Not ready to buy a new car?  Here are 10 tips from the Kiplinger quiz that can help you keep the car you have now running smoothly and save you some money:

1. A dashboard light just went on. Something about oil. What should you do?

ANSWER: Pull over and turn off your engine as soon as safely possible.  Let’s play this one safe. Sure, it’s possible that the light has something to do with oil level or an oil-change interval, but in case it’s the oil-pressure light, you need to act in minutes, if not seconds, to keep your engine from destruction. Now that you’re safely stopped, open up your owner’s manual and look up “oil” to see what you’re dealing with. If it is the oil pressure, you’ll likely need a tow.  

2. Skip the automatic car wash if you give a darn about your paint?

FALSE: The automatic wash is a safe option — and it’s always a better choice than the teenagers raising money with a hose and dishwashing soap (just smile, give them $5 for the cause, and keep going).  That said, there are differences among the automatics. Look for a “brushless” option — or better yet, a “touchless” option. If you want to be part of the action, bring your own clean, soft cloths to dry your car. They’re probably in better shape than the rags wielded by the attendants, which if contaminated by dirt or sand will have the effect of sandpaper. (That’s one of the main hazards of the teenagers, too.)  

3. You can deny your car premium fuel.

TRUE: Few are the cars that really need premium gas, and their owner’s manuals will tell you if you do. What’s more, most of the cars that specify higher-octane fuel will run just fine on regular — though you might give up a smidge of power and economy. If your car is turbo- or supercharged and specifies super, follow the manual.  

4. What’s the best coin to use to gauge whether there’s enough tread left on your tires?

ANSWER: Quarter- You may be familiar with the penny test: Stick a penny in a groove head-down, and part of Abe’s head should always be covered. The penny test proves that the tire has 2/32″ of tread, the legal minimum in most states. But at that level, your tire’s ability to cope with rain — not to mention snow — is dramatically reduced. If you’re going to be dealing with wet stuff, you need more tread. Use a quarter instead. If George’s pate has some coverage, that’s 4/32″, a safer margin. Here’s a picture of how to do the test.  

5. You don’t drive a lot and your tires seem to wear like iron — over six years and there’s still plenty of tread. Lucky you — keep on truckin’.

FALSE: Sorry, those steel-belted ultramilers could be falling victim to aging, sometimes called dry rot. Tire rubber contains anti-aging chemicals that keep it flexible. Over time, these dry out from exposure to the elements — sun in particular. There’s no hard-and-fast rule on when a tire expires, but as a tire gets older, examine it carefully for small hairline cracks. In extreme cases, old tires can fail catastrophically with no warning. We wouldn’t ride on anything more than ten years old.  

6. You love your car and want it to last forever. And it looks like it might rain tonight. It’s parked in front of the garage. Should you pull it in?

ANSWER: No, the water that’s a real danger to your car (unless you left the sunroof open) isn’t what falls from the sky; it’s the water that’s a byproduct of combustion. On a longer trip, your car’s engine gets hot and the water is boiled out of the oil and your motor — no worries there. But a 30-second trip from driveway to garage won’t do that, leaving you with water diluting your oil and rotting your car from the inside out. Avoid short trips when you can.  

7. Your next oil change is due when?

ANSWER: Whenever your owner’s manual says.

Sure, Uncle Marvin changed his oil every 3,000 miles and his Studebaker ran forever. But oils have evolved, and so have engines. Stick to the manual’s recommendations and refuse all entreaties from service managers and ad campaigns. Note that your manual may tell you to follow your car’s electronic oil-use sensors rather than go by a specific mileage.  

8. With the massive battery pack in that new hybrid, you can kiss your jumper cables goodbye?

FALSE: Hybrids have a conventional 12-volt lead-acid battery in addition to whatever exotic chemical composite battery takes care of the hybrid drive. If the kids leave the dome light on, you’ll need a boost to get your system going like everyone else. Prius owners, there is a 12-volt battery in there. You just can’t see it. Check your owner’s manual for jumping procedures.  

9. You can take a car that’s under a new-car warranty to your trusty corner mechanic for regular maintenance.

TRUE: Independent shops are fighting back against dealer marketing efforts that play on consumer fears of voiding a warranty. If you have your services done regularly with quality parts — and keep your paperwork — federal law is on your side. Check out the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. If your dealer makes you happy, fine. Enjoy the loaner car. But it’s frequently the more expensive choice.  

