When the winter arrives, the roads begin to crack up and everything just becomes a touch more dangerous. Harsh and damaging weather will leave you in a tight spot most of the time, and being ready to deal with the damage that can take place to your car due to road negligence and element-based damage is very important.

However, you can put yourself in a position whereby such issues aren’t quite the melodrama that they feel like. Indeed, many people prepare accordingly for the challenge of winter by investing in an emergency car kit to deal with the problems ahead. If you are serious about making winter viable, then we recommend you get an emergency car kit and include the following in there:

All-Season Servicing
One of the most important changes you can make comes from using an all-season servicing. This is usually a mix of anti-freeze and coolant, and is vital for making sure that your vehicle has the right fluids. Having some of this as part of your car kit – with regular usage throughout the winter – can help to stop many of the problems dead in its tracks. Checking things like fuel levels, oil levels, tire pressure tread depth, brake fluid levels, heater capacity and fluid checks are all vital parts of general car safety in the winter.

What else do you need?

• Jumper Cables. An essential add-on to anyone’s collection, jumper cables will make your life much easier in general. Investing in a pair of very useful, but make sure you buy good ones; the cheap ones will break down when you need them most. Jumper cables are essential for making sure you can get back on the road when you break down.

• Flashlight. Nice and simple, a flashlight will stop you from being left in the dark in the dead of winter.

• Tire Changers. Include a jack and a lug wrench in your set and you can make sure you can change a flat tire if you need to. If you aren’t capable of changing a tire, then use this pre-winter period to learn!

• Spare Gas. Get a 2-5l gas can and make sure it’s filled up and easily stored away without the chance for spillage. It can be the difference between home and hospital.

• Tool kit. Anything with pliers, a screwdriver, from vice grips, an adjustable wrench and a pressure checker is vital.

• First aid. If you are in an incident, a first aid kit can make sure you aren’t going to be in major trouble.

• Fuses. Invest in some spare car fuses; they can make a massive difference if it happens to blow on the go.

• Escape tools. From a window breaker to a seatbelt slicer, you should look to invest in these for added safety when in an emergency.

With the above, you should find it easier to fight the horrible grasp of winter and stay fighting fit.

When it comes to picking the ideal car for your needs, knowing where to start the search always helps. Today, though, most people usually don’t have the cash spare or the immaculate financial profile needed to land a loan today. To help you out of that problem, you can find all the help that you need waiting for you with a lease.

Car leasing is much more affordable, flexible and generally beneficial than buying a car outright. It removes all the stress about handling repairs and makes sure you can concentrate on being an insured, fully taxed member of the roads with a car that isn’t going to fail on you or come with a nasty post-purchase surprise.

While the expense of early lease termination can be insane, a good lease – if picked right – can be a major benefit to you. to help you make the right call, then, let’s take a look at the various benefits of securing a lease. Shortly, you’ll start to wonder why you fretted about being vetted for a loan!

Turn It Over
The best part of any lease is the fact that when the lease ends, if you take on a new one you just hand the car over and get a replacement. No messing around with an old model that needs work and having to take huge financial hits to pay for it. You can avoid all of that – and then some – by using a lease.

The days of having your money and car value torn away from you because of the changing of time and a minor malfunction costing you hundreds in fees and weeks of time.

Less Expensive
From managing the taxation side of things to the actual up-front cash outlay – even the monthly costs and maintenance fees – having a lease car is gloriously affordable. They make it much more effective for you to get a car that you can believe in and enjoy driving, while knowing you won’t be put off the road by some weird error that you cannot afford to pay for to correct.

The cost of a lease is smaller than a loan, and your car is likely to be much more affordable in the grand scheme of things.

New Models
With a lease, you get a new model when you renew your lease. This means a new car every 2-4 years, allowing you to build up a really nice collection of cars in a short space of time. Add in the fact that the lower overall price means you can lease something a bit more grandiose than you could buy, and it becomes much easier to see why people love a lease today.

If you want to get on the roads and to make your driving experience as safe as possible, a lease makes perfect sense. The lack of down payments, lower overall cost, greater selection, easier management and constant renewal will ensure you see a wholesale change in how you thought about the entirety of the driving scene once and for all!

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To ensure the safety of you and your car, then there is a need to perform brake checks annually. The inspection should include checking the brake fluid level, lining wear, rotor thickness as well as brake lines and hoses’ condition. A test drive may also be done in order to detect other problems with the car’s brake.

