieves may just smash the drivers' window in. For the most part, cars are seemingly stolen for the value of their parts rather than resale or personal use. According to insurance companies, a $20,000 stolen vehicle can be stripped and sold into $30,000 worth of parts.
Now, if you live in the city and are getting concerned, not to worry. There are some precautions you can take to help make the statistics favorable to you. They include: * Never hide a second set of keys in your car. Extra keys can be easily found if a thief takes time to look. * Lock Your Car. Approximately 50 percent of all vehicles stolen were left unlocked. * Park in attended lots. Auto thieves do not like witnesses and prefer unattended parking lots. * If you park in an attended lot, leave only the ignition/door key. If your trunk and glovebox use the same key as the door, have one of them changed. Don't give the attendant easy access to your glovebox and trunk. Upon returning, check the tires, spare tire, and battery to be sure they are the same as those you had when you parked. * Take Your Keys. Nearly 20 percent of all vehicles stolen have the keys in them. * Park in well-lighted areas. Over half of all vehicle thefts occur at night. * Completely close car windows when parking. Don't make it any easier for the thief to enter your vehicle. * Don't leave valuables in plain view. Don't make your car a more desirable target and attract thieves by leaving valuables in plain sight. * Never leave your car running, even if you will only be gone a minute. Vehicles are commonly stolen at convenience stores, gas stations, ATMs, etc. Many vehicles are also stolen on cold mornings when the owner leaves the vehicle running to warm up. * Park with your wheels turned toward the curb. Make your car tough to tow away. Wheels should also be turned to the side in driveways and parking lots. * If your vehicle is rear-wheel drive, back into your driveway. Rear wheels lock on four-wheel drive vehicles, making them difficult to tow. Front-wheel drive vehicles should be parked front end first. * Always use your emergency brake when parking. In addition to ensuring safety, using the emergency brake makes your car harder to tow. * Don't leave the registration or title in your car. A car thief will use these to sell your stolen car. File the title at your home or office, and carry registration in your purse or wallet. * If you have a garage, use it. If you have a garage, take the time to use it rather than parking outside where your vehicle is more vulnerable. * When parking in a garage, lock the garage door and your vehicle. By locking both the garage and vehicle doors, the chances of deterring a thief greatly improve. * Disable your vehicle when leaving it unattended for an extended period of time. Remove the electronic ignition fuse, coil wire, rotor distributor, or otherwise disable your vehicle anytime thieves may have extended access to it. * Engrave expensive accessories. Engrave personal ID numbers on car stereos, cellular phones, etc., so the thief will have difficulty disposing of them. * Replace T-Shaped door locks with straight locks. Some vehicle doors have lock assemblies at window level that flare out in a knob or "T" shape. A thief can use various tools to gain access inside the vehicle, grab and pull the lock. Straight locks prevent this. * Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Stolen cars/parts are more easily traced when vehicle VIN numbers have been etched on car windows and major parts.
Practice these simple steps and get into the habit of doing them time and again, and you won't have to worry as much in being a statistic of car theft.
Where is your car most likely to get stolen at? According to statistics, certain regions of the United States are more susceptible to theft than others. The highest amount of auto theft occurs in the Southern states, at a 35% rate. This is followed by Western states at 28%, Midwestern states at 20%, the last is Northeastern States at 17%.
Is there a time of year that cars are stolen more often? Not really. Crime rates only increase slightly between January and July. The lowest percentage of auto thefts occurs in February and April, probably because of fewer days in the month.
If you live in a small town, your percentages drop even more in regards to the theft averages. Most auto thefts typically occur in larger cities. Again, this may just be a matter of numbers due to the fact that there are more cars in cities and more people are parking on the streets or in open parking lots. In rural areas people tend to have garages or big properties with long driveways. Theft rarely occurs in rural yards that have dogs and seem more obscure.
If you are hoping to recover your car, again, you are more likely to have better results if you live in a small town or rural area. This is again due to the fact that there are fewer people and a smaller search area and therefore the police don't have to search as hard as police in large cities. In large cities there could be thousands of similar looking vehicles in traffic, making it difficult to pick out the stolen car.
How long does it take for a thief to steal your car? Statistics show that an experienced car thief can steal your car in less than a minute. While some cars are hot-wired other thieves may just smash the drivers' window in. For the most part, cars are seemingly stolen for the value of their parts rather than resale or personal use. According to insurance companies, a $20,000 stolen vehicle can be stripped and sold into $30,000 worth of parts.
Now, if you live in the city and are getting concerned, not to worry. There are some precautions you can take to help make the statistics favorable to you. They include: * Never hide a second set of keys in your car. Extra keys can be easily found if a thief takes time to look. * Lock Your Car. Approximately 50 percent of all vehicles stolen were left unlocked. * Park in attended lots. Auto thieves do not like witnesses and prefer unattended parking lots. * If you park in an attended lot, leave only the ignition/door key. If your trunk and glovebox use the same key as the door, have one of them changed. Don't give the attendant easy access to your glovebox and trunk. Upon returning, check the tires, spare tire, and battery to be sure they are the same as those you had when you parked. * Take Your Keys. Nearly 20 percent of all vehicles stolen have the keys in them. * Park in well-lighted areas. Over half of all vehicle thefts occur at night. * Completely close car windows when parking. Don't make it any easier for the thief to enter your vehicle. * Don't leave valuables in plain view. Don't make your car a more desirable target and attract thieves by leaving valuables in plain sight. * Never leave your car running, even if you will only be gone a minute. Vehicles are commonly stolen at convenience stores, gas stations, ATMs, etc. Many vehicles are also stolen on cold mornings when the owner leaves the vehicle running to warm up. * Park with your wheels turned toward the curb. Make your car tough to tow away. Wheels should also be turned to the side in driveways and parking lots. * If your vehicle is rear-wheel drive, back into your driveway. Rear wheels lock on four-wheel drive vehicles, making them difficult to tow. Front-wheel drive vehicles should be parked front end first. * Always use your emergency brake when parking. In addition to ensuring safety, using the emergency brake makes your car harder to tow. * Don't leave the registration or title in your car. A car thief will use these to sell your stolen car. File the title at your home or office, and carry registration in your purse or wallet. * If you have a garage, use it. If you have a garage, take the time to use it rather than parking outside where your vehicle is more vulnerable. * When parking in a garage, lock the garage door and your vehicle. By locking both the garage and vehicle doors, the chances of deterring a thief greatly improve. * Disable your vehicle when leaving it unattended for an extended period of time. Remove the electronic ignition fuse, coil wire, rotor distributor, or otherwise disable your vehicle anytime thieves may have extended access to it. * Engrave expensive accessories. Engrave personal ID numbers on car stereos, cellular phones, etc., so the thief will have difficulty disposing of them. * Replace T-Shaped door locks with straight locks. Some vehicle doors have lock assemblies at window level that flare out in a knob or "T" shape. A thief can use various tools to gain access inside the vehicle, grab and pull the lock. Straight locks prevent this. * Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Stolen cars/parts are more easily traced when vehicle VIN numbers have been etched on car windows and major parts.
Practice these simple steps and get into the habit of doing them time and again, and you won't have to worry as much in being a statistic of car theft.
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