Most of the time, teen drivers are ready to hit the road as soon as they get their license.  However, there is a growing body of evidence that shows the importance of limiting when and where they drive as well as how many people are in the vehicle with them.

These restrictions might dramatically reduce the occurrences of the teen being involved in an accident.  Adults need to keep in mind that they are the ones who hold the keys and have the power to set limitations.

Which restrictions are important though?  How should they be enforced?

Know the Law

Many of the states have a system for licenses that is graduated.  This limits when the teen can drive and even how many people can be in the vehicle when they are driving.  Parents need to not only know these rules, but also enforce them.

Restrict Night Driving

Around 40% of all teen crashes involving fatalities occur at night.  This makes it imperative to limit the driving a teen does once the sun goes down.  Many states set a curfew for teen drivers but some of the are not until after midnight.  Consider setting an earlier time for your teen.

Limit Passengers

There have been studies that show that the more people there are in a vehicle, the higher the chances are of there being a crash.  This is because rowdy passengers can be distracting.  Also, other teens might try to talk the driver into taking chances.

Once you have all of that down, it is imperative that your insurance coverage is adequate for the laws in Laurel, MD regarding teen drivers.  Review your current policy through Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial to make sure that you have the proper amount of coverage in the event that the unthinkable happens.

The moment you experience a fender bender in Maryland, you want to be on the lookout for fraud. There’s a lot that you can do to prevent it from happening. Even if you don’t think it’s a fraudulent situation, it’s always better to err on the side of caution.

Some people see a fender bender as a chance to make some money. They may want to get a lawyer involved at some point and sue for pain and suffering. Most likely, when you get out of the car, they are going to be super nice. They want to get your insurance information and not make a fuss with the police.

However, not involving the police is a huge mistake. You want to make sure a report is made regarding the extent of damage. A light impact is not going to result in major injury. If you don’t have a police report, the “injured” party may show up with all sorts of false claims in court – and this can be prevented easily enough.

A person may also have a story that constantly changes. There is a saying “the truth never changes” and this is generally true. However, when someone is trying to commit fraud with a fender bender, their story is constantly going to change and it may be difficult for them to remember the details.

You can make sure the details are remembered by taking photos of the accident, including photos of their license plate and all of the damage. This will make sure that the proper picture can be painted if the case ends up inside of a courtroom.

Learn more about auto insurance options by contacting our independent insurance agents at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial. We are knowledgeable and look forward to helping you find the right policy.

Even though gas prices have been down from their record highs of a few years ago, it’s still important to limit your gas expenses as much as possible.  One of the best ways to do this is to stop buying premium gasoline.

For many years, premium gasoline was sold as a product that would help you to prolong the life of your vehicle.  Supposedly, this gasoline was particularly pure, preventing a build-up of impurities on your engine.  Multiple studies have shown, however, that there is virtually no advantage to using premium gasoline in most vehicles.

The truth of the matter is that in most vehicles, any “impurities” are burned up along with the gasoline.  While some sports cars may have power trains that consume fuel at lower temperatures (thus making it necessary to use premium gasoline), if your owner’s manual doesn’t call for premium gasoline, then you can save a lot of money by filling your tank with regular.

It should be noted that there isn’t much environmental advantage to using premium gasoline.  Carbon emissions are caused from burning the carbon in the gasoline.  There is virtually no difference in the carbon between regular and premium gasoline.  The only way to reduce your car’s carbon footprint is to drive it less.

If you’re looking for more ways to bring your transportation costs down, you may want to think about calling the agents at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial.  They’re experts at finding their customers discounts on their auto insurance.  It may be possible for you to save hundreds of dollars a year on a new policy, or get a discount to save on your current policy.

Washing your car once a week is the best way to prevent a buildup of surface contaminants before they can damage the paint. Whether you park your car in the garage or on the street in Laurel, MD, it is still subjected to environment contaminants that quickly ruin the look of your car, but these top car cleaning tips will help keep your car looking and smelling new.

The Exterior
It is important never to wash your car in the direct sunlight because it can cause streaking and dried soap may leave permanent markings.

• Start by spraying the vehicle with a hose to remove any loose debris, dust and dirt.
• While the car is still wet, use a soft sponge and warm soapy water to wash the exterior paint. Start on the top of the vehicle and work your way done.
• Thoroughly rinse away the soap and dry with a soft microfiber cloth.
• Remember to clean thoroughly the tires and wheel wells.

