When is the Best Time to Buy Gas?

Even if you buy an inexpensive car to save money, gas prices can still break the bank. But did you know that filling up at certain times during the day and week may result in lower prices? Gas station managers might not want you to know that, but we're happy to share the information so you can save a few bucks.

Try filling up on Wednesdays. Oftentimes, gas stations will hike their prices beginning on Thursdays to take advantage of weekend travelers. Though this may not be true every single week, it is usually the case before a holiday weekend.

Whether you fill up on Wednesday or any other day, try doing so between 8 am and 10 am. Gas station managers often check the competition's prices in the morning and they're likely to raise their own prices between 10 am and noon if prices are trending upwards.

Apart from pumping gas at specific times, there are other ways to conserve gas and therefore save money. Try the following gas-saving tips:

• Lighten the load by removing anything from your car that isn't necessary, such as an empty rooftop carrier or camping equipment that was used a few weeks ago.
• Avoid sudden acceleration and deceleration; coast as much as possible.
• Ensure that your tires are inflated to the correct air pressure.
• Don't idle while parked. Turn off the ignition.
• When driving under 60 mph, turn off the air conditioning and roll down the windows to preserve gas. When driving over 60 mph, roll the windows back up for improved aerodynamics.
• Park in the shade when possible to limit gasoline evaporation.
• Form a carpool with neighborhood parents or nearby coworkers.

Learn about how you can save on coverage. Call Pickard Insurance Agency at (817) 461-4781 for more information on Arlington auto insurance.

5 Safety Tips for Your Teen Driver

Teenagers take pride in their first driver’s license, flashing it around like a badge of honor and bragging to friends new behind-the-wheel privileges. But this is a troublesome time for many parents, who worry about their children’s safety. Teens enjoy showing off and they also carry a misguided sense of invincibility, which, when paired, can lead to dangerous road behavior. In fact, car crashes are the leading cause of death for drivers between ages 15 and 20.

As a parent, you are your child’s first driving teacher. It’s important to lead by example, following safety precautions and traffic laws at all times while on the road. The values you instill in your teenager can guide his or her actions on the road and teaching your teen to drive safely can prevent him or her from becoming another tragic statistic. Keep an open line of communication between you and your teen as you teach him or her the following road safety tips:

• Buckle up: It’s been proven time and time again—seatbelts save lives. Every individual in the car should be buckled up. Also note that it’s not safe to pile more people into your car than you have seatbelts for.
• Follow the law: Traffic laws were created to keep everyone safe. Obey speed limits, lights and signs. Speeding is the leading cause of teenage accidents and it can easily be prevented.
• Prepare before driving: Get all of your gadgets situated before shifting into gear. Turn your music on, set you GPS and tuck away your phone. Playing with these devices distract your attention from the road, which could lead to dire consequences in as little as a few seconds.
• Avoid cell phone usage: Never text, surf the web or play games on your cell phone while driving. Even taking or making phone calls can quadruple your risk of crashing. If you absolutely must take a call, use a hands-free headset. Avoid having emotional conversations that may distract your attention while behind the wheel. 
• Always drive sober: Let’s face it—teenagers will party. Rather than telling them not to, explain the importance of choosing a designated driver. Your teen should never drive after drinking or using drugs, nor should he or she get in the car with a driver who has been drinking or using drugs. Encourage your teen to call home, at any hour, if a dangerous situation arises.
  

Insuring your teen driver adds another layer of protection. Call Pickard Insurance Agency at (817) 461-4781 for more information on Arlington auto insurance.

5 tricks to save on your car insurance

Here are 5 tips to save on your auto insurance.

1. Go online. Many carriers will give you a discounted rate for online applications because it is an automated process and costs them much less to process your application. Discounts of 5% to 10% are pretty common. Pickard Insurance can help you with that, contact us.

2. Comparison shop. Let us shop around for you! As an independent agent, we have access to a many of the best carriers and can get you the best rates. Most insurance companies will simply add or subtract after each question they ask you to calculate your insurance premium. We will take your information as a whole and find the best rate for you.

