Checklists for Life

18

Your Car

Most people depend on their car every day, whether they love cars and everything to do with them or remain as blissfully ignorant as possible. Beware: ignorance can be anything but blissful when it comes to keeping yourself safe in a well-maintained car. Here’s the least you need to know.

 What to Carry in Your Car

You never know when you might have a flat tire, a mechanical breakdown, or another roadside emergency. Thinking about emergencies ahead of time makes them much easier to deal with when they occur. Stock your car with the items on this checklist and you’ll be prepared to handle whatever comes along.

1.	Cellular telephone. No longer a luxury item reserved for the tycoon set, a cell phone can be as important as a spare tire when you travel by car. Check with AAA for details about their inexpensive emergency cell phone service.
2.	Proof of insurance, even if your state doesn’t require it.
3.	Automobile registration papers.
4.	An accident report guide. You can usually get one of these brief and simple guides from your insurance company or from AAA if you’re a member. They make it much easier to gather complete information at the scene, and are especially helpful if you’re feeling dazed or confused.
5.	Warning devices such as flares and matches or reflective triangles.
6.	Jumper cables with fully insulated handles.
7.	A first aid kit plus any vital prescription medicines (see chapter 1).
8.	Flashlight with extra batteries.
9.	Water. Carry least a quart each for you and your car.
10.	Quick-energy “power” bars, or other packaged food in case you’re stranded. (If you tend to skip meals when in a hurry, these can make a big difference, too. You’ll never get stuck with a growling stomach between errands again!)
11.	Paper towels and window cleaning fluid. Driving at night with a smeared windshield (inside or out) can be extremely hazardous.
12.	Fire extinguisher. Read the directions so you know how to use it quickly.
13.	Fully inflated spare tire. Check it at least every few months.
14.	Portable tire pump, plus a jack, lug wrench, and block of wood for emergency changes by the side of the road (when you’ll be glad you have those flares).
15.	Aerosol flat fixer. These can be great quick fixes for certain kinds of tire damage.
16.	Empty gas can.
17.	Tool kit. Carry a small standard toolkit or at least an adjustable wrench, large and small screwdrivers, and pliers.
18.	To be ultraprepared, carry an inexpensive instant-picture camera to take “eyewitness” photos in case of an accident. As an alternative, you might keep a disposable camera in the car. However, without immediate results, you won’t know in time if the picture turns out badly.

AND IN THE WINTER . . .

Ice and snow call for some extra preparation and a few more items in the trunk.

•	Heavy gloves and socks.
•	Blanket.
•	Cat litter, sand, or traction mats.
•	Ice scraper and snow brush.
•	A small snow shovel.
•	Extra antifreeze.

 Car Maintenance Checklist

Your owner’s manual is the best and most authoritative guide to maintaining your car; different makes and models require specific services at varying intervals. Reading the manual will ensure that you keep up with vital maintenance and also help prevent your being “taken” by mechanics who might try to sell you services you don’t actually need. If you don’t have an owner’s manual, this checklist can be your guide to the essential maintenance every vehicle must receive. Remember, the better you take care of your car, the better it will take care of you.

1.	Oil. Check the level every week or so and change the oil and filter about every 3,000 miles.
2.	Fluids. Check levels every six months, or before you go on long trips: battery fluid, brake and power steering fluid, transmission fluid and coolant (with antifreeze mixture in winter).
3.	Battery. Check to see if the battery terminals and cables need cleaning whenever you have the oil changed.
4.	Tires. Check your tire pressure at least once a month and inspect the tires for cuts and signs of uneven wear.
5.	Belts. Check drive belts when the oil is changed. You can do this yourself by pushing down on the middle of each belt; if you can push down more than half an inch, the belt should be tightened.
6.	Change the air filter. This should be done about every 15,000 miles or so.
7.	Safety checks. Whether or not your state requires an annual safety inspection, it’s a good idea to do a periodic check on the following:
	• Head- and taillights. Get out of your car every now and then to see if all your lights work. Also check the headlight aim.
	• Horn. Make sure it honks!
	• Brakes. Check power brakes while the engine is running but the car is sitting still. Push the brake pedal down firmly and hold it; it should stop midway to the floor and stay there. If brakes feel “mushy,” or if pedal keeps moving toward the floor, have your brakes checked right away.
	• Spare tire. Take the spare out every couple of months to see that it’s properly inflated.
	• Windshield wipers. Turn them on regularly when it isn’t raining and use your washer fluid to see how well the wipers clear it away. Make sure the washer fluid reservoir has plenty of fluid in it.

