Recent Puerto Rico Shipping News

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When you might need to drive in reverse
Safety advice for driving in reverse
Wrapping up
 

When you might need to drive in reverse

There are multiple instances where you may need to drive in reverse in Puerto Rico. These include backing out of your driveway or a parking space, if you are parallel parking, if you are making a three-point turn, if you are possibly avoiding an obstacle in the road and more. What is most important when you are operating your vehicle in reverse is that you do so slowly and safely each and every time.
 

Safety advice for driving in reverse

Being safe when you are driving in reverse is likely a bit more complex than you might think. The most important part of being safe while you go in reverse is that you check all of your mirrors, rearview camera (if you have one) and look directly backward before you even start driving in reverse. When you start in reverse, do so by taking your foot off of the brake without accelerating as this will ensure that you do not accelerate too quickly. It will also free up a quicker reaction to brake if need be.

When you are reversing, take some quick peeks at your side mirrors to ensure you still have space. If you are getting close to an object behind you and are unsure if you will hit it soon, put your car into park and get out and check. Finally, pay no attention to impatient drivers nearby. It is better to hear some honks than it is to end up hitting something or someone.
 

Wrapping up

In Puerto Rico, you will inevitably need to reverse or “back-up” at certain points when you are driving. The most important thing to do when reversing is that you do so with extreme caution in order to avoid hitting another car or pedestrian. To reverse with complete safety, you must check your mirrors and turn your head to look behind you before you start. You must also make sure that you do not do so too quickly. If you ever need your car transported to Puerto Rico from the United States or you need your car transported to the United States from Puerto Rico, do not hesitate to give our car shipping experts a call at (904) 322-7644!

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Security measures
Safe places to park
Wrapping up
 

Security measures

Preventing car theft is much more effective, inexpensive and less time consuming than recovering a stolen car is. That is why you must take every possible step in order to stop the theft of your vehicle before it even occurs. This goes for anywhere you are, not just in Puerto Rico. You can start with the free and simple steps. This will include never leaving your keys in or on your car, always keeping your doors locked, always keeping your windows closed when you are not in the car, and parking in a safe area which we will go more into later. You can also choose to get an additional security system installed.

In terms of added security systems there will be two main types, an immobilizer system and a tracking system. Typically, an immobilizer system will include a tracking system the not the other way around. We do recommend that you go with a security system for your vehicle that has both. This is because an immobilizer is used to disable your vehicle wherever it is once you notify the security company that your car has been stolen. A tracking system will obviously track your car after it has been stolen. With both, you simply stand the best chance of recovery. Keep in mind these systems can cost a bit of money. Typically, getting an additional security system for your vehicle will cost somewhere around two hundred dollars or so in 2021.
 

Safe places to park

As we mentioned above, where you park your vehicle will come into play in terms of preventing theft. If at all possible, try not to park in highly populated areas like San Juan. If you do have to park in a city with lots of people, try to park in a garage. If you are relegated to parking on the street, park in a well-lit area that has a lot of foot traffic and potential witnesses around. You can also be proactive if you are going to park in a big city and look up online where the safest places to park will be.
 

Wrapping up

Getting your car stolen is awful. It will end up costing you time and money. There is a decent chance that you might not even get your car back at all. If that is the case your insurance will cover most of the loss but likely not the full value of the vehicle. This is exactly why you must do everything within your power to prevent car theft from occurring in the first place. This includes keeping your doors locked, getting a security and tracking system as well as parking your car in places where it is least likely to be stolen.

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Getting a convertible washed at the car wash
Washing a convertible yourself
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Getting a convertible washed at the car wash

Many people in Puerto Rico choose to drive convertibles due to the beautiful climate and weather. However, you will need still need to get your convertible washed from time to time. That can definitely be more difficult if your convertible has a fabric or vinyl top rather than a hard top.