3. Bundle. Don’t stop at auto insurance. Many carriers will give you a discount if you have more than one policy with them. Let us shop your home, renters, or any other products you might need! You can save a substantial amount of money every month and we can do this for you at no cost.

4. Pay all at once. Insurance policies, like loans, will make you pay interest if you make monthly payments instead of paying the premium in full. Some carriers will even give you a discount for paying your policy up front. Look at all of your options, including a small loan to cover the premium. It could save you money in the long run.

5. Add safety devices to your car. Insurance premiums can go up for a number of reasons. Theft of your vehicle or vehicle break in’s can escalate that cost. Make sure your car has an alarm at a minimum. If it doesn’t, consider getting one from a local electronics store.
Theft of and from your vehicle plays a major role in the calculation of your insurance premium. Having an alarm or immobilizer fitted will give you a small discount to your premium and having a tracker fitted could also help with savings.

Contact us to for more information on money saving tips, or get an online Arlington car insurance quote.

Auto Insurance for Arlington, TX

Texas law requires people who drive in Texas to pay for the accidents they cause. Most drivers do this by buying automobile liability insurance.

Liability insurance pays to repair or replace the other driver’s car and pays other people’s medical expenses when you are at fault in an accident. It does not pay to repair or replace your car or for your injuries. Consider buying other types of coverage – such as personal injury protection or medical payments, collision, and comprehensive – to pay for these expenses.

Financial Responsibility

Most drivers buy liability insurance to meet the state’s financial responsibility law.  You must buy at least the minimum amount of coverage. The current minimum liability limits are $30,000 for each injured person, up to a total of $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. This basic coverage is called 30/60/25 coverage.

Because of car prices and the high cost of medical care, the minimum amounts might not be enough to pay all of the other driver’s costs if you’re in an accident. Other drivers could sue you to collect the difference. Consider buying more than the basic limits to protect yourself financially.

Breaking the Law

There are penalties for breaking the state’s financial responsibility law. A first conviction will result in a fine between $175 and $350. Additional convictions could result in fines of $350 to $1,000, suspension of your driver’s license, and impoundment of your car.
When you obtain an auto insurance policy, your insurance company will send you a proof-of-insurance card. You will need this card to prove that you have insurance when you

• are asked for it by a law enforcement officer
• have an accident
• register your car or renew its registration
• obtain or renew your driver’s license
• get your car inspected.

TexasSure

TexasSure is a verification system that lets law enforcement and county tax officials determine whether you have auto liability insurance. Police can use TexasSure when they pull you over to check if the car you’re driving has insurance.

TexasSure is intended to reduce the number of uninsured vehicles in Texas. An estimated 4 million vehicles – one in five – on Texas roads are uninsured. TexasSure also helps prevent the use of counterfeit proof of insurance cards and helps stop people from getting insurance so that they can get their car inspected or registered, and then cancelling their insurance afterward.

For more information, visit the TexasSure website www.TexasSure.com

Arlington, TX

Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas (USA) within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. According to the U. S Census Bureau's estimate, the city had a population of almost 374,000 at the end of 2011, making it the third largest municipality in the Metroplex. Arlington is the fiftieth most populous city in the United States of America and the seventh most populous city in the state of Texas; it is also the largest city in the state that is not a county seat.

Located approximately 12 miles (19 km) east of downtown Fort Worth and 20 miles (32 km) west of downtown Dallas, Arlington is home to the University of Texas at Arlington, a doctoral-granting institution, and a General Motors assembly plant. Additionally Arlington hosts the Texas Rangers' Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Cowboys Stadium, the International Bowling Campus (which houses the United States Bowling Congress, International Bowling Museum and the International Bowling Hall of Fame), the headquarters for American Mensa, and the theme parks Six Flags Over Texas (the original Six Flags) and Hurricane Harbor. The city borders Kennedale, Grand Prairie, Mansfield and Fort Worth, and surrounds the smaller communities of Dalworthington Gardens and Pantego. Arlington is the headquarters of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region IV.

Arlington is the largest city in the United States without a public transit system.

(Sources: TDI.Texas.gov and Wikipedia.org.)

Contact us today at (817) 460-0333 for an Arlington auto insurance quote.