Recent Puerto Rico Shipping News

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Air Filter 101
Advice for getting the most out of your air filters
Final Word
 

Air Filter 101

Your car’s air filter is much more important than you might think. For example, an overly dirty air filter can be the root cause of your car stalling. So, it is important that you check your air filter often and get it replaced if need be. For clarification, we are referring to your engine’s air filter, your car has another air filter which filters the air for the cabin of your vehicle. It is quite important for you and your passenger’s health to have a clean cabin filter as well though.

Your engine runs on the combustion created by a mixture of air and gas injected into the engine. If the air that mixes with the fuel is not clean and has things like grease and dirt in it, this could potentially cause major issues in your engine up to and including possible failure. Your air filter is what prevents this from happening. If your air filter gets too dirty, it will not be able to completely do its job.
 

Advice for getting the most out of your air filters

In order for you to get the most out of your vehicle’s air filter you should always get it replaced when the time comes. Typically, you should get your air filter replaced every ten thousand miles or so. If you do not feel like keeping track of that, you can get it done once every three times that you get your car’s oil changed. However, you might need to do it more frequently than that. If you notice your car’s gas mileage is decreasing, check your air filter, if it is dirty get it replaced as soon as you can. Also, if you just happen to be in your engine at any time, give your air filter a look, if it is filthy then replace it.
 

Final Word

Your air filter is extremely important. The one in your engine could be the difference between your car running or not. It is critically important that you get your air filter changed regularly or every time that it becomes dirty to the point where it is impeding your engines or car’s performance. If you need your vehicle moved to Puerto Rico and would like a free quote or just want to know more about the process, give Puerto Rico Car Transport a call at (904) 322-7644!

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Cleaning the vehicle and removing personal items
Being ready for pickup and delivery
 

Cleaning the vehicle and removing personal items

When you are shipping your car to or from Puerto Rico, you will have some moderate responsibility in terms of the preparation of your vehicle. This starts with having your car clean as well as removing any personal effects from the vehicle prior to your auto transport driver arriving for the vehicle’s pickup. The outside of your car must be clean at the time it is picked up because the person that will be transporting your car during your shipment will be required to closely examine the outside of your vehicle for any damage like scratches or dents. They will then take note of it on the bill of lading. This is done so that people who ship their cars cannot take unfair advantage of the car shipping insurance and claim that damage which existed prior to shipping occurred during the shipment.

The removal of personal items is another insurance issue. But this insurance issue can only negatively impact the person who is shipping their car. This is because if you leave something in your car like Rayban sunglasses and they get damaged or lost during the shipment, there is no scenario in which the car shipping insurance or company will cover any of the cost. Thus, it behooves you to take anything and everything out of your car prior to shipping that is not completely necessary to the car’s operation.
 

Being ready for pickup and delivery

In addition to cleaning the car and taking your personal things out of the vehicle, you must plan and prepare to be available to be there in-person for both the pickup and delivery of your vehicle. You must give/receive the keys as well as sign the bill of lading both times. Unfortunately, this will be a bit more complex than you might think because you will be given forty-eight to seventy-two hour windows for both pickup and delivery. This means that you will need to be ready for both pickup and delivery at any point during those periods. So, you will likely want to have at least one other person who is eighteen or older with a valid ID to take shifts waiting with you so that you can get other things done during that time.

If you are shipping a car to Puerto Rico, this will not be an issue during delivery as you will have to pickup your car from the port. In that case, you will just need to be ready to go get your car from the port within a day or so of its delivery.
 

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What is a catalytic converter and what does it do?
Tips for keeping your catalytic converter going strong
Wrapping up
 

What is a catalytic converter and what does it do?

Your car’s catalytic converter is a primary part of your car’s exhaust system that takes potentially harmful toxins produced by the engine and coverts them through chemical reactions into much less harmful particles like vapor. Your car can operate without one, but it is illegal to do so in Puerto Rico. This is because the main point of catalytic converters is to reduce overall harmful emissions for the environment, thus the government made them required for all cars.

Odds are you will not get caught by police without a catalytic converter, but your car will not pass inspection. This is because any mechanic who passes a car for inspection without a catalytic converter faces a five thousand dollar fine. However, if you are caught driving without passing inspection, you will be ticketed by police each time you get pulled over until you pass an inspection.
 

Tips for keeping your catalytic converter going strong

Replacing a catalytic converter can be costly. In 2021 the cost of replacing a catalytic converter will likely be somewhere between one and three thousand dollars. That is exactly why you should do whatever you can to keep your current catalytic converter working.

