3 Easy Ways to Track a Car

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, one car is stolen in the US every 6.5 minutes. The country records almost 220 motor vehicle theft cases per 100,000 population. That’s despite the fact that the number of full-time law enforcement officers in the US has gone up in recent years.

Who is to blame for the situation? One report points the finger at car owners. It states that more than one in 2 have become complacent about theft. But your presence here indicates that you take your vehicle’s safety seriously. Read on to know how to track a car.

How to Track a Car

Here are various methods using which you can do it:

Using Your Car’s Built-in GPS

Here is one of the easiest ways you can track a vehicle. It requires you to tap into your vehicle’s pre-existing navigation system, a feature that comes in top-of-the-line models. This method lets you track your car for free as you won’t have to buy a separate GPS tracker.

Here’s how you can track your car using its built-in GPS:

1. Connect to the internet from your smartphone or laptop
2. Log into the GPS tracking platform’s website
3. Register by entering the details of your vehicle
4. Start tracking your car’s location

This method is super-easy to execute but it poses one problem. Not all cars that you see on the road come with a built-in GPS. Those that do charge a premium for the same. That’s quite understandable as they require you to pay extra for equipment that would keep your car safe.

 

Using a Mobile Phone

Here is an inexpensive way to track your vehicle’s whereabouts. All it needs is for you to have a smartphone with good cellular network coverage and GPS functionality. The smartphone also needs to have a data plan that could fulfill your car tracking needs.

Here’s how to track a car with a cell phone:

1. Purchase a smartphone

It must have good cellular network coverage and GPS functionality. Its battery timing should also be respectable with data usage.

2. Subscribe to a data plan

One that must be sufficient enough to cover the entirety of your car tracking needs. The data plan may cost you between $5 and $20 per month.

Don’t go low when choosing a data plan. Or else you may end up with one might end in the middle of the month, leaving you no choice but to re-subscribe.

3. Download and install a car tracking app

Examples of car tracking apps include both free (Google Maps, AccuTracking) and paid (InstaMapper) applications.

We recommend paid applications because they are more reliable and bug-free. They also give you added features like voice alerts and notifications.

4. Complete the app’s registration process

You’d need to create a new account to begin the registration process. After that app would require you to verify your credentials.

It would also require you to enter the phone number of the smartphone you’re going to use as your vehicle’s GPS tracker. 

5. Place the smartphone in your car

Some car owners choose to mount the smartphone under the dashboard to ensure that it remains hidden from view. Others simply place it under the seat.

Never put your smartphone where it’s visible to those outside your car. Or else it might tempt miscreants to break into your vehicle when it’s parked.

6. Connect it to a power source

That’s because you need your GPS tracker-smartphone to run 24/7. You can either connect its charging cable to the wires leading to the 12V cigarette lighter.

You can also innovate and connect the cable to the wires that lead to the car’s battery. Or you can manually recharge the phone every time the car’s home.

7. Start tracking from your other device(s)

Log into the website of the GPS tracking platform from your personal smartphone, laptop, or tablet by entering your credentials and start tracking your car.

 

Using a GPS Device

Found the abovementioned method too cumbersome? Then you may find the option of tracking your car with a GPS device more appealing. It merely requires you to purchase a GPS device, place the device in your car, and log into its platform from your smartphone or laptop.

After registering on the platform and verifying your credentials, you’ll then be led to a page showing you your vehicle’s exact location. GPS devices are a better alternative to tracking your car than a smartphone because they have extended battery lives and don’t require a data plan of their own.

These devices can also stay up and running for a fortnight, thereby eliminating the need for you to connect them to a power source within your car. At the end of its charging period, you can take out the GPS tracking device and recharge it – before again placing it in your vehicle when it’s fully charged.

FAQs and Answers

Q: Can you track a car with Bluetooth?

A: You can track a car using devices with Bluetooth functionality. Examples of such devices include one of Tile’s latest gadgets. However, since these devices have a limited range – a few hundred feet at best, they are only suitable for locating your car in a parking lot.

Q: What are the best car tracking apps for Android and iPhone?

A: Hurdlr, Google Maps, and SpotAngels are three of the best car tracking apps for Android devices. iPhone users are also spoiled for options. They can pick from various apps, including GPS Tracker, Glympse, LocaToWeb, and more.

Conclusion

Learning how to track a car these days is super-easy. All you need are three things: an internet connection, a GPS device, and a GPS tracking platform.

They will give you peace of mind that your car is at a safe location and not in possession of some miscreant. You can thus focus on the task at hand by not worrying about your vehicle’s safety.

The post 3 Easy Ways to Track a Car appeared first on Smart Motorist.

source https://www.smartmotorist.com/how-to-track-a-car

How many miles on a used car is too much?

Eager to know how many miles on a used car is too much? So is everyone these days. COVID 19 pandemic might have hurt the tourism, hospitality and the transportation sectors. But it has proved to be a blessing in disguise for the often ignored used car market, sending sales through the roof.

The virus is to blame. You have more chance of contracting it when you’re using public transit or Uber then when you’re in your car with your family. This realization has urged buyers to empty dealerships. It has also allowed sellers to ask exorbitant amounts for their vehicles.

They’re getting it. Data indicates that the value of used cars has shot up by more than 16% in 2020. This means bad news for buyers who are in the market for a used car – especially those who cannot foot the bill of a brand new car.

