Recent Puerto Rico Shipping News

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Being safe on the side of the road
Roadside assistance programs
Wrapping up
 

Being safe on the side of the road

When you have car trouble in the middle of driving, the very first thing that you should do is pull over on the shoulder or side of the road completely out of the path of oncoming traffic. Once you do that, you must make sure that you are being safe before you can try and fix what has gone wrong with the vehicle. This will primarily entail being sure that you are completely visible to any other motorists that are driving by.

Being safe when you and your vehicle are stuck on the shoulder of the road will start with putting your hazard lights on and then checking to make sure you are far enough away from traffic prior to exiting your vehicle for any reason. Once you exit your vehicle, you should consider setting up road flares or mini-warning triangles. Both of these can be purchased online or at an auto store.

After that, you can take a look at your vehicle and the engine to see if what has gone wrong will be an easy and quick repair. If it is not, call the authorities for help. If you have a roadside assistance program, you can also call them to come and help instead.
 

Roadside assistance programs

Having a roadside assistance program can be a huge help in these types of situations. A program such as AAA will send out a driver who will do their best to resolve your issue. If they cannot, your car will quickly get towed to a nearby service station and you will also be given a ride there.

However, there is a very good chance that they will be able to resolve your vehicle’s issue. Typically, roadside assistance drivers can take care of flat tires, jumps, empty gas tanks, mechanical failures such as a slipped belt and more. These programs will cost you a monthly fee but are definitely worth it both for the peace of mind and the actual protection.
 

Wrapping up

When your car breaks down and you end up stuck on the side of the road, you will definitely not want you or your vehicle to get struck by a passing car and have matters get much worse. So, you will want to make sure you are as off to the side of the road as possible. Then put your hazard lights on. Once you do that, check to make sure that it is safe to exit your vehicle before you do so. After you exit your car, try to make it even more visible with road flares and/or mini-warning triangles. Once you have done this, you can check to see if you can fix the issue with your car. If you cannot, call the authorities or your roadside assistance program if you happen to have one.

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Taking extreme caution
Making yourself visible
 

Taking extreme caution

When pulling out of a parking space or driveway in Puerto Rico, it’s important to be cautious and aware of your surroundings, especially if you are unable to see oncoming traffic. Traffic in Puerto Rico is more aggressive than many other places and cars can speed past you as you pull out of a parking space without warning. Here are some steps to take to pull out safely:

• Check your mirrors – If you are backing out, prior to beginning to pull out of the parking space or driveway, check your mirrors so you can be sure there are no cars or pedestrians behind you. Adjust your mirrors so that you have the widest possible view.
• Roll down your windows – Rolling down your windows will allow you to hear approaching vehicles or pedestrians.
• Slowly pull out – When pulling out of the parking space, do so slowly and cautiously. Keep your foot on the brake and inch out of the space, scanning for any oncoming traffic.
• Use your horn – If you hear or see an oncoming vehicle or pedestrian, use your horn to alert them to your presence.
• Have a spotter – If you are very nervous and/or there is a lot of vehicles and/or pedestrians passing by, ask a passenger to get out of the car and help guide you out of the space.

By taking these steps, you can pull out of a parking space safely and avoid accidents or collisions with other vehicles or pedestrians. Remember to always be aware of your surroundings and take caution when pulling out of a parking space.
 

Making yourself visible

When pulling out, it’s important to make yourself visible to other drivers, especially if you are pulling out from between two larger vehicles or parked in a spot or driveway with limited visibility. Here are some ways to make yourself more visible to other drivers:

1. Use your turn signals – Before pulling out, turn on your turn signal to indicate your intent to other drivers.
2. Look both ways – Prior to pulling out of the parking space or driveway, look both ways to make sure that there is no oncoming traffic.
3. Use your horn – If you see a vehicle approaching, use your horn to alert the other driver of your presence. This can help prevent a collision or accident. Just be aware, in Puerto Rico people constantly use their horns. So, this may be less effective than it should be because of all the other drivers beeping at the same time around you.
4. Turn on your headlights – If it’s dark or visibility is poor, turn on your headlights to make yourself more visible to other drivers.
5. Avoid distractions – When pulling out of a parking space, avoid distractions such as using your phone, having a conversation or eating. Keep your attention focused on safely maneuvering your vehicle out of the parking space.

