Recent Puerto Rico Shipping News

Jump to section:
The advantage of parallel parking
Proper parallel parking technique
Wrapping up
 

The advantage of parallel parking

Parallel parking is used to when someone needs to park in a single tight space that is between two cars on a city or residential street. It works where driving forward into a space does not because parallel parking causes your car to angle away from the car in front of you as you park whereas driving forward into a spot angles the rear of your car into the car behind you as you park. Thus, parallel parking can allow you to easily put your car in a spot that is barely bigger than the length of your car. This is incredibly useful in highly populated areas such as San Juan where street parking can be very hard to come by.
 

Proper parallel parking technique

The level of precision that you execute the proper technique with when parallel parking can make or break your ability to complete the parking job. It can also be the difference between scratching or bumping the car in front of or behind you which you obviously want to avoid at all costs. So, when you are trying to quickly slide into a tight spot on the streets of San Juan, use the following technique to safely and efficiently complete parallel parking:

1. Find a spot that is longer than the length of your vehicle
2. Pull up even with the car that will be in front of you once you are finished parking. There should be about three feet in between the side of your car and the side of that car.
3. Cut the wheel all the way to the right, put your car into reverse and slowly begin to reverse into the parking space.
4. Once you are at the point where you can see the entirety of the car that will be behind you in your driver’s side mirror, cut the wheel straight and continue to slowly reverse.
5. When you get to the point that you cannot see any of the right taillight of the car that will be in front of you because your passenger side mirror is blocking it, cut the wheel to the left and finish reversing into the space.
6. If you glance the curb or are too close to the car in front or behind you instead of equidistant to both, adjust as needed.

Wrapping up

If you are unable to parallel park and frequently drive in a highly populated area like San Juan, it will take you exponentially longer and/or cost you more to finally find a space that you can pull directly forward into. Parallel parking not only allows you to pull into extremely tight spaces on the street, it helps you prevent causing damage to another vehicle as you park. If you need a car transported to or from Puerto Rico at any point throughout the year, Puerto Rico Car Transport always has you covered and can answer any questions or get you a quick quote by calling (904) 322-7644!

Jump to section:
Your rear-view mirror
Your side-view mirrors
Wrapping up
 

Your rear-view mirror

Almost all drivers are taught that the first thing you should do upon entering your vehicle to go for a drive is to adjust your mirrors so that you have both a clear and full view behind your car and to each side of it. This is because it could take a possible valuable moment to adjust them when you are driving which can be the difference between getting into an accident or not. So, whenever you get into your car, the first thing you should do is to check and adjust your rearview mirror.

Your rearview mirror is used so that you can see what is behind you which is primarily useful when you are going to be backing up or changing lanes. You will want to make sure that your rear-view mirror is angled so that you have a full view of the road behind you and not of the roof of your car or of your rear passenger seats. When you are adjusting your rear-view mirror, ensure that you are sitting in your normal position with your regular driving posture. The overall goal will be to be able to take a quick look at this mirror, without turning your head, in order to instantly assess the situation directly behind your vehicle.
 

Your side-view mirrors

Your car’s side view mirrors are also quite crucial to your ability to drive and maneuver with complete safety. These mirrors allow you to see what is behind your car but to the left or right. Your sideview mirrors allow you to change lanes or perform maneuvers like parallel parking with much more ease than if you did not have them.

However, you will still need to check over your shoulder because these mirrors allow for what is known as a “blind spot” on each side. A blind spot is an area on either side of your car and slightly to the rear where another vehicle, pedestrian or obstacle can be in very close proximity without you being able to see it in any mirror. Over eighty thousand car accidents happen in the United States each year directly because of someone’s failure to check their blind spot correctly according to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Association.

Another reason to not rely solely on your side-view mirrors is because they allow objects such as other cars to be closer than they actually appear. This can give you the dangerous illusion of having enough room to do something like change your lane when you actually do not.

Once you have checked and adjusted your rearview mirror, you should do the same with each of your sideview mirrors. You should ensure that both your right and left sideview mirrors give you a clear view of the road or area to the corresponding side of your vehicle. You should see a little bit of your own car with an even view on the horizon on both sides.
 

