Car-Lotta Credit and Car Sales Blog

Planning to go all out with your holiday decorating this season? You still have time. Why not intall some Christmas lights on your car? This may be a fun way to show off your Christmas spirit. Remeber that there may be local laws that technically prohibit having any kind of distracting lights on a car. However, if you’re doing it for a specific event, like a parade or a tailgate party, go for it! It can be tempting to want to completely deck out your car with lights on your first try. However, it is best to begin with a small fixture that you can easily remove in case something goes wrong during installation. To make your car decorating process even more foolproof, use battery-powered lights instead of the ones that need to be plugged in. Here’s a quick guide on how to put Christmas lights on a car. You’ll need: Power inverter Christmas lights (quantity and length based on your choice) Zip ties Electrical tape Ladder or stool Not fgeeling so techy but still want to show some holiday sprit? You can also: Add a wreath to your spare tire Clip-on antlers Add Christmas decals

The holidays are officially upon is. For many, this means parties and gatherings with friends and family. Many will likely be packing up food to share. You should not leave food in your car for more than two hours, or one hour if the temperature is above 90°F. Bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses can double every 20 minutes at room temperature. If you do need to leave food in your car, you can try these tips to keep it safe: Use a cooler Take perishable items home right away: Don't leave food in the trunk: Don’t travel with hot and cold foods together. Keep hot foods hot by packing them in insulated bags or containers. Keep cold foods cold by packing them in coolers with ice, frozen water bottles or ice packs to maintain safe temperatures for as long as possible. You should also avoid eating while driving. It can be bad for digestion and increase the risk of choking

The best time to leave to avoid traffic on a long drive is before 6 am. If you are traveling by car you should aim to avoid rush hour congestion by starting your road trip first thing in the morning.It's best to be on the road before 7 am to avoid unwanted delays. The busiest time to drive is between 4 pm and 7 pm in the evening from Monday to Friday. Heavy traffic is due to a large number of commuters driving home and other road users traveling for social reasons. You should drive early in the morning rather than late at night in order to prevent the risks associated with driver fatigue. The roads will be quieter during the night which may reduce your journey time but safety should always be your priority. Leaving first thing in the morning when you are rested will lead to a safe and comfortable trip.

The day following Thanksgiving—commonly referred to as Black Friday—has become one of the busiest shopping days of the year in the United States. National chain stores traditionally offer limited money-saving specials on a wide variety of goods in an effort to lure shoppers into stores while offering similar deals online. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 39% of private-sector workers get a paid holiday, with 69% of public-sector workers also enjoying the day as a paid holiday It is a state holiday in Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia. In Nevada, the day is known as Family Day. In Indiana, the day after Thanksgiving celebrates Lincoln's birthday while Georgia observes Robert E. Lee's birthday The popularity of this holiday is understandable. As Thanksgiving falls on a Thursday many add this day as a holiday to create a four-day weekend. Shops are open and this day has come to mark the start of the Christmas shopping period. Black Friday is followed by other shopping holidays, including Small Business Saturday, which encourages shoppers to visit local retailers, and Cyber Monday, which promotes shopping online. Giving Tuesday has also emerged to spur charitable donations.

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is next week? For most, spending time with loved ones and indulging in feasts is on most people's mind. It's also a day for making lasting memories. For many families, it is the most significant gathering day of the year. In this time excitement and festivities—it's crucial to prioritize safety Thanksgiving Travel Safety on the Road If you’re driving, ensure your vehicle is in optimal condition. This includes checking brakes, lights, and tires. Watch the weather: Pay attention to the forecast at home, at your destination, and everywhere in between. Be prepared to take extra time if storms or hazardous conditions (like icy roads) are in the forecast, and study up on how to handle winter driving conditions. Share travel plans with a family member or friend.  Have a car emergency kit with essentials like jumper cables, first aid supplies, and a warm blanket for chilly breakdowns. Avoid Distracted Driving- it’s easy to get distracted. Stay focused on the road and avoid using your phone while driving From all of us at Car-Lotta- May your blessings be many, your troubles be few, and your Thanksgiving be Wonderful.

If you park your car outside overnight during the winter chances are there may be ice on your windshield. Before you call it a night during frosty seasons, grab some cooking spray from your kitchen. A light spray on your windshield and wipers can make a huge difference. This creates a barrier that prevents ice from bonding strongly with the glass, Doing this will help to have less scraping to do in the morning. Just make sure to wipe away any excess spray to keep your windshield clear and streak-free. You can use a indshield cover or a sheet, towel, or tarp can be placed over your windshield to prevent ice buildup. Your wiper blades can be used to hold the cover in place. Got an onion? The idea of using a vegetable may sound strange, but rubbing half an onion over your car windows and windshield at night will stop frost from forming in the morning. Cut the onion lengthwise and apply it the night before. The oil from the onion line the glass with a coating that works wonders. Remember.... Before you hit the road .... NEVER clear a tiny space and then drive off with only a small area cleared. Spending a few minutes will save you a lot of time and keep you, and others, a little safer on the roads.

