A claim goes most smoothly when you have the right information from the start. The steps below follow a typical US claim; details vary by insurer and state, so check your policy as well. At the scene Safety comes first: move to a safe place if you can, turn on your hazard lights, and call … Read more
A breakdown is stressful, especially on a busy road. The first minutes matter most, and they are about safety, not about fixing the car. Get to safety At the first sign of trouble (a warning light, smoke, a loss of power, a strange noise), turn on your hazard lights and pull over as far as … Read more
Circling the block looking for a space wastes time and fuel and adds to traffic. A bit of planning usually beats luck. Plan before you leave The easiest parking is the one you have already found. Many cities and private operators let you check availability and even book a space in a garage in advance, … Read more
Car insurance is a product where cheapest is not always best and most expensive is not always safest. The goal is to protect yourself against the losses you could not afford, without paying for coverage you do not need. Here is how the pieces fit together, using the US system as an example. The main … Read more
Defensive driving means assuming that other road users will make mistakes and leaving yourself room to deal with them. It is less about reflexes than about habits that keep you out of tight situations in the first place. Keep space around you Following distance is the foundation. In good conditions, keep at least three seconds … Read more
Car safety used to be about surviving a crash: seat belts, airbags, crumple zones. Most recent progress is about avoiding the crash in the first place. Here is what the main systems do and what we know about how well they work. Automatic emergency braking Automatic emergency braking (AEB) uses cameras and radar to detect … Read more
You do not need a new electric car to reduce your impact. Keeping your current car longer and running it well avoids the emissions of building a new one, and a few habits can cut fuel use by a meaningful margin. Drive more smoothly Driving style has the biggest effect, and it costs nothing. Hard … Read more
Car thieves look for easy opportunities: an unlocked door, a key left inside, a car whose model is known to be easy to steal. Making your car a little harder to take than the one next to it is often enough. The basics still work A surprising share of stolen cars are left unlocked or … Read more
Even a minor collision is unsettling, and it is easy to forget something important. Keeping a short checklist in mind, or in your glove box, helps you protect yourself and your claim. Rules vary by country and state, so check local requirements too. 1. Check for injuries and make the scene safe Stop the car, … Read more
Fuel is one of the few car costs you can influence every day. Most of the savings come from how you drive, a few from simple maintenance, and almost none from the gadgets sold online. Slow down a little on the highway Speed is the single biggest factor. Above roughly 50 mph, fuel use rises … Read more