Wrapping up

Your car’s mirrors make life much easier and safer when you are driving. They will help you avoid putting a strain on your neck by having to constantly turn your head. Your mirrors will also provide you with quick and easy views of the road that you otherwise would not have had which directly increases overall safety in a very big way. All you need to do is to remember to properly adjust your mirrors each and every time that you get into your car. You must also ensure that you always turn your head to check your blind spot each time you do something like change lanes.

Jump to section:
Puerto Rico’s Highways
Staying safe on the highway
Wrapping up
 

Puerto Rico’s Highways

Puerto Rico has several highways as you might expect and there are both similarities and differences between them and the highways in the United States. They help motorists across the island navigate between the northern coast and the southern coast and to all points in between. In Puerto Rico, the highways all have speed limits that fall between fifty and sixty-five miles per hour which is pretty similar to some US states such as New York.

True highways in Puerto Rico breakdown three ways:

• Expressways – These highways allow for mostly unimpeded access by traffic. “Unimpeded access” means there are no traffic lights, railroad crossings, tolls or other things that routinely slow/stop traffic.
• Freeways – These highways allow for completely unimpeded access by traffic.
• Autopistas (toll roads) – These highways are freeways that have unimpeded access with the exception of tolls. Thus, they cannot be considered “freeways.”

The following is a list of all major highways in Puerto Rico:

• Expreso Kennedy
• Roberto Sánchez Vilella
• Expreso Río Hondo
• Baldorioty de Castro
• Santiago de los Caballeros
• Expreso Las Américas
• Expreso Rafael Martínez Nadal
• Autopista José de Diego
• Expreso Román Baldorioty de Castro
• Expreso Cruz Ortiz Stella
• Autopista Luis A. Ferré
• Autopista Dr. José Celso Barbosa
• Avenida Dionisio Casillas
• Autopista Roberto Sánchez Vilella
• Expreso El Caño

Staying safe on the highway

Highway driving is always more dangerous than driving on residential streets because of the increased speed limits and lack of traffic lights and stop signs. However, in Puerto Rico driving on the highway can be even more dangerous than normal. This is primarily because traffic enforcement by police in Puerto Rico is much more lenient than it is in the United States or most other places. Police in Puerto Rico often do not pull drivers over for any minor offenses and will even let some more major offenses slide as well. For example, much fewer people use their signals, especially changing lanes and almost none of them will end up being pulled over for it. Speeding is also much more prevalent in Puerto Rico.

So, you will want to drive on Puerto Rico’s highways with as much focus and caution as possible. You are more likely to have another driver change lanes in front of you without notice and a higher number of drivers will be traveling above the posted speed limit.

A few ways you can stay safe while driving on a highway in Puerto Rico are:

• Stay out of the left lane – Much like in the United States, the furthest left lane is reserved for vehicles that are constantly passing vehicles in the lane to the right of it. This is what makes it the “fast lane.” To avoid a speeding motorist tailgating you, stay in the middle or right lanes.
• Take extreme caution when switching lanes – Be sure that you always to a clear but quick look to check your blind spot before you change lanes. Always put your corresponding signal on for at least three seconds prior to changing your lane on a Puerto Rican highway.
• Leave a lot of space in front of you – As we mentioned, many motorists in Puerto Rico can suddenly change lanes without warning or signaling. If you leave enough space between you and the car in front of you, this will minimize the impact when someone does this.
• Stay focused but cool – Always pay full attention to driving in Puerto Rico. Do not use your phone or let yourself become otherwise distracted. If someone else near you is driving aggressively or recklessly, remain calm and do your best to distance yourself.

Wrapping up

If you find yourself driving in Puerto Rico for more than a couple of days, you will certainly end up driving on the highways there. Similar to the United States, the highways almost always have no traffic lights, stop signs, pedestrian crossings or anything else that routinely stops traffic for certain intervals. These highways may have tolls though. Although the posted speed limits in Puerto Rico are quite moderate in comparison to other countries, many drivers disobey them and drive much faster. With considerably more lax traffic enforcement, drivers in Puerto Rico can also do things like change lanes without signaling. Always drive on Puerto Rico’s highways with complete focus and a high level of caution.

