Gobble Gobble- Preventative Maintenance to Stay on the RoadWhile you’re busy preparing for another holiday season, don’t let car care take a back seat. Neglected auto care almost always means much higher costs down the road in the form of more extensive repairs or lost resale value. The non-profit Car Care Council recommends that you be car care aware to ensure your car doesn’t gobble up your hard-earned money.

“If you’re like most Americans, you’re busier than ever this time of year and may find yourself putting off vehicle maintenance,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “It’s important to remember that routine auto care means big savings by improving fuel economy, extending vehicle life and reducing the chance of costly car trouble.” 

The Car Care Council suggests a quick vehicle check to help avoid the unplanned expense of a breakdown when traveling by car this holiday season.

• Check the tires, including tire pressure and tread. Uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots.
• Check all fluids, including engine oil, power steering and brake and transmission, as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.

Before you pack up the car to head home for the holidays, the Car Care Council reminds you to make sure your vehicle is ready for the journey. Conducting a thorough vehicle inspection will help you avoid the inconvenience and potential safety hazards of breaking down miles away from home.

“It’s easy to remember to get your family ready for the holiday festivities, but what about preparing the car that’s going to get you there?” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Having a pre-inspection performed on your car will give you peace of mind as you travel and help make your journey safer.”

The national average price for regular unleaded gasoline has fallen for 60 consecutive days, reaching today’s price of $2.81 per gallon. This is seven cents less than one week ago, one quarter less than one month ago and 46 cents less than one year ago. Today’s price is the least expensive since November 4, 2010 and motorists are on target to pay the lowest averages at the Thanksgiving holiday since 2009, when the national average price was $2.63 per gallon.

Across the country motorists are enjoying low prices due to production exceeding demand and relatively few issues at local refineries. Consumers in South Carolina and Missouri are paying the nation’s lowest average price at the pump, $2.57 per gallon, and 38 states are posting averages below the $3.00 per gallon threshold.

CARSON, Calif., Oct. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Reflecting the reality of the cars on today's roads, AutoMD.com has updated its list of Ten Really Expensive Auto Service and Repair Mistakes to Avoid to include older vehicles (over 100,000 miles) and hybrids.

"The age of vehicles on the roads today is at a record high, more and more consumers are driving electric/hybrid vehicle models, and nearly half of consumers say they spend $500 or more on auto repairs a year (with 1 in 6 spending $1,000 plus)," said Brian Hafer, VP of Marketing for AutoMD.com. "So avoiding costly repair mistakes is key, whether vehicles have the newest technology or are well past middle age, which is why we put together this updated list of 'mistakes to avoid.'"

WORCESTER, Mass., Nov. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- With the average age of cars on the road today at an all-time high and gas prices low, vehicle maintenance is increasingly important, particularly during the busy holiday season.  Before a long road trip, even small maintenance tasks can increase vehicle safety and minimize more costly repair problems down the road.

The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG) offers five simple tips before hitting the road this holiday season to help improve travel safety: