How to Keep Your Car Secure and in Good Condition
Owning a car is a wonderful thing. It helps you do your errands in a faster and more convenient manner. It gets you to work and even ferries the kids around when needed.
Like many big ticket items, cars have a potential to incur huge repair bills and other unexpected expenses down the road. However, you can always get ready for them. We have put together a few tips on how to take better care of your investment and possibly avoid huge expenses.
Security Matters: How to Protect Your Car From Theft
Your car’s security should never be neglected. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration based on 2014 statistics, a vehicle is stolen almost every minute. Although 50 percent of these stolen cars were recovered, reuniting with a stolen car is rarely a wonderful experience. Stolen cars can get stripped off certain components pretty easily and they can even come back totaled. To protect your investment from thieves, it is important to take note of the following:
- Ensure that you have all your keys hidden in a safe place. Thieves know that some car owners hide their spare keys under their cars. Doing this is basically inviting trouble. Secure your keys and make sure that they are not accessible to thieves.
- Secure your car every time you leave it. Whenever you park in a public place or in your own driveway, you should double check if you have locked the windows and the doors. This very basic security measure is often forgotten by car owners, leaving their cars at risk.
- When in a public space, park intelligently. It is a good idea to park in a well-lit area but considering how brazen criminals have now become, a well-lit place might not even deter them from stealing your car. It is a good idea to park near building entrances though or near where security personnel or security cameras are.
- Alarms and GPS can make a huge difference. Your car has a built-in alarm so be sure to utilize it. You can also invest in a GPS tracking system that sends alerts to your smartphone or computer. This also allows you to give authorities the exact location of the vehicle in the unfortunate event that it is stolen.
- Get an anti-theft device. Apart from getting a discount on your auto insurance, purchasing an anti-theft device will immobilize your vehicle if it is hotwired.
- Take your steering wheel with you. This is considered extreme for some but if thieves do get in your car, they still won’t be able to steal it.
- Take your valuables with you. However, if you choose to leave them in your vehicle, make sure that they are not in plain sight. Valuables can entice would-be thieves to break into your vehicle.
- Never leave your car running. Need to go on a quick dash to the supermarket? Leaving your car running can be tempting but please don’t do this ever. Leaving it running only makes it easier for thieves to take it away.
How to Protect Your Automobile From Hurricanes
We have been getting a number of hurricanes lately that’s why it is advisable to be ready for them when they come again. Below are some ways for you to keep your car safe during hurricane season.
- Higher grounds. Move your vehicle to higher grounds if you live in a flood-prone area.
- Park inside. Protect your automobile from debris by parking it in a safe place.
- Comprehensive coverage. Check your insurance policy to see if you have storm damage coverage for your car.
Maintenance Checks
Your car needs regular check up aside from tire pressure checks and oil change. If you need your car checked today, please do not hesitate to contact a My Driver’s Edge branch near you.