Jump to section:
When to consider getting your car painted
The overall cost and effect on resale value
Wrapping up
 

When to consider getting your car painted

Most people have never even considered getting a vehicle painted. However, sometimes it can give new life to the aesthetic of your car. Typically, having rusted, peeling and/or faded paint on an older car is the most common reason people choose to get a paint job for their vehicle. The more you let these issues with your car’s paint go the worse they will get as time goes on and the further your car’s overall value will fall.

There are several important things to consider when you are thinking about getting a new paint job for your car:

1. Old paint and damage must be removed – In order for the new paint to look its very best, the old paint must be removed. If not, the new paint will not end up with a clean and smooth look to it. The same goes for any scratches or dents. These must be repaired before new paint can be applied.
2. Getting your car painted will take several days – As we mentioned, the old paint must come off first and old damage must be repaired before the new paint can be put on. Thus, it can take between three days and a week for a new paint job to be properly completed.
3. A good paint job can last over a decade – Believe it or not a new paint job can last between ten and fifteen years. So, if you think you might sell your car a few years down the road, you can definitely get a new paint job, enjoy it for a few years and then still sell it with some additional value.

The overall cost and effect on resale value

Some people tend to mistake getting a new professional paint job for a car with haphazardly spray painting a car. There is a world of difference between the two. As we mentioned, when you get a professional paint job the old paint gets removed and any existing cosmetic damage on surfaces where new paint will be applied will be repaired. With a quick and unofficial spray paint job, someone will just spray new paint over the old paint and damage. Not only will it be clear that that is what was done because of the sloppy and haphazard looking work but doing so could actually make damage like scratches or dents become much more noticeable.

Any quick spray paint jobs will surely decrease the overall value of the vehicle. However, getting an official by-the-book paint job for a vehicle can surely increase the value. At the very least it will not decrease it. This is because the existing exterior cosmetic damage gets repaired, and your car has a much newer and attractive overall appearance.
 

Wrapping up

There are several huge benefits to getting a new paint job for a vehicle. It will make your car stand out, look several years newer and it will likely increase the resale value of your car a bit. However, that is only if you spend the right amount of money and get an official new paint job. Do not try to cut a corner and get your car quickly spray painted. It will look sloppy, enhance how noticeable existing damage is and will surely decrease the value of the vehicle.

Jump to section:
How long can you drive with a donut on?
Donut storage tips
Wrapping up
 

How long can you drive with a donut on?

Almost all drivers have suffered at least one flat tire in their lives. It is a tremendous inconvenience that will cost you both some time and money. That is where a donut tire comes in handy. If you ever find yourself with a flat, you can simply replace that tire with the donut and be on your way.

A donut tire, or a spare tire as many people call them, is a tire that that is smaller than typical tires. It is intended for emergency use only and is more easily stored in your car than a traditional tire. You will not be able to drive on a donut for very long. It is not meant as a permanent replacement for a normal tire but a temporary fix in order to allow you to get to an auto or tire shop. It is recommended that you only drive on a donut for less than seventy-five miles or fewer than three days, whichever comes first.

Otherwise, these tires can wear extremely quickly as they typically have almost no tread to them. The fact that they have little, or no tread also increases the chances of you being involved in an accident of some sort. Treads help you grip the road which enables smooth and precise maneuvering and braking. This means on a donut, braking and maneuvering like steering will become more difficult.
 

Donut storage tips

Storing your donut should be quite easy. They are manufactured smaller in order to be able to be easily stored as we mentioned above. There is likely a space made specifically for a donut in your car somewhere. The most common place for this is in the trunk. However, you can check your owner’s manual to see exactly where your donut is located or can be stored.

It is a good decision to keep an actual extra tire in your car, thus you can skip the extra step of getting a new tire if you ever get a flat. However, you will need to check the available storage space in your vehicle to see if a new full-size tire can be stored there. If you do not, you might end up eating a considerable amount of trunk space with the extra tire. It will also likely get the interior of your trunk pretty dirty.
 