Thankfully, you will be able to rely on the professionals at the car wash to take care of that for you. When you bring your convertible to the car wash you should make sure that it is a gentle car wash and not a high pressure wash as high-pressure washes could possibly damage the soft top of your convertible. You can also choose to get your convertible hand washed or detailed when you bring it to certain car washes, although these options tend to be a bit more expensive overall. Your best bet is to call any car wash before you go and ask what your options with a convertible will be exactly.
 

Washing a convertible yourself

If you are too nervous to take your convertible to a car wash in Puerto Rico, you can always decide to wash it yourself. When you do wash your convertible, start with the fabric/vinyl top first. This is for two reasons; you should always clean anything top to bottom and the top will require the most work and elbow grease so you will be able to get that out of the way right off the bat when washing your car.

Other things to keep in mind about washing your soft top convertible yourself are that you should find yourself a soft microfiber brush and towel or large cloth. You should wash the convertible in a cool and shady area because too much sun and/or heat can cause the water to evaporate as you wash which can be counterintuitive. You should begin by rinsing off any dirt first with a hose at medium or low pressure. Then you should apply the appropriate convertible top cleaner. Then gently brush through the cleaning solution that you applied. Finally, gently rise it off at medium or low pressure.
 

Wrapping up

Having a soft-top convertible will make washing your car or getting it washed a bit more complex. However, as long as you choose the right car wash or detailing service or take the time and care to wash it yourself, you and your soft top will be just fine. If you do wash it yourself, be sure you use a soft microfiber brush and low or medium water pressure with your hose.

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Shifting gears 101
Automatic versus manual transmissions
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Shifting gears 101

Driving a car with a manual transmission can be an intimidating thought for many people. However, learning how to drive stick-shift and how to switch gears as you drive is not as complex as people may make it sometimes seem. First, you should know that a manual transmission has three main components: a clutch pedal, emergency brake and gear shifter.

The clutch pedal is used anytime you shift gears. It is the furthest left pedal of the three gears in cars with a manual transmission. The gear shifter (also known as the proverbial “stick”) is what you use to physically shift gears and select which gear you are shifting into. The emergency brake is used each time that you park since there is no gear for “park” in a car with a manual transmission.

When you are driving a stick-shift car it will work by you shifting gears according to speed. First gear is used from zero through ten miles per hour, second gear is from three through twenty-five miles per hour, third is from fifteen through forty-five miles per hour, fourth is from thirty through sixty-five miles per hour and fifth can be used for forty-five plus miles per hour.

These are obviously inexact ranges but do not stray too far from them or else you will risk messing up your transmission. In order to shift properly you should press the clutch, move the shifter as needed, take your foot off of the clutch and then press the gas pedal as you see fit.
 

Automatic versus manual transmissions

Some people might be wondering what the differences between manual and automatic transmissions are in terms of pros and cons. Most people choose to drive a vehicle with an automatic transmission because it is easier to shift gears and is less complex overall.

However, there are several distinct advantages to driving a car with a manual transmission. One of these advantages is that a manual transmission will have a smaller chance of something going wrong or needing repair. This is because the transmission itself is less complex and has less parts than an automatic transmission. Manual transmissions also use considerably less engine oil over time, so you will save some money there. Finally, vehicles with manual transmissions tend to have better fuel economy than those cars with automatic transmissions.
 

Wrapping up

If you are interested in driving a car that has a manual transmission, you should consider getting a bunch of practice first. You might not like it or perhaps you might find it difficult. Either way, give it a chance before you buy a car with a manual transmission. With that being said, there are a bunch of benefits to driving a car with a manual transmission including better control when you drive as well as better gas economy. The most important thing to remember when you are driving a manual car is that you must be careful when shifting gears and always pay attention to what gear you are in.

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Dealing with a dealership
The best car dealerships in Puerto Rico
Advice for buying a car from a dealership
Final word
 

Dealing with a dealership

When you decide that you are going to buy a new or used car from a dealership instead of a private seller, you need to be prepared to deal with aggressive salesmen. If you are looking for something specific, you must stand your ground. Otherwise, a salesman could end up convincing you to get something more expensive than you originally wanted.

