Have you ever been stuck on the side of the road due to bad weather? We've all been there, but we are here to make the best out of a bid situation. These tips will ensure you and your car safety during the winter months. 

Winter Car Services

Get your vehicle’s oil changed according to either the mileage on your odometer or the length of time it has been since your last oil change. When you have this done professionally, the car services company will also check the pressure in your tires, tighten any loose belts or hoses, replace any dirty filers, top off any liquids, and ensure your windshield wipers are working properly.

Being proactive and taking the time to schedule and get these car services done before the first blizzard hits will help to maintain your vehicle and make your car safer on the wintry roads for both you and the other drivers. 

Winter Emergency Kit Items

If you have to pull over and wait for a tow truck or get off the road due to hazardous weather, you’ll want to be sure you have a Winter Emergency Kit in your vehicle's trunk and that it is fully stocked with these items:

• a warm blanket
• extra winter clothes: hats, gloves, socks, and boots
• bottles of water and snacks: trail mixes, hard candies, crackers
• an ice scraper, a shovel, and a flashlight with new batteries
• windshield washer fluid and new wipers
• flares, jumper cables, and a tool kit
• a good spare tire, a jack, tire chains, and a tire gauge
• a first-aid kit
• a bag of sand to use as traction if a tire gets stuck in snow
• an emergency-use cellphone 

Vehicle Breakdown Protection Plan

It doesn’t matter whether you are driving a brand new vehicle or are behind the wheel of one you’ve been driving for a few years now, vehicles can and do break down ~ and always at the most opportune times.

Being smart and proactive by investing in a vehicle protection plan before you need it will eliminate undue stress in your life and, should your vehicle needs the car services provided within the plan ~ you can rest assured knowing that the minor vehicle repair hiccup in your day is no big deal.

Getting stranded, but staying safe

If you don’t know where you are or how far you are from the nearest gas station or open store, don’t leave your vehicle and start walking aimlessly. As you wait for help to arrive, stay with your vehicle, light two flares (from your Emergency Kit) and place one on the road in front of your vehicle and the other on the road behind your vehicle. Bundle up with your extra winter clothes, and stay warm under the blanket.

If your gas tank still has a lot of gas in it, run the engine and the car’s heater for about 10 minutes, then shut it off for a few minutes. Open a window a little bit to stop it from sealing completely shut from the ice and temperature. To prevent your mouth from becoming dry, drink some water and suck on the hard candy you packed. If your regular cellphone’s battery has gone out, use the emergency cellphone you have in your safety kit.

Click HERE to request a   or call 877-397-1022 to find out how we can make you and your vehicle a priority. If your current warranty is about to expire, please consider True Auto for your future automobile extended warranty. 

Boost the overall value of your vehicle

As soon as a vehicle is purchased and drives off the dealer's lot, it drops in value. That is just part of the nature of vehicles. Very few vehicles end up more valuable than the original purchase price, and it typically takes decades for this to happen. For anyone who is looking to sell their vehicle and wants to do everything in their power to increase the car's value before selling, there are ways to boost the overall value of the vehicle. Small issues when selling a used car can drastically bring down the potential asking price. 

1. Vehicle Tuneup - Taking the vehicle in for a tuneup is a must. Buyers at a used car lot can spot common problems and knock all sorts of cash off of the price, while private buyers will want to have it inspected and likely not even buy the vehicle if there are substantial problems. A vehicle tuneup costs money up front, but it makes it much more valuable when selling (like selling a house, sometimes an owner needs to spend a little bit of money to receive a much better return). 

2. New Tires - New tires can be an instant selling point, especially when selling a vehicle in colder climates where snow and ice are a problem. It is possible to keep an eye out for sales on new tires which instantly increase the value of the vehicle.

3. Detailed - Detailing the vehicle brings out the inner shine and gives it the roof to fender cleaning, inside and out. It increases its marketability and really catches the eyes of interested buyers. it is amazing how a little bit of cleaning can go a long way in boosting the asking price. 

4. Print Out the Car Fax - Printing out the Car Fax can help when selling a vehicle privately. The main holdup private buyers have is not knowing the history of the vehicle. By having it readily available, car buyers now what to expect and are willing to part with more money when they know the vehicle has an excellent history. 

5. Avoid the Extreme Add-Ons - Add-Ons can actually reduce the value of a vehicle as it alienates buyers away from the vehicle. Oversized rear fins, bright undercarriage LED lighting and other add-ons drop the value when selling the vehicle. 

Click HERE to request a FREE QUOTE from True Auto and find out how we can make you and your vehicle a priority. If your current warranty is about to expire, please consider True Auto for your future automobile extended warranty. 