10. What is the best interval for rotating your tires?

ANSWER: When the wheels are off the car for other services.  Tire rotation is one of the least critical of maintenance issues. If you don’t do it, your tires will wear our somewhat more quickly, true. But here’s a case where you can skimp. Don’t pay extra to have it done. If the car’s already in the air for an inspection or other service, ask your friendly mechanic to put the wheels back on in different spots. Note also that more and more tires are directional — which makes rotation less feasible. What’s a directional tire?

Here are some common insurance myths that all car owners should be aware of:

1. Car color affects insurance rate-  Incorrect, your car’s year, make, model, body-type, engine size are the only car features that affect price.

2. Credit scores do not affect car insurance rates-  Incorrect, most carriers run credit checks.

3. The government sets car insurance rates- Incorrect, the government regulates insurance companies to ensure fairness for companies and consumers but they do not set the rates.  Your insurance rate is based on your car features, driving record and credit score as mentioned above as well as your marital status and address.

4. Only bare minimum coverage is necessary-Incorrect, each state has minimum car insurance requirements but the minimum may not cover all costs if you get in an accident and you could end up paying more.

To be continued…

If you live in the United States, there is a good chance that you recently experienced some adverse winter weather conditions.  These conditions caused an abundance of accidents and hopefully you were not one of these statistics.  Here are five great tips from autoinsurance.org to help you prepare and stay safe in future adverse winter weather conditions: 

1. Drive courteously. You should already be driving in a safe and courteous manner, but the winter months are even more reason to respect your fellow driver. Things like driving with your lights on when it is snowing, merging left so oncoming traffic can get on the freeway easily, and even stopping at a red light with a car length of space between you and the vehicle in front of you are all courteous things you can do. Remember, nobody wants to deal with auto insurance hikes due to careless driving, or you just being mean on the road.

2. Have your car inspected. You should have your car inspected before the weather gets very rough. Having properly functioning breaks will only help in keeping you on the roads and out of the auto insurance agent’s office. Those of you who will drive in real cold climates should have your antifreeze checked as well. It is cheaper to pay for a full car checkup than it is to pay the fees of an accident, or hikes in your auto insurance due to issues on the road.

3. Get appropriate tires. Winter tires may not have you taking corners like an Indy car, but they can keep you on the road and out of an auto insurance headache. There are tires geared for snow, and even some designed to handle ice. Getting tires that are designed for your most common driving conditions not only give you a leg up on Mother Nature, but they can also help you with simple driving tasks like climbing a snow-covered hill. Some states may even stress tire chains. If your state allows these, be sure you have them and know how to install them. The last thing you want to do is find yourself fighting these devices in the middle of a blizzard.

4. Take a winter driving course. One of the simplest things you can do is take a winter driving course every year. You maybe a skilled winter driver, but a refresher course never hurts. The most you lose out on is a bit of your time. Taking a winter driving course may even save you some money on your auto insurance policy. These courses are very beneficial for everyone from the new driver to the oldest driver in the family.

5. Drive below your abilities. You may have 30 years under you belt for driving in adverse condition, but that is no reason not to be cautious. Driving below your abilities are simple things like driving slower, keeping both hands on the wheel, keeping a safe distance between you and your fellow driver, or just not driving if you feel hesitant about safety. Nobody can ever fault you for opting out of driving in the interest of safety.

If you need to communicate with your auto insurance company, in todays day and age, most companies have several convenient methods for you to choose from.

If you have an urgent matter and prefer to speak with a live representative, a phone call is probably your best option. 

 If you are a TrustWay Insurance client, you may call 877-TRUSTWAY (877-878-7892) to locate your local office or use the Find an Agent tab on our website.

Email has recently become a great way to communicate with your insurance company, if you do not have an urgent matter. In most cases, you will get a response within 24 hours.  This method is also beneficial because it can save you time and prevent time on hold.

Another perk of sharing your email address with your insurance company is being placed on their mailing list.  Some insurance companies send out monthly emails containing news or special offers.  Why not take advantage of this?

Social media is a new communication method that can be very valuable.  Some insurance companies have taken advantage of Facebook and other sites such as Twitter to share news and special offers with their clients. 

Each TrustWay Branch has its own Facebook page.  Visit TrusWay’s main Facebook page here.