Wrapping up

A donut is a special tire that is there just in case you end up with a single flat tire. It is only to be used as a temporary replacement until you can get the original tire patched/repaired or until you can purchase a new or used tire to replace the original. Never use a donut for driving more than seventy-five miles or for driving for more than three straight days. Whether you have to ship a car to Puerto Rico or to the United States from Puerto Rico, the car shipping professionals at Puerto Rico Car Transport will always be able to get your vehicle there with ease! Call us today for an instant free quote at (904) 322-7644.

Jump to section:
Legal considerations
Customizations
Wrapping up
 

Legal considerations

Yet another thing the United States and Puerto Rico have in common is having to drive with a valid license plate attached to your car so that it is clearly visible. If you drive your car without a license plate, or an expired one, expect to get pulled over and get an expensive ticket or two. The three most common license plate violations and the corresponding fines in Puerto Rico are:

• Unreadable license plate – minimum $100 fine
• Driving with another vehicle’s plate – minimum $1,000 fine
• Driving without a license plate – (often just enforced for the rear of the vehicle) minimum $100 fine
• Altering a license plate – minimum $100 fine

So, you cannot drive with someone else’s license plate, whether they gave you permission or not. You cannot alter your plate, so this means you cannot paint it, draw on it or put decals/stickers on it. Your license plate must also be readable so you cannot have a tinted visor over it and your tag lights must be working so that it will be readable at night. These fines are all dependent upon the fact that you are an actual licensed driver with an insured and registered (up to date “marbete”) vehicle. If not, there will be additional fines and/or possible arrest.

If you need a new license plate in Puerto Rico you will have to go to the Department of Transportation and Public Works (Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas) which is often abbreviated as DTOP. The DTOP is the Puerto Rican version of the Department of Motor Vehicles. Make sure your car has been registered before you do this, otherwise you will be unable to get your plates. Once you have been approved for your plates you will be given temporary tags and then you will get your actual license plates via the mail about a week or two later.

In certain situations, the police may even choose to remove your license plate so that you will not be able to drive your car anywhere without being pulled over again. Having an expired inspection sticker or not having an inspection at all is an example of an offense where police in Puerto Rico can do this. In addition, you will receive fines and you will be without your plate for several days until you are able to pick it up.
 

Customizations

There are several different types of special license plates that are legal to drive with in Puerto Rico. However, not everyone can choose any plate. For example, only handicapped people can have a handicapped plate. Regardless, there are several types of non-standard license plates that you could see or possibly get yourself in Puerto Rico. They are:

• Personalized – Much like you often see in the United States, these are regular license plates with a customized message as the six characters on the plate rather than a typical license plate number.
• Government – Government plates in Puerto Rico have unique designs, list the title of the particular government official and often only have three numbers instead of six numbers or characters.
• Historical/Antique – Historical and antique license plates in Puerto Rico are only given to cars that are actual historical/antique vehicles and have that status officially registered. These plates are also have unique designs and typically pay homage to the particular style of car that they are affixed to.
• Handicapped – Handicapped plates and parking works the same in Puerto Rico as it does in the United States, if you do not have a handicapped plate or placard, you cannot use a handicapped space. If you have both either, you may use a handicapped space.

Wrapping up

Your license plate is obviously a tremendously important part of being able to drive legally in Puerto Rico. You must always have one affixed to the appropriate places on the front and the back of your vehicle. On top of that, they must be your plates, you cannot alter them, and they must always be completely visible. There are several types of non-standard license plates in Puerto Rico including government, historical or antique, and handicapped plates.

Jump to section:
Keeping a safe distance
Other precautions
Wrapping up
 

Keeping a safe distance

Driving correctly and safely around motorcycles is extremely important because of the potential for damage both to the bike and rider being exponentially worse than if you hit a typical passenger car. Even what would be a low-speed fender bender could cause a catastrophic injury to the motorcycle rider if they fall from their bike the right way.

