Quick Cash Auto Blog

Everyone knows that gas and car maintenance is expensive. Everyone also knows that, in the United States, commuting to work and driving the kids to school almost always requires a vehicle. The only exception is those that live in metropolitan areas and happen to be lucky enough to find a job close to home.

Carpooling may be the solution. Estimates indicate that as many as 16 million people in the United States carpool to work every day. Considering only about five million take public transportation to work, it’s clear to see that carpooling has become a popular means of transportation.

The benefits of carpooling are many. Compared to taking public transportation, participating in a carpool can save time. This is especially true when the ability to use a carpool lane is taken into consideration. The fuel savings means less of a strain on a worker’s wallet, and removing the necessity of personally driving to work every day can lead to a less stressful commute.

If you’re thinking about starting a carpool in your workplace, consider these tips:

• Advertise

Ask your boss if you can put flyers up at work to announce that you’d like to start a carpool, and include tear off sheets with contact information.

• Plan

Once you have enough people interested in the carpool, communicate with the members of the carpool to plan a schedule. Make sure that everyone is doing an equal amount of driving, and stress the importance of punctuality. Schedule the pickup route in a logical way, and let everyone in the carpool know what time they’ll be picked up so that they can be ready on time.

• Fund

Decide how you will split costs with others in the carpool. If everyone is doing an equal amount of driving, you may not need to be concerned about discussing finances with other carpool members.

• Have a Backup Plan

What happens if the person that is supposed to be driving is out sick? What if a member is taking vacation? Be sure that you address alternate plans in case of an absence or emergency. Swap contact information with all of the other carpool members so that you can contact someone in case of an emergency.

Carpooling can significantly reduce your commute costs and be less stressful than driving yourself to work every day. Organize a carpool at your workplace and start enjoying the benefits of being a member of a carpool.

As the trade-in values of used cars rises, more drivers are opting to cash in on that value by trading their vehicles in for a new car. This trend is boosting new car sales across the country, allowing the suffering auto market to gain some traction. Studies show that used cars with the largest raise in value are those that are three to five years old. This segment of the used car market has enjoyed a 10 percent rise in trade-in value as compared to September of last year.

Owners of used cars are already motivated to look for a replacement vehicle as fuel efficient vehicles become more widely available and easier on the wallet. Even if a driver has only owned their current vehicle for a few years, trading it in and enjoying a high trade-in value while gaining a much more fuel efficient vehicle can make financial sense.

The boost in trade-in values will also allow potential new car buyers to have the financial ability to purchase a new vehicle. A year ago, the trade-in value on their vehicle may not have allowed them to put enough down on a new vehicle purchase, or may have made the monthly payment due on their potential auto loan too high. With trade-in values increasing, monthly payments are being pushed down, allowing more potential new car buyers to have the option of fitting a new car payment into their budget.

This new interest in new cars could help the Japanese auto market, which has been particularly hit hard because of an inability to manufacture vehicles following recent natural disasters. The country has been struggling to regain its share of the auto market, and an increase in new car sales could help Japanese auto manufacturers recoup their losses and begin to gain ground once more.

The rise in trade-in values of used vehicles also indicates a rise in the prices of used vehicles. Many drivers shopping for their next vehicle are opting for a new vehicle as the price difference is much smaller compared to used vehicles than it has been in the past, and new cars often come with added benefits such as a warranty and service contract.

With so many Americans spending so much time behind the wheel every day, it’s inevitable that a majority will experience a driving-related emergency at some point in their lives. The key to keeping calm during an emergency is knowing how to handle it. Here are some tips for being prepared and keeping cool during two common roadside emergencies.

• Engine Shutoff

There may or may not be an indication that this is going to happen. Sometimes a light on the dash comes on to indicate the impending problem, or you may be able to hear the problem occurring in your engine. It’s possible that you won’t get any warning before your vehicle shuts off while you’re driving.

In this case, the first priority is to let other drivers know that you’re having a problem and to get as far out of the way of traffic as possible. Start by turning on your hazard lights. If necessary, employ the help of a passenger to get the car out of the way by coasting to the shoulder of the road. If there isn’t a shoulder, do your best to get the car out of the lane and be sure that you stay in the vehicle while waiting for further assistance to avoid being injured by traffic.

• Tire Blowouts

Even though you’ll automatically want to brake quickly and get out of the lane of traffic, keep calm and pump the gas pedal a few times. This helps you stay in control of the car so that you don’t veer to the side. Be sure to keep away from the brake, as braking during a tire blowout could cause you to lose control of your vehicle more quickly. Coast until you’ve reached a safe, slower speed, and then pull off to the side of the road, where you can change your tire.

In both of these scenarios, and in other roadside emergencies, your next step is to contact someone that can help. If you have a roadside assistance service, make sure you keep the phone number for the service in your vehicle at all times. To be sure that you won’t be stranded without the ability to contact help, take a cell phone that you have recently charged with you in your vehicle, especially on long trips. Experiencing an emergency on the road can be scary, but keeping your cool can help you navigate through it.

Today, most families with a canine friend consider him a part of the family. He goes along on family outings, spending time in the car. How can you keep your furry friend safe when he’s in the car?

• Buckle Up

Many people don’t even think about buckling up their dog when he’s riding in the car with them. However, doing so is important not only for your pet’s safety, but for the safety of your family as well. If you’re in an accident and your pet is not restrained in any way, you or a family member may be hurt by your dog.

Pet supply stores and websites carry harnesses for pets that are specifically made to be buckled into the seat belt. These harnesses are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, depending on the size and breed of your furry friend.

• Avoid Crates

You may think that keeping your dog in a crate in your vehicle will help keep him and you safe, but that isn’t necessarily the case. Depending on the size of your pet and his crate, the entire crate may become a hazard in an accident. Even if it cannot become dislodged due to its size, a crate could harm your dog in an accident as he may be slammed against the side of it. No matter how well you secure a crate, it simply cannot supply the same safety as a harness used in conjunction with a seat belt.

• Stick With The Backseat

Some pet owners enjoy having their dog up front with them in the car, even sitting in their laps. This poses a substantial risk to the driver, however. Not only is having a dog in your lap while you are driving distracting to you, but your dog may interfere with your ability to drive by inadvertently pressing buttons or turning the wheel.

• Keep Fido Inside

Dogs love to stick their heads out of the window when in the car, but, unfortunately, this isn’t safe and you should not allow your dog to do so. While head injuries are one danger when your dog has his head out of the window in your vehicle, he may even try to jump from the vehicle while it is in motion.

Including your dog in your family outings is fun, but be sure that you keep your furry friend safe while he’s in the car.