Recent Hawaii Shipping News

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What is a car appraisal?
When should I get my car appraised?
Wrapping up
 

What is a car appraisal?

A car appraisal is when you find out what your car’s exact and current value is by having it looked over by a professional appraiser. Getting your car appraised can be useful for several specific reasons but it is easily the best way to assess a car’s true worth fairly and objectively. Trusting someone else who is buying or selling the car in question or attempting to go off Kelly Blue Book yourself will be much less accurate than an appraisal will be.

There are several things that affect the final number in an appraisal. The first, and likely most important, is what exactly the appraisal is for. For example, if you are getting a car appraised in order to sell it to another individual, the appraiser will give you an objective estimate of the best price you can sell it for. However, if you are getting a car appraised to assess its trade-in value, the value assessed for the same exact vehicle at the same time will be different.

Other more typical factors will also hold a good amount of weight during an appraisal. These include, mileage, maintenance, your location, the age of the vehicle and more.
 

When should I get my car appraised?

Any time that you need to get the most exact and objective value for a vehicle, you should consider an appraisal. This can include if you are buying or selling a car. If a car is new, there will be no need for an appraisal. However, appraisals will be quite useful for used vehicles, whether you are buying or selling one.

Appraisals are also useful for when you are trading a vehicle in. If you get an official appraisal and bring it with you to the dealer when you are trading a vehicle in, this can help you gain some leverage in the bargaining process.

Finally, appraisals are also often used when people get divorced and need to determine exact values of all their assets that are to be divided up.
 

Wrapping up

Getting a vehicle appraised is the best way for you to get the most objective value for it. It will be quite useful if you are buying, selling or trading in a car. In the end, it will help you maximize the value out of whatever deal you are making, be it with an individual or a dealership. If you do get a car appraised, make a deal and then need it shipped to or from Hawaii, you can always call the auto transport professionals with Hawaii Car Transport at (808) 445-6695.

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Traffic complications
Dangers
Conclusion
 

Traffic complications

“Rubber-necking” is a phrase that describes when motorists slow down to look over at an accident, often taking their eyes off of the road in the process. The “rubber neck” part refers to drivers turning their heads to look at the accident. Rubber necking really causes a lot of completely unnecessary traffic congestion. It can also create dangerous driving situations easily leading to accidents.

When there is a car accident that draws a lot of attention and rubber necking, traffic congestion increases and, as a result, so do overall travel times along that route. It has been observed that drivers will look at an accident three times longer when the accident is in full view as opposed to when the accident is completely or partially out of view.

So, if there were no accidents, travel times would be unaffected. If there was an accident that was mostly out of view, people would, on average, likely only look for three seconds or so. If you are on a big road or highway, let’s say there are a hundred vehicles in front of you. That means rubber necking would add five minutes to your travel time. If the accident was in full view, rubber necking would be three times longer. So, that would add a full fifteen minutes to your drive. This does not even take into consideration any lane closures due to said accident which can slow traffic down even further.
 

Dangers

Rubber necking is also very dangerous. It is considered to be a form of distracted driving because you are removing your focus from driving and the road in front of you for a few moments. This means that there will potentially be many partially or completely distracted drivers driving within a close proximity at the same time. That can obviously be a recipe for disaster.

In fact, research has shown that approximately sixteen percent of all car accidents are due, at least in part, to rubber necking. This is no surprise when you consider the fact that taking your eyes off of the road for more than two seconds doubles your chance of getting into an accident. As we said before, the shorter end of average duration for rubber necking is about three seconds. The only reason rubbernecking doesn’t account for even more accidents is because of the very low speeds it tends to occur at.
 

Conclusion

Rubber necking is a blight for proper driving conditions. It unnecessarily slows traffic and creates very dangerous conditions where additional accidents are much more likely to occur. Do yourself and everyone else out on the road a favor, always avoid taking more than a super quick glance at an accident or else you might be next.

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The risk of an accident
Getting a ticket
Conclusion
 

The risk of an accident

Parking lots are for driving slowly, finding a spot, parking, walking to & from your destination, pulling out of your spot and leaving the lot slowly. When you quickly try to drive across one, you upset that balance, and this puts you at risk of an accident with another vehicle or even a pedestrian. This can potentially cost you thousands of dollars or more. This is especially true if someone else gets hurt and civil action is taken in the form of a lawsuit. It is simply just not worth the risk of cutting through a parking lot in order to avoid waiting a few more minutes at a red light.
 