How many miles on a used car is too much?

We recommend choosing used cars whose per-year mileage is less than 15,000-mile. That’s because 15,000 miles per year is the industry average. So, if you’re looking at a five-year-old vehicle, it won’t be unreasonable for it to have 75,000 miles on it. But mileage alone fails to tell the whole picture.

Assume for a moment that you’re looking at two used cars. Both of them have everything same apart from their mileage. One has clocked in 50,000 miles till date. The other’s odometer reads 100,000. It’s a no-brainer that the low mileage vehicle deserves your money, right? Wrong.

How many miles are too many depends on the following factors:

Number of owners

One vehicle with 70,000 miles under its belt may be listed for the same price as a 100,000-mile car. But it won’t be worth the same price if it has five owners and the latter has only one.

As you never know how the previous owner(s) handled or mishandled the vehicle. That’s why a single-owner vehicle with all of its service records might be the better purchase.

Driving terrain

Imagine again that you’re comparing two models. One has spent the entirety of its road life on the highway. The other was driven hard in off-road terrains and on country roads.

Which of the two would be a better buy? Of course the former. The answer would stay the same even if the vehicle driven on the highway has a few thousand miles more under its belt than its counterpart.

No. of miles left

Another factor that belittles the ‘how many miles are too many’ argument is the number of miles left on the car. As it gives you a better picture of the vehicle’s remaining shelf life. Here’s how.

Any 50,000-mile car from a brand whose cars often pass the 150,000-mile mark might be a better buy than another 40,000-mile car from a brand whose cars rarely exceed the 100,000-mile mark.

Car’s brand

Some car brands are more famous than others for making vehicles that can last a high number of miles. Their used cars are also able to retain their prices for longer.

Take the example of Honda and Toyota. Vehicles of both these Japanese carmakers will cost more with over 150,000 miles under their belt than those from other brands with similar mileage.

Vehicle’s condition

Any car that is well taken care of by its owner shows it on the inside as well as outside. Poorly kept exterior and interiors indicate that the owner was probably careless about maintaining their vehicle.

In contrast, well-kept interiors and exteriors foretell that the owner was particular about the health of their car. And that they didn’t forget to have it serviced at regular intervals.

FAQs and Answers

Q: What to consider when buying a used car?

A: Following are the factors you need to consider when buying a used car:

• Car’s History: Don’t just rely on your visual inspection of the vehicle to decide that everything is as it seems. Instead, consult websites like CARFAX that provide detailed vehicle history reports to help you make a sound buying decision.
• Pre-Purchase Inspection: There are lots of dealers that offer pre-purchase inspection services for a fee. The amount that they charge is a pittance when compared with the money it would help you save in the long run in maintenance.
• Car’s Reputation: How is the car you’re looking at rated by your fellow drivers? What do industry experts have to say about it? Consult websites like Kelly Blue Book to find answers to these questions before making the purchase.
• Test Drive: While taking the car on a test drive, there are several things you need to pay attention to. They include whether the car has any blind spots, are its brakes predictable, does it emit any vibrations and whether it has enough power.
• Back-seat legroom: This is a crucial factor to consider if you’re going to buy a family car. That’s because there are models out there that allow more legroom up front than they do for passengers on the back seats.

Q: What mistakes to avoid when buying a used car?

A: Following are the mistakes you need to sidestep when buying a used car:

• Not having the car checked by a mechanic
• Failing to take it on a test drive
• Purchasing the car only on its looks
• Not running the car’s history report

Conclusion

You know by now how many miles on a used car is too much. Industry experts put that figure at somewhere between 12,000 and 15,000. But you are also aware that mileage alone doesn’t tell the whole story about the car’s history and its current condition.

There are other factors, like the car’s number of owners, its brand, number of miles left in its road life, that play an equally important role in making the situation clear. You should, therefore, pay attention to all of them if you’re going to buy a used car.

The post How many miles on a used car is too much? appeared first on Smart Motorist.

source https://www.smartmotorist.com/how-many-miles-on-a-used-car-is-too-much

5 Options to do with Old Car Seats

Don’t know what to do with old car seats? You are not alone. Most parents don’t know what to do with seats their children have outgrown. The option of giving them away is frowned upon by safety experts who caution against it unless the seats are in near-immaculate condition.

It is for this reason that most charities say no to car seats. You’d also have to be extremely lucky to find a recycling program dedicated to them. Does that mean that there’s nothing you can do to keep the seats from ending up in a landfill? Read on to know what you can do with old car seats:

What to do with Old Car Seats?

Here are some options for you to consider:

1. Reuse them

You can reuse an old car seat if:

• It Isn’t Expired

Flip over the seat and look at its bottom for the expiration date set by the manufacturer. The expiry date will either be embossed into the plastic or printed in the form of a sticker.

Some manufacturers also include the expiry date in the instruction manual. We recommend that you reuse the seat if at least a month is remaining in the expiry date.

• It Isn’t Accidental

Car seats are no slouches and can resist mild thumps without compromising their integrity. However, if they were subject to a moderate to severe crash, you shouldn’t reuse them.

Having said that, some car seat manufacturers recommend that you desist from using their product after ANY crash, even if the jolts the seat were subjected to was minor.

• It’s Clean

Putting your kids in dirty car seats exposes them to the risk of ear infections and pneumonia. That’s especially true if the seats are old and haven’t been used for a long time.

Which is why we recommend that, regardless of the apparent condition of your old car seats, you must give them a thorough scrub. Only then should you put them in your car.

• It’s In Good Condition

Check the seat corners for nicks and cuts. Look under the fabric cover to ensure that there aren’t any insects lying around. Flip it over to inspect any signs of wear and tear.

Only after you have done this – and are satisfied with what you have seen during the seat’s inspection – should you make the decision of reusing it again.

• It Wasn’t Recalled

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regularly recalls car seats it deems not fit for usage. You should go through the listing and make sure your car seat wasn’t recalled before reusing it.

Provided you don’t intend to check such listings and want the manufacturer to inform you about recalls, register your seat with them, and you’ll be informed about any recalls in advance.

2. Donate them

Here are some places that accept old car seat donations:

• Local charities

Women shelters and local charities that provide aid to foster families accept old car seat donations. They then gift these seats to those in need or sell them to raise money for the cause.

• Church organizations

Church organizations may offer you an alternative if you can’t find a local charity that accepts car seats. They have ministries that give away these seats to families in need.

• Local CPSTs

Child passenger safety technicians are mostly in need of old car seats, which they may use to train parents about the basics of car seat safety and how to install car seats.

3. Recycle them

Some places have local recycling centers that accept old car seats. Call your recycling center and ask them if they do the same. Some of them might want you to completely break down the seat and remove all its extras before taking it in. Others want you to bring the seat in its current condition.

If your center doesn’t accept any extras alongside the car seat, you may have to remove the fabric, padding, metal pieces, and straps on the seat. You can remove everything – apart from the metal pieces – by cutting them with a pair of scissors.

To remove metal pieces, use a screwdriver. You must remove all the metal pieces or else the center may decline the car seat altogether. Use tutorials on YouTube if you find it difficult to remove all the parts from your car seat.

4. Trade them in

The majority of big-box stores organize car seat trade-in events once every few months. Our favorite trade-in events are those organized by Babies R Us store. They accept worn out car seats and give discounts on items you purchase from them that day. Target offers a similar program too.

Babies R Us and Target don’t throw traded-in car seats in their junkyards. Instead, they turn them into different products like buckets, pallets, and other construction materials, thereby making their trade-in program an incredibly convenient option for all involved.

5. Throw them away

If you cannot reuse, donate, recycle, or trade-in the old car seats, you have no option but to throw them away with the trash. That isn’t to say that you should just park the worn-out seat at the curb. There are a few guidelines you need to follow before throwing out the seat.

They include:

• Cutting away all straps
• Removing foam and extra padding
• Dismembering metal pieces
• Marking the seat as ‘expired’ or ‘unsafe’

Conclusion

Deciding what to do with old car seats isn’t easy. There are a lot of factors you need to consider before reaching a final decision. You need to check out the seat’s current condition, whether it’s still in warranty and whether it was ever involved in an accident before making any decision.

Provided the old car seat is in good condition and has never been in an accident, you may decide to keep it in the family if you’re planning a baby. Otherwise, you can trade it in, give it to your favorite charity, or throw it away after following all the guidelines mentioned above.

The post 5 Options to do with Old Car Seats appeared first on Smart Motorist.

source https://www.smartmotorist.com/what-to-do-with-old-car-seats

How to Remove Car Decals

Sick of looking at that faded decal from high school? You are not alone. Most people come to rue their decision to plaster stickers on their vehicle’s exterior. The realization comes when the euphoria of the moment has evaporated and reality has started to sink in.

Luckily for you, you can get rid of car decals without causing any damage to your vehicle’s exterior.  Your car’s paint job will remain unscathed and nobody will be able to guess if there was ever any sticker on your automobile. Read on to know how to remove car decals:

Before You Remove Car Decals

Here’s what you need to do:

Clean the area

Fill a small bucket with a mixture of warm water. Add a few drops of laundry soap afterward. Dip a dry microfiber cloth in the bucket and rub the area surrounding the decal – and the decal itself – to remove dirt, grime, or dust particles.

Dry the area

Remove any suds from the area by pouring fresh water over it. Use another microfiber cloth to wipe it dry and ensure no traces of water or soap are left behind. Those of you who have some time on their hands can also let the area air dry on its own.

Pick at the decal’s weaker spots

Don’t try to go all the way through by attempting to remove the entire decal. You may not be able to do that but could still end up ruining the paintjob. All you have to do is just raise the corners of the decal to increase the effectiveness of the upcoming methods.

How to remove car decals?

Here are different methods using which you can remove car decals:

a) Use Hair Dryer

Here’s how you can remove car decals with a hairdryer:

What you’ll need?

• Hairdryer
• Rubber spatula (optional)
• Goo Gone or rubbing alcohol
• Dry microfiber cloth

Step-by-Step Guide

• Step 1: Warm the sticker

Warm the decal with a hairdryer. The hot air will cause the decal to loosen its grip on the car’s exterior. It will also make it easy for you to peel off the decal in the upcoming steps.

Turn on the hairdryer and set it at its ‘low heat’ setting. Aim the hot air at the decal for about a minute. Hold the dryer as close to the sticker as possible for the recommended period.

• Step 2: Peel off the decal

Use a rubber spatula or your fingernail to peel off a corner of the sticker. Take it from there and continue peeling until the entire sticker has come off. Apply more heat if you feel its need.