By following these tips, you will make yourself more visible to other drivers when pulling out of a parking space. Remember to always be cautious and aware of your surroundings when pulling out of a space or driveway. If you need any type of car shipped to or from the port at San Juan, call our vehicle transport experts for a free quote today at (904) 322-7644!

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Puerto Rico’s climate and the risk of your engine overheating
How you can stop your car from overheating in Puerto Rico
Advice to keep your engine from running too hot
Final word
 

Puerto Rico’s climate and the risk of your engine overheating

Puerto Rico’s climate is very ideal for most people. It stays warm throughout the year. Depending on where you are, temperatures range from 60 degrees to 80 degrees. However, because it always stays warm or hot (which it is more frequently when you factor in humidity) you are at a higher risk of your car overheating.
 

How you can stop your car from overheating in Puerto Rico

If you find that your engine is beginning to overheat in Puerto Rico, there are a few things that you can do in order to get it to cool down. First, you should turn off your air conditioning. The air conditioning makes the engine work a considerable amount harder which generates a good amount of heat. You can then put the heat on, believe it or not, this will help direct heat away from the engine in the event that it starts to overheat.

You can also pull over and open the hood up. This will allow the heat to vent from the engine. Once you have done all of this, give your car at least a half hour to cool down. Then we recommend driving directly to the mechanic after that.
 

Advice to keep your engine from running too hot

Being able to get your car’s engine to cool down when it is too hot is good. However, being able to prevent your car’s engine from getting too hot is even better. If you do the following you should be able to keep your car’s engine cool enough on a consistent basis in Puerto Rico.

• Know why a car’s engine might overheat – There are a few reasons that your car’s engine could overheat. One is that there could be a leak in your cooling system. Another reason could be that the hoses that bring the coolant into the engine are blocked up. Radiator issues could also be at the bottom of your engine heat problems. You also might have an issue with your coolant such as there not being enough coolant or the proportion of water to coolant being off. Finally, your water pump might be broken.

  You do not need to know how to fix these issues or even diagnose them. Just be sure that you get your car to the mechanic for fairly regularly to get these issues fixed before they cause your engine to overheat.

• Try to leave your widows open as often as you can – When you are driving, try and keep the temperature of the car comfortable by leaving your windows open rather than using the air conditioning.
• Regularly re-fill the engine coolant – One of the most common reasons that people have their engine overheat is that they did not fill up the engine coolant when they needed to.
• Get a new car battery – Old car batteries do not end up providing the amount of power/energy for the engine as newer batteries do. So, the engine then has to work harder to get more out of less power. This increases the amount of heat in the engine.
• Keep your vehicle in the shade – Keeping your car in a shaded area or a garage (if possible) is a great way to keep the heat from building up in the engine too much.

Final word

It is easier in Puerto Rico for your car to overheat in Puerto Rico than most places because of the constant warm or hot weather and increased humidity. It is because of this that you should know not just how to cool your engine down when it gets too hot but also how to prevent it from getting too hot in the first place. If you need your car shipped to or from Puerto Rico, whether or not its running properly, you can always call us at (904) 322-7644.

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Using the shoulder to pull over
Special considerations for the shoulder in Puerto Rico
Wrapping up
 

Using the shoulder to pull over

The shoulder of the road is intended solely for emergency use, such as for breakdowns or any other emergency stops. It is not to be used as an additional lane for traffic or as a shortcut to get to an exit or entrance of a highway.
If you absolutely need to use the shoulder for an emergency stop, use these safety instructions:

• Always use your signals when merging onto the shoulder.
• Gradually slow down and move onto the shoulder as far to the right as possible. Even if you move onto the dirt or grass, it is better than being too close to the road.
• Turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers that you are experiencing an emergency.
• If possible, park your vehicle as far from the road as possible to avoid impeding traffic.
• Remain in your vehicle with your seatbelt fastened until help arrives.
• If you need to exit your vehicle, do so on the side away from traffic and stand as far from the road as possible.

It’s important to use the shoulder properly, as improper use can be hazardous to both you and other drivers. Use the shoulder only in emergency situations and follow these guidelines to stay safe.
 

