Safety Tips for New Drivers This Fall

As the summer of 2024 comes to a close in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, many people have nothing but one final camping trip on the brain. Or one final road trip. Or even one last dip in one of our many local lakes.

However, there are others that are focused only on going back to school, especially college and university students that are anxiously starting their first year away from home. And while they ensure they have everything they need to furnish their dorm, and everything they need to study their courses, one thing they often forget to check off their list is vehicle and driving safety practices.

That’s why today’s Cash For Cars BC blog post is about important safety tips for new drivers, as well as basic car care tips that help to prevent accidents and ensure your safety (and others) on the road this fall and winter season in the Lower Mainland.

Best Driving Practices for Lower Mainland Driving

If you’ve ever spent time in rush hour on Highway 1 between Coquitlam and Vancouver, you know that it is challenging, to say the least. However, if you’re a novice driver because you’re newly licensed, or new to the country, it may be a little overwhelming. Knowing how to drive safely in heavy traffic is critical in keeping you, your passengers, and other road users safe.

The best driving practices to stay safe on the roads and help keeps others safe too are:

• Increase your following distance
• Turn your lights on during rainy or foggy weather
• Use turn signals when changing position on the road
• Look far ahead while driving
• Come to a complete stop at 4-way stops
• Avoid speeding excessively
• Always check your blind spot before changing lanes
• Check your rearview mirror before coming to any sudden stops
• Obey street signs and traffic control indicators
• Side sweep intersections with your eyes before entering
• Don’t drive under the influence, or when drowsy or tired
• Leave your phone alone while driving
• Watch out for pedestrians
• Don’t drive when your emotions are running high

The very best way to stay safe while driving is to have a solid foundation in place on the way you think and react to what you encounter on the road. Taking a defensive driving course is a great idea for anyone learning to drive, or new to BC roads. You can also find many great tips directly through ICBC’s website on road safety and other important topics HERE.

Ways to Stay Safe on the Roads this Autumn in Metro Vancouver

One of the ways to prevent collisions is to make sure that you can clearly see where you are going. Instead of waiting for your windshield wipers to fail you in a crucial moment, take a second to check their condition once or twice a month.

When inspecting your wipers, make sure that they are firmly secured to the wiper arm. Also, make sure that the wiper blade itself isn’t flaking apart or missing portions of it.

And if everything else is intact, check to make sure that the wipers are clean. You can do this with a visual inspection, but also by taking a clean cloth and wiping it up and down the blade itself.

Inspect Your Tires For:

• Cracking or splitting
• Bulging
• Excessively worn tread
• Slow leaks
• Uneven tire wear

Checking your tires for imperfections is not only a great way to ensure you have the best control available to you on the road, it also helps indicate other potential mechanical problems. When you have uneven tire wear, it could indicate an issue with your suspension system, your alignment, CV joint issues, and a whole host of other major mechanical problems.

As a professional car buyer, Cash For Cars BC has seen it all. We frequently pay the MOST cash for cars with mechanical issues in Metro Vancouver. Moreover, many of the cars we buy with mechanical issues are purchased during the fall and winter months. Nothing brings out the worst in cars than cold weather, and Metro Vancouver gets a lot of it!

3. Keep Your Fluids Topped Up

There’s nothing worse than driving up Burnaby Mountain to SFU on a snowy day when the roads are slushy and you suddenly get splashed by a Coast Mountain Bus. Except for maybe not being able to see because you forgot to top up your washer fluid, and now can’t clear your windshield.

Washer fluid is essential when you live in a place that is notorious for heavy rainfall, snow, hail, and even falling ice from bridges like the Port Mann and the Golden Ears Bridge. When visibility is already at a low, making sure your windows are clear is pivotal in keeping you and other road users safe this fall.

Aside from keeping your washer fluid topped up, make sure your anti-freeze and oil are also kept at regular levels. This is important for several reasons.

