Car Wrapping

Have you ever wondered who is sporting the vehicles with the giant advertisements all over them? Have you ever wondered if that person driving the car thinks he’s cool with all of those stickers plastered everywhere? Well he might be more than cool.  He might even be smart, and he might not even work for the company that’s advertising on the side of his car.   How is he smart you ask? He may have found a company that’s willing to pay him to drive around in his car.  So what makes him so smart? Read this to find out.

Vehicle wrapping is a new form of advertisement that allows 3M vinyl wraps to cover a large portion if not the whole thing to the exterior of the car.  But there are some rules to consider. 

·      You need to be over 18

·      You must carry insurance

·      You must drive in a populated area

·      You need to park in a populated area

·      You need to drive more than 800 miles per month

If you think you have all those rules down and would like to learn more about car wrapping there are several websites that can tell you how to turn those stickers into cash.  Although we do not endorse these companies in any way, check out paidtowrap.com or just do a Google search on car wrapping.

You can check out some websites to find out more.  Most websites will guide you through the requirements. They can also help you locate advertisers that are looking for you to help spread the word and brand them.

If it all works out you might be able to drive your car for next to nothing.

5 Reasons to Lease a Vehicle that your Granddad would be proud of!

My grandfather was never a fan of purchasing a new car, however he didn’t understand computers either.  I think you would agree that we are a lot smarter than our Grandparents were.  We are in the information phase.  We know more now than ever before so why do so many people insist on purchasing a new car and think like our Grandparents…”Lease Bah! Humbug!  You’ll never own it!” my grandfather would say.  If he were around today I would argue 5 strong points on why a lease is the way to go. 

Reason 1.) You only pay for the ½ of the car you’re using.  The average driver trades in their vehicle within 3 years of using it.  You don’t own the car until it’s paid for.  The bank owns your car for typically 5 years.   So leasing provides you freedom to walk away.

Reason 2.) Walking away is sometimes better! If for whatever happens in the auto industry that makes a vehicle become less of a value than Kelley Blue Book, there is a risk for losing money on a purchased car. If you lease you give up the car after the lease is over without it affecting you. A vehicle aslo depreciates in value the second you drive it off the lot. With a leased car, you aren’t soaking up the negative equity. The moral of the story is “Cars are not investments Grandpa”!

Reason 3.) You can’t put over the mileage on them.  The average commuter only racks up 12K miles per year on their vehicle. The leasing programs tailored the allotted mileage based off the averages.  If you think you might drive more than 12k per month then ask us about other incentives for driving more than 12k.  Most manufactures offer a higher mileage program.

Reason 4.) You are always in warranty and never have to worry about repairs when you lease.  Almost every manufacturers warranty is 3 years of 36k miles whichever comes first.  The lease is in line with the warranty for good reason.  This makes the manufacturer eligible to sell the vehicle again after it passes a 100point inspection.

Reason 5.) You can purchase and sell your leased car.  That’s right you can purchase the car if you decide to keep the vehicle.  If you should decide to purchase your leased car, you will then be buying a used car.  So essentially the manufacturer absorbed the negative equity the car may have had. You can also sell your leased car to someone. Track down the exact dollar amount you'll need to pay to purchase the car at the end of the lease. In many contracts, this means the car's residual value plus a purchase-option fee ranging from $300 to $600.  Call us today and we’ll tell you the rest! 

P.S. Grandpa was smart, but he wasn’t always right! 

Steps to Buying GREAT Auto Insurance

Steps to Buying GREAT Auto Insurance

We’re car people.  From the accents and contours of a vehicle, to the drive and adrenaline of a fast car, we have a certain appreciation for the automotive machine.  As our passion, we’re great at finding a perfect fit for our customers.  When it comes to auto insurance, you want to be covered in the case you get into a fender bender.  So, in an effort to ease the burden, we’re providing 5 tips for finding the right coverage at the right price.  By doing some comparison shopping, you could save hundreds a year.  