In order to keep your catalytic converter running strong, you should always get any exhaust leaks taken care of immediately. Also, avoid using any and all silicone products near or in your car’s exhaust system. Never ignore an engine that seems to be running too hot, always get that taken care of immediately. Always make sure that your mechanic takes a look at your fuel injection system when they are servicing your car because an issue with the fuel injectors can quickly cause problems for your catalytic converter. Finally, because catalytic converters are worth so much, thieves will sometimes try and steal them. So, park in well lit areas with a lot of foot traffic or in a garage, if at all possible, in order to discourage theft of your catalytic converter.
 

Wrapping up

Your catalytic converter does not serve any function to make your engine run better or more efficiently. It merely filters harmful toxins into less harmful particles like vapor. However, having one is a legal requirement and your vehicle will not pass an inspection without one. If your catalytic converter stops working or gets stolen, you will need to replace it and that will likely cost at least a thousand dollars. So, do what you can to care for your catalytic converter at all times.

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Legal use of your hazard lights
Advice for using your hazards
Wrapping up
 

Legal use of your hazard lights

Your hazard lights are crucial to your safety because they allow you to signal to other drivers that there is a hazard associated with your vehicle and that they should use caution when driving near or around you. If you are in a situation where you are actively driving and are using your hazards, you should be driving slowly (under the speed limit), in the right-most lane and with extreme caution.

There are several situations where it is legal to be using your hazard lights. If your car is disabled or unable to drive on or near a roadway, this would call for legal use of your hazards. If you must pull over onto the shoulder of the road for an emergency, you should legally leave your hazards on. That would include when you are pulled over by the police or if you are changing a tire. In certain situations, you can legally use your hazards during an official funeral procession.
 

Advice for using your hazards

Always be smart when you are using your hazards. However, it is equally important to be informed about your hazard lights and the laws about the in your area. For example, some US states have laws regarding the speed you must be driving under in order to use your hazards. So, if you are driving over twenty-five miles per hour and using your hazards for any reason, you can be ticketed in those states.

In Puerto Rico hazard light use is never permitted while you are driving. However, this law is not strictly enforced. So, in Puerto Rico, you can use your hazards when you are stopped or pulled over. If you do so while you are driving, you are technically risking a ticket.
 

Wrapping up

Your hazard lights will give you the best chance of avoiding being struck by another vehicle when you are pulled off on the side of the road for an emergency reason. Be sure that they are always in working order because you never know when you might end up needing them. However, be sure that you do not use them improperly because you can end up getting pulled over and getting a ticket for doing so. In Puerto Rico, it is technically not legal to use your hazard lights when you are driving for any reason. It is legal only when you are stopped or pulled over.

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Washing your car properly
Advice for keeping it clean after you wash it
Conclusion
 

Washing your car properly

Washing your car yourself has its benefits. It saves you money, you can take the exact amount of care you want, you can focus on specific spots, and you will not have to drive anywhere and wait in some long line. However, you will just end up needing to bring it to the car wash anyway if you do not wash it correctly yourself in the first place.

The first step to washing your car properly by yourself will be to prepare correctly. This includes choosing to do it at the right time. The right time will be in the morning or early evening on a day with good weather. This way you will have enough light to see what you are doing but not so much light that the soap dries before you have the chance to wash it off. Also, make sure that you have everything that you need including a working hose with the right pressure, a special spray for your tires, a couple of reliable cloth towels and a bucket with water and the right soap for washing a car as well as a second bucket with just water.

Once you are ready to start washing your car you should start by spraying your entire car down with just water in order to both coat your car with water but also to immediately get rid of some of the surface dirt and grime. Next, you should lather up the towel with the soapy water and wipe the car in sections. You should go top to bottom, so start with the roof. After you wipe an area down with the soapy towel, rinse it quickly in the plain bucket of water. Then, re-apply soap to it in the other bucket and start a new section. Once you have washed every section, take the nozzle off the hose you are using and use non-pressurized water to rinse the car. After that, use the tire cleaning solution to clean the tires last.
 

Advice for keeping it clean after you wash it

Once you have cleaned your car, you will want to be sure that you do your very best to keep it clean in order to avoid having to clean it again right away. You can start by doing your best to park in a garage or some kind of enclosure whenever you have the chance. You should also consider waxing your car right after you wash it each time. Also, try not to take your car out during inclement weather or park near any trees. Finally, be sure you invest in good floor mats and seat covers as well as stomp out your shoes before you enter your vehicle.
 

Conclusion

Cleaning your car yourself can save you a few bucks as well as give you the ability to have the job done just the way that you like it. When you do wash your car, make sure that you prepare correctly before you get started. Always wash your car from top to bottom and in sections. Finally, if you make the right effort in between washes and keep your car clean in the first place you will be able to make every wash last much lunger.