The best car dealerships in Puerto Rico

The following is a list of the most highly rated car dealerships in Puerto Rico on Google:

• Alberic Auto Bayamon – Alberic Auto Bayamon offers a wide variety of cars including Jeep, Kia, Nissan and more. They have a 4.7 rating on Google with over a hundred reviews.
• Toyota de Puerto Rico – With a 4.5 star rating on Google, Toyota de Puerto Rico is one of the more trustworthy dealers in all of Puerto Rico. They specialize in new and used Toyotas.
• Caribbean Auto Distributors – Caribbean Auto Distributors specializes in the sale of new and used Hyundai, Kia and Mitsubishi. They have a couple of locations and have the best rating in Puerto Rico with a 4.9 star rating based on over a thousand reviews.
• Autogermana BMW – With over two hundred and fifty reviews, Autogermana BMW stands tall with a 4.7 overall rating. They specialize in the sales of BMWs.

Advice for buying a car from a dealership

Use the following advice in order to get the best deal when you are shopping for a new car:

• Do not buy on impulse – If you happen to come across your dream car, do not be impulsive and buy it on the spot. Act as if you are still unsure and that you are on the fence about buying it. This will help you to drive the price down.
• Bring a friend – It is always a good idea to bring a friend with you for support. They will be able to be more objective than you and will be able to let you know if you are making a bad deal.
• Negotiate with final full cost in mind – You always want to discuss price by using the absolute final price number. If you do not, a bunch of final fees could be tacked on at the end which could end up significantly increasing the price.
• Make sure you feel well when car shopping – If you shop when you are sick or hungry, you are more likely to make a decision just so you can leave quicker. You will most likely end up regretting a decision like this.
• Consider shipping your car to Puerto Rico – You can always ship a car to Puerto Rico from the United States. This way, you will not need to spend all that money on a brand-new car.

Final word

Buying a car can be a long, frustrating and expensive experience. However, when you are prepared and you know what you are doing, the experience will be much more enjoyable. You will also be able to save more money this way.
Do not forget that instead of buying a car, you can always choose to ship your car to Puerto Rico. All you need to do is give us a call today at (904) 322-7644.

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Types of illegal car modifications
The penalties for having an illegal modification
Wrapping up
 

Types of illegal car modifications

There are legal car modifications and then there are illegal modifications. Legal vehicle modifications include certain types of window tinting, lowered suspensions, spoilers, sound systems, neon-colored lights and larger exhausts among others. Illegal car modifications include under-body lights, loud exhausts, the removal of emissions, darker tints/driver and windshield tints, as well as nitrous.

Many of the illegal modifications will not be enough to get you pulled over on their own. This is especially true in Puerto Rico where police tend to be much more lax in terms of traffic enforcement. However, if you get pulled over for something else such as speeding, your illegal car modifications could end up causing you to get hefty additional tickets. These modifications can also prevent your car from passing a routine inspection. We suggest that you stick to legal modifications, even if you can typically get away with illegal modifications for an extended period in Puerto Rico.
 

The penalties for having an illegal modification

Penalties for illegal modifications on your car can range from smaller tickets to possible jail time depending on circumstance. As we mentioned, these modifications can also prevent you from passing an inspection which will put you in constant danger of getting a ticket as well.

Typically, if you get a ticket for something like illegal tints you will have to pay somewhere in the area of a hundred dollars. Now, if your car does not pass inspection because of a modification, you will only face a fifty or a hundred dollar fine if you are pulled over without a current and passed inspection sticker. However, if you cannot pass an inspection, you will not be able to get your car registered when the time comes. The penalty for no registration will be at least a hundred dollars (likely more) and you will face higher insurance rates which can cost you several hundred dollars a year for a few years. As we said, it is highly recommended to stick to legal modifications only.
 

