Letting someone borrow your car is a big deal. Because it is something that you should not take lightly, there are a few things that you should consider before you ever let someone else drive your car. This is true even if they are a friend or family member. Consider these things before you let someone else take the wheel of your personal car. 

• Make sure that the person who is asking to drive your car is currently licensed to drive. Make sure that their license isn’t expired or suspended before you give them the keys.
• Understand their driver history. You will want to know what their driving history is. It will tell you a lot about how they will drive your car today. If they have speeding tickets or a lot of accidents, you should reconsider if you really want them to borrow your car. 
• Check your current policy to ensure that it is up to date as well as if it will cover another driver for your vehicle. These are two things to make sure of before you let another person drive your car. 
• Ask them how long they plan on using the vehicle. Using it one time is one thing but using it a lot in the future can be an entirely different ballgame. You may not even be able to let them use the car that frequently but it is also something to consider for insurance purposes. If they need to use it a lot, you may even want to consider adding them to your policy or seeing if they will add your car to theirs. 

Before letting someone else drive your car, it is important to know these things. Contact THINK Insurance & Financial Services serving Ponoma, California to take a look at your policy. 

Emergency situations can happen at any time while you’re driving. For instance, you could find yourself stranded on a back road with a flat tire or with a dead battery. The professionals may have a boatload of specialty tools for any situation, but you only need a few staples to fix some of the less complicated problems. 

1. A Light

Your car has many spots that aren’t very well lit or don’t have any lighting but are still important to the function of your vehicle. Not to mention, when it’s dark outside, this makes matters even worse because there isn’t natural light to work by. Always have an inspection light in your vehicle. It can help when you’re inspecting your car or when you’re working on it and need some extra light. 

2. Screwdrivers

You may not want to carry around your entire screwdriver set, but you should at least have one Philips and one flat-head screwdriver. You may even want multiple sizes of each variety of screwdriver. Add a Torx screwdriver if you have one. This is the star-headed screwdriver.  They aren’t used frequently, but they are used in the car and may be the difference between you fixing your truck and not having a way home. 

3. OBD II Code Reader

An OBD II Code Reader aids in the diagnosis process of an engine. When the check engine light comes on or your vehicle fails an emissions test, you can use it to find out the code for what’s wrong. Nowadays, they’re compatible with your smartphone. You might not be able to fix the engine problem, but at least you’ll know what could possibly be wrong and if it’s worth it to fix it. 

4. Jack, Socket Set and Wrench Set

Another tip is to always have a jack, socket set and a wrench set. 

Contact THINK Insurance & Financial Services to learn more ways to be a safe a driver or to purchase insurance. 

Even people with very organized and clean homes sometimes forget to keep their vehicles clean. In fact many people find their car to be a major clutter point. This is may seem inconsequential, however it may have more of an effect than you think. 

Reasons to Keep Your Car Clean

1. Cleaning the exterior of your car increases visibility out the windows, and even a small obstruction in your vision can cause a serious collision.  You may not even notice the film around your the swath made by your wiper blades any more but it is still reducing your safety while driving. 
2. People who regularly wipe down the interior of their car get sick less. Areas in the car that are touched often are likely to be overlooked when cleaning to avoid flu germs, however wiping the steering wheel, radio dials and handles often can go a long way in illness prevention. 
3. Saving money is an unexpected side effect of keeping a clean car. Dirt build up can damage the paint job of the car over time, as can ignoring small damages. Fixing a small scratch and keeping a vehicle clean and waxed can preserve the paint job and decrease repair costs while increasing retail value. 
4. Keeping the interior of your car clutter free actually increases your safety while driving because of decreased distractions and no chance of items rolling under the gas or breaks. It also increases your safety in an accident because flying debris can be deadly. 

For many commuters the car falls to the wayside after doing a great job at work all day and giving your all to your home and family in the evening. However it is important that your family car is kept tidy for safety and monetary reasons. Make sure you are saving all the money you can on insurance, while keeping your family fully covered with THINK Insurance & Financial Services. We can keep you safe on the road and financially no matter what life throws your way. 

With modern living in California, the risk of wildfire is becoming more and more of a reality. A home development and communities reach out further and further into areas previously just open land, the interface of high risk zones and property is becoming more of a reality. That involves all types of property as well, not just homes. The number of vehicles being caught up in fire areas as well as being damaged on affected properties is a grow reality as well. Even during an evacuation, cars will be exposed to falling ash, heat, flames, and debris, all of which cause damage small and large.

Fortunately, those with a comprehensive auto policy will find that their coverage can very well address a good amount of the exposure damage and restoration. Much depends, however, on the policy wording as well as the type of policy coverage a car owner had in place prior to the damage occurring. While some policies will deal with issues right from the start, others have deductibles that the car owner has to address first before the coverage kicks in.

