How to Jump Start a Car Battery

Auto insurance can be a difficult thing to wrap your head around. When you're talking to an insurance agent, you may feel overwhelmed or even a little embarrassed to ask questions in fear of being viewed as unintelligent. Asking questions is the best way to learn about anything, and drilling an insurance agent with questions concerning coverage, deductibles, and premiums will help you better understand auto insurance. Here are a few answers to more commonly asked car insurance questions. What Is the Cost of Car Insurance? There are no simple answers here, other than exploring the factors that most affect the price of auto insurance. Your sex, marital status, and age have an impact on the total cost. For example, after much data collection and studies, age has been determined to have a significant impact on car insurance premiums. This is due to the younger population having more accidents and speeding tickets overall than older drivers. more When Is Car Insurance Purchased? Since most states require auto insurance, you need to purchase it before driving. Driving without car insurance is generally illegal, and if you're in an accident, you may be held liable for bodily injury and property damage. Why Does My Vehicle Affect the Cost of My Car Insurance? Your car plays a part in how much your auto insurance premiums are, due to the history of other drivers who drove the same make and model of your vehicle. Your car's safety features can indirectly affect the cost of your car insurance by helping you avoid accidents. Does Car Insurance Cover Normal Wear and Tear? Auto insurance has nothing to do with the normal wear and tear of your vehicle. It does cover repair costs due to an accident, but it won't replace your tires once they have worn out. You'll need to keep the maintenance of your vehicle in your budget as a means of keeping your car in proper working order, which in turn helps keep you and others safe. Do I Need Gap Insurance? Gap insurance is excellent coverage, but you may not need it. If you own your car with no outstanding loans, you do not need gap insurance. If you have purchased a new vehicle and owe payments to a bank or federal credit union, gap insurance protects your investment. For example, if you buy a $45,000 car and its value drops to $35,000 in one year, but you still owe $40,000 to the bank, gap insurance covers the $5,000 difference if the car is totaled in an accident. These are only a few of the most commonly asked questions about car insurance. Auto Insurance not only protects your investment, but it also helps protect you if you happen to be in an accident, regardless of fault. Don't be afraid to ask about the aspects of car insurance you don't fully understand to ensure that you fully comprehend your coverage, what you're paying for, and how it protects you, your loved ones, other drivers, and property. Image via pexels.com

Winter is approaching in Illinois which means temperatures dropping, snowfall, and the dread of having to de-ice your car windshield in the morning. Learn everything you need to know about de-icing your car windshield to ensure a less stress-free morning commute! Prevent an Icy Windshield Ahead Of Time Prepping ahead of time can go a long way in order to keep your windshield free of ice. Regularly check your local weather, and if precipitation is ever in the forecast during cold weather, use a tarp or sheet to cover the windshield overnight. However, when inches of snow is expected, these covers may be difficult and unwieldy. Commercial sprays that prevent ice from attaching to the glass are available on the market, but they can become costly. A combination of three parts white vinegar to one part water can do the trick to prevent ice from sticking. But this solution should be used carefully, as prolonged exposure of vinegar to painted surfaces can remove the wax. Spray the solution only on the windshield and windows, and wipe away any excess or overspray. more Removing Ice From Your Windshield To remove ice from a windshield on a cold, wintry morning, follow these steps: Start the engine Set the Heater to Defrost Adjust the airflow to recirculate Move the temperature to full heat If your car has an automatic climate control system, simply set it to defrost. If your car has an electric-heated windshield, turn it on for rapid results. Sprays can also be used as a great way to get rid of ice, however they can become pricey. An easy, at-home solution will do just the trick! Combine two parts 70% isopropyl alcohol with one part water and add a couple drops of dish soap. This solution sprayed on an icy windshield will quickly loosen the ice, allowing you to scrape it off much easier. Store the solution in the trunk of your car to make sure that you always have it on hand! It can be tempting to remove the least amount of ice necessary in order to see, however the proper procedure is to remove all ice from the windshield and windows. There even may be laws in your state that require all snow and ice to be removed from not only the windshield, but also the top of the car before driving. If you follow all of the tips that are provided above, we are sure that you will save at least a couple minutes off your morning commute!