Daylight Saving Time ended last week. With the change comes increased risks on roads as a result of limited visibility and drowsy driving. Drivers need to be aware of increased drowsiness resulting from disturbed sleep patterns and reduced visibility from daylight changes. Drowsy driving is more likely to cause a crash. When you drive without adequate sleep, your motor skills are impaired. Drivers who’ve only slept 3 to 5 hours in the last 24 hours are unfit to drive. Most people understand it’s risky, but don’t think about the consequences. Drowsy driving is likely to cause a crash. Like drunk, drugged, and distracted driving, drowsy driving is a real public health issue, causing thousands of car crashes each year. Carlotta encourages everyone to prioritize sleep and drive when they are alert and refreshed. Our goal is to help people get the sleep they need and reduce the number of drivers who choose to drive while sleep-deprived.

It's almost time to turn back your clocks, and prepare for darker afternoons Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3. The return of standard time happens in autumn and involves turning clocks back by an hour -- earning it the motto "fall back." Out of all the devices that you need to update, your car's clock is probably the most important. Some modern cars that include GPS systems will allow you to do this. They will be able to synchronise the car's clock with the global positioning satellite signal and so they will automatically change the time according to the zone you're in. Some cars come with a Summer Time option in their settings. Just think.... we will “spring forward” one hour on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Deer are more active in the autumn months, especially with the approach of their breeding season. Drivers are urged to stay alert. Fall is peak season for deer-related accidents, and Pennsylvania drivers face some of the highest collisions risk in the nation. Daylight saving time ends November 2nd meaning that drivers will spend more time on the road during dawn and dusk, the peak hours for deer activity. Pennsylvania is already one of the states with the highest rates of vehicle collisions involving deer or other large animals. A recent report found that Pennsylvanians have a 1-in6 4 chance of such accidents, the highest in the country. Drivers can lower their chances of an accident by staying vigilant in areas marked with deer crossing signs. Remember that deer often travel in groups. Even if one deer crosses safely, another may follow. Be especially attentive from sunset to midnight and during the hours shortly before and after sunrise. These are the highest risk times for vehicle/deer collisions. Drive with caution when moving through deer-crossing zones, in areas known to have a large deer population and in areas where roads divide agricultural fields from forestland. Deer seldom run alone. When you see one deer, others are very likely to be nearby. When driving at night, use high beam headlights when there is no oncoming traffic. The high beams will better illuminate the eyes of deer on or near the roadway. Give yourself more time to react by driving in the furthest lane from the shoulder, if possible.

Now that temperatures are starting to consistently drop below 45°F over nite, it’s probably time to change over your tires from Summer to Winter. Many people use a rule of thumb of using winter or snow tires from Thanksgiving to Tax Day – basically, November to April. In NEPA... this comes a little earlier. You should definitely have winter tires installed before the winter weather hits. If you consistently are able to see your breath, it's time to mount winter tires. Winter tires are specifically built to work best in colder temperatures. They are made with rubber compounds that are specifically designed to stay more flexible in the cold temperatures. Winter tires should ideally be used in a full set of four tires. Having tires with differing levels of grip can drastically upset the way the car handles and can lead to a loss of control.

When the weather starts to drop, so do leaves from trees. Those stunning leaves in beuatiful shades of orange, red, yellow, and brown are damaging your vehicle’s paint. Leaves contain acid-based materials, such as tree sap, that can damage your car's paint. The bottom layer of leaves is often wet, which can act like glue and stick to your car's paint.As leaves decompose, they release sap, tannic acids, and other natural compounds that can damage your car's paint To protect your car's paint from leaves, you can: Remove leaves quickly by hand to avoid scratching your car's paint. You can also use a leaf blower with light air pressure or a vacuum Remove tree sap by using rubbing alcohol on a cloth or a tree sap remover to remove tree sap. Wash your car After cleaning off your car, why not give it a rinse or take it through a car wash.

Engine rattling noise, (clicking sound in an engine) can happen for a number of reasone. Whether it's engine knocking when accelerating or some kind of spark knock or just a general engine noise, some are more serious than others. One thing that’s true is that it's never good to leave it alone. There are a bunch of reasons you might be hearing your car engine making noise. Engine Rattling When Accelerating may be Belt Tensioner Engine Rattling At Idle could be Spark Plug Knock or Collapsed Lifters Engine Noise When Cold could be Rod Knock Sound or Piston Slap Engine Rattling When It’s Hot could be Low Oil Pressure or a Heat Shield Hopefully this gave you a better idea of where to start your search and ultimately helped you find your rattling noise.