Make sure that you’re peeling the decal back, not up. That’s because peeling it up will allow it to leave a patch of sticky residue behind, one that won’t be easy to remove.

• Step 3: Remove the adhesive

Once you’ve removed the entire decal, you may be left with a layer of leftover adhesive. Remove it using an adhesive remover designed for vehicles, Goo Gone, or rubbing alcohol.

Apply a few drops of the alcohol on a dry microfiber cloth and use it to rub off the leftover adhesive. Be gentle while rubbing off the adhesive, or you might end up damaging the paint. 

b) Use White Vinegar

Here’s how you can remove car decals with white vinegar:

What you’ll need?

• White vinegar
• Paintbrush
• Plastic card

Step-by-Step Guide

• Step 1: Douse the decal with white vinegar

Dip the paintbrush in white vinegar and douse the decal with it. You can also use a paper towel if the decal covers a large area on your vehicle’s exterior.

• Step 2: Remove the decal

After dousing the decal and waiting a few minutes, its grip on the paint job should loosen. That’s when you should use a plastic card to peel it off.

c) Use Boiling Water

Here’s how you can remove car decals with boiling water:

What you’ll need?

• One liter of water
• Plastic scraper or spent credit card

Step-by-Step Guide

• Step 1: Boil water

Then pour it over the decal. There shouldn’t be anyone standing nearby as you’re doing it. You may also want to wear insulating gloves if you intend to be on the safer side.

• Step 2: Peel off the decal with a plastic scraper

You may also use a spent credit card for this purpose. It may take several attempts from your side to completely peel off the decal. That’s why you should be patient.

After You Remove Car Decals

Here’s what you need to do:

Remove leftover residue

Regardless of how diligently you may have removed the car decal, some sticky residue may still reside on the car’s surface. Remove it by putting a few drops of a glue remover on a microfiber cloth before rubbing the fabric onto the glue residue.

Let the glue remover sit on the surface for a few minutes. Then use soapy water to wipe it off. You may have to repeat this process several times to eradicate the residue.

Apply a fresh coat of wax and polish

Remove any leftover dirt from the surface by lubricating it with soapy water and rubbing the area with a sponge. Let the area air dry for a few minutes before buffing the spot where the decal was with polish and a coat of wax.

You can find both these substances online or at your local automotive store. They will not only protect the area but will also keep any discoloration at bay.

Conclusion

Decals offer us a fun way to express our individuality and creativity. Business owners plaster them on their vehicles to improve awareness about their brand. Activists, meanwhile, exploit their utility to make people attentive to their cause. One can, therefore, not deny their usefulness.

However, as popular and useful as they are, decals do have one shortcoming: they can be incredibly difficult to remove after a few years. That’s why we came up with this guide to let you know how to remove car decals without ruining your car’s exterior or paint job.

The post How to Remove Car Decals appeared first on Smart Motorist.

source https://www.smartmotorist.com/how-to-remove-car-decals

How to sell a car with a loan?

Most people don’t know how to sell a car with a loan. You can’t criticize them. We avail car loan schemes because of the benefits they offer – staggered monthly payments, improved credit history, saving money for other essential things, and the chance to drive a brand new car off the lot.

Not because we have any plans to sell the car before repaying the money we owe on its loan. So what happens if such a scenario arises? The good news is that you can sell a car with a loan. Here are several factors that will determine the course of action you’d take to achieve that goal.

Before You Sell Car with a Loan

Here’s what you need to do:

Determine the payoff amount

The amount you still owe on the car loan is its payoff amount. It includes the amount outstanding on loan, any prepayment penalties in the loan scheme you subscribed to, and other unpaid fees.

The best way to determine the payoff amount is to get in touch with the lender. You’ll need to repay all of it for the lender to transfer the car’s title to your name.

Get other details needed to sell

Ask your lender about the paperwork and information they think you’d need to sell the car after clearing its outstanding loan. Then get in touch with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.

Check with the DMV about the paperwork and other details they’d require to sign off on the car’s sale. You can either visit the DMV in person or contact them through their various online channels.

Determine your car’s actual worth

You can check out your car’s actual worth by entering its details on vehicle valuation sites. There are many of them, including Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds among others that you can consult.

These websites will require you to enter your car’s make, model, overall condition, mileage, and other key information to present you with your vehicle’s computer-generated value.

Determine your equity on the car loan

Subtract your vehicle’s payoff amount from its total value. If you end up with a positive value, it means you have ‘positive equity’ and could make money on selling the car.

However, if the result is negative, you’re ‘upside down on the car loan’. That means you’d have to give the lender all the money you’d generate from the car’s sale and pay the remainder from your pocket. 

How to sell a car with a loan?

Here’s how you can sell a car with an outstanding loan:

a) Private sale with positive equity

Such a scenario is favorable for the car owner as it allows them to make some money on the car’s sale. They’d do that by paying the total amount they owe to the lender, after which the lender will pay the difference, if any, to the car owner. Let’s understand this point with an example.

Assume for a moment that you still owe $5,000 to the lender. Provided you succeed in selling the car for $7,000, you’d be able to pocket $2,000 from the car’s sale. You won’t have to pay anything more to the lender to sign the title and give it to the buyer.

