Cars are excellent at getting people around until something goes wrong. Keeping on top of maintenance is a hassle for some people, but it is well worth the effort to keep a vehicle running smoothly. Monthly maintenance is important, but it is especially vital before going on a long drive or road trip. Here are some things you should be checking for a smooth driving experience.

Fluid Levels

There are a lot of fluids that are essential to driving. Each should be checked regularly, such as:

• Oil
• Coolant
• Windshield wiper fluid

Each has a different role in the car. The oil helps keep the engine well lubricated and running in top condition. Coolant helps the engine to not overheat on long drives. Windshield wiper fluid is not always considered a vital fluid, but keeping the windshield clean is essential to seeing clearly. If you are driving around in the rain or snow, it is especially important because the mud and dirty snow can get kicked up by other cars on the road and dirty the windshield. During the summer, bugs are everywhere and can eventually clutter up your line of vision too.

To check the fluids, pull out the dip sticks, look in the container, or have a professional do a maintenance check that they are all at appropriate levels. Also be sure to check around the areas and under the engine to make sure there are no leaks.

Car Parts

Mechanics will look over specific car parts when doing a routine maintenance check. Before a long drive, you should also check these areas like:

• Wheels
• Belts
• Brake Pads
• Lights

Having a safe car is dependent on these areas being in good working order. To check the wheel tread, you will need to stick a penny in with Lincoln’s head going in first. If you can still see the President’s head still, the tread is too low and you need to get new tires. It is also a good idea to get the balance on the wheels checked to prevent problems with the axles.

Belts are in the engine and power systems in the car. If one were to break, the car would need to be fixed immediately, disrupting any driving plans. To make sure they are in good working order, check for any fraying or wear. If they are old or damaged, they need to be replaced. The same is true for brake pads; if they show wear, they need to be replaced to effectively stop the car.

With the help of a friend, checking the lights is easy. Have someone stand in front and behind the car while testing the headlights, turn signals, and brake lights. If any are out, changing the lightbulbs is very easy and inexpensive.

While checking your car over, double check that your windshield wipers work well. The blades should clear the entire windshield when you spray the washing fluid. If they miss spots or haven’t been replaced in a few years, change them for new blades.

Spare Parts

Always keep spare parts in the car, but especially when you have a long drive through less populated areas. That way, if an emergency happens on the road, you are prepared and don’t have to depend on cell service, tow trucks, and nearby service shops. This would include:

• Spare tire with hardware and jack
• Air pump
• Spark plugs
• A tool set

With these basics in your car, you can fix the car yourself or have everything on hand if someone pulls over to help.

Be Prepared

Whether you’re new on the road after completing Driving school, or you’re a seasoned driver, it’s important to stay on top of these things. Being a responsible car owner means being prepared and taking care of your car. Stay on top of the vehicle’s maintenance and it will work better over the lifetime of the car. When heading on a road trip, have it checked over for extra protection.

With the holiday season in full swing, it is important to review the most important safety tips for driving during this time of year. Whether you are just graduating from new driving training or have years of experience, there are risks on the road during the holidays. To help you have a safe and festive holiday season, here are the five best safety tips for holiday driving.

1. Schedule extra time for driving. Drivers engage in riskier behaviors when they are in a hurry. If you are going to an appointment or have some sort of schedule to keep, schedule in extra time to get there. If you hit heavy traffic or experience bad weather, it is important that you feel calm and drive safely. Having extra time scheduled means you can calm down and focus on driving safely without the added stress of being late.
2. Plan around weather. If you are planning to take a road trip or just going somewhere out of town, plan your driving schedule around the weather. A 30-minute trip can turn into a 60-minute trip in bad weather. To save yourself time and risk, go before the storm comes or wait until it calms down and the roads are cleared. If you do get stuck in bad weather, remember to slow down and watch for black ice.
3. Never drive drunk. Holiday parties are well known for having good food and plenty of drinks. If you plan to drink, plan to have someone else drive home. Creating a plan with another person on who will be the designated driver or arranging for a ride home in advance ensures that you will not be tempted to drive yourself home. Too often people drink and then think they are capable of driving when they actually aren’t, creating a dangerous situation for themselves and others on the road.
4. Avoid distractions. Heavier traffic, slippery roads, and people in a hurry all combine into some dangerous situations. Commit to yourself that you will avoid being distracted while driving. Put your phone away, limit conversations, don’t eat or apply makeup, and just focus on the road. Drivers who are focused and avoid distractions are the safest drivers on the road.
5. Drive defensively. During the holidays, more drivers are on the road than normal. Everyone is rushing around doing holiday shopping, going to parties, and visiting family. Keep your eyes on traffic and drivers who may pull in front of you. Always keep space open around your vehicle so you can have time to change lanes if someone suddenly cuts you off, brakes, or slides on ice. These are all great defensive driving techniques.

When you apply these five safety tips, you are more likely to have a safer driving experience any time of year. Have a safe holiday season!