Special considerations for the shoulder in Puerto Rico

The shoulder of the road in Puerto Rico can be a much more dangerous place to be than it would normally be in most places. Normally, being pulled over on the shoulder of the road will be pretty dangerous. However, in Puerto Rico, it is frequently used incorrectly. People often use the shoulder to avoid traffic and at very high speeds. To complicate that, some people will use the shoulder as a place to park.
The reason for this is that traffic enforcement in Puerto Rico is much less strict than most places in the United States. So, we definitely recommend that you do everything that you can to stay off the shoulder. If you must pull over on the shoulder in Puerto Rico, be sure to use your hazard lights and, if you have them, set up road flares so that anyone driving on the shoulder will see you and your car with more than enough time to stop.
 

Wrapping up

In Puerto Rico or any where else in the world, you should only ever use the shoulder of the road for emergencies such as your car breaking down or being pulled over by the police. If you must pull over on the shoulder in Puerto Rico, be very careful because careless drivers frequently use it as an express lane or a regular parking space. If you need any type of vehicle shipped to or from the port at San Juan, do not hesitate to give our Puerto Rico car shipping experts a call at (904) 322-7644!

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The potential to stall your engine
Possible loss of control
Wrapping up
 

The potential to stall your engine

If you see a larger area of water has collected on a highway in Puerto Rico, it will be in your best interest to find an alternate route rather than driving through it. For the vast majority of cars out on the road today, only six to eight inches of water can reach the bottom of the car which can lead to both a loss of control over the car as well as engine stalling.

When water reaches the bottom of your car, it is also reaching the bottom of your engine. When this happens the vehicle’s air intake system can potentially pull in water instead of air. If this happens the car’s piston chambers can fill with water, and this would completely prevent the pistons from moving at all which can stop the engine from running. Simultaneously, your air intake could fail to get enough air into the car which would prevent combustion from occurring and that could also prevent your engine from running at all. If either or both of these occur, your engine will stall, and you will not be able to get out of the water in your vehicle.
 

Possible loss of control

If you drive through higher water in Puerto Rico of six inches or more, maybe your engine does not stall. You could still easily lose control over your car, especially if that water is running. Many cars will actually float in just twelve inches of water. If there is over a foot of water and it is rushing, most cars can actually be swept away, which can easily lead to serious injury or even death.

So, you can see how steering or driving can become impossible in only seven or eight inches of water. Specifically, you will lose a lot of traction, or you will hydroplane which means your tires have lost all traction and/or contact with the road. At this point, your tires will just spin, and your vehicle will not go anywhere regardless of whether you are in drive or reverse.
 

Wrapping up

If you end up with a vehicle that is stuck in high water due to a stall or loss of control/traction you will need to either wade or swim through the water to safety. Your car will then need to be towed out of the water which will cost you several hundred dollars. If your car could not get through the water specifically because of the engine stalling, then it will need to be towed all the way to a service station in order to repair the car’s engine. The repairs can easily cost you $3,000 or more, and that is not including the cost of the tow. Whenever you see several plus inches of high water on the road in Puerto Rico, whether the water is standing or rushing, either stop and wait it out or find an alternate route around it.

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Taking things slow
Maximizing vision
Wrapping up
 

Taking things slow

Pulling out of a parking space in a crowded parking lot can be dangerous and very tense. This can especially be the case in areas like San Juan where aggressive driving is quite frequent. For this reason, you will want to take every precaution when you are pulling out of a parking space in Puerto Rico to ensure you do not get into an accident when you are doing so.

One of the most important parts of safely pulling out of a parking space will be to do so slowly and incrementally. When you pull out of a space too quickly whether you are pulling out head-out or backing out, you minimize possible reaction time which can be crucial when it comes to avoiding an accident. However, you are also not giving another car that might be driving by behind you enough time to see and react to you either. This combination can be disastrous. As a rule of thumb, you should pull out of a parking space only by putting your car into reverse (if you are backing out) and taking your foot off the brake but keeping it right over the brake just in case. If you are pulling head-out of a parking space, do the same but instead put the car into drive initially.
 