Once the buyer has the title, they will take it (alongside the necessary paperwork required by your state’s DMV) to the DMV’s office and have the car’s title transferred to their name.

b) Private sale with negative equity

Such a scenario is favorable for the lender. It allows them to pocket not only the car’s sale price but also the remainder. The buyer will pay the sale amount whereas you’d be the one paying the difference. That is to say that you’d end up paying from your pocket to get rid of the car.

For instance, if the car’s sale price is $5,000 but you still owe $6,000 to the lender, you’d have to pay the remaining $1,000 to the lender. After that, the lender will sign the title and give it to the buyer who will then be able to get the car registered under their name at the DMV’s office.

c) Trade it in with a dealer

The best thing you could do is to clear the loan and sell the car on your own. The second best thing, if you cannot afford to pay off the whole loan, is to trade in the automobile with a dealer. That’s because dealers will handle all the paperwork for you and complete the deal quickly.

Having said that, there are a few downsides if you decide to go this route. The first is that dealers never pay as much for a vehicle as private buyers. If you’re carrying negative equity, they will build its cost into the new car loan. It means you’d just be transferring debt from one car to another.

FAQs and Answers

Q: What to do if the bank wants a loan payoff before you sell your car?

A: Some banks might require you to clear the car loan before you can sell it. There are two possible options you can exercise to get out of this tricky situation – the first of which is refinancing your loan at a lower interest rate. Those of you with good credit can entertain this option.

The second option is to get a personal loan and use it to pay off your car loan. But they have much higher interest rates and allow the lender to repossess your car if you cannot make payments.

Q: Can you negotiate a car payoff balance?

A: You can – and must try to – negotiate a car payoff balance with your lender. The success of the operation won’t only save your money, but it would also free up your budget to spend on other essential things. Check out this guide to learn more about how to negotiate your car payoff balance.

Conclusion

You are now are of how to sell a car with a loan. The three options we presented above – private sale with positive equity, private sale with negative equity, and trading it in your car with a dealer – are so diverse that you can easily select one meeting your requirements. 

However, before you pick up any option from the three, make sure you complete the steps mentioned before laying out those options. Doing so would save you and the car’s buyer from any frustration and make the sale go seamless.

The post How to sell a car with a loan? appeared first on Smart Motorist.

source https://www.smartmotorist.com/how-to-sell-a-car-with-a-loan

Who can be in the car with a Permit Driver?

Who can be in the car with a permit driver? State rules dictate the answer to this question. Maine requires all permit drivers to be accompanied by a driver who is 20 years of age and has held a valid license for two years whenever they’re operating their Car. That isn’t the case in Tennessee.

The Volunteer State requires all permit drivers to be accompanied by a licensed driver 21 years or older when they’re driving a car. Its rules also prevent the person with the restricted license from driving between 10 pm and 6 am. All the car’s passengers, as well as the driver, must wear a seat belt too.

What is a driver permit?

Also known as a learner’s license or learner’s permit, a driver’s permit is a restricted license for a person who is still learning the ropes of driving. That person has been permitted by the relevant authorities to drive but has not yet met the requirements to get a driver’s license.

Most US states issue driver’s license only after a person has a driver permit for quite some time. The length of that time is dictated by state rules and therefore ranges between a few months and several years. Any person willing to get a driving permit must pass a written test as well as a driving test.

Who can be in the car with a Permit Driver?

Different states have set up different rules to dictate the answer to this question:

Parent, Guardian or Licensed Adult

Multiple states require the permit driver to be accompanied by a parent, guardian or licensed adult whenever they’re operating a vehicle. Examples include California, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, and Michigan, among others. That’s where the similarity between their rules stop.

While California prohibits the permit driver from driving anyone under the age of 20, Idaho sets no such restrictions. It even allows driving one non-family member under the age of 17. Louisiana tightens the restrictions by requiring the presence of a licensed person at all times.

You might have observed by now that all these rules vary state-by-state. That observation is correct. Which is why we recommend that you browse your state’s department of motor vehicle’s website to become doubly sure about who can be in the car with a permit driver.

Family members

Almost all states allow over-21 family members to be in the car when there is a permit driver on the steering wheel. Some of them require at least one of the family members to be a driver license holder. Such states include Florida and Idaho.

Other states give you the freedom to transport as many as three family members. Though they limit the potential danger to the loved ones of the permit driver by dictating that they can only drive when it’s daytime, thereby minimizing the chances of an accident.

As far as we know, there’s only one state that allows minors to accompany the permit driver. Hawaii sets up this rule by checks it by stating that only one passenger under-18 can be in the vehicle. And that too when there’s a licensed driver in the car.

Note: Check out this state-by-state guide to know who can be in the car with a permit driver.

What are the restrictions for permit drivers?

Following are the restrictions whose violation may result in the suspension of driver permit:

• Phone Use: Almost all US states are unanimous in their assertion that permit drivers may not use the phone while driving. Ignoring this rule may incur the driver a fine or could even see them losing their license. However, you can still carry out emergency calls.
• Passenger Restrictions: States’ department of motor vehicles (DMVs) determine how many passengers can be in the car when the permit driver is on the wheel. Almost all of them mandate the presence of a passenger on the front seat.
• Driving curfew: Some states require the permit driver to park their vehicle between 11 PM and 5 AM. Others allow exceptions if the permit driver has a medical emergency or has a signed statement from their school or work.
• Seat belts: Here is one restriction most permit drivers aren’t aware of. They might not know that it isn’t only the driver and the passenger in the front seat, but also everyone in the car, who have to wear the seat belt at all times.
• Logging in practice hours: Only two persons can log the mandatory hours of driving practice of the permit driver. One of them is your parent or guardian and the other is the permit supervisor appointed by the two persons mentioned above.