Obviously, it is always quite important to keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle driving in front of you. However, with the increased risk of serious injury associated with getting into an accident with a motorcycle you must increase that distance. Also, motorcycles tend to travel at higher speeds than more orthodox vehicles. This means they will have less reaction time thus increasing the likelihood they might stop short in front of you. Motorcycle riders also tend not to brake in order to decrease speed but rather they shift gears in order to slow down more gradually because braking too hard or suddenly could put them at risk of being thrown from their bike. What this means for someone driving behind them is that they might be reducing speed without ever having their brake lights on.

These things won’t be an issue if you have the correct distance between you and them. It is recommended that you keep at least four seconds of space between you and them. To calculate this, all you need to do is pick a road marking that the motorcyclist travels over/past. As soon as they are at that point, start counting. If it takes less than four seconds for you to reach the same marking, you are too close.
 

Other precautions

Beyond keeping a safe distance when driving behind a motorcycle, you should also take a few other simple precautions when driving with motorcycles in your proximity on the road. You should pay extra close attention to your blind spots if you are going to change lanes or turn anywhere near a motorcycle as they are much smaller than regular cars and can be much harder to see. Be sure to always signal with the proper amount of time before performing a lane change because some motorcyclists will unsafely ride in between lanes. If you suddenly change lanes and a nearby rider is doing this the result could be a disaster.

Finally, make sure that you give even more distance in front of you than four seconds if you are driving on a rough road, near a construction zone or in bad weather. A motorcyclist faces much more uncertainty if they hit a pothole or a deep puddle than the driver of a traditional car does. Thus, they tend to make quick maneuvers to avoid such obstacles rather than driving over/through them. Giving them even more space will allow them the latitude to do so.
 

Wrapping up

In conclusion, driving near any motorcycles out on the road could possibly create an unsafe situation for yourself and anyone else in your car but it poses much more risk for the motorcyclists themselves. Unfortunately, some motorcycle riders put themselves in a bad position with unsafe driving habits like traveling at unsafe speeds and riding in between lanes. The upside is that you can minimize the potential effect these driving habits have on safety by choosing to drive even more cautiously than normal around motorcycles. This includes putting more distance between you and them as well as always using proper signaling.

Jump to section:
How idling increases pollution
How to avoid idling
Wrapping up
 

How idling increases pollution

Whenever you run a non-electric car’s engine, you are contributing to harmful pollution. If it is a pure gas run engine, it leads to the most pollution created by any type of engine. It is fine to drive whatever type of car you have whenever you need to. However, letting your car run while it is parked for any reason is an unnecessary contribution to the pollution of the earth’s atmosphere. This ends up hurting the environment and our health simultaneously.

To put things in a clearer perspective, every time that your car burns through a gallon of gas, it produces approximately twenty pounds of greenhouse gasses. This means that if you idle your car through just one gallon of gas per week, for the year you will be producing just over a thousand pounds of greenhouse gasses.
 

How to avoid idling

If the motivation for environmental safety and your health isn’t enough, consider that you are also needlessly burning through gas when you idle your vehicle’s engine so it can end up costing you quite a bit of money. So, if you want to avoid idling your car’s engine, there are several ways you can do so. This is especially true in Puerto Rico where you will never have the temptation to “warm up” your car in cold weather.

The first way for you to avoid idling your engine is to shut your engine off when you are stopped for twenty seconds or more unless you are currently in traffic. You can also do your best to merge your trips together which would result in less overall use of your car and less temptation to leave it idling. If you have passengers in your car and they do not want to sit in a hot parked car while you run into the store, ask them to come in with you rather than sitting in the car with the air conditioning on. Finally, you can always leave a reminder on your dashboard such as a post-it note which will ensure you do not forget to shut off your engine.
 

Wrapping up

When you idle your car’s engine you are doing completely avoidable yet irreversible damage to the environment and possibly even your health. It is quite important that you do whatever you can in order to avoid idling your vehicle’s engine. You can make this easier by combining the trips you take with your car, ensuring that you always shut your engine off after being stopped for twenty seconds plus, you can leave a reminder on your dash board near the ignition to shut your engine off and you can encourage passengers to leave your car with you when you need to run an errand. If you ever need to ship a vehicle to or from the port at San Juan, visit our homepage for a free instant quote!