Getting a ticket

When you cut through a parking lot in order to avoid traffic and/or a red light you can also be ticketed by the police. This is because you are deliberately trying to avoid a traffic control device. In the eyes of the law, it is the same as running the red light. Police often watch for this at busy intersections where there is an easy way to cut through a parking lot to do this.

The fine will run you a couple hundred dollars plus more in court fees. It is also a moving violation which means that it will also potentially carry a negative impact for your insurance rates going forward. In Hawaii, there is not a point system for moving violations anymore. However, with each moving violation that you are officially convicted of, you can expect your insurance rates to increase. Typically, your insurance could increase by one or two hundred dollars per year for a minor moving violation like avoiding a traffic control device. Your insurance can increase by much more than that if you had previous moving violations on your record.
 

Conclusion

You might think that cutting through a parking lot next to a red light is a clever way of saving some time in traffic. However, there is a ton of unnecessary risk that comes along with it and makes it not worth it. When you quickly try to cut through a parking lot you are risking hitting another car or pedestrian. You are also risking an expensive ticket and moving violation which can easily lead to an insurance premium increase. Word to the wise, just wait the extra few minutes at the red light.

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What are pedal extensions?
How to know if you need them
Conclusion
 

What are pedal extensions?

Pedal extensions are devices that can be attached to the regular car pedals, typically by being bolted on, that will extend the pedals in order to make them easier to reach for a driver. These devices can be beneficial in a numerous number of circumstances. If a driver’s legs cannot physically reach the typical pedals these extenders will make the drive much safer and comfortable. Sometimes it will be because a car’s driver’s seat does not come forward far enough. It could also be because a physical limitation makes having the pedals extended much more comfortable.

They are also used in many circumstances out of general safety concerns. Many people want to put extra distance between themselves and the steering column in the case of a crash because their chest would be impacted by the airbags rather than their head and neck. Pedal extensions allow them to be an optimal distance from the safety column for safety.
 

How to know if you need them

The majority of drivers out there will not need pedal extensions, but you could still choose to use them for a variety of reasons including the reasons we mentioned above. Either way, here are a few criteria to be aware of in order to know whether or not you should be using pedal extensions in your vehicle.

If you are having any physical issues where reaching your leg to the stock pedals causes pain, discomfort, weakness or numbness. Types of physical conditions that can cause those issues can include various back, knee and hip issues, pregnancy, arthritis, and general weakness reaching the pedals. Pedal extenders can often be beneficial for those who consider themselves short in stature or clinically overweight. One important thing to keep in mind will be that some states require a certain type of license for those using “adaptive devices” such as pedal extenders. If you feel you need pedal extensions and are not sure about the local laws and/or type of license required, get in touch with your local Department of Motor Vehicles.
 

Conclusion

Pedal extensions are useful devices that extend the length of the gas, brake and/or clutch pedals in a vehicle. They are typically only used by those with some sort of physical limitation whether it be temporary or permanent. You may need a special license or exception in order to use pedal extensions legally in your particular state, so check with your local DMV before you choose to have them installed.

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Posture for comfort
Posture for safety
Conclusion
 

Posture for comfort

Driving posture is important to your comfort as you drive, your safety as you drive and for your overall health. As far as comfort and health are concerned, improper driving posture can lead to discomfort in several areas of your body including but not limited to your back, neck, shoulders, legs, arms, hands and feet. If you routinely drive with incorrect posture, you can develop chronic issues which will affect your overall quality of life and make you much more susceptible to other issues like muscle strains.

So, what is the proper posture to use when driving? Well, when you get into the driver’s seat, first be sure that your seat is the right distance from the steering wheel. An ideal distance from the steering wheel will allow you to reach it with your back completely back against the seat without having to extend your arms completely. If you find that this is not the case, then adjust your seat accordingly.

After that, be sure that your back is completely supported and comfortable. If it is not and a seat adjustment does not help much, consider driving with a lumbar pillow. Next, make sure your headrest is set so that it is useful and comfortable. After that, make sure that your mirrors are adjusted so that you do not need to strain your neck or back to get a good view to use them correctly. Finally, do not hesitate to take breaks and get out and stretch if needed.
 

Posture for safety

Your driving posture will also play a role in your overall safety as you drive. If you are sitting too far away from the steering wheel and/or pedals, you could be prevented from using them the right way and/or quickly enough. If you are sitting too close to the steering wheel, you are risking severe injury in the case of a collision. This is because if your airbag deploys and hits you in the chest rather than the face, neck and arms, those body parts will not be protected, and you will be at higher risk of fractures or death.
 

Conclusion

The posture that you sit with while you drive is much more important than many drivers tend to think. It can be the difference between driving in comfort and driving in pain or discomfort. Routine bad driving posture can lead to chronic pain issues with your back, neck, shoulders and many more areas of your body. Incorrect driving posture can also put you at risk for severe or even fatal injury in the case of an accident or collision. Before you start driving, always be sure that you will be comfortable and safe based on the way that you will be sitting.

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Approaching a speed bump
As you drive over a speed bump
Conclusion
 

Approaching a speed bump

Speed bumps are an important part of keeping certain roads and areas safe from speeding where pedestrian traffic will be high. More often than not you will find speed bumps in places where there are high volumes of children and/or the disabled and infirmed. A few examples of where you might find speed bumps are the surrounding roads and parking lots of schools and hospitals. However, you also might find speed bumps in areas where excessive speed has been a problem and ticketing offenders has not resolved the issue.

Regardless of the reason that a speed bump is on a road or in a parking lot, you will need to take caution as you approach it and as you pass over it. If you do not you risk serious damage to your car. The damage that could occur to your vehicle if you pass over a speed bump too fast can include fluid leaks, damage to your shocks, and damage to your wheels.

Preventing any damage from occurring when you drive over a speed bump will begin when you first notice the speed bump and begin to approach it. As soon as you notice a speed bump you should decrease your speed to five miles per hour. It is not even uncommon to come to a stop and then roll over a speed bump at slightly less than five miles per hour either. You should also be sure that you and any passengers in your vehicle have their seatbelts on because there will still be a physical jolt when you do drive over the speed bump.
 

As you drive over a speed bump

As we mentioned above, your speed should never be above five miles per hour when you pass over a speed bump. However, you must also pay close attention to your surroundings as you drive over a speed bump. Speed bumps are there for a reason so there is a good chance there can be pedestrians in close proximity. You also should be on the lookout for additional speed bumps. Speed bumps are often set up in pairs or more. This is done to eliminate speeding for an extended distance in a particular area.
 

Conclusion

Driving over a speed bump is fairly simply as long as you take to the correct care in doing so. Make sure that you and your passengers all have your seatbelts on as you approach the speed bump. You must decrease your speed to no more than five miles per hour when you drive over. When you are driving over the speed bump, be on the lookout for pedestrians as well as additional speed bumps.

Jump to section:
Shipping your car to Hawaii
The requirements to ship your car to Hawaii
Advice for shipping your car to Hawaii
Final word
 

Shipping your car to Hawaii

If you are headed to Hawaii and you want your car there, you only have one choice, to ship it. The good news is that doing so is not difficult at all.

A common misconception is that shipping a car to Hawaii is too expensive. In reality, it is actually quite affordable. This is especially true when compared to the cost of renting a car, buying a car or taking cabs everywhere.

Let’s say that you were shipping a 2018 Toyota Corolla from New York to Hawaii at the end of August 2019, it would cost you about $2500. That might sound like a lot but consider the alternatives first: renting a car could easily run you several thousand dollars in just a few weeks’ time, taking cabs could get even more expensive than that and buying a car is the most expensive option that you could possibly choose.

Another misconception is that it will take a very long time to ship your car to Hawaii. This is not the case. Using the same example from above, it would take about three weeks to ship your car from New York to Hawaii.
 

The requirements to ship your car to Hawaii

Before you do ship your car, you should know that there are a few simple requirements in order to do so.