If you read this and thought to yourself, "I want more of my money in my pocket" contact us today! Visit www.trueautoprotection.com or call 877-397-1022. 

You might be asking yourself, "How do I really add years to my car?"

Well, we have the answer!

At True Auto Protection, we care about you when you're out on the road. That's why we offer 24 hour protection, including towing, key lock out, battery boost, emergency service and so much more. That's just one of the reasons why we are the most trusted leader of Extended Automobile Warranty companies in the industry.

Of course the best way to add years to the life of your used car is with an extended warranty. That's where True Auto Protection comes in with two used car warranty choices, a True Supreme and a True Platinum. Depending on which coverage you choose, there are options that will cover your engine, transmission, cooling system, brakes, electrical and much more. That's the simplest and easiest way to keep your used car on the road for the long haul.

• Oil Changes

The next best thing to do is to keep your oil changed because dirty oil can ruin your engine. It used to be that you would need to change your oil every 2000 or 3000 miles, but that isn't the case anymore. Using a pure synthetic oil can dramatically boost the time between oil changes to 10,000 miles, and in some cases, even longer.

Changing your oil is one the best things that you can do to keep your engine running fresh, it is inexpensive, and if you have do it yourself experience, you'll be able to change your own oil, and filter, in the comfort of your own driveway.

• Tires

Another easy maintenance routine is to keep the tires inflated properly, rotated and have them balanced once per year. 

Under inflated tires not only causes your engine to work a little harder as it motors down the road, but it also gives you inferior gas mileage. If your tires are properly inflated, you'll gain up to 3 miles per gallon than if you drive on underinflated tires. And with the cost of gas now-a-days, 3 miles per gallon adds up to a couple of full tanks at the end of the year.

Worse than that, unbalanced tires can cause all sorts of suspension issues. Ball joints, tie rods and even CV joints can be adversely effected by unbalanced tires. So, once per year, get your tires rotated and balanced, have the tire pressure checked, and you'll be good to go.

• The Cooling System

If you blow a hose or your radiator gets gunked up with sludge, your car will overheat and you'll be stranded on the road. Not only that, overheating will cause too much heat and pressure in the system, and that could lead to head gasket leakage, damaged piston rings and even main bearings that could seize up. Those are all car killers first and foremost.

Stay on top of your cooling system needs. Most experts recommend changing out your radiator and heating hoses every 4 to 5 years. When doing that, get a professional cooling system flush as well. This is preventative maintenance at its best, it will ensure that your cooling system will always stay in top notch condition, and you'll never have to worry about blowing a hose when you are on the road.

The True Auto Protection Solution:

If you ever do get stranded on the road, always look to True Auto Protection for emergency service. And if your vehicle ends up in the shop, we have a rental car program available so you'll always have wheels to get where you need to go.

If you are looking for a company that specializes in Automobile Extended Warranties, look no further than True Auto Vehicle Breakdown Protection. We offer a variety of new and used car protection plans. We would love to hear from you! 

Most of us have experienced being left on the side of the road with a broken-down car. It's always inconvenient, and sometimes even scary. If you've gone through this even once, you will no doubt want to try to prevent it from happening again. 

Here are a few tips to help prevent breakdowns:

• Do scheduled maintenance and yearly tune-ups. Whether you do them yourself or take your car to a mechanic, tune-ups and scheduled maintenance are opportunities to catch problems before they leave you stranded. While under the hood, you or your mechanic can look for cracking or bulging hoses, shiny belts, and other signs of potential problems. In addition, staying on top of regular maintenance can also prevent problems from becoming big enough to strand you.

• Listen for problems. Always pay attention to how your car sounds and how it feels to drive it, and look for the cause whenever you notice significant changes. Sometimes a new noise can give you enough warning to have something fixed before your car actually breaks down somewhere.

• Visually inspect your car every time you drive it. Make it a habit to look at your car every time you walk up to it to drive somewhere. Look at all four tires to make sure none are flat, and look for fluids leaking out from underneath. Look at your parking spot after you pull out of it for signs of fluids, too. You might be able to catch a problem before you drive away, just by paying attention.

Of course, sometimes no matter how vigilant you are, your car may still break down. Not all problems can be seen coming or prevented with regular maintenance. If it does happen, you'll want to have a Plan B: a cell phone and someone you can call to come rescue you.

In the event that your car does leave you stranded, help is just a phone call away when you have a vehicle breakdown protection plan already in place.  If your extended car warranty is soon to expire, please consider True Auto Vehicle Breakdown Protection with your next extended warranty. Click HERE to recieve a FREE Quote or CALL one of our team members at 877-397-1022.