Teen Car Insurance Tips from Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville

All drivers need car insurance. For many young drivers, however, the cost of insurance costs more than their car. Parents handle teen drivers differently, depending on their values. Some parents will pay for car insurance for their teens, while some teens must buy their own insurance. Regardless of family arrangements, the following tips from Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville for buying teen car insurance can help.

Explain insurance

Parents should spend time explaining insurance to their teenage drivers. Important information parents should emphasize includes:

• Why car insurance for teens costs so much. More teenagers die in motor vehicle accidents in the U.S. than from any other cause.
• How a ticket costs far more than a fine. Teens must know that a single ticket can cost thousands of dollars in the form of higher insurance premiums.
• Common reasons for accidents involving teen drivers. Speed, distracted driving, and alcohol all contribute to teen auto wrecks.
• Teen driver safety tips. Teens should always use their seatbelts. Also, teens should stay off the roads between midnight and 4 a.m.
• Strict household driving rules. Parents must insist on teen-driver accountability. Teens that repeatedly drive too fast and demonstrate other unsafe driving habits should lose their driving privileges until they complete additional training.

Mandatory insurance

Drivers do not choose whether to buy car insurance—states require drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance before they can take a car onto the road. Banks and finance companies usually require car buyers to have collision and comprehensive coverage on financed vehicles.

Teen drivers must understand why they need insurance. Insurers insist that insurance policies list all licensed drivers in a household. Parents may choose to add their teen driver to their existing policy if the teen does not buy separate insurance.

Affordable car insurance

The term “affordable” rarely describes a car insurance policy for a teenage driver. However, parents and their teens can work together to get the best rates possible using the following tips.

Shop around. Different insurance companies have different premiums, so spending the time to shop around usually pays off.

Get discounts. Some companies offer discounts for good students. Other companies offer parent-guided safety discounts. When asking for quotes for auto insurance for their teen, parents should ask each company about the teen discounts it offers.

Use tracking devices. Some car insurance companies offer a discount for teens with GPS-enabled tracking. These systems track the location and speed of a car. Sophisticated tracking devices have cameras that activate when the system detects risky driving practices. Parents should speak ask prospective insurers about what tracking products qualify for a discount.

Share policies. Teen insurance often costs more when purchased separately. Parents willing to add their teen to their existing insurance policy can substantially reduce the cost to insure their teen. However, this option may not appeal to parents who expect their teens to pay the extra cost.

Nissan Accepts the 2015 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award

Nissan has earned the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award. The Sustained Excellence Award is only given to organizations that are committed to protecting the environment by making operations processes at their facilities more energy efficient.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gives the award out annually. Nissan’s “continued commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy management” has landed the organization on the list for the fourth year in a row. Nissan has reduced energy usage by changing to more efficient LED lights, fixing compressed air leaks, and incorporating an environmentally friendly paint process.  

"Since Nissan became an ENERGY STAR partner in 2006, we have made continual improvements to our operations, which has helped us reduce both our environmental footprint and manufacturing costs," said John Martin, senior vice president, Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management and Purchasing. "In 2014, those improvements reduced the amount of energy required to build vehicles by 13 percent—that's the same amount of energy it would take to power more than 5,400 homes for an entire year."

Nissan is among the top 25 percent of the automotive manufacturing industry in energy management. Nissan’s Vehicle Assembly Plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, which produced more vehicles than any other auto plant in 2014, and Nissan’s plant in Canton, Mississippi, were awarded the ENERGY STAR certification for the ninth year in a row.

Nissan works with ENERGY STAR to complete its company sustainability program, the Nissan Green Program, which pledges to reduce Nissan’s carbon footprint by 20 percent by 2016.

We are honored that Nissan has been awarded the 2015 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year award here at Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville. To learn more about Nissan’s sustainability initiative or want to test drive one of Nissan’s energy efficient vehicles, stop by today!

Shop the Seasons at the Farmers' Market: Spring

Grab your reusable grocery bags, small wheely cart, and a wad of cash with plenty of small bills. It’s time to go to the farmers’ market! There’s nothing quite like fresh, local produce. Every season has its own flavor. Going to your local farmers’ market is a great way to make the most of seasonal ingredients, buy organic and help out the little guy in the process.

