How To Save Money On Teen Car Insurance

BAY CITY, Mich.– As a teenager, one of the most exciting moments in life is finally getting a drivers license. But as a parent, it is one of the most stressful. Not only are you stressed about your child's safety on the road and what vehicle they will be driving, whether you are purchasing it for them or not. But then comes the unavoidable cost of car insurance, which we all know can be difficult to find at an affordable price for a young driver. While we can't exactly relieve all of the stresses this life-stage brings, we can give you some tips on how to save money on teen car insurance!

How To Save Money on Teen Car Insurance

1. Check Out Your Options – Even if you already have a plan in place for yourself, make sure to comparison shop to find the best rates for your new driver whether you are adding them to your plan or looking for a separate policy. These days there is so much competition between car insurance companies and it is simple to receive quotes online to make shopping for car insurance easy.

2. Teen Driver Discounts – The good news is that there are a few teen driver discounts that you may be able to take advantage of with your current carrier or through a new provider. Look for companies that offer a discount for teens who have taken a driver safety education course, are good students (usually maintaining a B average), or are a low-mileage driver.

3. Expand Your Policy – When purchasing car insurance for your teen driver, you can either acquire a separate policy or add them to your current plan which is usually less expensive. You can even save more if your teen drives the vehicle that is the least costly to insure and they are assigned to that vehicle on the insurance policy. Even if you want them to be responsible for paying for their own insurance, you can set up a plan for them to pay you directly.

4. Consider The Car – Whether or not you will be buying a car for your young driver, they will be purchasing it themselves, or they will be sharing a family car, consider which car they will be driving. The best policy rates for teen drivers are generally associated with vehicles that have high safety ratings/features, aren't brand new, and are less prone to theft.

5. Safe Driving – It goes without saying that when your new driver hits the road, you want them to be as safe as possible. But reinforcing the importance of safe driving can continue to build good driving habits that will help keep them and other drivers safe while on the road.

6. Deductibles – Another option to carefully consider is increasing your deductibles. While this will lower your premiums, it's important to remember that in the event of an accident, paying a deductible could outweigh any premium savings you may have accrued.

7. Adult Driver Discounts – While you're at it, make sure that you are taking advantage of all the possible discounts for yourself as a policyholder too. If you don't have them already, you may be eligible for discounts related to multiple cars, multiple policies, good drivers, safe vehicles, or safe driver classes.

When it comes down to it, you definitely want to make sure that you have the security of sound auto protection for your teen driver as well as for yourself. You can also get some peace of mind by knowing they are in a safe vehicle. If you are still searching for the right one, check out our Sebewaing, MI Used Cars For Sale at our Used Car Dealership. Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706. For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our websites: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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7 Weekend Travel Tips

BAY CITY, Mich. - One of the biggest holiday travel weekends is rapidly approaching, which means millions across the country will be in their cars and traveling to their vacation destination. No matter where you're traveling to, the cost of food, accommodations and more can add up very quickly. That's why we've gathered 7 weekend travel tips to help you save a few bucks.

1.  To avoid wasting gas on the highway, travel on off-peak days or at odd hours! The busiest travel days this holiday are expected to be on Friday and Monday, around 5-7 p.m. By traveling at off-peak hours or on less busy days, your vehicle will be more fuel efficient because you will be avoiding all the stop and go - not to mention, you remove the risk of getting in an accident due to the high volume of drivers on the road.

2. Another way to avoid wasting gas is to consider renting a car locally. If your vehicle is a gas guzzler, it might be worth it to rent a car with better gas mileage. The money you save on gas might be more than the rental cost.

3. If you're traveling to the beach, stay a few miles away. Hotels right on the sand are going to be more expensive whereas you might be able to find a better deal down the road. That way you're still near the beach, but you're saving a few pennies.

4. Speaking of expensive hotels, avoid places right off the highway or interstate. That will be the first place that many travelers stop since it's so conveniently placed. If you travel down the road a few miles, you'll be able to find a better deal with more rooms available.

5. Eating out can be a delicious treat, but an expensive one. If you pack food to take with you - even if it's just chips, pretzels, or other snack foods - you'll save money. Not to mention, you'll be thankful you packed something for your kids to munch on.

6.  If you are staying in a tent or a cabin, it's even easier to avoid eating out. Pack hot dogs or hamburgers and roast them over a campfire with friends and family! This gives everyone the chance to come together and enjoy each other's company at a fraction of the cost of eating out.