 How to Find a Good Mechanic

A good mechanic does much more than repair broken cars. You should also expect this person to charge fair prices, have your car ready when promised, stay up-to-date on automotive technology, and discuss your vehicle’s problems in terms you can understand. Any mechanic who can’t meet these standards doesn’t deserve your business. The suggestions on this checklist will help you find a mechanic who does.

1.	Start now. Look for a mechanic you can trust before you need one. Not only will you have the time to do a thorough search, you’ll also have an opportunity to build at least name and face recognition at the repair shop. This can be reassuring if you need major repairs in an emergency.
2.	Talk to friends about repair shops they’ve used. But don’t accept a recommendation uncritically. Quiz your friends about how well their mechanic demonstrates the qualities of competence, good communication, reliability, and honesty.
3.	Look for ASE-certified mechanics. Certification by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence doesn’t guarantee honesty or even competence in all areas of auto mechanics. But ASE certification tests are difficult enough to weed out the mediocre or marginally competent. Because this certification is strictly voluntary, it’s fair to assume that the shops who have it are concerned about the level of service they offer.
4.	Look on the walls of the office or waiting room for other training certificates. A top-notch mechanic will take at least a couple of classes every year just to keep up with the latest technology. Ask what schools or classes the shop owner or his employees regularly attend.
5.	Check both competence and honesty by asking what the shop does when a vehicle that isn’t working properly tests okay on all their equipment. The right answer to this question, according to automotive expert Mark Eskeldson, is for the mechanic to acknowledge that he’s run into that situation. He should say that he researches the answer by consulting the several hundred pages of technical service bulletins published every year by the various automobile manufacturers. Consulting these bulletins (which can be kept at the station, accessed on-line, or on CD-ROM) is the only way to figure out some of the riddles posed by today’s sophisticated automobile technology. Eskeldson advises you to be wary of a mechanic who claims he’s never had such a problem. Your best bet: walk right out of the shop.
6.	Ask what brands of replacement parts the shop uses. If you don’t recognize any of the names, call an auto parts store and ask if those manufacturers make high-quality parts.
7.	Never choose a repair shop because it promises low prices. The owner may dishonestly underestimate the cost of repairs, or may honestly be able to do the repairs cheaply because he hires untrained workers and uses cheap parts. Not much of a bargain in the long run.
8.	Beware of shops that offer both diagnosis and repair. The shop that does both has a vested interest in finding something to repair. Take your car to an Automobile Association of America (or any other independent) diagnostic shop for an annual checkup. That list of needed (or soon to be needed) repairs will make you a much smarter shopper when you look for a good mechanic.
9.	If your car breaks down on the road don’t let a tow truck driver talk you into towing your car to his “favorite” mechanic instead of your own. Even if you know that your mechanic doesn’t handle the exact repair you’ll need, you’ll be better off getting a garage recommendation from someone you know and trust.

AVOIDING BAD MECHANICS

Vic and Barbara Goulter, authors of How to Keep Your Mechanic Honest, offer these three tips to the wise:

•	Incompetent mechanics are most likely to be found at big chains where the pay is low.
•	Dishonest mechanics are more likely to be met on the road, where they never expect to see their customers again.
•	The best defense against dishonesty and trickery is watchfulness—keep an eye on your car when it’s being serviced at an unfamiliar station.

 What to Do in an Accident

Even fender benders can be upsetting and affect our ability to think clearly. Consider keeping a copy of this checklist in your glove compartment so you can follow it if you are involved in any kind of accident.

1.	Pull off the road. Do this as soon as it is safe and put on your emergency flashers. If you can’t pull off, turn on your emergency flashers.
2.	Check for injuries. Check yourself first, then see if anyone else is injured. Call 911 for paramedics, if needed.
3.	Call police. Even in a minor accident, if property has been damaged, you may need a police report to file an insurance claim.
4.	Exchange information. As you collect this information, give the other driver the same details about yourself:
	• Name, address, and phone number of the other driver. Take down work as well as home phone.
	• License plate number and driver’s license number.
	• Insurance company’s name, address, and the policy number (ask to see the card to verify this information).
	• Make, model, year, and color of the other car.
	• Names, addresses, and phone numbers of other passengers.
5.	Look for witnesses. Ask for their names and home and work phone numbers.
6.	Get copy of police report. If police do come to the scene and write up an accident report, ask for a copy of it. Also write down names and badge numbers of any police on the scene, whether or not they file an accident report.
7.	Make notes on the accident. Before you leave the scene, do the best you can to draw a diagram of what happened and write down every detail of how the accident occurred. If you have a camera in the car, take pictures of the vehicles’ positions and take close-ups of damage to each vehicle.
8.	Do not admit fault. No matter what you think happened, don’t admit fault and never sign anything at the scene.
9.	Call your insurance agent. Do this as soon as you get home; many companies have a twenty-four-hour number for reporting accidents. The agent will tell you what you should do next.