FAQs and Answers

Q: Can a permit driver drive alone?

A: Here’s one rule that is the same in almost all US states. It unequivocally states that permit drivers, barring an emergency, cannot drive alone. Violating this rule might result in the suspension of your driver’s permit and block your way to getting a driver’s license.

Q: What happens if you get pulled over with a driver permit?

A: Provided you have a senior or a licensed driver in the passenger seat, you might get away with speeding or parking ticket. However, suppose the traffic cop finds you traveling alone with a driver permit as well as violating the rules. In that case, they may suspend your driver permit.

Conclusion

State rules dictate who can be in the car with a permit driver. You’d therefore do well to consult with your local authorities – or browse your state’s department of motor vehicle’s website – before driving anyone with just a license permit on you. Here’s why we’re saying that.

Provided you don’t follow the rules and drive around persons that you drivers with a permit aren’t authorized to, at best you may end up getting away with a slap on the wrist. At worst, you may lose not only your driver’s permit but also the chance to one day get a full-fledged driver’s license.

The post Who can be in the car with a Permit Driver? appeared first on Smart Motorist.

source https://www.smartmotorist.com/who-can-be-in-the-car-with-a-permit-driver

How much does it cost to register a Car in NY

How much does it cost to register a car in NY? It depends on whether you’re the vehicle’s first or second owner. First owners are required by law to fork out MTCD and vehicle plate fee, apart from other charges, at the time of registration. That isn’t the case for second owners who can go without paying both.

There is similar confusion regarding the payment of sales tax. The NY Department of Motor Vehicles states that people who have already paid sales tax at the time of purchase of the vehicle – or those whose cars are exempt, need not pay it at the time of registration. Others aren’t as lucky.

Typical fees when registering a car in NY

You must pay the following fees at the time of registering your car:

Registration fee

New York charges car owners a specific amount to register their vehicles under their name. The registration fees begin at $26 for a car that weighs under 1,650 lbs. Vehicle owners whose car weighs more than 1,650lbs are required to pay $1.5 for every additional 100lbs.

Unlike some states that charge an additional fee for electric vehicles, NY charges a flat registration fee, whether you intend to register an electric vehicle or one that runs on fossil fuels. However, it does require residents of some counties to pay a supplemental fee at the time of registration.

Vehicle plate fee

You’re given three options when applying for car registration in New York. The first of them let you apply for a new registration as well as vehicle plates. The second option is that of applying for the transferring of registration and plates from another car.

The third option, meanwhile, lets you apply for transferring vehicle registration but with new number plates. Depending on the option you’re going to select, you’ll have to pay a different vehicle plate fee you can calculate by going to this page.

County use tax

Several counties in the NY state, including New York City, have enacted local laws or ordinances to collect vehicle use taxes. These laws have authorized NY DMV to collect the vehicle use tax from the residents of the county on behalf of their locality.

Here’s how much vehicle use tax you may have to pay:

• For counties inside NY City: Residents of the Bronx, Kings (Brooklyn), Queens, Richmond (Staten Island), and New York (Manhattan) are required to pay $30 every two years in the form of car use tax.
• For counties outside NY City: Their residents are required to pay only $10 every two years in lieu of car use tax, as long as their car’s weight doesn’t exceed 3,500lbs– in which case the vehicle use tax will be double.

Sales tax

Upon registering your vehicle in New York, you must either pay its sales tax at the DMV office or give receipts showing it was already paid. There is a third option for those of you who can prove that their vehicle is exempt from sales tax at the time of registration.

The state of New York charges a 4% sales tax for registering a new vehicle. Remember that this estimate doesn’t include any city or county sales taxes that may also apply. Such taxes could be as steep as 4.75%, thereby forcing you to pay 8.75% in lieu of sales tax.

Title certificate fee

Most of you might already know what the title certificate is all about. It is a legal document that contains the name of the car’s owner. Those of you who’re buying a brand new vehicle will get the title certificate from either the dealership or the DMV. Others will get it from the car’s first owner.

The title certificate also includes the name of ‘lienholders’. These are persons who lent the money using which the car owner bought the vehicle. The NY DMV states that most motor vehicles of the model year 1973 and after must be titled, and it charges $50 for a title certificate fee.

MCTD fee

The New York Department of Motor Vehicles mandate residents of several counties to pay an additional Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (MCTD) fee. The counties include Bronx, New York, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk, Westchester, Putnam, Orange, Nassau, Rockland, and Dutchess.

MTCD fee varies on the length of time your driver’s license will be in effect. Car owners whose driver license will remain valid for less than 8-years will pay $1 in MCTD fee every six months. Those who hold an 8-year license fee have to pay $16 at once at the time of registration of their vehicle.

How much does it cost to register a car in NY?

Depending on the weight of your vehicle, whether you’re its first or second owner and other factors mentioned above, registering a car in NY might set you back at least $45.50 in NY. The figure is reliable, but you’d still do well to check with NY DMV to know the exact amount.

Conclusion

The fact that you have made it this far means you already know how much it costs to register a car in NY. Various factors contribute to the amount quoted above, including registration fee, vehicle plate fee, county use tax, sales tax, title certificate fee, and MCTD fee.

