It’s the season for potholes. I don’t know about your city, but I nearly broke a tooth after hitting a neck jarring pothole last week. The impact left a noticeable pull to the left to my steering. It could be worse; a friend bent the rim on his car after hitting a monster of a hole, leaving him with a flat tire and a costly repair.
Damaged and deteriorated roads are also a real danger. Approximately a third of the 33,000 fatal crashes each year in the U.S. are attributed to poor road conditions, and many bicyclists are injured after hitting a pothole or from traffic as they try to avoid one.
Potholes are a product of the freeze/thaw cycle that destroys asphalt and wears away the underlying materials. Damage to a vehicle varies depending on the size, depth and the speed at which they are hit. It could include:
Tire puncture
Misalignment of the steering system
Damage to wheel rims
Engine damage
Cracked or broken suspension parts
Untimely wear to shocks and struts
Holes or crimping of the exhaust system
These can lead to dangerous driving conditions and experts say we should check for:
Bulging sidewalls or flat spots on tires
Uneven wear on tire tread
Strange noises or odors from the exhaust system
Cuts, flat spots and cracks on tire rims
Dents or punctures that could lead to fluid leaks and rust from the undercarriage
The pothole epidemic is a real financial burden, costing us as much $3 billion a year in repair bills. The average fix from hitting a large pothole can range from $300 to $600 dollars.
And, here’s some more bad news, while damage to your car or truck from a pothole is covered by collision insurance, it only kicks in after you pay the deductible. Also, filing a claim for pothole damage is considered an at-fault collision and could increase your insurance rates at renewal.
Some cities and states have funds to reimburse drivers for damage from potholes, but the process is very restrictive and cumbersome and very few actually receive any compensation.
Since spending to fix deteriorated roads is limited (the American Society of Civil Engineers has estimated that it will cost trillions of dollars to repair crumbling roadways and bridges across America), here are some tips to lessen the damage caused by potholes:
Keep tires properly inflated
Keep a reasonable distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you to spot and avoid potholes
Slow down during pothole season – often times damage is reduced the slower you hit one
And here’s one final thought; faded traffic lane markings and shoddy asphalt conditions are confusing to autonomous vehicles, slowing testing in many areas of the country.
The annual list of cities with the most stolen cars has bad news for drivers in the Golden State. California has the dubious honor of taking eight of the top 10 spots for stolen vehicles in the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s (NICB) 2015 Hot Spots report.
Motorists in the Modesto area of Central California need to be especially watchful, as it was the metropolitan area with the highest per capita vehicle theft rate in the nation. Number two was Albuquerque, New Mexico followed by three other areas in Northern or Central California.
The NICB’s Top 10 Hot Spots metropolitan areas were:
The NICB said that older vehicles are taken for parts while newer, high-value vehicles are often shipped overseas or, after some disguising, sold to an innocent buyer. Others are stolen for a “joyride” and are most often abandoned and recovered.
There is nothing worse than going to the place you last parked your car and finding it gone. To prevent your car or truck from theft, the NICB recommends everyone use these four layers of anti-theft precautions:
Common Sense —is the easiest and most cost-effective way to thwart would-be thieves. You should always:
Remove your keys from the ignition
Lock your doors /close your windows
Park in a well-lit area
Warning Device — the second layer of protection is a visible or audible device which alerts thieves that your vehicle is protected. Popular devices include:
Audible alarms
Steering column collars
Steering wheel/brake pedal lock
Brake locks
Wheel locks
Theft deterrent decals
Identification markers in or on vehicle
VIN etching
Micro dot marking
Immobilizing Device — the third layer of protection is a device which prevents thieves from bypassing your ignition and hot-wiring the vehicle. Some electronic devices have computer chips in ignition keys. Other devices inhibit the flow of electricity or fuel to the engine until a hidden switch or button is activated. Some examples are:
Smart keys
Fuse cut-offs
Kill switches
Starter, ignition, and fuel pump disablers
Wireless ignition authentication
Tracking Device — the final layer of protection is a tracking system which emits a signal to police or a monitoring station when the vehicle is stolen. Tracking devices are very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles. Some systems employ “telematics” which combine GPS and wireless technologies to allow remote monitoring of a vehicle. If the vehicle is moved, the system will alert the owner and the vehicle can be tracked via computer.
We wouldn’t allow our children to play with an unsafe toy, nor would we use a household item that was deemed dangerous. But, when it comes to our autos and trucks, many Americans continue driving one that has been recalled because of a safety concern.
