Nothing beats the look of a freshly washed car. However, if you have ever attempted to wash your vehicle on your own, you may end up with small soap spots or dirty areas, no matter how many times you wash over the vehicle. You’d take the vehicle in for a professional wash, but that really adds up. Instead, you just need to know how to wash your car like a pro, and at Linda Dugan Insurance, we have a few tips to follow, whether you live in Astoria, OR or not. 

Only Use Vehicle Designed Products

Never ever use dish soap or detergent designed for anything other than washing a car. These products can harm your vehicle more than anything else. 

Rinse First

Before breaking out the soap, always rinse off the vehicle. This helps prep the vehicle, soften up debris while also cooling off the surface of the vehicle. Washing a hot vehicle can not only result in you burning your fingers but you scorching the soap and burning the paint at the same time. 

Move in Sections

You want to know why you end up with soap spots on your vehicle? The soap dries before you can rinse it off. To avoid this you need to wash the vehicle in small sections. Wash by the panel (or part of a panel) and only move on after you have rinsed off the soap  from the individual panel. Water is your friend here, so always keep the vehicle wet both before and after applying the soap. 

Clean Off Contaminants As Quickly as Possible

Notice a bird used your vehicle as target practice? Clean this off as quickly as possible. The longer it sits on your vehicle, the greater the chance it eats away at the paint and causes permanent damage. 

Contact one of the friendly, independent insurance agents at Linda Dugan Insurance today.

A defensive driver is a safe driver. They also are less likely to be involved in an auto accident or receive tickets while on the road. This, in turn, reduces their insurance rates while keeping them safe and sound inside of their vehicle. At Linda Dugan Insurance, we want to make sure all drivers not only save money on their insurance but stay safe whenever out on the road. That is why we offer these safe driving tips for drivers in Astoria, OR or anywhere else they may travel. 

Mindful of Surroundings

Driving is more than keeping eyes on the road. It is understanding the surroundings. From whether there is a grass median or a railing to sidewalk placement, pedestrians and how close vehicles behind the car is following them, all of this plays an important role in defensive driving and staying safe. The more alert and mindful a driver is, the safer they remain. 

Remove Distractions

Distractions come in many forms. From cell phones to noisy passengers, each and every second a person spends not concentrating on the road and traffic around them is a second too long. Removing distractions is a must for a driver to stay defensive. For someone who needs access to their cell phone, cars do now come equipped with a hands free mode (new stereo systems have this as an option as well). Before someone sets foot in the driver’s seat, they need to cut out all potential distractions. 

Never Depend on Other Drivers

It is impossible to know what another driver is thinking, what they are doing or how defensive they are driving. Other drivers may have something else on their mind or they might be distracted with kids in the back seat. A defensive driver should only depend on themselves and what they can control. 

Vehicles are safer now than ever before, but that doesn’t mean you should leave home without a few extra tools. Sure, a new vehicle, a quality insurance plan from Linda Dugan Insurance and a AAA card is a fantastic start, but you need to make sure you can remain safe while out on the road. Without spending much, you can protect yourself and everyone else in the vehicle with these vehicle tools. 

Tire Inflator and Sealer 

Flats happen and, often times, there isn’t much you can do about it. However, most flat tires don’t just burst apart. Instead, more flats occur over time. If you know you hit a nail or your air tire pressure gage is going off, you need the tire serviced, but you shouldn’t drive on a quickly deflating tire. A can of tire inflator and sealer works as a temporary fix and makes it much easier to protect your vehicle and safely drive. 

Flashlight

Toss a thin flashlight into the glove compartment of your vehicle. Small problems with your car at night become major issues simply because you can’t see what is happening. A flashlight makes a world of difference. 

Jumper Box/Cables

Jumper cables are a staple and should always be left in the trunk. Just make sure to spring for longer cables as it gives you more slack to work with. However, a nice upgrade is a jumper box. This gives you a portable charge without relying on another vehicle. It costs more, but if you need a jump now, it is the way to go. 

