Car Insurance Sort Blog

It sure it hot outside in most of the United States right now.  The heat affects many things, but some people may not realize how much it affects their cars.  Car insurance companies are well aware of increased wear and tear on cars in the hot summer months, and carefully compare what is covered by insurance by what is not.  Madison, Wisconsin’s WEAU News shared some of AAA’s “Tips to help your car survive the heat.”  Most drivers perform routine maintenance to protect their cars during the cold of the winter, but you should also do some maintenance for the dog days of summer.

• Batteries: The two things that wreak havoc on batteries are heat and vibration.  It is especially important during this uncontrollable heat to make sure that your battery is mounted securely and avoid any unnecessary vibration.  Battery fluid also evaporates faster in the heat, so clean off any corrosion and make sure that all of the clamps are secure.
• Engines: Since your engine is on overdrive during the summer heat, make sure to get routine maintenance done on your cooling system to protect your engine.  Also check for any deterioration on the rubber parts in your cooling system since heat makes them wear faster.
• Tires: Make sure that your tires are properly inflated to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations.  When tires are low, you are more likely to have a blowout because of the extreme heat on the roads making your hot tires even hotter.  Infinity auto insurance and other insurers hope drivers keep tires inflated because of heat, braking, and overall handling.  This helps reduce the risk of accidents and the claims on insurers.
• Fluids: Check all of your fluid levels because fluids help cool your car by taking heat away from other car components.  Transmission, power steering, and brake fluid, as well as motor oil are important to keep at the recommended levels.
• Air Conditioning:  Make sure that your air conditioning system is checked over and well maintained.  Cool passengers and drivers are better able to function on the roads and help avoid more accidents and car troubles.

Even with all of the proper preparations, you still may have a summer car breakdown.  As many people are keeping their cars more years to save money, older cars can breakdown more often if not properly maintained.  AAA recommends having a breakdown kit in your car just in case.  Be sure to keep your car as far off the road as you can and be safe in the event of a breakdown.