Do you own a car? Do you drive it on a regular basis? Then you’d be wise to follow this guide and learn the types of people you’re going to need to make friends with if you want to continue driving. Don’t worry, this isn’t a shady article on how to avoid the cops or anything like that, but a practical guide on how you can use your connections and friends to make driving easier, cheaper and safer.
The local garage
Unless you know how to repair a car by yourself, you’re going to need the help of a mechanic to help you. If you have a local garage that isn’t run by a major corporation, then you can probably get great deals and even haggle the price at your local garage. In addition, getting to know them personally could score you some on-call help. For instance, perhaps your car isn’t starting and you need a quick bit of help. You could call up the garage (assuming you’re friends) and ask them to come out and help you.
An accident lawyer
We don’t exactly dream of getting in an accident but we do fear it, hence why we need to prepare for these situations. An injury lawyer can certainly come in handy for if you do get into an accident. They’ll get to learn your driving habits, who your insurance company is, and other details about you that will help with your claim.
Your insurance company
This ties in nicely with your accident lawyer. Again, no one likes to think of getting into a crash, but we do need to prepare for it so that we know exactly what to do when an incident happens. One of the last numbers you should call is your insurance company. In the event of a crash, make sure you are taking plenty of pictures and recording everyone’s information so when the time comes to make a compensation claim, you have all the right resources and knowledge needed to make a successful claim.
Experienced drivers in your area
If you have neighbours that have been living in the area for a while, then it’s a good idea to speak with them and occasionally bring up the topic of driving. This is especially important in areas that are affected by erratic or harsh weather. It’s always a good idea to have some experienced drivers tell you about the hardest roads to drive on or the sharpest turns where accidents are common. Driving is as much about experience as it is knowledge, and learning to drive safely and efficiently in a new area can be tiresome without help.
Your nearest dealership
Whether you want to buy a new car or sell an existing one, becoming friends with your local dealership is a great way to get better deals on your transactions. You’ll most likely get a more accurate evaluation on the car you want to sell, and there’s a chance that you’ll be able to haggle for a better deal if your local dealership is friendly with you.
