3 Tips for New Drivers and Car Owners in Maryland
As a new driver, you’ve got many enjoyable years behind the wheel to look forward to. We know the feeling of exhilaration that you feel when you look at your new license and the time and effort you dedicated to gaining it. We want to offer you some tips we give to all new drivers in Frederick, MD. They’ll help to keep you safe and make your driving more enjoyable.
3 Top Tips for New Drivers in Frederick, MD
Don’t Speed
It can be tempting to speed, especially if traffic is very light. You may think that going slightly faster isn’t a problem, as you feel confident in controlling your car. The danger with this thinking is that it isn’t true. The vast majority of drivers cannot control their car completely if they travel faster than the prescribed speed limit. This is a special skill requiring advanced driver training and practice.
Speed limits allow all drivers to travel safely in the area where the limit applies. The limit may have been set due to narrower streets, a large volume of traffic, or many pedestrians in the area. When you keep within the speed limit, you keep yourself, your car, and other road users safe. It’s also important to remember that speeding is illegal, and a traffic officer will give you a ticket if you’re caught. Read the rest of this entry »
3 Defensive Driving Tips for Maryland Drivers
Defensive driving involves knowing how to keep you, your passengers, and your car safe when you’re on the road. These are skills that every driver needs to master as driving can, unfortunately, be dangerous. To protect yourself, you need to know how to avoid accidents as much as possible. To keep our Maryland drivers safe, these are some defensive driving tips we’d like to share with you.
Don’t Get Distracted
As a driver, you’re exposed to numerous distractions as you drive, and the components in your car can be distractions too. To drive defensively, you have to be aware of your surroundings, including other vehicles and pedestrians, at all times. An accident can happen very quickly, and you need to be able to react instantly.
Statistics have shown that, in most cases, it’s not a distraction that causes an accident but the driver’s reaction to the distraction. If you’re distracted by reaching for your cellphone or watching something you saw on the side of the road, you can put yourself and others at risk. The most important way to overcome getting distracted is to just drive.
Always Be Prepared
If you regularly drive a particular route, becoming complacent is very easy. You’re familiar with the road, the signs, and maybe even the traffic patterns. This complacency means you’ll relax, check your mirrors less frequently, and perhaps even take one of your hands off the wheel. This relaxed behavior, while perfectly normal, can lead to an accident. Read the rest of this entry »
How Much Are Car Registration Fees in Maryland?
Whether you purchase a vehicle in Maryland or relocate to the state with your current vehicle, you will need to pay car registration fees. These fees vary based on the type of vehicle registered. The registration process also includes fees and taxes for titling. If you plan to purchase a vehicle in Frederick, MD, the following information will help you plan for the cost of registration.
Car Registration Fees
Fees for Passenger/Multi-Use Vehicles
The fees for passenger and multi-use vehicles are calculated based on their weight. If your car weighs 3,700 pounds or less, your registration fee will be $135. If the weight of your vehicle exceeds 3,700 pounds, you can expect to pay $187.
Fees for Trucks
Like passenger and multi-use vehicles, truck registration fees are determined by weight. However, the dividing line for trucks is 3/4 of a ton. If your truck weighs 7,000 pounds or less, you will pay $161.50. Any truck exceeding 7,000 pounds will cost $214. Read the rest of this entry »
When buying a used car, you can gain extra value by finding a vehicle with advanced car safety features. You’ll also be safer when you pull off the dealership’s lot. Let’s look at some of the very best safety features to look for the next time you go shopping for used cars.
Pre-Collision System
One safety feature you shouldn’t miss out on is some variation of the 2022 Toyota Corolla’s exceptional pre-collision system. Your Toyota uses front-facing cameras and distance-measuring lasers to detect anything that might cause a potential collision, including pedestrians wandering into the road.
The system then warns you clearly if such a risk of collision arises. These pre-collision systems have saved many a driver from unnecessary rear-end accidents. Click here and take a look at the Toyota models available. Read the rest of this entry »
Looking for Used SUVs? 4 Models to Consider
These days, the SUV segment is so varied that it can be overwhelming to shoppers: everyday commuters, rock-crawling off-roaders, and even sporty, high-performance machines. Whichever type of driving you plan to do, you can be sure to find the perfect SUV. Here are a few of the awesome used SUVs that you’ll want to check out!
1. 2021 Lexus NX 300 F Sport 
Featuring an aggressive front mesh grille and a turbocharged 235-horsepower 2.0-liter inline-four engine, the NX 300 F Sport brings plenty of thrills. Power is transmitted to all four wheels by a quick-shifting six-speed automatic transmission, though more control is available from the steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Fully independent sport-tuned suspension and precise steering result in athletic handling.
Inside, the NX 300 F Sport is just as exciting. The cockpit comprises premium materials, and the front seats are deeply bolstered to provide extra support during hard cornering. A load of connectivity options are available with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot.
2. 2021 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend
The Ford Bronco Sport is the compact version of the mid-sized Bronco that retains its larger sibling’s off-roading solid ability. Its 1.5-liter straight-three engine develops 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque, which allows the vehicle to tow up to 2,000 pounds. The Bronco Sport’s capable four-wheel-drive system offers multiple drive modes to help you conquer a variety of surfaces, including snowy, icy roads and sandy hills. Read the rest of this entry »
If you see a puddle of oil on the ground under your car, don’t ignore it. An engine leak is a serious issue that must be fixed by a qualified technician ASAP before it causes damage to your vehicle’s engine. DARCARS Used Car and Service Center of Frederick, which sells the best-used cars in town and offers expert maintenance and repair services, provides a list of six possible causes of engine oil leaks.
A Dirty, Clogged, or Worn Oil Filter
Over time oil filters get dirty and clogged with dirt and debris and wear out. An oil filter that is dirty and clogged can’t work correctly and could cause oil to leak out. Your vehicle’s oil filter must be replaced every time the oil is changed to filter harmful contaminants out of the oil to prevent damage to the engine. Replace the oil and filter at the factory-recommended intervals to avoid unnecessary contamination and leaks.
A Misaligned Oil Filter
Another issue that could cause an oil leak is a misaligned oil filter. When the oil filter is replaced, it must be fitted correctly. If the filter is loose, misaligned, or improperly done, it will cause an oil leak. Ask a qualified technician to check and replace the oil filter to solve the problem. Read the rest of this entry »
Buying a used car instead of a brand new one can save you a ton of money, but only if the vehicle you buy is a quality vehicle. It can be challenging to know if you’re getting a quality used car, especially if you find one with a price that sounds too good to be true. Fortunately, some great tips can help you find affordable used cars without sacrificing quality.
Research Online First
You probably already know what type of vehicle you want to buy, whether a coupe, sedan, SUV, or truck, and probably what size, but that’s likely where your initial vehicle knowledge ends, at least if you’re like most people. Before you head out for test drives and negotiations, research the best vehicles in terms of reliability, safety, comfort, and any other characteristic you value. If you’ve heard that used Toyota cars are known for their dependability, you can check out some of the most reliable used Toyota models here. There are plenty of unbiased sources available to help you narrow your choices down.
It’s also best to look at online reviews to determine which vehicles are most popular with drivers like you. For instance, one car may be highly rated by an auto magazine but not favorable by commuters. If you’re a commuter, you probably will skip that vehicle. After you find the two or three cars that meet your requirements and have a high rating, use online tools to determine a reasonable price for those vehicles based on age and condition. Read the rest of this entry »
Driving at Night on Maryland Roads: 4 Safety Tips
Driving at night does present some challenges you likely won’t encounter with daytime drives. Stay safe in Frederick, MD, with these considerations for safer driving after dark.
Driving at Night on Frederick, MD Roads: 4 Safety Tips
1. Ensure Proper Headlight Operation
Lack of visibility is the most apparent consequence of night driving. During dark conditions, your headlights become especially important. Therefore, if your lights begin to dim or flicker, have them checked out by a trained technician immediately. A busted or otherwise inoperable headlight can get you pulled over by law enforcement. Even if your headlights do work properly, they still need to be aligned in the right way.
Replaced or aging headlights can become misaligned and take the focus of the light away from the road and onto other drivers. These conditions lead to danger for you and anyone else on the road. You can correct alignment issues by using the bolt or screw adjusters located somewhere around the headlight. Some headlights also have alignment aid in the form of bubble levels that help you center your lights.
2. Use Lights Correctly
Always use headlights at night rather than parking lights. High beams help expand the brightness and the scope of the road in front of you. These more powerful lights can be detrimental to other drivers, though, so you should stick with low beams if you are coming toward another car from any direction. You can protect yourself from headlight glare by briefly focusing on your lane’s right edge when a vehicle approaches you. Read the rest of this entry »
Maryland is a beautiful state that offers scenic road trips, ocean views, and fantastic natural parks and outdoor spaces. You’ll also find frequent weather changes impacting road conditions, especially during winter. Find out how to plan your trip safely while keeping track of changing traffic conditions, whether you live and travel in Frederick, MD, or the surrounding area.
3 Ways to Keep Track of Traffic Conditions in Frederick, MD & Around Maryland
1. Department of Transportation Website
When you visit Maryland’s Department of Transportation’s website, you’ll find updates on road conditions, traffic delays, and severe weather changes as they occur. This website features a regular feed on the main page, updated every one to two minutes, with specific alerts on weather reports for every county. You’ll find valuable tools available on the website, including an interactive map, access to live traffic cameras, and seasonal updates.
Maryland’s Department of Transportation’s website provides emergency alerts in a snowstorm, so you can change travel plans or take a safer route to your destination. You’ll also find general travel information, so you’ll have everything you need to plan your next road trip or out-of-town weekend vacation. Read the rest of this entry »
Three Benefits of Buying a Pre-owned Car
A pre-owned car is often a much better choice than buying a new one. The best-used cars offer the same safety features, quality, and dependability as a new car, but without a lot of the downsides. Let’s get into exactly what the benefits of used cars are.
Make Someone Else Pay Depreciation
It’s not a secret that cars lose their value almost faster than anything else. Starting up a brand-new computer destroys a considerable amount of its value–even if you resell it immediately, you’ll never get anything like what you paid for it new. Cars are not quite as bad as computers, but it’s pretty darn close. The average car loses 20% of its value in the first year, and you lose a whopping 10% just driving it off the lot. Yes: that means even if you turn right, change your mind, make a circle and come right back to the dealership, your $46,000 new truck is now only worth $41,400.
The good news is that your car loses value at a slower rate after the first two years. This means that if you buy a two-year-old used car, assuming it was taken care of well and not driven a ridiculous number of miles, someone else paid the bulk of the depreciation. On the other hand, you get to enjoy the car’s golden years and the bulk of its quality performance life for a whole lot less than if you bought new. Read the rest of this entry »
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