 Before You Talk to a Car Dealer

If you’d like to avoid being taken for a ride (and we don’t mean a test drive) the next time you buy a new car, do some homework first. Consumer advocate W. James Bragg describes the smart car buyer as someone who “doesn’t rely on the salesman for important information.” To buy the car you want at the lowest possible price, follow this checklist, adapted from Bragg’s book, Car Buyer’s and Leaser’s Negotiating Bible.

1.	Start with the car you’ve got. Find out how much it’s actually worth and decide whether to trade it in or sell it yourself. Trading it in means selling it at wholesale; by selling it privately you get the retail price.
2.	Figure out how much money you’ll need. Calculate the monthly payment you can comfortably afford and figure out the down payment based on how much additional cash you can kick in with the proceeds from your current car. The idea is to maximize your down payment and lower your monthly payment.
3.	Shop for money. Knowing what a loan will cost helps define the upper limit you can afford to pay for that new vehicle. This is a good time to figure what tax and license will cost you for a vehicle in that price range—information the dealer usually won’t volunteer until you’re committed to the price of the car. Shopping for a loan also helps you evaluate the relative merits of financing deals the car store might offer.
4.	Date dealers, don’t marry them. While you’re in this research phase, keep reading up on the models that appeal to you and by all means stop by car stores for test drives. But make it ultraclear that you’re there only to shop, not to buy.
5.	Never volunteer information. You lose your advantage when a salesperson learns how much you’re willing to pay, what monthly payment you can afford, and—above all—that you’re really excited about a certain car.
6.	Learn the dealer’s cost. Once you’ve narrowed the field to the two or three models you’re considering (including options), find out what each vehicle cost the dealer. The Web site www.carprice.com publishes dealers’ invoice prices at no charge. Consumer Reports magazine will give you the dealer’s invoice cost and the crucial information about current dealer incentives for $12; without knowing about factory rebates and other dealer incentives, you could still end up paying hundreds—or thousands—more than necessary. Keep in mind the dealer’s cost, with the incentives and rebates figured in, when you begin negotiating. (A handful of businesses offer more complete assistance to the car buyer, including “coaching” on negotiations. See the “Resources” section on page 293 for more information.)
7.	Memorize these mantras. Keep these bits of wisdom from Bragg in mind as you prepare to shop for your next car.
	• Eighty percent of a dealer’s profits on new-car sales come from 20 percent of his customers.
	• Most dealers make several “slim-profit” deals every month in order to close sales with savvy customers.
	• From the car dealer’s perspective, almost any sale is a good sale.
	• It will always be much easier for you to find someone who wants to sell a new car than it will be for a car salesman to find someone who wants to buy one.
	• One reason God gave you feet was to walk away from car salesmen.

 Car Insurance: A Rate Reduction Checklist

One of the biggest expenses associated with owning a car is paying auto insurance premiums. Since car insurance is something you can’t do without, it’s good to know that being a smart consumer can pay off. These tips on reducing auto insurance rates are from the nonprofit Independent Insurance Agents of America.

1.	Shop around. Spending some time on the telephone to research low rates can save you big money. In fact, premiums vary by 50 percent or more among different insurers.
2.	Consider using one company for several policies. Some insurers give a “fleet discount” for clients who insure more than one car or who use the company for both auto and home insurance policies.
3.	Buy a low-profile car. Luxury cars cost more to fix and replace, and some “hot” cars have higher theft rates—giving insurers reason to jack up costs.
4.	Stock up on safety features. Antilock brakes, air bags, and seat belts earn lower rates from nearly every insurance company.
5.	Invest in a security system. Many companies reward car owners who have alarms, electronic locks, and disabling devises.
6.	Polish your record. Most insurers give a discount for accident-free driving records. If your record isn’t spotless, check to see if your state requires insurers to lower rates for adults who complete defensive driving or accident-prevention classes.
7.	Request higher deductibles. Increasing the deductible (the amount paid out of your pocket before the insurance pays) can substantially decrease the premium on the collision and comprehensive portions of your policy.
8.	Buy only what you need. If you’re driving an older car, it may not be worth the money to carry collision and comprehensive coverage (because the book value paid for the car would not be enough for you to replace it). Check with your agent to see what portions of your policy you might want to drop.
9.	Always inquire about discounts. You never know what a particular company may have to offer.