Wrapping up

Some modifications to your vehicle will be legal in Puerto Rico and some will not. If you are not sure about whether a certain modification may or may not be legal, you can always consult with a mechanic. You should skip any illegal modifications because they can end up costing you a bunch in fines and fees as well as indirectly cause your insurance to increase.

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What types of vehicles to use premium gas in
The benefits of using premium gas
Wrapping up
 

 

What types of vehicles to use premium gas in

All gasoline for vehicles has an octane rating. An octane rating measures the engine’s capability of avoiding issues due to an incorrect combination of air and fuel. The more of a disparity there is in that combination, the more something known as “knocking” will occur. Knocking is noise that you will hear when the air and fuel ratio is not right in your gas tank.

The vast majority of cars will take regular gas which has an 86 or 87-octane rating. You can choose to fill these cars with premium, which has a 91 or 92-octane rating, but the difference in your car’s performance will be negligible. Think of it this way, when your car only requires regular gas, the engine will perform nearly perfect. By choosing premium gas over regular gas, you will only be improving engine performance very slightly because there is nearly no room for improvement on “nearly perfect”. The point is, when your car takes regular gas, the additional cost of premium is really not worth it.

However, there are vehicles in which it is recommended to fill up with premium. These vehicles could possibly perform well enough with regular gas to drive but there is enough room for improvement where premium becomes the better choice. These cars tend to be high-performance vehicles such as luxury cars or high-end sports cars such as corvettes. However, some “regular” cars could also require premium gas based on their engines. This includes the Buick Regal, MINI Cooper and Fiat 500L. In the end, check your owner’s manual so that you can be sure about your own specific car.
 

The benefits of using premium gas

As we said in the previous section, premium gas will do the most to reduce engine knocking. However, with regular engines, regular gas will do just that too. You will also see slightly better fuel economy with premium gas. Premium gas will also help with things like engine torque but only in high performance vehicles. Finally, the price of premium varies much less than regular gas, so you will not need to worry about ever-changing gas prices, premium will always be expensive.

Your takeaway should be that it really does not much make much sense to use premium gas unless your car requires it or is some sort of a high-performance vehicle. In fact, some regular car engines will develop issues if you put premium gasoline in.
 

Wrapping up

Whether or not you use premium gas for your car should come down to the recommendation in your vehicle’s owner manual. If your car typically can use regular gas, there is not much added benefit at all choosing to use premium instead. However, if your engine requires premium gas, make sure that you use it. If you need any type of vehicle transported to or from Puerto Rico, please give us a call today at (904) 322-7644!

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How to drive safely through a school zone
Penalties for not driving safely in school zones
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How to drive safely through a school zone

Driving safely and with caution is of paramount importance when you are driving in a school zone. Children often cross the street without warning, do not look both ways if at all and are much smaller so they are considerably more difficult to see. If you hit a child when you are driving through a school zone, get ready for jail time, lifelong guilt, and a costly civil trial too.

The first and most obvious thing you must do when you are driving in a school zone in Puerto Rico is to obey all of the speed limits which will be noticeably lower. You must also stop when a crossing guard or crossing light signals you to do so. Finally, never pass a school bus that has its stop lights and sign deployed. All of these typically apply from about 6 AM to 6 or 7 PM Monday through Fridays when school is in session.
 

Penalties for not driving safely in school zones

If you are caught not obeying traffic laws in a school zone, the penalty will always be more severe than if you were driving on a regular street or highway. If you are caught speeding in a school zone in Puerto Rico, the fine will be at least two hundred and fifty dollars with the possibility of arrest depending on how fast you are traveling. For second offenses fines will be higher and a license suspension will possibly occur.

If you hit a child in a school zone, you will inevitably get convicted of vehicular homicide which typically carries a penalty of ten plus years in jail depending on the details of the crime. Either way, you will spend at least several years in prison and likely get ordered to pay the victims family a very large sum in civil court as well.
 

