Recent Hawaii Shipping News

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Driving safely near other cars
Driving safely near pedestrians
Conclusion
 

Driving safely near other cars

It is crucial when you drive through any neighborhood in Hawaii that you do so safely because of the ever-present possibility of someone pulling or backing out of their driveway or garage. There will also be intersections with stop signs rather than traffic lights where how long drivers stop and who has the “right of way” can tend to seem much like more of an opinion-based issue.

Driving safely through a Hawaiian neighborhood will always start with driving slowly and obeying the speed limits. Typically, these speed limits will be around twenty-five to thirty-five miles per hour. You will also need to ensure that you always drive with complete focus on the road. Keep your cell phone off or at least away where there is no chance of a call or text message possibly distracting you.

If you reach a stop sign, come to a complete stop, then check for other cars driving through that intersection. If someone else arrived at another stop sign at the same intersection at a time close to when you did, let them go first and/or wave them on. If you see someone ahead of you pulling out of their driveway, stop and let them safely pull onto the road in front of you.
 

Driving safely near pedestrians

An even bigger reason to drive slowly and safely through neighborhood areas is the potential for pedestrians being in or crossing the road. Specifically, there could be children playing in the street, people crossing the road, bike riders on the side of the road and much more. To put it simply, if you do not drive safely through a neighborhood, there is potential for extreme disaster and tragedy.

As was mentioned earlier, always drive at or under the speed limit and never drive distracted through a neighborhood. Driving too fast and/or distracted can prevent you from stopping in time if a pedestrian pops out into the street. In particular, children are notorious for running out into the street. If you ever see a ball roll out into the street, come to a stop, and wait because a child will inevitably be close behind chasing it. If you end up driving behind a school bus, never drive around it if it has stopped to pick children up or let them off. Finally, if someone is walking, running, or biking on the side of the road, be sure when you drive by there is several feet of clearance between you and that person.
 

Conclusion

When you drive through a residential area in Hawaii, the most important part will be to do so safely which will consist of driving slow and with complete focus. There are so many things to be on the lookout for such as children in the street, bike riders, people pulling out of their driveways and much more. Always make complete stops at stop signs, never speed, never drive around a stopped school bus, and always keep complete attention on the road at all times.

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How to pass safely
How to pass legally
Conclusion
 

How to pass safely

If you want to pass someone who is driving too far under the speed limit, you can do so but you must always do so carefully and safely. If you do so haphazardly, you could end up in a head-on collision which can easily total your car and cost you and/or another driver their life. Passing someone safely will begin with only passing them in areas with more than one lane on your side of traffic or in an area where there is just one lane on your side of traffic but there is a clear view of oncoming traffic.

Once you have determined you have a clear view and that passing the driver in front of you will not be impeded by another nearby motorist, turn on your left blinker and you can begin to pass. Once you start to move over, simultaneously start to accelerate. Once you pass the vehicle ahead of you, turn your right blinker on. Once you can see both headlights of the vehicle that you just passed in your rearview mirror, you can merge back into your original lane.
 

How to pass legally

Passing safely is one thing but passing legally will include a few more things you will need to do and look out for. Just because you pass someone successfully and in a safe manner does not mean you will not receive a ticket. The most important part of passing someone legally will be to pay attention to road signage as well as road markings prior to attempting to pass anyone.

Before you try to pass someone safely, be absolutely sure that you check around for signs that will say “No Passing Zone” or “don Not Pass”. Typically, they will be orange or yellow and in the shape of a right-pointing pennant. However, the sign could also be rectangular and could also be white in color. Obviously, in areas with these signs, you cannot legally pass someone.

You also must be on the lookout for solid lines in situations where you are trying to pass by entering the oncoming lane of traffic for a brief period. If the line is solid on your side of the road, you may not pass there. If the line is single dotted, double dotted or dotted on your side and solid on the other, you may legally pass so long as it is safe to do so.
 

Conclusion

You should only ever pass someone when it is absolutely necessary and not when you just prefer to make better time. When you do pass someone on the highway in Hawaii, always do so both safely as well as legally. Always watch for oncoming traffic, use your blinkers and never cross a solid line to pass someone.

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Driving safely in the rain
Conclusion
 

Driving safely in the rain

Depending which island you are on and where on that particular island is in Hawaii, there could be any amount of rain each year ranging from very little to a lot. Regardless, you will end up driving on wet rain covered roads at least a few times a year in Hawaii. When you are driving on wet roads, you will be at increased risk for an accident due to the decrease in traction and resulting lessened ability to come to a timely stop. That is exactly why you will want to ensure that you are as safe as possible when you drive in the rain.

Staying safe while you drive in the rain in Hawaii will start with making sure that your windshield is clean at all times and that your windshield defogger is always functional. Both of these will make a big impact when it comes to being able to see most clearly when you are driving in the rain. In particular, in Hawaii, it will likely be very humid when it rains, thus your windshield defoggers will almost always be needed for at least a little bit. When you are driving in rainy conditions you also should always drive considerably slower than you usually do and give yourself more space between you and the vehicle in front of you at all times. As we already mentioned wet and slick roads will mean it will take more time and distance to reach a complete stop, so make sure that you slow down and remain distant at all times.