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Safety first
Right of the way
Final word
 

Safety first

When it comes to safety as you stop at a four-way intersection in Puerto Rico, there are important similarities and differences between a four-way intersection and a typical intersection. When you are coming to a stop, you should do so the same way as you would at any other stop sign. Come to the stop gradually, stop exactly at the stop sign rather than before or after it, and make a full stop by feeling your car rock back and then counting three seconds. Once you do make your complete stop, you should then check in all directions for both pedestrian and vehicle traffic. If the coast is clear, you can continue on.

However, at a four-way intersection, you will need to check right, left and forward (forward for turning vehicles). Due to the fact that you will need to check in several directions, you will need to re-check as you continue forward because in the time you checked in the other two directions, it is possible that another car has pulled up to or even run the first stop sign that you checked. When you are initially checking each direction and you see other vehicles at one or more of the other stop signs, you will need to navigate the “right of way” to determine who gets to go through the intersection first.
 

Right of the way

The “right of way” is a very precise way of determining the order of which certain cars get to continue through an intersection. Unfortunately, many people do not follow it which is why continued caution and alertness are always critical when you start through an intersection.

In a perfect world where everyone followed the “right of way” correctly all the time, it would work like the following. Whichever car arrived at their particular stop sign first, gets to continue through the intersection first after completing their stop. This would trickle down in order, so the second car to their stop sign would go second etc. The only exceptions are emergency vehicles with their emergency lights engaged or if a car has pedestrians crossing in front of it. If you and another car arrive at your particular stop signs at exactly the same time, wait and let them go. If they remain, try waving them on or flashing your brights. If you attempt to go first without being waved on yourself, you can easily end up in an accident.
 

Final word

Four-way intersections in Puerto Rico can be treacherous. You need to be able to check all three other directions and maintain a safe stopping technique at the same time. Using the “right of way” technique will go a long way to keeping you safe at a four-way intersection. However, not everyone will abide by that. So, always stay alert and use extreme caution at all four-way intersections.

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When U-turns are and are not legal
Making a U-turn safely
Conclusion
 

When U-turns are and are not legal

There are various reasons that you might need to make a U turn in Puerto Rico. Maybe you missed your turn or maybe it will help you cut down on travel time. Regardless of why you are making a U turn, you need to know that doing so is sometimes legal and other times it is illegal.

You can typically make a legal U turn where regular turns are permitted unless otherwise posted. This means that sometimes there will be a sign stipulating “No U turns”. Furthermore, you may never make a U turn legally in a school zone because it can be too difficult to see children crossing the street while you are turning. You also may never make a U turn by crossing a double yellow line. In fact, a turn across any solid double yellow line is never legal. You also may not make a U turn against a red light or without properly signaling.
 

Making a U-turn safely

A U turn can be a potentially dangerous maneuver if you do not take the proper precautions. You could end up striking a pedestrian, colliding with another car head-on or getting t-boned. Whenever you make a U-turn, take your time and do so as safely as possible.

Before you even stop to start your U-turn, you first need to signal in the direction that your U-turn will begin. Keep your signal on throughout the turn. You should also look all ways to check for any oncoming traffic or hazards before you start your turn. Finally, always merge into the closest lane when you are completing your U-turn. So, if you are starting a U-turn from the left lane on one side of the road, be sure that you end up in the left most lane on the other side of the road as you complete your U-turn.
 

Conclusion

Making a U-turn can be quite a useful tool when you are driving. It can literally get you headed in the right direction. However, it can also be a very dangerous maneuver. Many times, it is also not legal either. So, when you are making a U-turn in Puerto Rico, you must be sure that it is legal. Then, be sure you signal, check all directions and turn with extreme caution. If you need your car moved to Puerto Rico, contact us at any time throughout the year by calling (904) 322-7644!

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What types of oversized vehicles can you ship to Puerto Rico
What’s different about shipping an oversized vehicle
Wrapping up
 

 

What types of oversized vehicles can you ship to Puerto Rico

A lot of people are not aware of the fact that they can ship vehicles other than cars to or from Puerto Rico. You can also ship vans, trailers, recreational vehicles and even heavy equipment such as a tractor or combine. You can even ship what could be considered “undersized” vehicles as well such as motorcycles and mopeds. However, if you are shipping an oversized vehicle to Puerto Rico, you should be aware that the process will be a bit different.
 

What’s different about shipping an oversized vehicle

There will be several things that are different about shipping an oversized vehicle when compared to traditional car shipping. First, the preparation will be pretty different. Let’s say that you are shipping a recreational vehicle. One of the steps in preparing for any vehicle shipment will be to wash the outside of the vehicle. With an RV you cannot bring it to a car wash. So, you will likely have to spend the time and energy to wash it yourself.