Mylar Blanket

If your vehicle brakes down in Astoria, OR or anywhere else and the temps turn cold, you’ll need to stay warm until help arrives. This blanket is small and can be folded anywhere, but it is sure to keep you warm. 

Your vehicle is important to you. You use it to get to and from work as well as to complete many other tasks in your daily life. That is why it is especially important to take great care in deciding whether or not you will allow someone else to drive your vehicle.

When a friend or a family member asks to borrow your car, before giving an answer, ask these questions:

1. Is their license to drive valid? You will want to make sure that they are currently licensed to drive before you give them the keys to your vehicle.
2. Make sure that your insurance policy will cover someone else driving your car. You may also want to ask if the other person has their own insurance to cover them while they are driving the vehicle.
3. While you are looking at what your policy will cover, you should also make sure that your policy is currently up to date.
4. What does their driver history look like? If they are someone who has a lot of speeding tickets or accidents on their record, then you may want to rethink letting them drive away in your vehicle.
5. What is their purpose in using your car? If they need it for business purposes, your policy may not cover them, but if it is for personal purposes, they may be covered.
6. How often will they be using the car? If they need it one time, you shouldn’t need to add them to your policy. If they will need to use it a lot, then you should consider adding them to you policy or asking them to get their own policy, with your car covered.

To ensure that you are covered, contact Linda Dugan Insurance serving Astoria, Oregon.

Motorcycles are fairly easy to move which makes them easy targets, especially for opportunists. If you’re in Astoria and want to ensure that you can keep your precious ride safe, then you should know these anti-theft devices and choose one or a few of them for your vehicle.

1. Killswitch

Some thieves are wizards with wires, but a killswitch will make it so the engine won’t operate unless it’s started by the key in your hands. Some owners have a difficult time installing these, so you may want to get a professional to help you here. Every motorcycle is different, and you definitely don’t want this malfunctioning.

2. Disc Locks

Essentially this is an easy and safe way of locking your wheels, which is the primary way criminals will move your motorcycle. Of course it’s possible to pick up a motorcycle, but it makes it much more difficult. As long as you park your motorcycle in a well-lit area, then this can be enough of a measure to prevent thieves who have precious little time to complete their task.

3. Alarms and Trackers

This is your motorcycle, and only you know just how much it’s worth to you, so you may want to consider getting both of them. There are a variety of alarms and GPS trackers available so if it is stolen, so you can either scare them away or find them wherever you they happen to be.

And if the worst does happen to you and your bike is stolen, make sure you have excellent theft coverage on your motorcycle. Linda Dugan Insurance serves the people of Astoria OR, so call today if you need for a review or a new motorcycle insurance policy.

You should always be looking to improve your driving skills. As you drive throughout Washington, you may experience snow, ice, and even freezing rain. There are ways for you to improve your skills so that you can navigate the road in a more expert way, and reduce the chance of being involved in an accident.

One of the most important things to do to improve your driving skills is to have the right equipment. This includes having snow tires on your car. If you have 4-wheel drive, it can help with your traction, but don’t depend on it for everything. You still need to exercise caution when it comes to taking turns as well as braking.

Another thing you want to do is stock your car with supplies. This includes gloves and a hat, jumper cables, as well as a shovel. A flashlight can also be helpful if you encounter a problem at night.

Watch what is going on as you drive. Don’t look at the car in front of you only – look several feet ahead. There may be an animal getting ready to cross the road or there may be shadows from buildings or billboards that could be hiding a patch of ice.

Approximately 80% of collisions can be avoided simply by being more alert. Be ready for anything. By not following too closely, you can make sure you have enough room to brake without hitting the car in front of you, too.

At Linda Dugan Insurance, we can help you to find an affordable auto insurance policy in Longview, Washington. Call and speak to one of our agents today so we can answer questions you have, provide you with more winter driving skills, and get quotes from some of the top insurance companies in the state.