7.  The biggest travel tip that we can offer to help you save money is to stay local. If you want a change of scenery but have to stay on a budget, we recommend checking out a local campsite or visiting a town nearby that you've never been to! This helps you save on gas, accommodations, and bonus: you could always run home if you forgot something!

We hope these 7 weekend travel tips will help you save a few dollars this holiday weekend. We can also help you save a few bucks on a New Chevrolet Car or New Chevrolet Truck at our Caro Area Chevrolet Dealer! Our friendly and courteous sales team is ready to help you save as much money as possible with Rebates and Employee Pricing. So stop by and see us today! Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706. For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our websites: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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Fall $2,000 Minimum Trade-in before Winter!

BAY CITY, Mich.- Football season is more than halfway over, Halloween is done, Thanksgiving is a few weeks away, fall is quickly winding down, and winter will soon be gearing up.  But we can’t get ready for long winter nights snuggling by a cozy fire, drinking a cup of hot chocolate. We need to clear out our inventory before the snow comes in. We need your help!

There’s good news for you! To sweeten the pot, we are giving you one fantastic incentive! We are offering, AT MINIMUM, $2,000 for ANY useable automobile trade-in! You can put that towards most pre-owned vehicles over $8,000. Not only that, but you can also use your trade in for new 2012 Chevy’s or select 2013 Chevy’s!  You can see just how much your vehicle is worth by filling out our trade in form online.  You can also visit your Mid-Michigan Chevy Dealer today for even more details! 

Graff Bay City located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706.  For more information on Graff Bay City, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website at: www.graffbaycity.com

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DIY Car Cleaning: Save Money

BAY CITY Mich., - If you own a vehicle then you know how expensive it can get to take it in and have routine maintenance done.  That’s why we’ve put together a few Do It Yourself Tips to help you increase the life of your vehicle and save you money at the same time!

Keep Your Car Beautiful - Do you want your vehicle to stay as shiny and new as it was when you first bought it?  Then get outside and start washing that car! While you’re washing you’ll have time to inspect your vehicle for any scratches or dents that you may not have noticed before.  After you’ve finished making your car squeaky clean you can apply a spray wax (to be used on special occasions or even once a week if you’re really enthusiastic)!  Most other waxes can be used every few months.

Do Some Touch-ups – Come to our Graff Chevrolet Bay City Service Center and our specialists can assist you with locating the exact color of your vehicle.  After you’ve applied the paint to your scratches and paint chips you’ll want to let it dry and cure for at least 72 hours.  Then you can wash or even polish your vehicle all you want!  This will save you a fortune in the long run.

Clean Those Windshield Wipers – Cleaning your windshield wipers will help you get the most out of them!  Most wipers need to be replaced every 6 months but here’s a good way to prolong their life and save money.  Put glass cleaner or warm water with dish soap on a paper towel and wipe off the rubber edge to keep them clean.  It’s as easy as that!

Clean Your Headlight Lenses – You’ll be amazed at the difference between your current hazy, dirty lenses and the ones you’ll have after they’re cleaned!  Over time your lenses can be covered with all sorts of mud, dirt, salt and other types of grime that block the light from your headlights.  So instead of having to pay to have your lenses replaced you can purchase a light restoration kit that includes a special cloth and finishing liquid to make your lenses sparkle!

Replace your own Light Bulbs – Nowadays changing your own light bulbs in your vehicle is easy.  To know which kind of bulb you’ll need you can check in your owner’s manual.  We have all of the replacement bulbs you could ever want so come on over to our store and we’ll help you find the one you need.  Remember not to touch the glass with your bare hands if you have a halogen bulb however, because your skin oils can shorten its life.

We bet you’re feeling ready to take on the tasks of cleaning up your vehicle already, especially since it’s so easy and saves you lots of money!

Graff Chevrolet is proud to serve the auto dealership needs of cities such as Bay City, Midland, Saginaw, Mount Pleasant, Essexville, Pinconning, Coleman, Sanford, Carrollton, Frankenmuth, St. Charles, Birch Run, and Zilwaukee. We provide exceptional customer service, a warm and friendly environment, auto financing options to fit your budget, and an inventory of great new and used cars, trucks, SUV’s, and crossovers. Our ASE certified technicians at the Graff Chevrolet Service Center, service and repair all makes and models, both foreign and domestic. Call us at (989) 684-4411 or stop in at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI, 48706 and check out our great GM inventory selection.

Visit our website at www.graffbaycity.com

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