When a new driver is learning to drive with their permit, a licensed driver is required to be in the passenger seat. Once they earn their driver’s license, parents and teens lose the security of always having an experienced driver there. For parents who want a little more safety for their new driver, they can download apps to monitor their driving and even get them help if needed. Here are five of the most popular apps for parents of new drivers.

Mama Bear

The app that does the most monitoring is Mama Bear. It is available on iOS and Android. It monitors driving and common safety concerns and reports to the parents. First, parents can set a speed limit for their teen and get notified if they are going over that limit. This speed limit is applicable to your teen driving or if they are the passenger in another car. There are also location settings that allow parents to input addresses and get alerts when their child has arrived and left those places. It can also monitor text messages and phone use while driving and social media use, like tracking followers, pictures, and mentions.

Automatic

Automatic is an app that does more than monitor, it works to be a car assistant. It monitors a driver’s habits and gives tips to improve driving. It also has crash detection, location monitoring, and can provide information on a customizable dashboard.

TrueMotion Family Safe Driving

This free app also monitors driving habits and reports back to parents. Available on iOS and Android, it makes safe driving a family goal. Behaviors like speeding, aggressive handling, and other driving habits are tracked and given points. Family members are ranked for a little friendly competition so drivers are encouraged to break bad habits by being more aware.

Life360

With Life360, parents are sent a detailed weekly report on their teen’s driving habits. Available on iOS and Android. The report includes phone usage while driving, hard braking, speeding, and sudden, fast acceleration. This provides parents an opportunity to discuss safe driving with their teen. Parents can also rest easier knowing that the app has crash alerts with emergency response system and roadside assistance.

AT&T Drive Mode

A free app on iOS and Android, it helps silence text messages and phone calls on a teen’s phone when they are going faster than 15 miles per hour. Instead of letting the message or call through, the app sends an automated message saying the phone user is temporarily unavailable. If the teen turns off any of the safety features, parents are alerted with a notification. While this is not a monitoring system with all bad driving habits, it does help limit phone usage with new teen drivers. This app is available to any phone user, not just AT&T customers.

Get Started Today

Before letting your teen get their license, make sure they are getting the best driver’s education possible. New driver training with a defensive driving course provides a teen with exceptional knowledge and skills for driving safely. Help your teen driver be safe behind the wheel by checking in and staying involved.

Adding a new teen driver to your insurance plan is expensive. If a teen wants to drive though, most states require proof of insurance before getting a permit or license. This rule guarantees that both parties will be able to cover the costs of the car, property damaged, and health costs associated with crashes. To understand how to save money, there are some basics to understand about how insurance works.

The Basics of Insurance Coverage

Insurance companies weigh probabilities of costs per driver versus how much money customers put into the coverage. Newer drivers of any age have less experience driving and therefore present the most risk for the insurance company paying out in a crash. Not all new drivers are the same though. New drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 have the highest risk, being three times more likely to get into a fatal crash than drivers 20 years of age or older. Teenage males are twice as likely as females to crash and all teens have their risk go up with each additional passenger in the car. The older a teen gets and the more experience they gain operating a car, rates will begin to drop because they are not as likely to crash.

There are various coverage plans that insurance companies offer. The lowest is liability coverage and is what is mandatory in most states. It covers bodily injury to another person in an accident and property damage coverage if the driver causes property damage. This way, drivers can assume the risk of paying for their own bodily injury and property damages in a crash. There are more optional coverage options that help cover medical bills, loss of income, childcare, and rental cars for a higher cost.

Tips to Save on Insurance

With an understanding on how insurance works, there are some simple ways to save on insurance for new drivers.

• Research coverage options. Look into what level of insurance coverage is required for your state and then compare it to the coverage you are paying for already. Choosing a plan that provides less coverage will cost less, but be warned that it may cost you more if there is a crash.
• Shop around. Get quotes from many insurance companies and see if there is one that will offer you the same coverage for less. Switching could save you a lot of money.
• Ask about discounts. Many insurance companies will offer discounts for teens who get good grades, take a defensive driving course, use speed monitoring devices (like an app), family policies, multipolicy discounts, and a less expensive rate for military service.
• Consider the car. Insurance companies charge money for insurance based on the safety, reliability, and cost of the car. Since more expensive cars are stolen more often and cost more to fix, the coverage will be higher.
• Look into less conventional insurance. Some companies offer a pay-per-mile insurance option. If your teen does not drive very much, this can be a more affordable option.

Even with finding the right coverage option for your family, insurance costs will be higher for a new teen driver. The best thing to do is keep encouraging them to be good drivers with your words and actions. Set a good example of staying focused on the road and using safe driving practices. As your teen gets more experience, they will develop good driving habits that will benefit them their entire life.

Sources:

https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/insurance/car-insurance-new-drivers
https://www.forbes.com/advisor/car-insurance/car-insurance-tips-2021/