What is a Pothole?? They are pot-shaped depressions in a road surface.The most common cause of these are traffic and water. Potholes can be dangerous and expensive to fix if they damage your vehicle. There are four main areas of the car that are most likely to be damaged: the suspension, steering, wheels, and tires. Suspension misalignment can cause your car to mishandle and potentially put the occupants at risk of a crash. Other suspension problems include broken ball joints and damaged struts or shocks. Potholes can dent or bend aluminum or steel wheels. Remember to drive on tires that are properly inflated and in good condition. Be alert to what’s ahead, and make sure you keep enough distance between you and the vehicle in front of you so you can avoid issues. Recognize that though you might miss the first pothole, there can be another waiting. If can’t avoid a pothole, SLOW DOWN and hold your steering wheel tightly. Don’t brake. This will allow you to maintain the most control during the impact.

Turn signals are your way of informing the other drivers the direction you're going to move your vehicle. If you don't use your signals, the other vehicles won't know what you're planning to do, and you could get into an accident. Be sure to signal properly as you travel around the roads. Turn signals are amber or yellow lights on your vehicle that flash. All modern vehicles come equipped with turn indicator lights today, but some have more lights than others. They indicate that you’re about to move your vehicle by turning, changing lanes, parking, or merging. The law requires you to use your turn signals to let other drivers and road users know your intentions and are important for your vehicle's safe operation. Not everyone uses their turn signals as regularly as they should. Their usage dramatically reduces the number of accidents and driver errors. Remember, turn signals are not only a legal requirement but also a crucial safety feature that helps prevent accidents on the road.

The arrival of autumn brings with it a unique set of challenges for drivers. Falling leaves can gather in a pile and create a road hazard. Wet leaves can be as slippery as ice. Fallen leaves can also hide road markings and obscure hazards like potholes and bumps as well as obscure traffic lines and other pavement markings. Other fall hazards for motorists can be fog and sun glare and morning frost. Here are a few fall driving tips: Increase your following distance in severe weather, at dusk and dawn and when in an area with wet leaves. If you are being tailgated, let the other driver pass. Check your vehicle's headlights, taillights and turn signals to ensure they are working properly since darkness will be a part of many driver's morning and/or evening commutes. Make sure you turn on your headlights as the sunlight fades. Have your vehicle's heating and wiper systems checked to ensure they are working properly. Be sure you have tires with sufficient tread depth in case of an early season snow.

It's happening, the weather is gettting cooler and the leaves are starting to change colors. It’s time to get ready for a change of seasons at home and your vehicle. Fall car maintenance is important to keep your auto in shape for the colder weather. Wondering what to do to make sure your vehicle is ready for autumn? Here are a few car care tips for fall: Getting Your Car Ready for Fall: A Complete Car Maintenance Checklist AC/Heating System Check. ... Change or Top off the Fluids. ... Tire Pressure Matters. ... Brighten up the Headlights. ... Change the Wipers. ... Car Maintenance Checklist for the Battery. ... Detailing and Sanitization. It may seem like a lot to keep track of, but if you follow this a car care checklist, you’ll be more than prepared for when the snow starts to fall.

We've already seen the return of yellow school buses and all things pumpkin spice. Are you plannning end of summer festivities over Labor Day? By now we hope you have made your travel plans for the popular three-day weekend. Congestion is expected on most major routes. You should also be alert of wildfire activity and road closures affecting travel plans.Most construction will be paused over the holiday weekend to help limit congestion. Remeber to go early or late and give yourlves plenty of extra time. Crashes or emergency road repairs also can add to travel time. Car-Lotta Car Sales will be closed on Monday September 2nd and will re open on Wednesday, September 3rd. Have a Happy and Safe Labor Day holiday!

It's that time of year....School buses are picking up their passengers, parents are trying to drop their kids off before work. It's never more important for drivers to slow down and pay attention than when kids are present – especially before and after school School buses are the most regulated vehicles on the road. Designed to be safer than passenger vehicles in preventing crashes and injuries to protect children from other motorists. If you're driving behind a bus, allow a greater following distance than if you were driving behind a car. This gives you more time to stop once the yellow lights start flashing. It is illegal to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children. Never pass a bus from behind or from either direction if you're on an undivided road – when it is stopped to load or unload children If the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic must stop The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children Stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus Stay alert! children can be unpredictable, and they tend to ignore hazards

Hitting a pothole can damage your vehicle- this is a no brainer! Unfortunately, pothole damage is an every day road hazard and is a potential nightmare for your car. You may experience : Tire puncture Wheel rim damage Premature wear on shocks and struts Suspension damage, including broken components Steering system misalignment Exhaust system damage Engine damage If you hit pot hole or suspect pothole damage occurred—, take your vehicle to be looked at as soon as possible. Quickly identifying and correcting negative effects of pothole damage will save you from costlier damage to your car’s valuable parts.