Next, the amount of time it will take to ship will likely be a bit longer. If shipping a vehicle from your area to Puerto Rico typically takes two weeks, expect shipping an oversized vehicle from your area to take about three weeks. The shipment will likely also require a special type of vehicle carrier such as a flatbed truck. This can end up costing a little bit more than traditional car shipping does.

Finally, there could be custom requirements depending on what you are shipping. For example, if you are shipping a very large piece of agricultural equipment you might have to remove the wheels depending on the size of the equipment. You can always discuss this with your car shipping representative when you are booking your shipment.
 

Wrapping up

Shipping an oversized vehicle to or from Puerto Rico is always an option that you will have. It will differ from regular car shipping in that there will be some different preparation, there could be slightly different requirements depending on the type of vehicle, it will take a bit longer in transit, and it can cost slightly more. These shipments also require the availability of special car carriers such as flatbed trucks so make sure you book your shipment at least a month in advanced if not two months in advanced. If you have any questions about the oversized vehicle process or are ready to book your shipment give us a call at (904) 322-7644.

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How mileage affects your vehicle
How to limit the mileage on your car
Conclusion
 

How mileage affects your vehicle

Mileage affects your car in two related ways: it accounts for wear and tear on the car and its parts, and it is an indicator that helps determine the value of a car. The more miles a car has on it, the more wear and tear there will be which in turn leads to a steady depreciation of value. You should use your car as you need to and as you see fit but you should also always be careful to not rack up too many miles on it too quickly.

If you do put a lot of miles on your car quickly, it will end up costing you more in maintenance fees. Now, if you do take care of your car and keep up on maintenance, you will be increasing the re-sale value, but you will never be able to fully recoup the value of putting too many miles on it. That is why you should do everything in your power to limit the amount of mileage you put on your car in Puerto Rico or anywhere else.
 

How to limit the mileage on your car

Obviously, the sum total of limiting the mileage you put on your car is by driving it less but having success in doing so is more complex than that. You will need to do specific things to keep the mileage that you put on your car low. One such thing usually is not taking super long road trips. However, because of the small size of Puerto Rico, you will not be able to rack up thousands of miles in one trip. Technically you could possibly do so in Puerto Rico, but you would have to drive the length of the island several times just to break one thousand.

Putting less mileage on your car will come down to using the car less. You can do this easily in areas like San Juan by choose to walk or bike somewhere. You can also choose to use public transportation. You can also choose to carpool to work with friends and/or coworkers. Finally, you can choose to use cabs or ride-share services occasionally.
 

Conclusion

The mileage that goes on your car simultaneously increases wear and tear as well as decrease the vehicle’s value. That is why you should do your best to limit the number of total miles you put on your car. You should not get crazy and try to avoid driving altogether but you should try things like carpooling to work or, if the trip is close enough, biking or walking instead.

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When and where you could encounter fog in Puerto Rico
How to drive safely in the fog
Conclusion
 

When and where you could encounter fog in Puerto Rico

Fog forms when warm and wet air is over a cooler ground. This is why you typically see fog in the morning. The ground temperature cooled overnight, then the air which is warming up before the ground does because of the rising sun and rising overall temperature is passing over it while moist and conditions are present.

It typically is not cold enough in Puerto Rico for too much fog, but it certainly is possible. Fog has a higher possibility of forming in Puerto Rico in higher elevations and during the cooler months when humidity is still fairly high. No matter what, you should always be prepared to safely drive through foggy conditions.
 

How to drive safely in the fog

Driving safely in the fog is not an easy task at all. However, it should always be your top priority. When fog is dense or present with other weather conditions such as wind and/or rain, it can be even more treacherous than it would typically be. Thankfully, there are some simple actions you can take to be as safe as possible when you are driving in the fog.

Always give yourself extra time to reach your destination when you are driving in the fog. This will reduce any urge to drive too fast which would obviously be a terrible idea. If you have fog lights use them, if you frequently experience fog in the areas where you drive it would be a good idea to get fog lights. Also, if you do not have fog lights and are driving in the fog, resist the urge to use your high beams as they can reflect off the fog and lower visibility as well as lower visibility for other drivers as well.

You should always keep distractions at an absolute minimum if not eliminate them completely, but it is even more critical that you do this in the fog. You can also use your windshield wipers and defrosters to limit the amount of moisture and fog directly on your windshield. Finally, if you think the fog is too dense and/or difficult to drive in you can always pull over and wait it out. Just make sure that you get as far over on the side of the road as possible and that you leave your caution lights on so other drivers can see you.
 

Conclusion

You likely will not see fog in Puerto Rico too often, but you will see it occasionally. This is dependent on the temperature and the elevation of the area you are in. Regardless, you should always be prepared to drive cautiously as well as safely in the fog. Always check the forecast and give yourself extra time in order to reach your destination if there is any possibility of fog in your area.