It’s More Than You Might Think
The statistics are a bit unsettling – the number of recalled vehicles reached 51 million in 2015, second only to 2014’s record of 60 million vehicles.
What do you need to be worried about?
Auto experts say the bulk of the recalls are for faulty airbags, which have been linked to injuries and deaths. However, other recalls were for hazards involving steering, cruise control, engines and seat belts. These failures have led to sudden loss of control of the vehicle, parts failures in a crash, or caused vehicle fires.
Many Are Not Getting Fixed
Despite a major effort by automakers, only 75 percent of vehicles that might have issues are being looked at or repaired.
And that’s the concern; a recent Carfax survey found that tens of millions of vehicles that have been recalled the past few years have never been fixed. By their estimate, one in five on the roads today is in need of a repair for a safety defect. Even more troubling is that the type of vehicle with the highest rate of unfixed safety issues is a family-owned minivan. SUVs and pickup trucks are a close second and third. Often, this means the drivers of those cars or trucks, maybe someone you know, is at significant risk if a part should fail.
So Why Wouldn’t Someone Get the Fix?
There are many reasons why drivers aren’t getting defective vehicles to a dealer or mechanic:
They are not aware of the recall
They worry it will take too much time or cost too much
They just don’t care
Recall notices are often mailed to an old address
So Has Your Vehicle Been Recalled?
The government maintains an excellent website where you can check, for free:
If you find your vehicle on the recall list, safety groups recommend that you contact the car dealer immediately to set up an appointment to have it looked at. Keep in mind, you should not have to pay for any parts or labor because of a recall. Not all vehicles may need a fix, but finding out will bring you peace-of-mind. And, if you think your vehicle has a defect, but hasn’t been recalled yet, save any receipts; you should be reimbursed if the recall occurs later.
What Does a Recall Mean for My Insurance? While driving a recalled vehicle shouldn’t affect your insurance, the quicker you have it checked out or repaired, the safer you and others will be.
However, you should contact your insurance company if the dealer gives you a loaner car while yours is being repaired; you’ll want to verify that you have the right coverage..
If you’ve gotten a new recall notice about a dangerous airbag, you are not alone. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is warning that 51 million vehicles had some recall in 2015. That follows the record 60 million the year before.
Most of these recalls involve Takata equipped airbags. As of April 2016, ten deaths in the U.S. have been attributed to the defective airbag inflator that can send dangerous shards of metal at drivers and passengers. Of the 24 million U.S. vehicles recalled for the problem, only 7 million have had the inflators replaced. Many auto makers, including Honda, are redoubling their efforts to notify consumers about the recall, dating back to 2013.
Be prepared that when you take your car or truck in to fix the problem, it could take weeks or even months until the parts arrive. Many automotive dealers are offering temporary rentals or loaner vehicles until the work is complete. If you get that offer, here are some insurance issues you need to know.
Your personal auto insurance policy should transfer to that temporary vehicle, but with the same deductibles and limits contained in that policy. If you have an older car or truck without coverage for damage from a collision or hail, flood, etc. (comprehensive and collision), the temporary car you are using does not have that coverage either. Unless you add that it, you will be paying out of pocket to replace or fix the loaner if you cause a crash. You might also want to make sure you have uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage.
Most insurance companies don’t pay for “loss of use” for a rental vehicle. If you damage the car or are involved in an accident, you can be charged for the time it takes to repair and have it available for rent again. Rental companies will usually charge you the daily rate they lost while that car or truck is getting repaired, plus administrative fees. That’s why you want to negotiate with the dealer for loss of use coverage; otherwise, you may want to purchase it through the agency providing the vehicle.
You should not drive your recalled vehicle while you have a “loaner” vehicle. Doing so could void the need for that temporary vehicle, and crash with either vehicle may not be covered.
To speed up any claims and avoid miscommunication, contact your insurance company to let them know you are using a temporary vehicle and provide the year, make, model and vehicle identification number.
We wouldn’t allow our children to play with an unsafe toy, nor would we use a household item that was deemed dangerous. But, when it comes to our autos and trucks, many Americans continue driving one that has been recalled because of a safety concern.
It’s More Than You Might Think
The statistics are a bit unsettling – the number of recalled vehicles reached 51 million in 2015, second only to 2014’s record of 60 million vehicles.
What do you need to be worried about?
Auto experts say the bulk of the recalls were for faulty airbags, which have been linked to injuries and deaths. However, other recalls were for hazards involving steering, cruise control, engines and seat belts. These failures have led to sudden loss of control of the vehicle, parts failures in a crash, or caused vehicle fires.