Wrapping up

You must drive through any school zones with the utmost caution and safety at all times. This includes driving at or under posted speed limits, stopping when signaled by crossing guards or crossing signals and not passing active stopped school buses. If you do not obey these rules, the punishments will be severe and cold include high fines, jail time and a license suspension.

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Parking in Puerto Rico
Animals and pedestrians in Puerto Rico
Final word
 

Parking in Puerto Rico

Parking in Puerto Rico can be difficult in areas like San Juan and Carolina because of the small streets and higher density of population in those areas. Chances are that you will routinely need to reverse and/or parallel park into a spot in order to avoid walking several blocks to your destination. That is why a backup camera will definitely come in handy if you are planning on driving during an extended stay in Puerto Rico.

Without a rearview camera, you will still be able to maneuver your car just fine when traveling in reverse, but it will be considerably more difficult and anxiety-inducing. In addition to a lot of spaces on the street being taken on a regular basis, there is a lot of active traffic regularly in Puerto Rico. So, if you are in the middle of parallel parking, there are likely going to be impatient drivers behind you. Thus, maneuvering into your space as quickly as possible is advantageous and much more possible with a backup camera.
 

Animals and pedestrians in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is also notorious for many sudden animal and pedestrian crossings. If you are going in reverse and you have your head turned backwards you will have a blind spot behind you to the opposite side that your head is turned to. You also will not be able to see a small child or animal that is shorter than your rear window if they are within a few feet of the rear of the car.

A backup camera will eliminate the risk of not seeing a pedestrian or animal as you drive in reverse. As an added benefit, you can also spare yourself the literal pain in the neck by having to turn your head much less with a rearview camera.
 

Final word

A backup camera can be an extremely big help in Puerto Rico where parking spots are scarce, traffic is dense, and pedestrians and animals cross the street without warning on a regular basis. It will help you easily and quickly parallel park as well as drive in reverse when needed while completely minimizing the risk of striking a pedestrian or animal crossing the street at the time. If you need a vehicle of any kind transported to the port at San Juan, give us a ring for a free quote whenever you want by calling (904) 322-7644!

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Towing something securely and safely
Towing tips
Wrapping up
 

Towing something securely and safely

There should be no shortage of care taken whenever you are towing something with your car in Puerto Rico. If you do not take the proper care, you can be creating a dangerous situation for yourself and any other drivers around you. For our purposes, we will discuss towing something from the perspective of towing a trailer of some sort because it is the most common form of towing.

First, you need to be sure that the ball on the hitch is not too big or small for the coupler that you are going to be using with it or else the trailer can easily become detached during transport. You must also make sure that the trailer’s brakes and brake lights are working correctly before you start towing it. You will also need to check the tire pressure of the wheels on the trailer. Before you start towing, always ensure that the locking lever is in the locked position and that the pin is in. Finally, when you are actually in the process of towing, take extra caution on the road and always drive at a safe speed.
 

Towing tips

A truly safe and successful tow will take a bit more than just paying attention and being careful. You should leave no stone unturned when it comes to the care of what you are towing as well as your safety. Use the following tips to make your tow in Puerto Rico go as smooth as possible.

Always remember to grease the bearings of the hitch. When you are in the process of towing, occasionally check and make sure that the trailer is riding level because if it is not your ride could be going more smoothly. You should also make sure that your emergency brake is working because if something goes wrong, you will likely need to use it. Finally, be sure you have a working trailer jack with you at all times because if your trailer is too heavy a typical jack may not work, and trailer tires are more likely to go flat than regular tires are.
 

Wrapping up

When you are towing something in Puerto Rico, you must take extreme care so that so that whatever is in your trailer does not get damaged and that you do not end up getting into an accident. Make sure you take the time before you actually start towing anything that you do things like check your emergency brakes and making sure that the pin is securely in the hitch. If you are in a pinch and you need your car towed or shipped, you can always give us a call at (904) 322-7644.