Jump to section:
Protect your interior
Inexpensive replacement
Wrapping up
 

Protect your interior

You can look at seat covers for your vehicle’s seats like couch covers. They will help the interior of your car potentially last forever without stains or damage. However, seat covers for your car actually look good and can add to your car’s overall aesthetic unlike plastic couch covers. They are also very comfortable as well. They can even increase comfort and lessen tension and stress on your back as you drive.

Unless you are meticulous about not having food, drink and smoking in your car, your interior will likely incur some damage or stains over the years. Even if you are, dirt and other things from you or your passengers clothing can unknowingly stain or damage your car seats material. That is why car seat covers are the best option in terms of protecting your interior. Anything like a spill, tear or burn becomes much less of an issue when it affects just one car seat cover. Obviously, this will also save you a bunch of money in the process.
 

Inexpensive replacement

Seat covers can save you money in a couple of ways, not just by protecting your interior. By keeping your interior in mint condition, they prevent unnecessary depreciation which helps keep the resale value of your car high. Even if you do damage your car’s interior and then get it reupholstered, it will likely not recover the full depreciation of having to make that repair. They also can spare you the cost of getting your car detailed as you can hand wash or machine wash them on a gentle cycle. As was previously stated, seat covers can save you a ton of money when you can avoid reupholstering a seat. The cost of reupholstering a seat can be five hundred dollars or even more while a car seat cover typically costs between one or two hundred dollars.
 

Wrapping up

Car seat covers can actually save you a bunch of time and money. They will potentially protect your seats from stains, tears and burns. Seat covers can also be easily washed. The expenses that they can spare you are depreciation of your car’s value, having to get it detailed and/or having to get one or more seats reupholstered. If you need any sort of car or vehicle transported to or from Puerto Rico, get a free quote by calling Puerto Rico Car Transport now at (904) 322-7644!

Jump to section:
What the car shipping company does to protect your car
What you can do to protect your car
Final Word
 

What the car shipping company does to protect your car

Keeping your car safe during transport is the top priority of your shipping company while it ships. Getting your vehicle to its destination on time is obviously also a priority but making sure your car does not incur damage during shipment is paramount. Your shipping company will do several things in order to ensure your car’s safety as it ships.

First, your car gets carefully driven onto and placed on the car carrier. The placement of the cars matters, so the fact is that your driver is experienced and meticulously careful when getting your car onto the carrier. Next, your car transport driver will secure your car to the transport carrier truck through a series of tightly secured straps and chains. These straps and chains will ensure that your vehicle does not move while it is being shipped. However, the chains and straps themselves are attached in such a way that makes certain they will not damage your car.

Finally, your car shipping company will offer insurance for your shipment. In a general sense, this will work like other forms of insurance in that it will prevent you from being financially liable in the rare case that an accident of some sort does occur. Specifically, if something does happen to your car during transport, it is quite likely that the shipping insurance will cover any damage.
 

What you can do to protect your car

The two easiest things you can do to increase the safety of your car during shipping is to choose to ship in an enclosed carrier and/or choose to top-load your vehicle. Shipping in an enclosed carrier will prevent any rain or snow as well as road debris from making contact with your car while it is in transit. Top-loading will place your car on the top deck of an open or enclosed carrier. Doing that will prevent the rare possibility of a car above yours from leaking fluid on it. It will also give you the benefit of not having any small road debris such as pebbles possibly hitting your car during transport.

You can also take a few additional steps such as getting seat covers and floor mats. Your driver will be driving many miles and in and out of several cars throughout the entirety of transport. So, sometimes they can track some dirt into your car. This is rare, so taking this step is not necessary but it is a step you have the option of taking.
 

Final Word

Protecting your car while it ships is the most important part of car shipping. That is why any reputable car shipping company will do their absolute best to make sure your car arrives at its destination in the same shape as it was in when it was picked up. You can even take some steps to ensure an extra level of safety for your car while it ships. These include shipping it in an enclosed carrier, top-loading it and getting seat covers and/or floor mats.