Archive for the ‘Car Insurance’ Category
If you have to drive in Snow or Ice –
Driving in Snow and Ice
The best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all, if you can avoid it.
Don’t go out until the snow plows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination.
If you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is prepared (TIPS), and that you know how to handle road conditions.
It’s helpful to practice winter driving techniques in a snowy, open parking lot, so you’re familiar with how your car handles. Consult your owner’s manual for tips specific to your vehicle.
Driving safely on icy roads
1.Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
2.Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
3.Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
4.Keep your lights and windshield clean.
5.Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
6.Don’t use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
7.Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
8.Don’t pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you’re likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
9.Don’t assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.
If your rear wheels skid…
1.Take your foot off the accelerator.
2.Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they’re sliding right, steer right.
3.If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.
4.If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
5.If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse — this is normal.
If your front wheels skid…
1.Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don’t try to steer immediately.
2.As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in “drive” or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.
If you get stuck…
1.Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.
2.Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.
3.Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.
4.Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car.
5.Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to help get traction.
6.Try rocking the vehicle. (Check your owner’s manual first — it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.) Shift from forward to reverse, and back again. Each time you’re in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the vehicle gets going.
III – Do I need separate rental car insurance?
Properly insuring a rental car can be confusing, frustrating and downright daunting. Unfortunately, many consumers do not even think about car rental insurance until they get to the counter, which can result in costly mistakes—either wasting money by purchasing unnecessary coverage or having dangerous gaps in coverage.
Before renting a car, the I.I.I. suggests that you make two phone calls—one to your insurance agent or company representative and another to the credit card company you will be using to pay for the rental car.
Follow this link for the rest of the article
10 Used Cars to Avoid – Car and Driver
In tough times, there’s a huge temptation to compromise on one’s purchases, and buying a used car is one place to save a few bucks. Sure, we’d all like to drive a new BMW as our regular commuter, but, boy, that ’97 Malibu sure is 
tempting for $700. After all, it’s just for getting back and forth to work, and the woman selling it has to be 106—how much damage could she have done?
There’s nothing wrong with bargain hunting as long as you’re hunting the right game. When it comes to used cars, there are things that are always best to avoid.
Bad bumpers bump up repair costs
NRMA Insurance is calling on car manufacturers to improve bumper bar design after testing revealed poor-performing bumpers can contribute to higher smash repair costs.
The NRMA Insurance testing program, the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere, puts the spotlight on bumper performance in a simulated 10km/h collision – the most common type of road crash.
The test was used on nine of Australia’s top selling small vehicles and revealed inconsistent repair costs ranging from around $1000 to more than $7000.
NRMA Insurance Head of Research Robert McDonald said the cars’ bumper designs had a big impact on the amount of damage caused in low speed collisions.
“The test results show a vast difference in repair prices across the range of vehicles tested, as a poorly designed bumper can slide under other bumpers on impact, causing more damage to both vehicles,” Mr McDonald said.
“We are certainly urging consumers to consider repair costs when looking for a new car as repair costs can have a significant impact on the insurance premium they will pay,” he said.
Of the vehicle’s tested, the Honda Civic was the most expensive to repair, costing an estimated $7,386 or 31.4 per cent of its purchase price.
“The Suzuki Swift also registered a disappointing result, with damage after a low speed crash costing $5,547.15 or 34.7 per cent of its purchase price.” Mr McDonald said.
“We are however really pleased with the performance of the Toyota Corolla, as the repair cost of this vehicle after a low speed collision, was just $1,019 or 4.4 per cent as a percentage of its purchase price,” Mr McDonald said.
This year’s results also discredit the argument that pedestrian-friendly bumpers don’t protect the vehicle from damage.
“Both the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic scored similar leg protection results in the EURO NCAP pedestrian safety program, yet the repair costs of these vehicles differ dramatically,” according to Mr McDonald.
“This proves that manufacturers can design vehicles that can perform well in both pedestrian safety and vehicle protection.”
The NRMA Insurance low speed crash test program was designed in conjunction with research centres in six other countries to assist car manufacturers improve vehicle design, and to help keep the cost of collision repairs affordable.
“The new crash apparatus uses a ‘roller coaster’ type device to simulate a 10km/h collision, allowing us to accurately compare the costs of repairs.
“The first round of testing has initially looked at some of the best selling small cars in Australia. We will be working with car manufacturers over the next 12 months to expand the program,” Mr McDonald said.
While design enhancements may largely go unnoticed by vehicle owners, they can have a sizeable impact on the cost of insurance.
“We encourage motorists to consider the cost of repairing a vehicle before they make their purchase, as a bargain in the showroom may not be such a good deal when taking the cost of insurance and repairs into account,” added Mr McDonald.
The NRMA Insurance testing program, the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere, puts the spotlight on bumper performance in a simulated 10km/h collision – the most common type of road crash.
The test was used on nine of Australia’s top selling small vehicles and revealed inconsistent repair costs ranging from around $1000 to more than $7000.
NRMA Insurance Head of Research Robert McDonald said the cars’ bumper designs had a big impact on the amount of damage caused in low speed collisions.
“The test results show a vast difference in repair prices across the range of vehicles tested, as a poorly designed bumper can slide under other bumpers on impact, causing more damage to both vehicles,” Mr McDonald said.
“We are certainly urging consumers to consider repair costs when looking for a new car as repair costs can have a significant impact on the insurance premium they will pay,” he said.
Of the vehicle’s tested, the Honda Civic was the most expensive to repair, costing an estimated $7,386 or 31.4 per cent of its purchase price.
“The Suzuki Swift also registered a disappointing result, with damage after a low speed crash costing $5,547.15 or 34.7 per cent of its purchase price.” Mr McDonald said.
“We are however really pleased with the performance of the Toyota Corolla, as the repair cost of this vehicle after a low speed collision, was just $1,019 or 4.4 per cent as a percentage of its purchase price,” Mr McDonald said.
This year’s results also discredit the argument that pedestrian-friendly bumpers don’t protect the vehicle from damage.
“Both the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic scored similar leg protection results in the EURO NCAP pedestrian safety program, yet the repair costs of these vehicles differ dramatically,” according to Mr McDonald.
“This proves that manufacturers can design vehicles that can perform well in both pedestrian safety and vehicle protection.”
The NRMA Insurance low speed crash test program was designed in conjunction with research centres in six other countries to assist car manufacturers improve vehicle design, and to help keep the cost of collision repairs affordable.
“The new crash apparatus uses a ‘roller coaster’ type device to simulate a 10km/h collision, allowing us to accurately compare the costs of repairs.
“The first round of testing has initially looked at some of the best selling small cars in Australia. We will be working with car manufacturers over the next 12 months to expand the program,” Mr McDonald said.
While design enhancements may largely go unnoticed by vehicle owners, they can have a sizeable impact on the cost of insurance.
“We encourage motorists to consider the cost of repairing a vehicle before they make their purchase, as a bargain in the showroom may not be such a good deal when taking the cost of insurance and repairs into account,” added Mr McDonald.