If your oil or coolant levels are low, it could potentially indicate the following:

• That your engine is burning oil
• That your engine is leaking oil
• That you have a broken seal somewhere
• That you may need a head gasket replacement
• That your engine may need replacing

If your vehicle is showing signs of any kind of leak, it’s best to get it serviced promptly by a professional like our friends at The Garage- NAPA Pro in Burnaby. They can let you know if your vehicle needs an engine or head gasket replacement, as these are two of the most common reasons for oil and coolant leaks.

4. Do Periodic Pre-Trips on Your Car

For anyone who has ever driven a commercial vehicle, you probably already know that a pre-trip is a regular thing done to ensure that the vehicle is always running optimally and at its safest. However, this is something many vehicle owners who primarily use their vehicle for personal use rarely, if ever, do.

Performing a basic pre-trip on your car while away at school, before a road trip, or even randomly when you haven’t had your car serviced in a while, can prevent a lot of unexpected issues.

• When you do a pre-trip on your vehicle, be sure to check:
• Tires
• Fluids
• Wipers
• E-brake
• Lights & signals

Checking these few simple things will help ensure that whatever life throws your way on Metro Vancouver or Fraser Valley roadways, you’re prepared for it.

5. Wear Your Seatbelt!

This may seem silly, since it seems like today’s generation is much more safety-forward in their way of thinking, but we are going to be a parent here and just say it… Wear your seatbelt.

You might think that just because you are popping down to the corner store in your car that you don’t need to wear it, but you do. Some people even believe that they can reverse in their vehicle better if they just take off their seatbelt. However, the reality is that seatbelts save lives.

When you live or study in a city as big and busy as Vancouver, accidents are a common occurrence. Keeping your seatbelt on whenever you’re on the road is a simple way to protect yourself the most, with minimum effort.

The number of cars we buy with major collision damage would shock you. And while we are always happy to buy collision cars and ICBC write offs, we would be much happier if everyone could stay a little bit safer on Metro Vancouver roads 😉

Cash for Cars with Mechanical Issues in Metro Vancouver

Are you stressed because your vehicle needs a MAJOR repair like an engine replacement, transmission replacement, or head gasket replacement right before you’re going off to college or university for the first time? Don’t be! Because Cash For Cars BC buys vehicles of every make, model, and year, regardless of age or condition.

In fact, we pay the MOST cash for cars that need engines, transmission, head gasket, and even other things like electrical repairs, suspension or braking system repairs, and everything else you can think of. We know that the last thing you need is an added expense right before school starts, but Cash For Cars BC can help.

Talk to our team of used vehicle buyers and find out what your vehicle might be worth. You may think that because it needs thousands of dollars worth of repairs that you can’t sell it for a dime, but you might be surprised how much we pay for cars with mechanical problems. Plus, when you call us today, we can usually come see your car today. And once we see your car, we’ll make you an instant cash offer on it.

Furthermore, if your car is definitively scrap, we can provide you with an instant cash offer right over the phone. You can sell your car today and find something more reliable to drive all before getting back into your first class. Just give us a call to get a instant offer on your car, truck, SUV, or van today. NOBODY Pays More!

What Are the Best Ways to Stay Safe on the Road in BC?

There are many things to consider when trying to be the safest and most conscientious driver possible. However, despite our best efforts, it’s not only our driving habits and practices that increase or decrease the possibility of having an accident, but also others.

There are steps we can all take to help reduce the risk of breakdowns, of near misses, and of course, accidents. Avoiding collisions in particular starts with a solid foundation, which is your vehicle and the way you drive it. Not only that, but it’s also how we think about driving that prevents catastrophic situations.

One of the things you can do to help prevent accidents is by making yourself more visible on the road this fall and winter season. The majority of accidents happen in the colder seasons due to reduced visibility.

