Five Winter Driving Tips

Driving in the snow can be stressful for anyone, even for people who deal with it every winter. No matter the vehicle you drive, you’re not guaranteed safety when it comes to the mean conditions of the winter. We want everyone to be safe this winter, so we’ve put together a quick list of tips to keep you and your family safe when those roads get covered in snow and ice.

1. Have all vehicle maintenance handled

The two most important things you have situated are your tires and brakes. These two items are critical to your ability to stop and accelerate when things get slippery. Be sure you don’t make any sort of trek without enough traction on your wheels. There are many other things under the hood that can ultimately leave your car shutdown on the side of the road, so a visit to your local service department could save you a lot of time.

2. Four-wheel drive does not make you invincible

While it is extremely beneficial to have a vehicle with four-wheel drive in the winter, many people run into the mistake of believing they can conquer anything with this feature. Four-wheel drive is designed to help you accelerate on roads with wet conditions, while not having your vehicle slip and slide. It does not, however, help you to stop on a dime.

3. Give the cars in front of you plenty of room

While you should always give the car in front of you on the road plenty of room, in winter conditions you should give even more space. You never know when that person is going to come to an abrupt stop, and since it’s harder to stop on snow-covered roads, you want to be sure that you have adequate room to stop.

4. Always look ahead

Watch far ahead for stoplights, brake lights, and sharp turns, among other obstacles that will require you to stop. It takes more time to bring your vehicle to a halt on snow-covered or icy roads, so be sure to give your vehicle plenty of time to slow down.

5. Do not slam on the brakes

When your car begins to lose traction, you might instantly think to slam on your brakes. This is the last thing you should do! It will take away all of your traction, leaving you with no ability to control your vehicle. Instead, you should brake with even, steady steps on the brakes. Do not brake when entering a turn.

We want everyone to be safe this winter season while driving around. Be sure to be a smart driver, as well as have your vehicle maintenance up to date. Schedule your service appoint here!

Whatever Your Credit May Be... We've Got You Covered!

Whatever Your Credit May Be... We've Got You Covered!

Have credit issues that are preventing you from getting behind the wheel of the car you love? Let us help show you how you can overcome this concern. At Larry H. Miller Honda Murray, we have professionals that specialize in finding options to get you financed for a vehicle. Stop trying to find reasons you can’t get into a car, and start thinking about the car that not only will handle your needs, but will be something you’ll love!

What you need to know!

Research:

It is crucial to do research before making your way into the dealership. There are many different ways to avoid the obstacles of bad credit, but not all of these options will lead to credit repair. Many of the "Buy Here, Pay Here" dealerships will ultimately set you up for failure. The more research you do, the more prepped you will be, which will make less likely to fall into a trap. This blog post is meant to serve as a basic guide to buying a car with damaged credit, but your research shouldn’t necessarily stop here.

Your Credit History:

You should have an idea of your credit situation before going into any dealership, so that you’re not surprised by anything and you can also have the opportunity to dispute or fix any credit issues possible. There are websites that offer free credit checks, like Credit Karma. Once you have your credit score, you can take a look at your credit history, as well as know where you sit with your credit score. This information will be useful for your research, so you have an idea of what your capable of receiving, in terms of financing.

What You Need:

Too often, car shoppers fall in love with something they want, rather than something they need. And sometimes, this is the exact decision that results in damage to their credit. Before you go car shopping, take some time to decide what kind of vehicle you need. Do you just need the car to get from Point A to Point B for work? If this is the case, you probably don’t need to get a big SUV. Do you have a large family that requires a lot of room? Then maybe you should look at that big SUV or a minivan. Leather, sunroofs, big rims, upgraded stereo systems, you know, all the bells and whistles? How important is all of this for you? It might be wisest to pass on these luxuries, and exchange it for a smaller monthly payment.

Things You Need to Bring!

Down Payment: While many people would like to buy a car without having to lay out any money up front, this isn’t always the best way to go about purchasing a car. Furthermore, for those buyers with damaged credit, there is more of a need for a down payment. When you provide a down payment, you are showing the lenders commitment, which will go a long way in helping you get a reasonable financing rate. A good rule of thumb for how much you should put toward your down payment is to put down the total cost of all your taxes and fees for the vehicle.

Proof of Employment:

In order to get financed for a vehicle, you will be required to provide proof of employment. This can come in the form of your most recent pay stub. The financial lender will want to see that you are employed and have a source of income. If you do not have a pay stub, you can reach out to your employer and they will be able to provide this documentation.

Proof of Residence:

Be sure to bring along proof of residence. This can come in the form of utility bills, bank statements or even a pay stub with your home address. Proof of residence is also something that is required to be provided by the lender.

In a Nutshell:

We understand that your past is exactly that, the past. While you may have damaged credit, there are options out there for you. The best thing you can do is prepare yourself with research. Larry H. Miller Honda Murray has professionals that specialize in finding car loans for buyers with circumstances like yours. Don’t be discouraged. Come in to see us, and you’ll be glad you did.

CLICK HERE TO GET PRE-APPROVED!