Do it Yourself Car Maintenance Tips from a Florida Kia Dealer

Road trips are adventurous and exciting, but they can also be exhausting and stressful if you are not fully prepared for one. Here are some tips to get your car ready for that summer road trip you have been looking forward to since last fall. The Crown Kia service staff in St. Petersburg, FL can assist you with many of these steps should you heed the following advice. more Check All Fluid Levels Before hitting the road, check all of your fluid levels. These fluids include power steering fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid, windshield wiper fluid, oil, and radiator coolant. After checking all fluid levels, make sure every belt and hose is secured in place. If you have recently brought your vehicle in for a check-up or repair, your vehicle is most likely ready to be driven. If you cannot remember the last time you got everything checked out, including an oil change, it might be best to take it in as soon as you can. Our knowledgeable associates in the service department at Crown Kia will happily serve you and ensure your vehicle is in working order before your trip. Check Your Tires Check your tire pressure and treads before starting your vehicle. Deep treads and adequate pressure are significant for proper traction while on the road. You should never inflate the tires more than their allotted amount due to the higher probability of the tires popping. Tire inflation should be closer to its maximum capacity during the summer, so try to keep this in mind before leaving for your trip. Bring a spare tire and car jack in the event of tire failure. Check All Lighting Make sure all of your lights, including interior lighting, are functioning properly. Your headlights, turn signals, and brake lights should be replaced before your journey to establish visibility and safety while on the road. Faulty exterior lighting is a safety hazard and will also get you pulled over by the police. Check your reading lamps and overhead lightbulbs to maintain driver and passenger security. What to Bring A GPS is a popular option to bring along when traveling, but a map will also suffice. It is best to have some sort of guide to reassure yourself that you are headed in the right direction. For emergencies, bring extra fuses, motor oil, jumper cables, a flashlight, first aid kit, and a cell phone charger for each person who carries a cell phone. Fully charged phone batteries will prevent anxiety from creeping up in case an emergency arises. Bottled water and protein-packed snacks will give everyone energy and a full stomach. At Crown Kia, we will be happy to examine your vehicle and make any necessary adjustments before your next adventure. We will work with your schedule to ensure you get on the road when you need to. Stop by our dealership in St. Petersburg, FL today and allow us to prepare your vehicle for you. We look forward to assisting you!

If you are planning a trip abroad and are going to rent a car to drive during the trip, you will want to take some time to learn about driving in another country, insurance and car rental contracts.  Things are not always exactly the same in a foreign country as they are at home!  Here are some tips from Pinellas Park area Kia for driving abroad: more Check License Requirements Some countries allow any driver with a US driver’s license to drive in their country while others require an International Driving Permit.  You can get an International Driving Permit from the National Auto Club if you are at least 18 years old, but make sure to check legal driving ages in whichever country you visit. Car Insurance Considerations When Traveling Abroad You will want to check your insurance policy before you go to make sure it covers international driving.  Not all insurance companies will cover drivers in another country.  If you rent a car from a car rental organization, you can choose coverage through their insurance, or perhaps the credit card you use to rent the car will include car rental coverage. If you are traveling between countries, such as when traveling in Europe, make sure whatever you choose for your insurance coverage will cover you as you cross each border into another country. Preparing for Driving Abroad Road rules and signs are different in other countries.  Many cars in foreign countries have steering wheels on the opposite side of the car, and may drive on the opposite side of the road from what you are used to.  This can be difficult to remember and can create problems when entering and exiting intersections – be alert! Another tip for driving in a foreign country is to rent an international GPS unit to help you navigate.  You won’t want to use your smartphone’s GPS (if it even works in another country!) because you will pay higher data roaming charges. Learn How to Drive a Manual Transmission If you are used to driving an automatic car, you may want to learn how to drive a manual transmission before you travel and drive abroad.  Many car rental companies abroad only rent manual transmission vehicles – or if they have automatic transmissions available – they will generally charge extra for them.

For the first time car buyer, buying a car can be overwhelming.  How do you know which car to buy, how much you can afford, or how to negotiate with the dealership?  There are many things to consider when car shopping that goes beyond finding a nice looking car in your favorite color.  Here are some tips from your St. Petersburg Kia dealer for buying your first car: more Getting Your Finances in Order Buying a car actually starts at home, where you spend some time fine tuning your budget.  You need to know how much you can afford before you decide on a car you want to buy.  If you’re paying with cash, you’ll know exactly how much money you have to shop with.  If you’re financing the purchase with a car loan, you’ll need to consider what you can afford in terms of your monthly payment and all additional expenses – such as car insurance, registration, gasoline and maintenance. If you have a small budget, you might start by looking at used Kia vehicles.  You can often get a vehicle with just a few years and few thousand miles on it for several thousand dollars less than you can buy the newest model. Visit Our Website or Dealership Once you have an idea for how much you can afford, you can browse our inventory of vehicles on our St. Petersburg Kia website or at our dealership.  Make a list of cars that both fit your need for vehicle in terms of size and features, and that also fall within your budget. Armed with your short list of possible vehicle options, call your car insurance agent or go online to get insurance quotes for each vehicle.  You may be surprised to learn how different car insurance premiums are for each type of car. Double check Consumer Reports for reliability information to help minimize your long term maintenance expenses for any vehicle you choose. Take a Kia for a Test Drive By this stage in the buying process, you probably have just a couple of cars you are interested in.  The best thing you can do to finalize your decision is to take the cars for a test drive to see how it feels in the driver’s seat and how the car handles. Negotiate All dealers need to turn a profit on the sale of their vehicles, and as a buyer, you want to get the best price possible on your purchase.  When negotiating, don’t negotiate based on the monthly payment – negotiate the price of the car itself. If you are going with financing, make sure you get pre-approved for a car loan with a lender outside the dealership so you know what your interest rate would be, and then also allow the dealer to offer financing to you.  Use the loan with the lowest interest rate and best repayment terms.