Many Are Not Getting Fixed
Despite a major effort by automakers, only 75 percent of vehicles that might have issues are being looked at or repaired.
And that’s the concern; a recent Carfax survey found that tens of millions of vehicles that have been recalled the past few years have never been fixed. By their estimate, one-out-of-five vehicles on the roads today is in need of a repair for a defect. Even more troubling is that the type of vehicle with the highest rate of unfixed safety issues is a family-owned minivan. SUVs and pickup trucks are a close second and third. Often, this means the drivers of those cars or trucks, maybe someone you know, is at significant risk if a part should fail.
So Why Wouldn’t Someone Get the Fix?
There are many reasons why drivers aren’t getting defective vehicles to a dealer or mechanic:
They are not aware of the recall
They worry it will take too much time or cost too much
They just don’t care
Recall notices are often mailed to an old address
So Has Your Vehicle Been Recalled?
The government maintains an excellent website where you can check, for free:
If you find your vehicle on the recall list, safety groups recommend that you contact the car dealer immediately to set up an appointment to have it looked at. Keep in mind, you should not have to pay for any parts or labor because of a recall. Not all vehicles may need a fix, but finding out will bring you peace-of-mind. And, if you think your vehicle has a defect, but hasn’t been recalled yet, save any receipts; you should be reimbursed if the recall occurs later.
What Does a Recall Mean for My Insurance?
While driving a recalled vehicle shouldn’t affect your insurance, the quicker you have it checked out or repaired, the safer you and others will be.
However, you should contact your insurance company if the dealer gives you a loaner car while yours is being repaired; you’ll want to make sure you have enough coverage if it’s more valuable than your vehicle.
It’s also a good idea to check your auto insurance to make sure you are fully protected and that you are getting all the discounts you deserve. Call a California Casualty advisor today for a free policy review or comparison at 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com.
It’s one of those bitter cold days. As you head out to start your car, you’re conflicted about just how long you should warm it up before you drive off. If you are like me, your dad or grandfather may have told you that it was best to let it run a few minutes to make sure the engine was properly lubricated and enough gas was getting into the engine. But a lot of us have also been hearing that’s no longer necessary. In fact, how long anyone should warm their car has been the topic of national auto call in shows and many automotive blogs and articles.
The bottom line is that times have changed and the advice to warm the car a few minutes is apparently no longer valid. The modern answer is that warming your vehicle (unless it’s a diesel) wastes gas, pollutes the air and may actually be bad for your engine, not to mention illegal in many states if you leave it unattended. Here is what the experts are saying.
First, modern fuel injected vehicles adjust to the cold and don’t need warming. The idea of warming a vehicle is a throwback to cars and trucks that had carburetors.
Second, modern oils and lubricants are now designed to maintain their viscosity even in abnormally cold weather. The days of warming the oil to coat important moving parts are over.
Third, it now only takes 10 to 30 seconds to warm a car or truck.
Fourth, the engines in most autos actually warm quicker when they are being driven. Idling actually works the engine and its components harder than when it is moving.
Fifth, idling costs you money in wasted fuel. Unnecessarily running your vehicle for just a few minutes a day can add up to hundreds of gallons of gas.
Sixth, warming the car in a garage can be deadly. Even if the garage door is open, dangerous carbon monoxide can seep into your home which can cause serious health problems or even death.
Seventh, idling engines produce more pollution. Nobody wants to breathe that stuff in.
Now, that we know it’s not a good idea to over-warm your car, let’s not forget the places where it’s illegal to leave it running unattended. Colorado, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin have passed so called “puffing” laws, fining owners of unattended cars left running. Cities including New York, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City and Reno have also enacted ordinances against cars left idling. The only exception is if you have a remote starter and the car remains locked. That’s because it’s too easy for criminals to climb in and steal it.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau estimates that a vehicle is stolen every 33 seconds; many of those were cars or trucks that were left running or had the keys left in them. That adds up to 6.4 billion dollars, which we all pay for in higher automobile insurance rates.
To help prevent auto theft, the NICB advises to:
Never leave your vehicle running unattended
Always lock it
Never leave any keys in the car, even a spare set
Always part in well-lit, high-traffic areas
Get windows, doors and fenders etched with the vehicle identification number (VIN)
Consider installing a tracking and recovery device
Another way to protect your vehicle is with insurance. Don’t forget to purchase comprehensive coverage in case it catches fire, it’s damaged by a falling tree, or someone breaks in or steals it. Before that happens, contact a California Casualty advisor today for a no hassle policy comparison or review at 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com. It just might warm your day.