Here are a few tips from Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville to help you get the most out of your shopping:

• Get there early and have a plan, but be open to new ideas.
• Make a loop to get a lay of the land.
• Talk to the farmers. They know their stuff and are usually more than happy to give you tips on how best to prepare the food.

Ah, the joys of Spring! The flowers are blooming, the birds are singing and the Yankees are headed to Florida. And, it’s a great time to head out to your local farmer’s market and start enjoying some of nature’s abundance. Here are just a few of the fruits and vegetables that spring has to offer.

Arugula - Spring is about greens. Arugula is just one of the many delicious greens available. Baby forms of greens have wonderfully tender leaves which are great for salads.

Apricots - Look for these in late spring and early summer. If you’ve never tried it, apricot cobbler is a great spring/summer desert.

Artichokes - Tastiest. Thistle. Ever. Don’t let it intimidate you. Get some kitchen sheers and show it who’s boss. Pluck off some of the straggler leaves and steam or braise for a tasty side dish.

Asparagus - Grill it, roast it, steam it. Serve it with a drizzle of olive oil or a little lemon butter. Get creative and chop some up and toss into an omelets.

Baby carrots - They might be immature, but they sure are adorable and good for you too. These are not the whittled down big carrots you buy at the grocery store; these are the real baby deal. Eat them raw or cook them and add a little dill butter.

Green garlic - They look a bit like leeks, but don’t let that fool you, this is genuine, fresh, hasn’t had a chance to dry yet garlic. They’re versatile and can add flavor to oodles of dishes. Make a pesto or a soup or plop in whole with your roast.

Fava beans - This buttery, nutty and sometimes bitter bean comes in a big alien head pod. They’re great in salad or pureed with cream and butter. Oh, and don’t forget a nice Chianti!

Fiddlehead ferns - This crazy little veggie is only available for a few weeks in spring, so be on the lookout. They’re the unfurled fronds of a small fern and look like something out of a James Cameron movie. They taste a bit like asparagus. Try them gently sautéed with garlic and butter.

Mint - Mint starts appearing in the spring and is usually available up until fall. How does some tender lamb with a nice mint chutney sound? If you’re not sure about minty food, you can always mix yourself up a Mint Julep and retire to the veranda. Oh, Magnolia!

Morels - This mushroom has built up a virtual cult following. And, if the idea of eating a little fungus among us doesn’t bother you, you’ll soon see why. Try them in a cream sauce with some Madeira, shallots and garlic.

Peas - Whether they’re snow, garden or snap peas, spring is a great time for peas. Sides, salads and soups. Peas do it all with a smile.

Strawberries - They’re beautiful, sweet and chock full of vitamin C. Put them on some ice cream, make some strawberry shortcake or just eat them by their little old selves.

Spring onions - These little guys are like the scallions’ big brother. They’re great in soups and salads or just grilled.

Meal Suggestion: Try a fiddlehead and morel salad on a bed of baby greens with a little Gouda cheese. Follow with roasted chicken flavored with spring onions and sides of snow peas and grilled asparagus. Top it off with an apricot cobbler and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Caring for Your Car Battery in the Heat

Many car drivers experience problems with their car battery during the winter. Damp, cold weather can wreak havoc with this critical car part. Many an early morning has been made more stressful by a car battery that doesn't want to work. However, the warmer summer months are not entirely plain sailing when it comes to your car battery, with the sun and hot temperatures posing challenges. Here are some tips from Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville on caring for your car battery during the summer.

Excess heat

The excess heat of summer can cause problems for the car battery. If the car is left in the sun for a long period of time or out on the road, the internal temperature can soar. The excess heat can cause the battery fluid to evaporate, which can damage the internal parts of the battery. If the components fail, the battery could eventually stop working entirely, which could be disastrous for you.