First you will need some basic information, this information includes the car’s year, make and model, the VIN number and the license plate number. You will also need your registration and valid photo ID ready when your auto carrier driver arrives to pick up your car.

Your car itself will also need to be prepared when you driver arrives to pick it up. You must have the car cleaned prior to this so that your driver can conduct a timely inspection prior to loading the car onto the carrier. You also must make sure that the car has only a quarter tank of gas left in it.

It is also important to make sure that the car is running and operating properly. If it is not when your driver arrives, you could possibly get hit with an inoperable vehicle fee or your car could even be refused for shipping. You can avoid such a circumstance by getting your car inspected within a week or two before your scheduled pick-up.

Finally, you must make sure that you do not have any personal items in the car when your driver picks it up. These items are not allowed to be in your car during shipping. Furthermore, if you happen to sneak personal items past the driver inspection in your car, they could be lost or damaged during transport. If that happens, these items will not be covered by the car shipping insurance under any circumstance.
 

Advice for shipping your car to Hawaii

Beyond the requirements for shipping, there are a few things that you could do in order to make sure that you have the easiest experience possible when you are shipping your car to Hawaii:

• Book early – You will want to book your shipment early, this way you will ensure your shipping date and get the lowest price possible.
• Try to ship in the off-season – Months where vacations are most popular are also the most popular months for shipping a car so you will ideally book your shipment for winter and fall months.
• Take time to prepare – The more time you have in between your car shipment and when you initially book, the more chance you will have of getting the shipping window you want.
• Know your port – When you ship to Hawaii, you will have the option of shipping to one of several ports. Figure out which port is closest to your Hawaiian destination and choose that port. The ports are as follows:
  • Honolulu
  • Hilo
  • Kahului
  • Nawiliwili

Final word

Shipping your car to Hawaii is not a difficult experience at all. You just need to take the time to prepare for your shipment. Other than that, your car shipping company will take care of the rest of the shipment for you. For more information or a free quote you can call Hawaii Car Transport at (808) 445-6695 today.

Jump to section:
What kinds of vehicles need special shipping
What else is different?
Conclusion
 

What kinds of vehicles need special shipping?

The vast majority of car shipping companies will ship a wide variety of vehicles, not just typical cars like BMWs and Toyotas. However, when you choose to transport a non-typical vehicle with an auto transport company, alternative or “special” shipping methods will need to be utilized. This is not an issue; it will likely just cost you a bit more for using these types of vehicle shipping regardless of the company that you choose to ship with.

The types of vehicles that will need an alternative method of shipping will include motorcycles, mopeds/scooters, busses, limousines, recreational vehicles, trailers, heavy construction or agricultural equipment, non-running vehicles and more. The type of alternative shipping that your non-typical vehicle could require might be enclosed shipping, flatbed shipping or shipping on a carrier with a winch. Usually, motorcycles, mopeds and scooters will be shipped on a pallet of sorts inside of an enclosed carrier. Larger vehicles such as limos or construction vehicles will be shipped on a flatbed trailer. Any non-running vehicles will need to be shipped on a carrier with a functioning winch.
 

What else is different?

As we mentioned, the alternative methods of shipping non-typical vehicles will cost a bit more. This means, more or less, an extra couple hundred dollars. However, there are a few other differences. The two main differences will be “lead time” and preparation for the shipment.

Lead time simply just means giving your shipment company earlier notice of your shipping needs. This is because they will have to find the availability of a non-typical car carrier for your shipment which takes more time because there are so much fewer of them.

The preparation will likely be different too. It will still include getting the vehicle cleaned and removing personal items. However, the cleaning of the vehicle could be much more complex if it is a much larger vehicle such as an RV or bus. If the vehicle that you are shipping is some sort of heavy equipment such as a tractor or combine, some disassembly may be required prior to shipping. You should always discuss this with your auto transport company prior to booking a shipment for any non-typical vehicle.
 

Conclusion

Shipping a non-typical vehicle such as a motorcycle or RV will not be an issue for many auto transport companies out there. They will just need to use a special type of shipping to accommodate your needs for such vehicles. These special shipping services will cost a bit more but will definitely be worth it considering the amount of trouble and effort it is saving. Be sure you book your shipment as early as possible if you need specialty vehicle shipping because it will take longer for your auto transporter to find an available carrier suited to fit your vehicles’ needs.

Jump to section:
General upkeep
When something goes wrong
Conclusion
 

General upkeep

You should always have your car’s owner manual in your vehicle at all times. It is a lifeline that will enable you to get out of a lot of jams without having to call for help. It will also let you know what you specifically need to do in order to avoid getting into any jams in the first place. It will let you know exactly at what mileage intervals to get specific services for your car such as getting your oil changed or getting your tires rotated.

It will also let you know crucial information such as what pressure to keep your tires inflated at and what specific warning lights on your dashboard mean. If you are considering getting something new for your car such as wiper blades or tires, always consult your owner’s manual first. Finally, the owner’s manual for your vehicle will likely also give you information on how to properly clean it as well as miscellaneous information such as how to adjust your seats and head rests.
 

When something goes wrong

Your car’s owner’s manual will be crucially important in case you are driving, and something goes wrong. If it is not something that prevents you from driving such as your “service engine” light coming on, you will be able to check your vehicle’s warranty information with ease. This way, you can see what will be covered by your dealer if you choose to take your car there. If you do take your car to an independent auto shop for a repair, there is a good chance that your mechanic may need to reference the owner’s manual.

However, your owner’s manual will be even more important if something like a flat tire occurs. It will give you specific instructions on how to change the tire as well as where the donut or spare tire and wheel lock key are located. Your owner’s manual will also give you instructions in a situation such as when your power windows will not go down on how to get them down manually.
 

Conclusion

It is extremely important to keep your car’s owner’s manual in your vehicle at all times. It contains critically important information that will help you in a pinch as well as more basic information such as when to change your oil. You should consider the owner’s manual for your vehicle to be a lifeline. If your owner’s manual is lost or damaged, be sure you contact your dealer to get a replacement as soon as possible. When you need any type of vehicle shipped to or from Hawaii, call the auto transport experts at Hawaii Car Transport at (808) 445-6695.

Jump to section:
Making sure children are safe
Avoiding kids becoming a distraction
Conclusion
 

Making sure children are safe

If you have children and you drive, you will need to drive with them in your car frequently. So, it is of the utmost importance to keep them safe as you drive to your destination. This will obviously include driving safely. Driving safely with children on-board will entail driving slowly, obeying all traffic laws, driving in the right-most lane, and always signaling before turning or maneuvering so that nearby drivers will be aware. You can even go as far as to get a bumper or rear window sticker that informs other drivers that you have kids in the car, so they know you have an extra good reason to be driving so slow and carefully.

However, the safety of the children in your car will begin before you even start driving. If they are under twelve years old, children can only ride in the backseat with their seatbelts on at all times. In Hawaii, if a child is under four years old, they must ride in a child safety seat. If they are four through seven years of age, they must ride in a booster seat or child safety restraint. Always make sure you follow the installation instructions that come with any of these seats carefully when you put it in your car. For example, some seats may be required to be installed facing the rear of the car while others may be the opposite. The reason for these safety requirements is simple, these safety restraints reduce the chance of death for children in the case of an accident by over fifty percent.
 

Avoiding kids becoming a distraction

When you drive with children in your vehicle, you obviously also want to avoid distracted driving such as texting and driving. However, one of the biggest distractions to you while you drive can be the children in your car themselves. Thus, you will want to be proactive and ensure that they do not become a distraction to you in the first place.

Preventing kids in your car from acting up and becoming a distraction will essentially come down to keeping them distracted. You can bring a toy for them to have while you drive. If they are old enough to use one, an iPad or something similar can keep a child well occupied as you drive. If they are younger, an actual pacifier will go a long way. You can also consider putting on children’s music for them to listen to. If you have more than one child in your car, do your best to keep them separated so they cannot physically engage each other. Finally, make sure the child safety locks on the back doors are always engaged as you drive.
 

Conclusion

Driving with kids in the car is never an easy or simple task. You must make sure that their car or booster seats are properly installed and that they are secured and safely buckled in prior to driving. You must always drive with extreme caution and safety with children in the car. Always do whatever you can in order to pacify children in your vehicle so that they themselves do not become a distraction to you as you drive.