When you are on the road anything could happen. You could break down and be stranded along the side of the road with your family. If this has never happened to you, then consider yourself fortunate. However, you should prepare yourself just in case you become disabled on the side of the road in Arlington, Texas. The following are some tools that will help you get back up and running safely

Tool #1. Have a regular-sized tire in case of a blowout.

Many car manufacturers provide you with a spare tire just in case you experience a blowout or a flat while you are driving. Although these tires will help you get to safety, doesn’t it make sense to replace it once? Before you have a flat tire, purchase a regular tire and replace it with the smaller tire that comes with your car. By doing this, you can ensure that your family is safe if you ever need to replace your tire.

Tool #2. Have a tire jack handy.

Since there is a chance you will experience a flat, you should make sure you have the ability to change it. Purchase a tire jack that is sturdy and capable of lifting your car without placing you in danger. You can get a durable tire jack from your local auto parts supplier. It’s important to purchase a jack with all the necessary parts, such as a lug wrench and other things you will need to change your tire.

Tool #3. A speed charger for your battery

During the colder months, the weather can wreak havoc on your battery. It’s possible for the cold weather to kill your battery, preventing you from getting to work. However, if you have a battery charger that powers your battery quickly, you can reduce the time your vehicle is down and possibly make it to work on time.

At Strack Insurance Services, we want you to always be safe while you are on the road. In addition to having an essential toolkit, you should also have the right auto insurance coverage for your care while you are driving. You can visit our website to narrow down the choices for auto insurance coverage, and then call us when you are ready to make a purchase.

The old saying, "Never a borrower or lender be," applies to lending or borrowing a vehicle. What may seem like an innocent thing to do, such as lending a car to a friend, may expose you to excessive liability when something goes wrong, and they have a car accident while driving your vehicle. The reverse is also true, you may borrow another person’s car, and then when you get in an accident have all kinds of unexpected problems, when you are without adequate auto insurance coverage.

Here are some important considerations, when borrowing or lending a vehicle, recommended by Strack Insurance Services:

1. Check Auto Insurance Coverage – Auto insurance policies are very specific about what they cover and what they do not. It is important to read the policy language carefully in regards to what happens when another person is the driver instead of the primary insured person(s) named in the policy.
2. There is Difference Between an Occasional Driver and a Driver that Must Be on the Auto Policy – Most, but not all, auto insurance policies cover the use of a vehicle by an occasional driver. The definition of "occasional," differs for each insurance company and may be subject to interpretation. Any use of a vehicle on a regular basis, even if infrequent, is not an occasional driver. Typically, this issue comes up, regarding parents letting their teenagers "borrow" the car. Teenagers who use the family car need to be on the auto policy as designated drivers. This causes auto premiums to go up, but you need this coverage if you let any teenager drive your car.
3. My Friend Wrecked My Car, Can I Be Sued? – The answer is yes. Because Texas is an "at-fault" state regarding auto accidents, the owner of a vehicle may become a party in any lawsuit when the vehicle is involved in an accident caused by the driver of the vehicle, no matter who that person is.

If you have trouble understanding your auto insurance policy regarding these issues, ask your insurance agent at Strack Insurance Services to explain the details.