Archive for August, 2008

The Cost of Honesty

Tuesday, August 19th, 2008

These days, it’s hard to find a service that is based on honesty. Most businesses are just trying to make a buck from the average consumers. But at Honest Auto Estimates, we base our entire business model on being honest with you.

But do you want to know what the best part of our honesty is? The price. That’s right. We will give you an honest auto estimate (just like our name implies) for less than six bucks. Simple tell us the parts your car needs and what repairs need to be done and for $5.99, we’ll tell you about how much it should cost to get everything done.

There aren’t too many things you can get for $5.99 anymore. I think you can still get a pretty big coffee at Starbucks for the price of an honest auto estimate. In some places, a gallon of milk is about the same price as an honest auto estimate, too. But getting your car fixed at an honest price is absolutely priceless. And yet you can get that honest price for $5.99!

The next time you’re considering getting some work done on your car, check with us. We even have several repair shops that we work with that will go by our estimate so you know you’re paying for what your car needs and nothing more. Try our service out today and feel better about getting repairs!

Tags:
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

7 “Must-Haves” to Keep in Your Glove Box

Tuesday, August 19th, 2008

1. Current Insurance Papers

Each time you receive new insurance and registration papers, throw out the old and keep the new in your glove box. A clear plastic envelope or bag keeps them neat and easy to access.

2. State Emissions Form

If your state requires environmental emissions checks, make sure you keep your most recent form handy as proof your vehicle passed the tests.

3. Auto Club Membership

If you belong to an auto club, keep the membership in your glove box. After all, your vehicle is the only place you will need this. It’s also a good idea to keep one of the membership cards in your wallet in case you lock your keys in the car. Of course, keeping an extra car key in your wallet is an even better idea!

4. List of Emergency Phone Numbers

Sure, you have them in your cell, but what if you don’t have your phone with you when you find yourself in an accident? If you keep a list of emergency phone numbers in your glove box, you’ll still have the numbers you need.

5. Disposable Camera

Again, you may have a camera in your cell phone, but it’s still a good idea to keep a disposable camera in your glove box. It can be absolutely invaluable in an accident as you may need photos as proof for your insurance company or even in court.

6. Pad of Paper and Pens

A small pad of paper and a few pens don’t take up much room in the glove box and they can be used for writing down the details of an accident or for quick directions without a GPS.

7. Extra Parking/Toll Change

Keeping some emergency money out of sight in the glove box is a great idea in case parking fees are more than you thought or you hit an unexpected toll. If you use the change for an “emergency” Big Mac one day, just remember to replenish the fund when you can!

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Are Prepaid Maintenance Plans a Good Idea?

Tuesday, August 19th, 2008

Prepaid maintenance plans are some of the newest service plans that are available to you from many auto dealers. At first glance, they seem like a great idea. But after researching them, are they the best option for your needs? Following are some things to consider about prepaid maintenance plans to see if you should get one with your next car purchase.

Know that these plans are not extended warranties. Prepaid maintenance plans typically cover scheduled services recommended in the vehicle’s manual. Tune ups, oil changes, tire rotations and other services are often covered at the recommended intervals as long as the plan you choose covers that time period. For instance, if you choose a three-year and 36,000 mile prepaid plan, it won’t cover a tune up that is recommended for 75,000 miles.

Some prepaid service plan prices are negotiable. Do some calculations and decide how much it would cost to get these scheduled services done. Once you know about how much the services would cost, you can often negotiate the price with your dealer before you buy the plan.

Prepaid maintenance plans have other conveniences. Do you hate waiting in line to pay your service bill? With a prepaid service plan, everything is usually taken care of so you can just get it done and drive away.

There’s no simple answer to the question, “Is a prepaid maintenance plan right for me?” It’s up to you to do the calculations and determine if it’s worth it to you. But knowing a few facts about them can help you make your decision.

Tags:
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »