Your windshield wipers are going to come in more and more handy as the winter grows closer and closer. Here are some tips and tricks on knowing when to replace your windshield wipers, and what are some signs that you should look out for.

Look at your blades for:

• Broken frames

• Metal corrosion

• Visible cracks, missing chunks, and rips in the rubber part of the wiper

• Make sure the wiper is flexible and doesn’t crack when you flex it

• Check for rounded edges on the rubber part – they should be crisp and square to work properly

Things that can break down your wipers:

• Sun due to UV light and ozone

• Oil from other cars and the road, especially exhaust

• Sand, rocks, dust, and other road debris carried in the wind

• Acid rain and saltwater

If your wiper does any of these things, it’s time for a change:

• Streaking, which is from a hard, cracked wiper. Make sure the streaks aren’t due to tree sap or something else caught between the blade and your windshield.

• Skipping, which comes from curvature that stems from lack of use

• Bent frames, which make your wipers virtually useless

Your wipers should be changed about every year at least, and you should check them at least once every six months. Whenever you’re at a gas station, use some of the windshield cleaning stuff and a paper towel to wipe down your blades. Remember – your wipers are instrumental in helping you see. Get the right size and the right type for the season and you should be good to go!

When you’re entering the parking lot, you know that you’re going into that whole experience expecting fury, rage, annoyance, anger… you get the picture. Right? Is that just me? Well, thank goodness for this blog, because I am about to spring some crazy knowledge on you – if you have manners in the parking lot, you won’t be angry while in the parking lot. Yeah. I mean, just by having you read this won’t guarantee by any means that everyone else in the world will automatically know how to have parking lot manners, but you can tell all of your friends and maybe that’ll start a global movement. Anyway, whether you’re a pedestrian or a driver, make sure you learn these rules and you’ll have a much easier time of it in any parking lot you ever enter!

First, you should make sure you park straight in the parking space and center your vehicle. If your vehicle is crooked, it’s harder for not only you but the drivers on either side of your car to get in and out of their own vehicles. You’re also more prone to scratches, scrapes, and other people being really annoyed with you (even though they won’t say anything out loud to you).

Don’t take up more than one space. If you have a newer car and don’t want to scratch the paint, park further out where there are fewer cars. If taking up two spaces is just the result of a poor parking job, just pull out and straighten out. Another thing to remember is that if you’re driving a larger vehicle (i.e. a truck), a lot of parking spaces are measured out for smaller vehicles that are narrower than yours. If you find this to be the case, your best bet is to park farther out so that you have the space you need.

You should take turns waiting for a parking spot. Stealing spots can lead to accidents in the parking lot. You will find another open spot, and you’ll be safer for your patience.

When you’re a pedestrian, make your intentions clear. Don’t walk down the middle of the aisle, and make sure you stay on one side of the aisle. Let the cars driving around the lot know where you are and what you plan on doing, so they have one less thing to worry about and so you don’t put yourself at risk of being hit. If someone is driving a super quiet car, you might not be able to hear them (looking at you, electric car people).

Remember defensive driving? It seems like a very distant memory from the time when you were in Driver’s Ed as a fresh 16-year-old, getting your license for the first time so you could drive to school. Or something. I don’t know, that’s why I was in Driver’s Ed! Anyway, we all learned about this concept and, if you’re like me, promptly forgot all about it. But, and I am sure they were telling us this the whole time anyway, defensive driving really means that you’re much safer on the road. Yeah, I know. Surprising! So, here are our favorite tips and tricks for defensive driving!

First, focus on being safe. Not on your music, your passengers, or even on getting to your destination as quickly as HUMANLY possible. When we focus on other things we compromise our safety and the safety of those around us. This involves not tailgating, wearing your seatbelt, and keeping your eyes on the road.

PAY ATTENTION PLEASE. Can we say this enough? No. Your eyes should always be on the road, looking for anything that could present a potential threat to your safety. Deer, other drivers, pedestrians… the list goes on, and you always need to be watching. Constant vigilance!

Tailgating is always a bad thing to do – and it’s illegal as well so get THAT idea right out of your pretty little head! If someone is not moving fast enough for you (remember that the speed limit is a thing that exists) then wait until you can safely pass them. This does not involve tailgating them until that time comes! Keeping your distance means that you’re staying safe.

Your #1 priority is the road in front of you. You should… wait for it… PAY ATTENTION. Paying attention can save your life. No cellphone. No music. No games. If you’re driving without a front seat passenger (aka copilot), make sure that everything is set to go before you put the key into the ignition so that you won’t have to deal with it while you’re driving. Use your Bluetooth, your hands-free headphones, or anything else that can keep you safe. And take a deep breath! You got this!

I think it’s safe to say that we live in “the future” now… would you agree? And because of that, car companies are coming out with concepts about new vehicles almost every day! Volkswagen is no exception to that, either. They announced that they will be revitalizing the classic VW Bus into an electric vehicle called the I.D. Buzz, and now they have also shared their plans for an electric SUV called the I.D. Crozz! These vehicles are part of the I.D. Series, which is a series of electric vehicles that are jam-packed with new technology.

There are so many innovations with these vehicles, especially the I.D. Crozz – autopilot, intelligent headlights, tons of space, and of course zero emissions due to the fast-charging electric battery. Of course, none of these vehicles are out on the market yet, but they are a great concept that remind us to think towards the future of vehicles and not stick with the same-old-thing strategy. Check out this video from Volkswagen on the unveiling of the I.D. Crozz!

When it comes to driving safely, I think we can all agree that road rage is the worst thing that can happen to your safety on the road. Whether it’s your own road rage or the road rage of another driver on the road with you, it can really compromise your safety and make driving much more difficult. Here are some tips about handling road rage that have worked for us in the past.

First, focus on being safe. Not on your music, not on your passengers, and not even on getting to your destination as fast as possible. When we focus on other things, we compromise our safety and the safety of those around us. This involves not tailgating, wearing your seatbelt, and keeping your eyes on the road.

Seriously though, pay attention!! Your eyes should always be on the road, looking for anything that could present a potential threat to your safety. Deer, other drivers, pedestrians… the list goes on, and you need to be watching.

Don’t expect other drivers to be picking up the safety slack. Never assume that someone else will make the right choice. It’s up to you!

Tailgating is always a no-no. If someone is not moving fast enough for you (which, remember speed limits!!) then wait until you can safely pass them. This does not involve tailgating them until that time comes! Keeping your distance is keeping you safe.

Always have a plan B. If you find yourself in traffic, know an alternate route. Getting stuck in traffic is a huge cause of road rage and if it can be avoided… well, do it!

Your #1 priority is the road in front of you. I don’t know if we can say this enough!! Paying attention can save your life – you should do it. Don’t use your cellphone, don’t fiddle with your music, don’t throw a party while you’re behind the wheel. If you’re driving sans copilot, make sure that everything is set to go before you put the key into the ignition so that you won’t have to deal with it while you’re driving. Use your Bluetooth, your hands-free headphones, or anything else that can keep you safe. And take a deep breath! You got this!

When you’re set on buying a new car, it’s pretty hard to tell yourself to be patient. But the best rule my dad ever told me was that you should never ever EVER buy a car the same day you test drive it. It’s been a pretty good rule, and it’s kept me from making some bad decisions. Anyway, the test drive shouldn’t be consumed by your brain being like “buythecarbuythecarbuythecar,” it should be methodical – think about the important things regarding this vehicle and then use those things to decide which vehicle you’re going to buy. Because, you should be test driving more than one! Yeah, seriously. Even at the same dealership.

So what are the things to look for? Check them out here.

You definitely want to make sure the ride is good. Is it bumpy, smooth, or does it seem disconnected? Depending on what kind of car you’re testing, you should have certain expectations, but make sure the vehicle meets or exceeds them.

Acceleration is what a lot of people look for in a vehicle. Make sure that the one you’re testing can get up to speed the way you want it to. If not, look at a different car. Can it handle hills and merging into highway lanes? Remember this as you drive.

Are the brakes responsive? Would you trust them to save your life? Test them out by trying all different types of braking – slow, short, forceful – and see how you feel. Remember that hybrid cars will pretty much universally feel different.

Do the steering and handling meet your expectations? This is what people really notice about driving, and so if it sucks the car might not be the one for you. Try quick maneuvers as well, like pulling a U-turn on an empty road. How’s the turning radius?

Is the inside of the vehicle noisy? Make sure the sound level in the cabin is bearable because things only get worse over time. You should also make sure the sound system is up to your spec, and that you can actually see out of the car (unrelated, but wanted to pop that one in there).

After your test drive, make a list of pros and cons! And then DON’T BUY THAT DAY. Make sure the dealer will hold the car for you and then come back later when you’ve had time to think. That’s the dream car recipe!

Checking your engine’s oil is one of the most important items of routine maintenance that you can perform at home. It’s very easy to do in any vehicle, and especially in your Volkswagen. All you have to do is open the hood, pull out the dipstick (this is located very close to the engine and has a labeled yellow handle), wipe it off with a clean paper towel or rag, put it back in and pull it out again to check the oil level.

If the level is between the two marks, you’re good. If it’s a little high, there’s no need to worry. If it’s low, you can top up your oil yourself. You just need to make sure that you’re using the same oil that is already in your engine. To know this, talk to your dealer or consult your owner’s manual to find out what type of oil you need.

You should also be checking for the quality of your oil. If there are little specks and bits of grit in it, you should have your oil changed ASAP. This doesn’t mean that there’s anything wrong with your oil; rather, it means that your oil is doing what it’s supposed to. Oil is supposed to keep these gritty bits from getting stuck in your pipes and tubes and engine bits (technically speaking, of course). But to have those bits moving around in your oil for too long isn’t good, so you should get it changed as soon as you can.

In the meantime, check out this great video from Volkswagen on how to check your engine oil! If you have questions, come talk to us at King Volkswagen and we’ll get you on track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iL0oxF6Wq4

So, it was three weeks ago and I was driving between my house and my boyfriend’s house. Mind you, this is about a fifteen-minute drive, so I wasn’t expecting anything too crazy to happen on my drive. Of course, with my luck, I was so wrong. About halfway there, I started smelling something weird. I figured it was just a smell on the road (you know, like, sometimes you’ll smell a skunk on the road but never see the actual roadkill). But then, I noticed smoke coming out from under my hood. This has literally never happened to me before, but I knew I should pull over, so I did.

I popped the hood once I was on the side of the road with my hazards on, and thank goodness it was light out, because I was freaking out. My engine was definitely smoking and I was kind of scared that it was just going to blow up in my face like in an action movie. Thank goodness it didn’t!!! But I propped the hood open so that the engine could air out and cool down, and I called my dad, who called for roadside assistance.

When the tow arrived, which was super fast, I had them take me to King Volkswagen, because that’s where I got my car. It’s a really cute little Beetle, and I didn’t want it to be broken because, like, I love my car! Thankfully the techs were really fast and took a look and it turned out that the only thing that was wrong was that I had a tiny oil leak that was dripping on the engine and burning. They patched it right up and I was good to go in like an hour! It was amazing.

So basically, the moral of this story is that no matter what happens to you on the road, you should have a good system for any situation. Make sure that you have access to roadside assistance, that your cellphone is charged, and that you can stay calm if something DOES happen. And ask the tow truck, if you need one, to take you to your dealer! The techs there totally know the ins and outs of the cars they sell, so if you have one, they’ll be able to fix it like such pros. It’s amazing!

Anyway, I hope you liked this, and you should check out King Volkswagen! They helped me out big time, and I want to tell everyone how much I loved my experience there. Go go go!!!

If you’ve ever been caught on the side of the road in an emergency, you’ve probably wanted to have an emergency kit with you. If you had one already, you’re one of the lucky ones! If you didn’t, and still don’t, come on! Putting together a functional emergency kit is super easy and inexpensive and can help in the long run a lot more than you know. It’s useful even when you don’t have an emergency – like, the band-aids are useful when someone gets a paper cut or something. An emergency kit is always a good idea. Trust me on this. If you need to make one, check out the list below for things you should be including in it. This stuff can make a huge difference in not only how well you respond to an emergency, but in how safe you feel in that situation.

• First Aid kit. Some of the items to include are:

  • Band-Aids

  • Hand sanitizer.

  • Antiseptic.

  • Antibiotic ointment.

  • Bug spray.

  • Aspirin (or similar).

  • Cotton balls.

  • Gauze pads.

  • Tweezers.

  • Bandana.

  • Ace bandage.

• Fire extinguisher.

• Road flares (if not already in your tire-changing tools).

• Jumper cables.

• Rain ponchos.

• Tarp.

• Flashlight and extra batteries.

• Rags.

• Duct tape

• Scent-free baby wipes.

• Drinking water and non-perishable snacks.

• Multipurpose tool.

Now go forth and feel safe! And if you have questions about emergencies or need help bringing your vehicle back from a crash, come visit us at King Volkswagen and we’ll set you right again.

If you have a car, you know that it’s gotta be registered to the owner. But what happens when it’s time to renew your registration? Here’s a quick guide to that process that will hopefully simplify the process for you a little bit! If you already have a registration, this guide is for you.

One way to renew your Maryland vehicle registration is online. You need your vehicle title and license plate number, and you can only do this if the name, address, insurance, and vehicle information on the registration renewal notice you received are the same. You can also renew your registration over the phone! A third way of doing this using ~technology~ is to do it through the eMVA Kiosk, which is at all MVA locations. You need your current registration card or renewal notice, insurance information, and some money (either plastic or a check) for the associated fees. At these kiosks, you can not only renew your registration but also request your driving records, apply for a personal identification number, change your address, request a replacement title, request an extension for the inspection deadline, order replacement plates, pay fees, order county pride stickers, request temporary registration, or request duplicate or additional registration cards.

You can also renew your registration via mail. You need your registration notice, and all you need to do is fill it out. Don’t send cash in the mail for the fees, though – only send a check or money order. Write your driver’s license number and home or work phone number on the check and you’re good to go!

Your County Treasurer’s office will also renew your plates for you, for a fee, Monday through Friday. This is only to renew your tags, so if that’s what you need to do you can go here. Locations and hours of these offices can be found online.

Here’s some more information, straight from the MVA:

• Registration surcharges increased from $13.50 to $17.00 as part of Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013.  New dollars go directly to the Maryland Emergency Medical System Operations Fund to support Maryland’s world-renowned trauma and emergency management system, including the Maryland State Police Aviation Command, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute and the Volunteer Company Assistance Fund.

• Renew now. If doing so by mail, your renewal notice must be received at the MVA no later than 15 days prior to the expiration of your current registration.

• If renewing your registration only, you will receive one license plate sticker. If receiving new license plates, you will receive both a month and a year sticker.

• Trailers not for rent or lease do not require insurance.To avoid a substantial uninsured motorist penalty fee, return your registration card and plates to the MVA on or before the day the required insurance is terminated.

• Administrative fees will be assessed by the MVA if your vehicle registration is being withheld as a result of failure to satisfy the requirements of a traffic control device violation, law enforcement agency referral, or failure to satisfy the requirements for a returned check. The Administrative fee by the MVA is assessed for each administrative action imposed. Any fee remaining unpaid may be referred to the Maryland Central Collection Unit for collection.

• Post office boxes are accepted as long as the name of your street is provided and the zip code is the same for the post office box and street.

• If your license plates are lost or mutilated check the box above the tag number on your renewal notice and include applicable fees.  Please remember that when you receive new plates, any old plates in your possession must be returned to an MVA office.

• If the vehicle is sold, traded or junked and you have NOT transferred the plates, throw away this renewal notice. Remember: The plates must be returned to an MVA office to avoid the penalty fees.

• You may apply for a refund if you have not used your 2nd year’s registration.

• If your plates have officially been transferred to a new vehicle, record your new vehicle information in the gray areas provided on the renewal notice.

And if you need a vehicle to register in the first place, King Volkswagen has you covered!