In North America, thousands of brakes on trucks are inspected annually. It is conducted with the help of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. During the annual Brake Safety Week, 6 items are inspected including the brake drums, linings, loss rate, leaks, air, and tractor protection system, adjustment low air warning device pushrod travel, the vehicle’s registration and the driver’s license. Nevertheless, the annual Brake Safety Week does not only involve the inspection of trucks but it also involves educating the drivers when it comes to adjusting the brakes.

All in all, the main goal of the annual Brake Safety Week is to ensure vehicle and driver safety. So, they have also handed out educational materials to fleets and drivers. With these actions taken by the federal government, there is a need for fleets and driver to pay close attention to the replacement of their vehicles brake lining performance and at the same time, their RSD compliance. There is also a need for them to protect the air system of the vehicle from contamination as it is crucial for maintaining an effective and safe air brake system.

Now, what about the vehicles of the motor carriers that are registered in the state where an inspection program is mandated but is not used in the state? Are the vehicles required to be inspected? In this case, there is a need for the motor carrier to undergo the program of the state just so they would be able to satisfy the requirements of the Federal government. Nevertheless, there are also states where there are exemptions when it comes to the inspection process. For example, there are States that accepts self-inspection, a periodic inspection, CVSA or Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance inspection.

So, is there a specific location where the decal, sticker or other documentation form should be placed? According to the rules, there are no specific requirements when it comes to this matter. However, it is the driver’s responsibility to present it when the officials are asked to present it.

To sum this article up, annual brake checks are good for the reason that the signs of brake problems can be discovered early. This also means that the drivers can protect themselves from experiencing brake failure while they are driving their vehicle. In other words, the process of inspecting vehicles is one way of ensuring that they are in safe working condition before the driver starts their adventure on the road. After all, for sure, there is no one who would want to encounter any car problem, especially if they need to go somewhere urgently or when they are far from an auto repair shop

We’ve all seen it – people absolutely losing it at the traffic lights. People getting out of their cars and genuinely having a fight in the middle of the street. It might not seem likely, but the convenience of a car seems to bring out all of our rage. When we can’t get where we want, when we want, it can bring out the worst in even the nicest of people. If you are worried about road rage or you have got yourself into this pickle in the past, here are some of the easiest and most effective ways to avoid road rage.

• Be The Bigger Person. If someone is tailgating you, the last thing you need to do is start roaring at them from the driver’s seat. Concentrate on the road and if it’s really bothering you, move over and let them in command. It’s not worth the stress or getting into a fight over: just remember that you don’t do that kind of thing. If you find yourself in a situation like this, it’s always better to give the quick wave of apology and move on: who wants to get into a roadside battle, anyway?

• Concentrate On Yourself. Speaking of which, it’s easier to stay calm on the roads if you accept that not everyone is a great driver. If you pay attention to your own driving and are cautious at all times, then you don’t need to let the bad drivers annoy you or put you off. Be more conscious about yourself in terms of time-keeping, too; it’s not someone else’s fault that you are 15 minutes late and now need to make up time on the motorway!

• Who’s At Fault? Most road rage stems from either misreading a situation or trying to save face and avoid embarrassment. You should therefore take the time that you need to be more careful about how you drive and where you drive. Had a stand-off with another driver? Perhaps ask yourself what role you played in that happening, and whether or not you could have done more to prevent it.

• Don’t Honk. Honking is something that you should use for emergencies – avoiding hitting someone or something, that kind of thing. Honking at a driver who wasn’t perfect is poor form, and just creates aggravation and anger among other drivers. Don’t drive around honking the horn at people who are slightly out of sync: it’s going to make you look the bad guy and probably make you come across as quite boorish and arrogant.

• Avoid Eye-Contact. Eyes on the road, not the daft driver! Always take your time when driving to go around corners accordingly and to make sure that you are consistently on track when it comes to driving. Again, the best thing that you can do is pay attention to yourself.

With this in mind, you can hopefully find that life is a touch more serene on the roads. A touch of self-reflection and patience alongside calming, relaxing music helps, too. Just remember that road rage won’t make you or the other person a better driver!

You’ve taken the plunge and brought home your shiny new car. It’s a thing of beauty which you’ll be admiring for a while every time you see it. You’ll likely be hearing advice from friends and neighbors who stop by to see your new ride. Here are a few tips to take care of your new vehicle.