Staying visible will also be very important when you are driving through the rain in Hawaii. This will really just come down to making sure that your head lights and taillights are always in working order as well as that your headlights are always on when driving in the rain. Some of you may drive cars that have “daylight running” headlights in addition to your regular headlights and high beams, your daylight running lights will not suffice in the rain so make sure you turn on your normal headlights. As far as your own visibility, be sure that you always have your windshield wipers on and turned to the appropriate speed.

Never drive through water that looks like it could be more than a couple of inches deep as doing so can possibly cause your engine to stall and can leave you stranded in a dangerous position. Finally, avoid driving in more severe rainy conditions if at all possible. Severe rainstorms will not last too long and waiting it out will be a much safer overall option.
 

Conclusion

When you drive in the rain in Hawaii, the roads will be slick, and it will be more difficult for you to come to a complete stop. Visibility will also be more difficult for you and everyone else out on the road. That is why you must make sure that you are doing everything possible to remain safe. That will include driving slow, giving any vehicle in front of your additional space, always keeping your headlights and windshield wipers on, avoiding driving through deep water accumulations and more.

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Driving safe
Staying safe from unsafe drivers
Conclusion
 

Driving safe

Driving on the highway tends to carry the biggest risk because of both the increased amount of traffic and because the speed limits are the highest you will find. This can be a dangerous combination. Almost sixty percent of car accident fatalities occur on highways according to National Highway and Traffic Safety Association.

This is exactly why you need to step up your safe driving habits when you are driving on any highway in Hawaii. In Hawaii the speed limit on Highways is usually sixty miles per hour which is fairly low compared to other states where the limit can be as high as eighty-five. However, make sure that you do not exceed this limit. In fact, only drive this speed in the left most lane. In other lanes on the highway, try to drive a bit under that limit.

You will also want to make sure that you never tailgate any driver that is front of you when you are on the highway driving at high speeds. The faster you drive, the more distance it will take you to reach a complete stop. If you drive too close to the driver in front of you and they stop suddenly, you will not be able to stop before you hit them and because you are driving behind them, you will be at fault for the crash.

You also need to be ready to share these highways with larger trucks. That will include making sure you are always visible to them, so they do not unwittingly make contact with your car or run you off the road when they are changing lanes. So, do not merge into the same lane as a truck too closely in front of them and make sure you are always in view of their mirrors and never in their blind spot if you are driving to either side of them. If you see their signal go on, slow down and let them safely merge in front of you.
 

Staying safe from unsafe drivers

No matter how safely you drive on any of the highways in Hawaii, there will likely always be one or two other drivers who are driving unsafely and aggressively. You should always let these drivers pass you. If they are tailgating you, change into the lane to the right of you to let them pass. If they are aggressively trying to squeeze into the space between you and the vehicle in front of them, slow down, give them space and let them in. If someone is really driving unsafely, you will always have the option of pulling over and calling the police. Do your best to get either their license plate number and/or the make and model of the vehicle.
 

Conclusion

Highway driving has the highest potential for danger. This is why you need to go above and beyond when you are out driving on the highways of Hawaii. Always obey the speed limit, never drive aggressively, do not tailgate, stay visible and stay focused at all times. If you notice another motorist driving unsafely and/or aggressively, do your best to stay away from them and let them pass you by.

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Financial benefits
Environmental benefits
Conclusion
 

Financial benefits

Electric vehicles are the future of driving. There is no denying that now with all of the legislative initiatives across the country and the world. Hawaii is no exception. Fortunately, there are numerous benefits to this and the best one will be the financial benefits that every driver will see.

Just look at the cost of gas in 2022, by driving an electric car you will be able to constantly circumvent the seemingly endless rise in the cost of gas. The average annual recharge cost for an electric vehicle is slightly less than half of the annual cost of gas in America. That comes out to savings between seven hundred and a thousand dollars per year.

There will also be lower maintenance costs for an electric vehicle. Electric cars only use one a single part engine (the electric motor) thus upkeep is much less frequent and less can go wrong. By comparison, gas powered cars’ engines are made of hundreds of parts and require much more routine maintenance. The savings in maintenance costs could be over a thousand dollars per year.

Finally, there are other smaller financial incentives that come with driving an electric car. These include free parking and charging in certain parking lots, being exempt from fuel-emission tests during inspection, possible purchase rebates and more. The one financial downside to electric cars is their overall cost at purchase. They average about a twenty percent higher price than gas powered cars. However, that price is expected to drop in coming years as the market becomes saturated with electric cars.
 

Environmental benefits

By driving an electric car, you will also be doing a lot to help the environment and reduce harmful emissions to the earth’s atmosphere. Specifically, a true electric vehicle will produce only half of the greenhouse gasses that a traditional gas-powered vehicle will. An electric car will also produce more than a third less carbon dioxide related emissions than gas powered cars will. Completely electric cars will not even have a tail pipe which will result in zero carbon dioxide emissions. These benefits can also help to lower overall rising global temperatures.
 

Conclusion

Driving an electric car will have numerous benefits in Hawaii and anywhere else in the country. It will potentially save you thousands of dollars each year on gas costs and maintenance costs as well as having several other considerable financial benefits. Driving an electric vehicle will also allow you to do your part for the environment by limiting harmful greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emissions. If you need an electric car shipped to or from Hawaii, call the Hawaiian car shipping professionals at (808) 445-6695.