Checking the battery and electrical system

Before the summer starts, ask your service department to check the battery and electrical system. An expert eye may identify problems before they become too serious. While you may need to spend a bit of cash up front, you could easily discover that this is a good investment in the long run. As a general rule, if your car battery is more than three years old, you should have it fully tested to see how much more life there is in it.

Additional Battery Pressure

Even if the battery checks out, it is important to look after it during the summer months to ensure that it works at maximum efficiency. Ensure that you check your battery on a regular basis, and certainly before every long journey. Add distilled water as necessary and make sure that you carry additional distilled water for long journeys. Remember that the battery may be under additional pressure on long journeys. Idling in traffic, air conditioning, and the use of electronic devices such as GPS systems or portable DVD players can all place additional demands on your battery.

Battery Cleanliness

It is also important to keep the battery clean. Excess dust or dirt on the battery can become a conductor which, in turn, can drain battery power. Accumulated corrosion on the battery terminals may insulate the battery and inhibit the flow of current. Both these things can add additional pressure to the battery. You can easily clean the battery and terminals with an old toothbrush. Always clean the battery before the car heats up. Contact the Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville service department for more information.

The Right Wax for your Car from Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville

Protecting your car’s paint work ensures that your vehicle looks great and is resilient to the rigors of driving on the road and constant exposure to the elements. Dirt and debris on the road surface quickly and easily flicks up onto your car’s paint work, causing chips and small dents. Exposure to bright sunlight can quickly take its toll too, leading to faded, patchy coloring. Waxing your paint work won’t completely eliminate the risk of these types of damage, but it will certainly help, so it’s a good thing to add to your maintenance schedule. With so many types of car wax on the market, how do you know which one to use? Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville is here to help.

Car wax normally contains some form of natural wax, such as carnauba wax or beeswax. Most are sold in a clear format, so can be applied to any color paint work. Some enthusiasts prefer a colored wax if they are able to match it exactly to the color of their paint work. Ask the Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville team for advice on colored wax that can match your car.

Car wax is then offered in two further forms. A cleaner wax will clean, polish, and protect the car, all through one product. These products often contain carnauba wax. A finishing wax will not have any cleaning capability and is used to focus on protecting the paint work and creating a superb finish. These products are often called show car waxes.

So what form of wax is best for your car?

Liquid wax. Liquid wax gives a great finish, and can be buffed by a novice or an expert to achieve a very glossy look. Liquid wax is normally very durable too, so it doesn’t need to be re-applied as often as other products.

Liquid wax is probably the hardest to apply to the paint work very quickly. The liquid form is difficult to manage, because it’s very easy to use too much, resulting in a lot of mess and wastage. According to the type of liquid wax that you use, it can be a race against time to buff out the wax to a good finish before it dries on the car. While it is always better to apply wax in warm weather, this can work against you with liquid wax, which will dry more quickly.

Paste wax. Paste wax is probably the easiest to apply. The consistency means that you can easily apply just the right amount, and you won’t find lots of mess and wastage like you would with a liquid wax. Paste wax may be a good option for a beginner, who is looking for something that doesn’t require a lot of skill, partly because the wax dries very quickly.

Paste wax is very susceptible to temperature, however, and is therefore extremely difficult to apply in the colder months. You always need to apply paste wax on a warm day, or in a heated garage. Paste waxes don’t tend to produce as good a finish as liquid waxes, and don’t always protect the paint work as well as other products. You do tend to waste a certain amount of paste wax in the bottom of the container, because it is very difficult to get out.

Spray wax. Spray waxes are particularly good for new cars, where the paint work is brand new and shiny. They’re very convenient to use, and have a lighter finish, so can normally be used on a variety of different surfaces on the car, including plastic. There’s generally no waste with a spray wax, as you apply just the amount you want, and they’re also less reliant on warm weather. Spray wax is a great option if you are looking simply to touch up a small area of the car, due to the ease of application. You can also quickly and easily wipe off a spray wax if it ends up somewhere you don’t want it to.

Spray waxes are the most superficial of the different wax products, however. They generally offer only a very thin layer of protection, and therefore need to be re-applied frequently. A spray wax would not be suitable for an older car, where the paint work needs more care and attention.