All these factors are so diverse that it’s difficult to give you an exact quote of any car’s registration fee in New York. That is why we recommend that you check out the state’s Department of Motor Vehicle’s website to estimate for yourself how much does it cost to register a car in NY.

Provided you do that, you won’t have to make any last-minute arrangements for arranging more money than you carried with yourself to the DMV office. That will save you a lot of time which you can exploit to drive your car.

The post How much does it cost to register a Car in NY appeared first on Smart Motorist.

source https://www.smartmotorist.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-register-a-car-in-ny

7 Ways to Get Rid of a Car

Not many people know how to get rid of a car they own. You can’t criticize them for their lack of knowledge on this subject. We own cars because we like what they offer – independence, convenience, pleasure trips and long drives. Not because we want to discard them one day.

Yet that is precisely what you may have to do for a myriad of reasons. Your old car might turn into a piece of junk and won’t drive anymore. A shiny new vehicle may attract your attention, but you can’t make space for it unless you dispose of its predecessor that is already in your garage.  

How to get rid of a car?

Following are the ways you can discard your car:

Cars that are in good condition

Here’s how you can get rid of a drivable car:

1. Sell it to a dealership

Here is one of the fastest ways to get rid of a car. You can drive it to your local dealership, have their mechanics assess the condition of your vehicle, and come up with an estimate they think is a fair price for it. Their offer may not be as high as you expect but you can always negotiate for more.

Those of you who find this option attractive – and have a vehicle that is in a condition in which you can sell it – might want to go to a dealer that sells the same model. Consult multiple dealers to receive different quotes before selling your vehicle to the highest bidder.

2. Trade it in

What is it that you intend to do with the money you’re going to receive for your vehicle? Do you have plans of spending it somewhere else? Or do you intend to add it to the money you already have and purchase a new or second-hand car? In which case you’d be better off trading in your used car.

Three factors will determine the trade-in value of your car. They include the condition of your used vehicle, the intensity of repairs it will require and whether the dealer already has cars similar to yours in their dealership. Consult multiple dealers before trading-in your vehicle.

3. Sell it to an online platform

Vroom and Carvana are two of multiple online platforms that purchase 2^nd hand vehicles. They require you to enter your car’s make, model, and year on their platform, ask questions about its trims and mileage and send an expert for physical inspection.

These platforms will then give you what they think is a fair price for your vehicle. Those of you who are happy with the offered price can then chose to be paid on the spot. Others who think the offer doesn’t meet their expectations always have the option to take their vehicle to another platform.

4. Donate it

You can always donate your car to a non-profit organization regardless of whether it’s in an excellent or imperfect condition. Many of them accept car donations as they can then sell the car on their own to finance the important work they’re doing for the community.

Donating your car won’t only help those in need. It will also allow you to save money because the IRS rules allow you to claim tax credits on donations. The tax deduction you’ll get will be equal to the price your car goes for at an auction. Though you may want to ask a tax professional for specifics.

Cars that are in worse condition

Here’s how you can get rid of a car that won’t drive around anymore:

5. Recycle it

Is your old vehicle a clunker? One way you can get rid of it is to take it to a scrapyard. It will sit there for years and years waiting for the forces of nature to degrade its components. Or you can go an environmentally-friendly way and recycle it. Here’s why we prefer the second option.

Recycling of useless vehicles doesn’t only benefits the environment. It is also beneficial for the financial health of their owners. That’s because there are programs out there, like Green Vehicle Disposal, that won’t only recycle your car for you but will also pay you for the same. Isn’t that great!

6. Contact a Junk Removal Service

Don’t care much about the environment? You can always exercise the option of contacting a nearby junk removal service. Most companies will reimburse you for your used up vehicle. They can afford to pay you because they’d get their cash back by selling the car’s parts and scrap metal.

Some people, in the hope of getting more cash, decide against calling the junk removal service. They think that they’d be able to make more money if they do all the leg-work themselves. But they forget the convenience junk removal services offer by doing all your dirty work for you.

7. Sell its parts

Car experts tell us that two types of vehicles repay you well when you decide to sell their parts. The first are those that have a strong enthusiast following. The second type of vehicles whose parts sell well are those whose original parts are challenging to find.

Parting out any car isn’t easy, though. It requires you to have the necessary tools as well as knowledge. You must also have space where you could store the parts which you’re going to take apart from the vehicle. That’s why we recommend that only pros go through this route.

Conclusion

Still unsure about how to get rid of a car? If you intend to discard a drivable vehicle, you have four options including selling it to a dealership, trading it in for a new car, selling it to an online platform that purchases vehicles or donating it to a not-for-profit organization.

However, if your car has become a clunker after years of use, you may have no option but to either sell it to a recycling company or contact a junk removal service. Those of you who have technical experience, as well as some free time on their hands, can sell its parts to earn more.

The post 7 Ways to Get Rid of a Car appeared first on Smart Motorist.

source https://www.smartmotorist.com/how-to-get-rid-of-a-car

6 Easy Steps to Drift a Car (Manual & Automatic)

Most motorists don’t know how to drift a car. You can’t blame them. Drifting requires the driver to deliberately over-steer and lose their tires’ traction while tactfully keeping their vehicle under control. That’s a feat only the most skillful drivers can achieve.