Find the Right Coverage

Your first step should be to find a list of what is required in the state.  You can visit this link to find out: http://www.edmunds.com/auto-insurance/how-much-car-insurance-do-you-need.html this will provide the minimum of what is required. Once you have that, you should decide what insurance premium you need.  Your decision depends on your degree of comfort and a certain level of risk.  According to Edmunds:

“Experts recommend that if you have a lot of assets, you should get enough liability coverage to protect them. Let's say you have $50,000 of bodily injury liability coverage but $100,000 in personal assets. If you're at fault in an accident, attorneys for the other party could go after you for the $50,000 in medical bills that aren't covered by your policy.”

Also, you don’t have to buy collision and comprehensive damage, especially if your vehicle is older than 2000.

Check Your Driving Record

How many tickets have you had recently? By checking your state’s department of motor vehicles, you can have a better idea of how you stack up.  For example, if points you earned on your license are about to disappear, this will improve your driving record.  So, we would recommend you wait until that happens before you receive quotes.

Solicit Competitive Quotes

You will need:

o   Current Policy

o   License Number

o   Vehicle Registration

Check out insurance company websites and receive a quote.  It’s easy to type in your information and build a list of companies for comparative quotes.  Each quote takes about 15 minutes to complete, but shopping around can save you hundreds.  Think about the annual and monthly rates for different types of coverage, note the 800 number so you can get more direct answers, and pay close attention to the insurance company payment policy. 

These are just a few tips to get you started.  For more info visit your favorite insurance company website for details.

7 Facts About Texting That Can Save a Life

Multitasking has increased in the last few years to astronomical heights.  With one hand and a smartphone you can watch a YouTube video, send an email, play a game, voice chat and place a call in a five-minute span.  However, with much power comes much responsibility because NOW that we have this access 24-7, it has carried over into our driving habits. 

For some time, researchers have been telling us to focus only on driving, quoting a greatly increased chance of accident, injury and death when we distractedly call a friend or answer a ringing cell phone.

Now, new research has revealed the most dangerous driver distraction of all: texting.

A study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, along with prior studies by Liberty Mutual Insurance and state-funded organizations located online, reveals the shocking statistics of texting behind the wheel:

·      Texting while driving increases the risk of accident 23.2 times over unimpaired driving.

·      Texting while driving results in longer response times than even drunken driving. While an unimpaired driver can respond quickly to changes in traffic and begin braking within half a second, a legally drunk driver needs four additional feet to begin braking—and a driver who’s texting needs 70.

·      In the moments before a crash or near crash, drivers typically spend nearly five seconds looking at their mobile devices—enough time at typical highway speeds to cover more area than the length of a football field.

·      Though 95 percent of drivers surveyed said texting behind the wheel was unacceptable and unsafe, at least 21 percent admit to doing it anyway.

·      Especially amongst teens, texting results in erratic driving behavior, like lane weaving and speeding up and down, increasing the likelihood of hurting pedestrians and running into other vehicles.

·      Texting behind the wheel is generational: 37 percent of drivers 18 to 27 admit to texting while driving, compared to 14 percent of 28 to 44 year olds, and 2 percent of 45 to 60 year olds.

·      An accident can happen in two to three seconds while texting.

Learn what some people are doing to make the environment healthy by trading in thier old cars

Several states, along with auto dealers, have assisted in participating with programs to help clean our air.  Their goals are to rid the environment of high emissions and pollution making this a safer place to live.  In this blog, we at Terry Ried Kia provide insight on what some people are doing to not only improve the health of the atmosphere, but to give back to their communities as well.

Since 2008 there have been several new programs that have sprung up to help cut back emissions from older cars.  One program in Colorado is known as the Clear the Air Foundation is a 501c.  They have collected over $168,000 in funds that they are using for scholarships.  The scholarships are donated to students wanting to pursue a career in automotive technology.   They focus on developing the next generation workforce.

Another organization known as Robert R. Morrison Scholarship donates up to $1K for recycled junkers to the donor of their choice.

In Texas, you can still get up to $3500 for your old scrap metal with wheels.  Texas receives air credits from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  Your car may be considered eligible for a nice incentive during trade in if it’s a 97 or older. 

Countless states and parts of Canada are involved in some type of Cash for Clunkers or other program that offer incentives to help protect our environment. 

Call us today to find out if your car qualifies for one of these programs.  

770-386-8400