Performing simple preventative maintenance on your vehicle will go a long way toward protecting your vehicle investment

Brakes
New brake pads on new brake rotors don’t really require a break-in procedure. The texture deliberately left on the surface of the iron discs will grind down the fresh surface of the pad material within a few miles. Even so, refrain from high-speed stops or dragging the brakes for a few hundred miles.

Oil
Change the oil regularly.

Interior
A generous dousing of Scotchgard or a similar protectant on the cloth upholstery and carpets will keep dirt, pollen and mildew from clinging.

Exterior
Protect the paint surface from harsh environmental elements and prevent premature aging with a car wax, paint protectant or paint sealant.

You’ve taken the plunge and brought home your shiny new car. It’s a thing of beauty which you’ll be admiring every time you see it. You’ll likely be hearing advice from friends and neighbors who stop by to see your new ride.
A little care goes a long way.
Performing simple preventative maintenance on your vehicle will go a long way toward protecting your vehicle investment, Here are a few tips from Novato Chevrolet to take care of your new vehicle. 

Brakes
New brake pads on new brake rotors don’t really require a break-in procedure. The texture deliberately left on the surface of the iron discs will grind down the fresh surface of the pad material within a few miles. Even so, refrain from high-speed stops or dragging the brakes for a few hundred miles.

Oil
Change the oil regularly as soon as 3000 miles.

Interior
A generous dousing of Scotchgard or a similar protectant on the cloth upholstery and carpets will keep dirt, pollen and mildew from clinging.

Exterior
Protect the paint surface from harsh environmental elements and prevent premature aging with a car wax, paint protectant or paint sealant.

We are pleased to announce Candice Youngman as the Employee Spotlight this month. Candice is our Business Development Center & Customer Experience Manager here at Novato Chevrolet. Candice has been with our store since February 1st, 2017 and we are excited to have her on the team. She is often the first contact with customers shopping online and has a great attitude.
Her positive attitude is apparent and it’s no surprise her favorite motto is ‘Causing Excellence’. When asked what she is proudest of, she answers- ‘Finding the gift in seemingly unfortunate situations essentially turning lemons into lemonade!’
When Candice isn’t working she is spending time with her dog Hannah, hanging out with friends or enjoying a fancy spa. She also enjoys travel and dance. As far her local favorites-she loves to hike the trails in Marin especially Big Trees Trail and visits Limantour Beach often for the ocean views.
Of course we had to ask which Chevy is her favorite and she answered, “Little Red Corvette”.
One thing people would be surprised to know is her nickname is the Juicetress. She’s been making smoothies and juices since 1978! Hippocrates “Let thy food be thy medicine” is one of my favorite and most used quotes.

The 2017 Chevy Bolt EV has great range of 200 miles from an electric battery and is priced less than the average new car. It’s a great option for getting around town. A floor-mounted battery powers a 200-hp electric motor; in our testing, we recorded 96 MPGe and a 75-mph highway range of 190 miles. It rides well over rough roads and acceleration is great, launching the car to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds. The cabin has a 10.2-inch touchscreen and a driver-facing 8.0-inch digital gauge cluster. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 4G LTE Wi-Fi are available.

From a beautifully sculpted exterior to its impressive performance, spacious interior and advanced technologies, Bolt EV has completely reinvented what an electric vehicle can be. Want proof? Bolt EV was named Motor Trend’s 2017 Car of the Year.®

We have plenty in stock, view our inventory here.

The holiday season often includes driving to visit friends and family in the Novato area. It also means heavy road traffic and sometimes weather can throw a wrench into the most well-planned trip. Also, this year’s low gas prices mean many people will probably choose to drive this holiday season so stay alert while driving and learn to spot and avoid hazards using these tips. These driving tips can help you motor with confidence this holiday season.

Use Defensive Driving Tips
Defensive driving means taking reasonable action to prevent a collision. But defensive driving starts before you even get on the road. Checking weather and road conditions in advance helps you plan a route and know what to expect along the way. It’s also important to pack the car with basic supplies. A first aid kit, flares, snacks and blankets ensure you’re ready for emergencies on long drives.

1. Checking your mirrors every three to five seconds and continuously scanning ahead for possible dangers.

2. During heavy traffic, keep a safe distance from other vehicles and give yourself ample response time by slowing your speed.

3. Look for signs of impaired, distracted and even aggressive driving and develop techniques like deep breathing to keep calm under pressure.