But despite the cacophony of screeched tires and smell of burnt rubber, drifting is extremely fun. The rush of adrenaline it sends through the body of the person sitting behind the wheel makes hours of practice that one has to put in to master this sport worth it.

Before You Start Drifting

Here’s what you need to do:

Select the car

Although you can use any car to implement a drift, experts recommend choosing one that has good drifting attributes (with 4-wheel or rear-wheel drive), or one you’re comfortable with and whose mechanics complement drifting. Here’s what that means.

The best cars for drifting are those with a low center of gravity. Their closer position to the ground allows them to rotate around their axis at higher speeds easily. It also gives them more agility around the turn and makes it easy for the driver to pull the drift off.

Select the drifting technique

There are two techniques using which you can initiate a drift:

• Clutch-based

Here’s how this technique works. It requires the driver to press the clutch and shift to second gear as the turn is approaching. The driver then has to rev the engine up to 4.5RPM before releasing the clutch to inject the engine with a huge surge of power.

That initiates what the pros refer to as ‘power dump’ – in which the wheels’ fast spinning motion causes them to lose their traction and the car’s rear end to swing into a turn. The driver will then pull up the emergency brake to lock the back wheels, thereby initiating a clutch-based drift.

• Brake-based

This technique’s first few steps are the same as that of the clutch-based technique. The differences begin after the driver has entered into a turn and pulled back the emergency brakes, causing the rear wheels to move up and lose their contact with the surface.

Instead of leaving the car there, the driver then has to use a combination of shifting and braking. This will allow them to extend the duration of the drift without locking up the rear wheels. That’s the reason why brake-based drifts last longer than their clutch-based counterparts.

Select a practice area

In contrast to what they show in Hollywood, drifting should never be done on busy roads. It should be practiced and performed as far away from pedestrians, near buildings, poles, or roadside walls as possible. The best practice areas for drifting are those that are deserted.

Go online and search the internet for racetracks in your neighborhood. Contact their owners to book a time where you’ll have the track only to yourself. Otherwise, look for an empty parking lot and polish your drifting skills around a barrel.

How to drift a car?

Follow these steps to drift a car:

Drifting a manual car

Here’s how you can drift a manual transmission car:

Step 1: Approach the turn at 30mph

Aim your car at the inside edge of the turn. Put it into second gear and press the accelerator to increase its speed up to 30mph and RPMs up to 3,000.

Stick as close to the mentioned speed limit as possible. Driving too fast may cause you to lose control over the vehicle, whereas going too slow won’t allow you to initiate a drift at all.

Step 2: Aim toward the turn

Turn the car as you usually do when rounding a corner. Continue pressing the pedal at about 80% and steer toward the road’s direction as you enter the turn. As you do this, your car will initiate a drift.

Step 3: Keep the drift going

After a few seconds of initiating the drift, you may notice it starting to lose steam. This will happen because of the back wheels regaining their traction.

Prevent this from happening by pressing down the clutch and quickly releasing it. Repeat this a few times and you’ll be able to keep the drift going without slowing down your vehicle.

Final Step: Straighten out your car

Once you have rounded the bend, it’s time to turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction – away from the near side of the road. You’ll be doing this to correct its course.

In the meantime, don’t take your foot off the gas pedal. This will ensure that the car doesn’t spin out of control.

 

Drifting an automatic car

Here’s how you can drift an automatic transmission car:

Step 1: Approach the turn at 30mph

Most automatic car owners might think of this speed as too low, but it is more than enough to let you drift around the bend without losing control over the vehicle.

As you’re increasing the car’s speed, put it into 2^nd gear using the gear shift. Keep an eye on the tachymeter and ensure that the RPMs are at 3,000 when you reach the recommended speed.

 

Step 2: Flick the steering wheel

Provided you have enough room on the road, take the car to the road’s outer edge and then drift towards its inside edge. Here’s why we’re recommending this.

Drifting in from outside will give you plenty of space to round the curve by a slight turn of the wheels. Turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction as you reach the turn. 

 

Step 3: Use handbrake and clutch

Pull the handbrake and simultaneously press the clutch down hard. This will cause the rear wheels to lose their traction with the road, forcing the car to slide.

 

Step 4: Accelerate the car

As the car continues to slide, take your hand off the handbrake. Press down the accelerator hard and release the clutch at the same moment.

This action will supply extra power to the wheels, consequently letting you round the turn with ease.

 

Step 5: Maintain the speed

Keep the car going straight until you’re halfway through the turn, before turning the steering wheel in the direction you want to go – that is the inner edge of the turn.

What you’re doing here is trying to balance the car’s direction and balance simultaneously. It’s therefore crucial that you don’t take your foot off the accelerator while doing so.

 

Final Step: Straighten the car

Once you’re done drifting and it’s time to straighten the car, turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction. Don’t take your foot off the accelerator as it will end the drift too early.

Once you’re sure that the slide has ended, take your foot off the gas and drive away.

 

Conclusion

Whether you own a manual or an automatic transmission vehicle, our guide on how to drift a car has got you covered. Make sure that the road track you’re practicing on is deserted and without any obstructions. It will be best if it is wet or even damp. That is because slightly slippery roads make it easy for beginners to learn the ropes of drifting.

The post 6 Easy Steps to Drift a Car (Manual & Automatic) appeared first on Smart Motorist.

source https://www.smartmotorist.com/how-to-drift-a-car