The Interior

• Using a safe leather cleaner, start with the dashboard and work your way down to the console and steering wheel.
• Use a damp cloth to clean the inside of the doors, door handles and locks.
• Using a vacuum cleaner, start with the inside roof and work your way done. Pay close attention to the seats by making sure you vacuum inside the crevices. Remember to remove the floor mats and vacuum the floor thoroughly.
• Clean the inside of the windows first using a soft cloth and vinegar/water. Dry thoroughly and continue to the outside of the windows and the mirrors.
• To keep your car smelling fresh, stash a few fabric softener sheets under each seat.

Top Car Cleaning Tips include maintaining the paint, so you should attempt to wax and polish the exterior about once each month. It is also suggested that you clean the inside of and around the hood about every three months. Clean up fluid spills as soon as they happen to prevent a buildup of oil and grease around the motor.

One of the most important things you can do to keep your car in the best shop possible is to ensure you have sufficient insurance. Laurel, MD drivers, should contact Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial for a new insurance policy or review your current policy.

Situated directly between the metropolises of Baltimore and Washington, D.C. is Laurel, Maryland, a small town of just over 25,000 people, many of which commute to these larger cities for work. If you’re one of those people who commute, you will probably spend a lot of money on gas since you will be driving so much. So here are some tips for getting great gas mileage if you live in Laurel, Maryland.

KEEP YOUR TIRES PROPERLY INFLATED

Tires with low air pressure will force your car to work harder when driving and cause you to get much worse gas mileage. So keeping them properly inflated is something that will take very little time and save you a lot of money.

PURCHASE A GAS EFFICIENT AUTOMOBILE

Buy a hybrid or a smaller car that gets excellent MPG, as this will literally double your gas mileage when compared to bigger cars that aren’t built to be fuel efficient. Unless your livelihood requires you to have a truck or haul a lot of people or things, you really don’t need a big car, as they get terrible gas mileage and are more expensive to purchase in the first place. Also, make sure you have the right insurance for this vehicle, regardless of what you buy.Maryland state law requires all drivers to have a minimum amount of insurance that pays $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident of bodily injury damage, $15,000 worth of property damage and the same coverage for uninsured motorist protection, in case the person who collides with you is illegally driving with no insurance themselves. Therefore, it’s important to not only have the right amount of insurance while driving in Maryland through a company like Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial who serves the Laurel area, but also to budget for this added cost to your monthly car bill.

DON’T ACCELERATE TOO QUICKLY

Gunning it off the line and speeding well over the speed limit lead to a higher expenditure of gas, in turn leading to terrible gas mileage. Refrain from doing this and you will be amazed by the results.

Do you love your motorcycle? Unfortunately, you may not be the only one.

Motorcycle theft is a common occurrence in the United States, and any bike that isn’t securely anchored to the ground — and even some that are — are vulnerable to being stolen. Popular sport-style motorcycles can be easily loaded into vans, trucks and trailers, and all kinds of bikes can be hotwired and driven away. Motorcycle theft peaks in the summertime when the weather is nice and more people are riding. Some motorcycles are stolen by joyriders, but most are taken to be broken down and sold for parts. Trained thieves can swipe your bike faster than you can use a gas station’s restroom.

Fortunately, you have options. These five tips can help prevent thieves from getting away with your motorcycle.

1) Use Two Disc Locks… with Alarms

Disc locks are great deterrents to keep criminals from riding off on your motorcycle. Buy two brands of disc locks and use one on each wheel. Also, only use disc locks with built-in alarms. This will alert anyone nearby that your bike is being tampered with.

2) Anchor Your Bike

Use a high-quality chain and U-lock to anchor your motorcycle to a light pole, a tree, or even your friend’s bike. Anchor your motorcycle even when parked in your garage at home. Also, make sure your lock is tightly suspended in the air so thieves can’t get leverage to easily break it.

3) Don’t Try to Hide Your Bike in Public

When parking in public places, you may be tempted to conceal your bike between larger vehicles or behind buildings. Don’t. You’re much better off leaving your bike in a well-lit area where it’s in plain sight of as many people as possible.

4) Get a Bike Cover

Don’t help criminals by showing them whether your motorcycle is what they’re after. Cover your bike whenever possible. This is especially important if you don’t have a garage.

5) Use a Tracking System

Vehicle tracking systems like LoJack are highly effective in helping police recover stolen vehicles. If a thief does manage to steal your motorcycle, a vehicle tracking system can be the difference in reclaiming your bike before it’s scrapped and sold.

Don’t get caught without motorcycle insurance coverage that might help protect you from financial loss. Contact Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial and see how much you could save with a policy.