4 Must-have Mobile Apps for Car Owners

Most people own a car, maybe even a couple of them. As we all know, a car can be a considerable expenditure - even more so when it comes to visiting a local repair shop, performing scheduled maintenance service, and refilling the gas tank each month. Luckily, mobile developers have taken care of us and today there plenty of handy mobile applications that will simplify much of what we do in our cars. From pointing you towards a gas station with best prices in the city to analyzing your vehicle’s computer, here are four free mobile applications that qualify as must-haves for car owners:  

Waze - Most everyone has Google maps or some other navigation system on their phone, but sometimes the traffic situation isn’t taken into account very well. Thankfully, there’s an awesome app that crowd sources information about the traffic status.

FEATURES:

• One tap navigation
• Shows alerts on your route
• Allows you to report traffic to help others
• Let’s you easily send your ETA to friends

GasBuddy - GasBuddy helps you find the cheapest gas prices with one tap. Submitting gas prices helps everyone save money on gas. GasBuddy uses gas price information provided by users to bring drivers together to support the common goal of saving money on gas.

FEATURES:

• Shows cheapest gas stations near you  
• Finds cheapest gas by city/zip/postal code
• Let’s to report gas prices to help other people find cheap gas
• Saves money every time you fill up at the cheapest stations

RepairPal - This app tells you the right price to pay for your repair, finds you a RepairPal certified mechanic in the area, tracks all your repairs, and gives you one-touch access to roadside assistance.

FEATURES:

• Gives an accurate and unbiased repair and service estimates. You’ll know the fair price to pay before you take your car to the shop.
• Helps you find a recommended repair and maintenance shop near you.
• Keeps your complete repair history with you. Record what you've done and make a checklist of what you need to do next.

CamSam- Helps to save on traffic tickets. It warns you of speed traps and red light camera warning system!

FEATURES:

• Alerts in real time of mobile radar traps
• Directional alerts for all fixed
• Automatic updates every 5 minutes
• Visual and acoustic warnings
• Indication of device type and of legal speed limit

Drive Safely This Winter

Falling snow can be picturesque, but it can also wreak havoc on the roads. While no one enjoys driving in snowy or slippery conditions, there are steps you can take to help improve your safety with these winter driving tips.

 

Here are some guidelines that can help you stay safe when driving in adverse winter conditions:

• Make sure your car is prepared for cold temperatures and wintry conditions like snow and ice. Keep your equipment properly maintained and include a winter survival kit in your vehicle: an ice scraper, snow shovel and sand/salt.
• Clear snow and ice off your car – including windows, mirrors, lights, reflectors, hood, roof and trunk.
• Drive with your headlights on, and be sure to keep them clean to improve visibility.
• Use caution when snow banks limit your view of oncoming traffic.
• Avoid using cruise control in snowy or icy conditions. In adverse conditions, you want as much control of your car as possible.
• Know how to brake on slippery surfaces. Vehicles with anti-lock brakes operate much differently from those that do not have anti-lock brakes. You should consult your vehicle's owner's manual for instructions on how to brake properly if your vehicle should start to skid.
• Maintain at least a half tank of gas during the winter season. This helps ensure you have a source of heat if you are stuck or stranded.
• If you do venture out or are unexpectedly caught in a snowstorm and encounter problems, stay in your car and wait for help. You can run the car heater to stay warm for 10 minutes every hour, but make sure your exhaust pipe is clear of snow. There is a danger of carbon monoxide poisoning if snow blocks the pipe and enables the deadly gas to build up in your car. Open your window slightly to help prevent the buildup.
• Keep your windshield washer reservoir full, and make sure your car has wiper blades that are in good condition.
• Remember that speed limits are meant for dry roads, not roads covered in snow and ice. You should reduce your speed and increase your following distance as road conditions and visibility worsen.
• Be cautious on bridges and overpasses as they are commonly the first areas to become icy.
• Avoid passing snow plows and sand trucks. The drivers can have limited visibility, and the road in front of them could be worse than the road behind.
• Monitor road and weather conditions by checking local news stations or Internet traffic and weather sites.
• If you must travel during a snowstorm or in blizzard conditions, be sure to let a relative, friend or coworker know where you are headed and your expected arrival time. Avoid the temptation to check or be on your phone while driving as all of your attention should be on arriving safely.

Source: Travelers Insurance

Winter Car Maintenance Checklist

You know there are preventative maintenance items your daily driver needs, but the exact list of things to look after escapes you. Don’t worry! That’s why we’re here.

We will help walk you through the best winter maintenance tips so you can survive until spring comes ‘round the corner again.

WINTER TIRES

Many of today’s vehicles have either front-wheel-drive or some kind of all-wheel-drive. While both do wonderful things for traction, they cannot break the laws of physics. Sudden ice storms, low visibility, or bad driving by “the other guy” are not necessarily overcome by these drive systems. If you live in an area that’s particularly snowy, and/or are not the most confident winter driver, the number-one driver’s aid is a good set of winter tires.

Note that we don’t call them “snow tires” anymore.

Today’s rubber compounds are designed to provide maximum traction in the coldest temperatures, so it’s not just about the tread pattern.

If you plan to keep your vehicle awhile, consider getting your snow tires mounted on dedicated wheels. Although the initial cost seems high, the ease and expense of making the seasonal switch is greatly reduced. If, on the other hand, you have a leased vehicle, or will likely trade for something else soon, you can purchase tires and accept the trade off of paying a little more for the mounting and balancing every six months.

EXTERIOR CARE

If you haven’t waxed your car’s paint yet this year, now is the time to do it. A fresh coat of wax will protect the paint, not so much from the snow, but from the sand, salt, and other stuff that gets mixed in with it. Second, most experts recommend replacing your wiper blades twice a year, in the spring and in the fall. If you forgot to do it last April, get it done now.

Lastly, with shorter days and longer nights than normal, remember that your exterior lights help you both to see and be seen. A quick walk-around will confirm if any bulbs need replacing. You’d rather do that now than in January when it’s minus 10 degrees with the wind chill.

MECHANICAL SERVICE

Much of what’s needed under the hood falls into the “preventative maintenance” category. You want to take care of things before they fail. Trust us, there is no joy in being stuck at the side of the road, especially when winter’s fury is blasting you.

The DIY items here start with topping up the washer fluid. If you’ve been using a 50/50 mix during the summer, switch to 100% from the bottle. Personally, we always buy solvent in quantities of two, and keep one in the trunk. Oil and filter services should be done, as cold-weather driving is strenuous for the engine.

Check the radiator antifreeze level, as it’s the coolant which delivers interior heat.

Jobs for which you’ll likely need professional assistance include testing said antifreeze for proper temperature protection; testing the battery’s condition to help ensure it’ll get your motor running every time, and giving all under hood systems (belts, hoses, other fluid levels) a once-over.

INTERIOR / PERSONAL CARE

Snow, slush, and salt on your shoes will quickly damage your vehicle’s carpeting. A good set of rubber floor liners will pay for themselves in the protection they provide. Because you can never be too prepared, be sure to carry a snow brush, ice scraper, and personal emergency kit as well. We’re not paranoid, but keeping a blanket, flashlight, portable shovel, and non-perishable snacks tucked into the trunk will make us feel better.

If you take care of only the tires, wiper blades, and fluids, you will still be ahead of most of the driving population in winter preparedness. If you attend to everything on our list, you’re almost guaranteed to make it through the winter unscathed.

Our best advice is to print out this list and use it annually as your winter check sheet.