Ways to Make Yourself More Visible on the Road Include:

• Turning your lights on during rain and fog
• Keeping your lights on when it’s dawn or dusk
• Ensuring that your headlights are working
• Buying brighter head lights if yours are aging or dimmer than usual
• Having your vehicle serviced to check for any electrical issues that could cause dimming lights
• Buying reflective strips or glow in the dark tire valve covers
• Avoiding being in the blind spots of other people (using the “stagger” method while driving
• Making good eye contact at any intersections including where there are stop signs, crosswalks, or roundabouts

There are a million different ways to be a better driver or a more conscientious road user. But making sure that you can be seen is one of the best ways to help prevent accidents. And the number of collisions that happen in and around Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley is massive.

Fortunately, for many Lower Mainland residents, Cash For Cars BC offers the MOST cash for cars with collision damage as well. That’s right, we don’t just buy vehicles in good or great condition. We also buy vehicles with collision damage, mechanical issues, electrical problems, and even pay the MOST cash for cars written off by ICBC.

Wondering If It’s Time to Sell Your Car?

If driving your vehicle gives you more anxiety than leaving home for the first time and facing exams, it might be time to sell it. And as a parent of a young adult who is heading off to college or university, it goes without saying that you want your child to be safe.

That’s why if the vehicle they are driving is starting to have signs of wear, tear, and increasing mechanical or electrical problems, it may be time to get them into something newer, and safer.

Newer vehicles have more safety features, and we’re not just talking about crumple zones or additional airbags. When you buy a new vehicle, they typically come standard now with backup cameras, lane assist features, alarms for when objects are approaching your vehicle, and side-mirror indicators that let you know when another vehicle is passing you.

If your child has been living somewhere like the Fraser Valley their whole life, but are suddenly going off to live on campus at UBC, wouldn’t you like the peace of mind knowing that they will be safe driving on busier roads in a city they are unfamiliar with? Well, that starts with not just how they drive, but what they are driving.

How Do I Know If My Car is Bad?

You may need to consider switching to a newer vehicle if your car is having mechanical or electrical problems. Although increasing gas mileage is also something aging vehicles face. And while that isn’t necessarily a safety hazard, it’s inconvenient and costly.

When you’re paying tuition, rent, living expenses, and textbook fees, saving money anywhere is important. However, worsening gas mileage can also be a sign that your vehicle has some major mechanical issues coming up, so selling it before that happens is always a good idea.

And at Cash For Cars BC, we buy vehicles with mechanical issues, electrical problems, or even vehicles that seem in great shape, but have their age stacked against them for a private sale.

Signs You May Want to Sell Your Car Include:

• Worsening gas mileage
• Leaking or burning oil
• Worsening performance
• Random stalling
• Hard starts
• Shaky steering wheel while driving or braking
• Rough idling
• Check engine light is on
• Car pulling to one side or the other

Cash For Cars BC has been buying cars in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, and Vancouver Island since 1998. Over the years, we’ve seen it all, and these are just some of the most common indicators that your vehicle is getting close to its expiry date.

There are many other problems that also indicate mechanical or electrical failure. And if you don’t want to spend thousands of dollars to diagnose it and repair it, talk to our car buying team today. We can help you discern whether or not it’s practical to repair your car and keep driving it, or if you should sell it to Cash For Cars BC and get yourself into something new.

Sell Your Car to Cash For Cars BC Today

If you’re considering selling your car in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, or on Vancouver Island, consider Cash For Cars BC. We have over 30 years of experience buying used cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, and motorcycles for the MOST cash in the Lower Mainland.

To find out what your vehicle might be worth, simply give our car buying team a quick call or send us a text. Provide us with the make, model, year, condition, mileage, and location of your vehicle. Then, we will book an in-person appointment to see your car firsthand. But don’t worry, our car buyers always come to you. And we are more than happy to come to your home, school, or work to do the appraisal.

Once we see your car in person, we will make you an instant cash offer on the spot. If you accept our offer, we’ll fill out the paperwork, hand you over your cash payment, then leave with your vehicle. From start to finish the entire process can take as little as 20 minutes.

If you want a quick and easy way to sell your car for the MOST cash, sell it to Cash For Cars BC. We handle all the paperwork, we come to you, and NOBODY Pays More!