For those in the Southern California area and near Pomona, CA, THINK Insurance & Financial Services is well aware of the growing wildfire issues in the general southern state area and can help. They can craft an auto policy that anticipates regional wildfire risk and keeps car owners and homeowners whole. Give them a call to find out more. Sometimes you have to run to get out of the way of a wildfire, but that doesn’t mean you need to take unnecessary losses in the process.

Congrats on buying a new house in Pomona, CA. It is a pretty exciting time, and as you transform the house into your own home, you need to do whatever you can to make it truly yours. While there are fun ways to make it your own, including interior decorating, implementing your own color pallet and upgrades around the house, there are other upgrades you need to make designed to save you money each and very winter. Winterizing tips make it possible to do just that. 

Caulk and Weather Stripping

Look around your windows. This is especially the case on older homes (or at least dated windows). Cracks form around the windows. These slight cracks can drop the energy efficiency of your home HVAC unit 5 to 30 percent annually and especially in the winter. So, fill in these cracks with caulk. For thicker gaps or spaces around doors, pick up some new weather stripping. 

New Insulation

It is never a bad time to add new insulation to your home. Plus, the federal government provides grants and tax credits reimbursing you for up to 30 percent of the cost. From the walls in your home to the roof in your attic, this is a major money saver. 

Insulate the Pipes

Almost everyone knows someone who’s pipes have frozen, such as when they went on vacation, leading to a burst pipe. This is a major financial burden to clean up from. You can avoid this and also save money on your hot water by insulating the pipes. 

Ductwork

Like the pipes, you want to insulate the ductwork. This is more important if you have exposed ducts. It reduces heat loss and improves energy efficiency. 

From our experts at THINK Insurance & Financial Services, we want to help you save money on your home energy bills. These winterizing tips are not difficult to perform or time consuming, but each is going to save you substantially all year. 

Living in Ontario, CA means dealing with all sorts of road conditions. In the winter, you may be exposed to snow and ice, especially if you take a trip into the mountains. Working on your driving knowledge for the winter months can help you to avoid a collision.

Learn About Traction

Traction is very important, especially when it comes to snow and ice. Your standard tires may not be capable of providing you with the needed traction. This is why many people invest in snow tires because the thinner tire is capable of providing greater through snow and ice.

Invest in Snow Chains

If you plan on traveling up to Big Bear or any of the other mountains, you may require snow chains when the winter conditions get harsh. In some instances, the roads require the chains to be on your car, so you will want to have them and know how to put them on.

Avoid a Tail

It takes longer to brake when you are driving on slippery surfaces and therefore you want to avoid a tail – don’t tail the person in front of you and don’t allow others to tail you too closely.

Read the Roads

You should always be reading the roads when you drive. Look ahead at least 100 feet in order to find out how the roads are going to change. There may be potholes, a soft shoulder, or some other kind of changing terrain that you need to be aware of. This will allow you to modify your driving style and still be safe.

At THINK Insurance & Financial Services, we look forward to helping you with auto insurance. Call and one of our agents can guide you through the coverage options, get quotes for you, and more. We work with some of the top insurance companies in California, providing you with quality coverage.

 

 

The air is cool and there’s an influx of visitors from colder states—fall is here. Before you get too carried away enjoying everything pumpkin spice under the California sun, there are a few car care tasks to tackle before winter arrives. Here are three tips to consider.

#1:  Have Your Tires and Brakes Checked

One of the first things you should do in the fall to prepare for winter is have your tires and brakes checked by a professional. Make sure there aren’t any cuts or damage to the sidewall and have your local service center perform an evaluation on whether or not you need replacements. It is also a good time to have them check and see how well your brakes are working. By doing this now, you are completely prepared for any winter rainstorms or other events that happen in our area.

#2: Put Together an Emergency Kit

Another important task you should tackle in the fall is putting together an emergency kit. While you probably won’t need a bunch of rations in case you become stranded in the snow, having a few non-perishable snacks and bottled water on hand isn’t a bad idea. Also, include a first aid kit, road flares, and any tools you might need for a quick roadside automotive repair.

#3: Be Ready for Any Excursions

In case you decide to head up north for any special excursions this winter, make sure you’ve taken time in the fall to gather up the necessary supplies. Chains and deicer can be a bit hard to come by in our area during the winter simply because of a lack of need. By planning ahead, your vehicle can be ready for that awesome weekend adventure over the coming months.

In addition, it is important to have quality car insurance coverage. Our team at THINK Insurance & Financial Services is here to help. Please contact us today for a no-obligation policy review or quote.