If you are in a lane marked for a turn only, then you must complete the turn! Pennsylvania traffic laws require drivers to stay in the appropriate lane for their intended maneuver. This means using the right lane for right turns and the center lane for going straight. Going straight in a right turn lane can create confusion and potentially cause accidents by blocking other vehicles attempting to turn right. Road markings and signs clearly indicate the intended use of each lane, including designated right turn lanes.Violating lane markings and driving unsafely can result in traffic citations and penalties.

Speed bumps, are used to reduce speeds and to help make neighborhoods safer. They're usually placed on residential streets and other low-speed roads with speed limits under 35 mph. Some say they can cause a 40% reduction in speed helping prevent speed-related accidents and reduce the risk of injury or death to children and pedestrians. Speed bumps can also make drivers more alert and help with traffic control. Speed humps Speed humps, are slightly smaller than speed bumps but longe. These tend to work best to keep traffic between 10 – 15 MPH. Some say that speed bumps can have negative effects, including: Vehicle damage Damage tires and suspensions, May cause power steering to leak fluids. Increased emergency response time Increased traffic noise Reduced fuel efficiency Force drivers to brake and accelerate repeatedly, which can reduce a car's fuel efficiency. Dangerous driving behaviors Speed bumps can encourage drivers to take dangerous actions, like driving off-road to avoid them. There are always going to be bumps in the road- They may slow you down... Don't let them stop you!

Water on the Road If water is present over all or part of the road it me be trafficable, but you should proceed with caution. Standing water refers to water that isn't flowing anywhere, so a puddle is one kind of standing water, but standing water is often used in the context of driving, when you have to be careful because standing water on the road could cause an accident A road running below the water level of a stream or river is often known as a "watersplash". It is a common name for a ford or stretch of wet road in some areas, and is sometimes also used to describe tidal crossings. Floating roads are roads that float on water or are built on a very unstable substrate, like peat. These roads can represent both temporary and permanent solution in areas where standard roads are difficult or even impossible to build due to unfavorable natural conditions.

This summer is flying by! It’s hard to believe it is almost August. School will be starting again in a few short weeks. It truly feels like this summer is going by way too fast! Here is your reminder to enjoy every moment left of this summer before it’s gone!!! There is still time for vacations and summer road trips. Now is a good time to review these summer driving safety tips. A little planning and some safety checks might spare you from dealing with a breakdown — or worse, a crash. A long with your cell phone , it's best to carry an emergency roadside kit with you. Cell phone and charger First aid kit Flashlight Flares and a white flag Jumper cables Tire pressure gauge Jack (and ground mat) for changing a tire Work gloves and a change of clothes Basic repair tools and some duct tape (for temporarily repairing a hose leak) Water and paper towels for cleaning up Nonperishable food, drinking water, and medicines Extra windshield washer fluid Maps Emergency blankets, towels and coats Always check the weather, road conditions, and traffic. Don’t rush, allow plenty of time to get there safely. Familiarize yourself with directions and maps before you go, Be sure to let others know your route and anticipated arrival time. Have FUN with everything you do!

There are many apps that can help you check road conditions. There are navigation apps, weather apps, and even apps that offer roadside assistance: Navigation apps provide real-time traffic updates and other information to help you plan your route: The more popular are Wazae and Google Maps and Apple Apps. Some allows users to report incidents and hazards, such as accidents, slowdowns, speed traps, and dangerous driving conditions. Waze also provides safety alerts for roadworks, potholes, speed bumps, sharp curves, bad weather, emergency vehicles, and railway crossings. They provides real-time traffic and navigation information, including ETAs, traffic conditions, and automatic rerouting and even route options and allows you to plot waypoints along your route. Weather apps can help you plan your trip around bad weather: based on your departure time, showing what to expect at each point along your route, including severe storms, tornadoes, icing, fog, blizzards, dangerous temperatures, and high winds. Weatherbug: Some say this is one of the best and most reliable weather apps. Roadside assistance apps can help you get assistance if you need it including request help and track your driver's progress, jumpstarting a battery or fixing a flat tire.

The day after a holiday for some is a buffer day. Some say that knowing they don't have to get up for work the next day releaves some stress from the holdiy. If you were traveling, having a day to unpack, do laundry, get groceries, before having to return to work you may need this extra day to decompress. This works especailly well if the holiday falls on a Thursday and you have a extended weekend. It anticipates that it TSA will screen more than 3 million individuals today surpassing the agency’s current record for most people screened on a single day,