Car Insurance

Every winter drivers should take active steps to protect their
car from road salt.

Road salt is necessary for safe transportation when snow and ice
accumulate on roads and highways and cause dangerous driving
conditions.

Salt was first used in the 1930’s in snow and ice control to make
roads safe and passable by creating a lower freezing temperature
of the water. It is the most available and cost-effective
de-icer. It is easy to store, handle, and apply.

Some 15 million tons of de-icing salt is used each year in the
U.S. and about 4-5 million in Canada.

Salt keeps snow and ice from bonding to the pavement and to allow
snowplows to remove accumulations quickly and efficiently.

Studies show that salt use reduces accidents by 88%.

Washing your car during wintertime is one of the best things you
can do to maintain the value of your car. Mud, salt, rain, sleet,
and snow can damage your car’s clear finish. Mud and salt caked
on the undercarriage promote rust, especially in older vehicles,
and can also affect how well your car drives.

To prevent winter damage, it is recommended that you wash your
vehicle every 10 days. Wash your vehicle whenever the temperature
is 40 degrees F. and above. Do it during the day so that it dries
completely before freezing evening temperatures begin.

Immediately after washing the vehicle, open and close all doors,
the trunk, and other parts of the car with locks several times
before parking it to prevent locks from freezing.

Always wash your car right after a snow or rain shower. Rain and
snow collect pollutants in the air and drop them as acid rain
which can damage the cars protective finish. Snow and sleet also
include the corrosive road salt.

Wash the underside of your car often during the winter months in
car washes that do not use recycled water.

Avoid driving through large puddles of standing water which is
saturated with road salt.

Any paint chips that are larger than the tip of a pen should be
taken care of immediately.

Wax your car at least every six months. Put a good heavy coat of
wax on your car before the winter storms hit. This heavy coat
will protect your paint from the corrosive salt and cold
temperatures.

More frequent waxes are needed if your car is red, black or white
because these colors are more susceptible to acid rain and UV
rays.

When spring time rolls around, treat your car to a good wax job
again. Be sure to remove all road grime and salt off of the car
before you begin waxing.