Maximizing vision

In order to be able to pull out of a parking space with the highest level of safety, you must maximize your ability to see oncoming cars, pedestrians and any other obstacles that might suddenly enter your car’s path. Maximizing your visibility as you pull out of a parking space will begin before you even start pulling out. If at all possible, you should always try to back into a space rather than pull head-in. Pulling out of a parking space head-out is much easier and safer than backing out is.

Prior to putting your car into gear to back out of a space, you should check in every direction for oncoming vehicles, pedestrians, and obstacles. After that, you should adjust your mirrors so that you have the maximum field of vision when you are using them relative to your specific size and posture. If you are backing out of a space, you should turn your head over your right shoulder, start pulling out and keep your head turned over your shoulder for the duration of pulling out of the spot.
 

Wrapping up

Pulling out of a parking space can always be dangerous, especially when your ability to see oncoming cars or pedestrians is limited because of vehicles to either side. In order to pull out of a space with the most safety, you should park head-out whenever you can because pulling head-out of a space is always safer than backing out due to the ease of visibility. Regardless of how you are parked, you should always scan around you for any potential obstacles before you even start pulling out. When you are pulling out, stay focused on the task at hand. If you are backing out, then you must always keep your head turned over your right shoulder at all times.

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The kinds of vehicles that are considered oversized
What is different about oversized vehicle shipping
Wrapping up
 

The kinds of vehicles that are considered oversized

With Puerto Rico Car Transport, you can ship almost any type of vehicle to Puerto Rico including those that are oversized. “Oversized vehicles” do not just include much larger passenger vehicles such as Hummers, but they also include vehicles like RVs, vans, heavy equipment including tractors, limousines and more.

Typically, there are specific size and weight dimensions that can not be exceeded in order to ship on a regular open-air car carrier. If these dimensions do get exceeded, the local nationwide pickup of your vehicle will need to occur with a flatbed trailer that has the capability to transport a much larger vehicle safely and securely.
 

What is different about oversized vehicle shipping

There are several aspects of shipping an oversized vehicle that will be different than shipping a regular passenger car. As we mentioned, shipping an oversized vehicle will occur on a flatbed trailer. Oversized vehicle shipping will likely also cost more and take a bit longer.

The preparation for oversized vehicle shipping could also take you longer. Part of the preparation for shipping any type of vehicle whether it is a normal sized car, a large RV or something else will be to make sure that the exterior of the vehicle is clean so that a visual inspection by your driver for preexisting damage can take place. If you are shipping a normal car, you can easily clean the outside of your car yourself or you can simply take it to a car wash. When you are shipping a larger vehicle such as an RV or a tractor, you likely will have no choice but to wash it yourself. Washing a larger vehicle like an RV can take several hours rather than just a half hour that washing a normal car would take.

You will likely also pay a bit more in excise tax as well as in any applicable storage fees at the port for your oversized vehicle once it arrives in Puerto Rico. Finally, your vehicle likely will not be able to travel on the cargo ships that transport typical passenger cars oversea between the United States in Puerto Rico. It is likely that your oversized vehicle gets shipped on a cargo ship that has special space and capability to carry vehicles such as RVs. In the case of vehicles that cannot be safely driven onto to a Ro/Ro cargo ship, such as with a crane or some tractors, they will be placed in large shipping containers and shipped on a regular cargo ship carrying other shipping containers.
 

Wrapping up

You can ship just about any type of vehicle to Puerto Rico with relative ease. If you are shipping a larger vehicle like a tractor, then it will likely cost a bit more to ship than if you were shipping a regular passenger car. The preparation for a shipment like this can take a bit longer as well but it is still the cheapest and quickest way to get a vehicle such as an RV to Puerto Rico from the United States.

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Basics about off-roading in Puerto Rico
The best spots to go off-roading in Puerto Rico
Tips for off-roading
Conclusion
 

Basics about off-roading in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is a great place for off-roading with lots of great scenery such as beaches, mountains and forests. There are several spots that are preferable for off-roading on the island which we will get into detail about below.
 

The best spots to go off-roading in Puerto Rico

There are a bunch of spots in Puerto Rico where you can technically take your car off-road, but some spots are better than others. These are the best places in Puerto Rico to go off-roading:

• El Yunque Rainforest – Likely the most famous place in Puerto Rico to go off-road, El Yunque rainforest has amazing views, lots of lush green scenery, wildlife and more. It is a must-not-miss stop for off-roading.
• Carite Forest – Carite Forest is another fantastic place for off-roading in Puerto Rico. It has waterfalls, camp sites and a bunch of gorgeous views. You’ll definitely want to take the Jeep for a spin here.
• Toro Negro – Toro Negro is considered a less popular alternative to El Yunque National Rainforest because it offers much of the same scenery and sight-seeing that El Yunque does.

Tips for off-roading

Before you head out to go off-roading in Puerto Rico, read these tips:

• You have to bring your own car – If you are going to go off-roading in Puerto Rico, you will need to take your own vehicle. This means you cannot rent a car and go off-roading. Rental car companies in Puerto Rico always have clauses in their rental agreements that forbid you from taking the car off-road. So, technically, you could take a rental car off-roading in Puerto Rico but you would be fully responsible for any damage that occurs which is a distinct possibility since off-roading is so unpredictable. You should always use your own car in Puerto Rico to avoid a tough situation with the rental car companies. If you live in Puerto Rico and need your car shipped there, you can always contact us.
• Perform the right checks – Be sure that you perform the right checks on your vehicle before you take it off-road. These checks include things like wiper fluid, tire pressure, oil and more. You can always have a mechanic perform a once-over for you too if you do not trust yourself to do these.
• Bring someone else – If you end up getting stuck when you are out off-roading, life will be a lot easier if you have a buddy with you. If you end up with an issue like a flat, having an extra person there can really be helpful.
• Do not take unnecessary risks – It is quite easy to end up getting stuck when you are off-roading. There are so many things that can go wrong. So, taking a risk that you should not is not a smart decision. For example, be weary of water crossings unless you are a hundred percent certain that you can make it across without being swept away.
• Plan ahead – Make sure that you plan ahead so that you are ready for things such as sudden inclement weather.

Conclusion

Off-roading in Puerto Rico is a great way to spend some of your time there. You can really experience the most beautiful parts of Puerto Rico when you go off-roading there. One of the most important things to remember is that you can only go off-roading in Puerto Rico with your own car, not with a rental. So, be sure that you have your car there.

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How far to park from the curb
How you can avoid hitting the curb or parking too far away
Final Word
 

How far to park from the curb

When you have a car in Puerto Rico, you will find that if you drive in a city area like San Juan or Bayamon, you will often need to park your car on the street. This means that you will need to know what the optimal distance to park from the curb will be.

Parking too far away from the curb can result in your car being sideswiped as other drivers pass you or you can even get a ticket for impeding traffic. On the other hand, if you park too close to the curb, you risk hitting it which can damage your tires and rims. You should park at least 6 inches away from the curb, but no more than 12 inches from the curb.
 

How you can avoid hitting the curb or parking to far away

If you find it difficult to eyeball or sense how far you are parking from a curb, there are a few tricks that will help you park the right distance away from the curb with ease. First, you can always check out a car parked in front of you or behind you that seems to be the correct distance from the curb and line your car up perfectly with one of those vehicles as you park. You can also just do your best, get out and check and then get back in your car and readjust if necessary.

You also have the option of going to an auto parts store like AutoZone and purchasing what are called “curb feelers.” Curb feelers are long flexible metal extensions that extend out from the bottom of the side of your car. They are springy and will vibrate if contacted by the curb which will produce a sound letting you know that you are parked to close to the curb.
 

Final Word

Parking the correct distance away from the curb in Puerto Rico is important because it will prevent you from getting a ticket or being sideswiped but it will also prevent you from damaging your tires or rims if you hit the curb when parking. In order to avoid hitting the curb when you are parking your car, you should always take it nice and slow when you park. In order to be the optimal distance from the curb, try to line your car up with a car in front of or behind you that is parked the right distance from the curb or you can purchasse and install curb feelers on the side of your car in order to alert you if you are too close to the curb. If you have any questions about shipping a car to Puerto Rico or want a free quote, you can call us at (904) 322-7644!

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How to drive around a pothole
How to drive over a pothole
Wrapping up
 

How to drive around a pothole

Potholes occur when water erodes the base away under the pavement which when combined with an older age of the pavement and/or potentially careless construction, makes it even easier for a pothole to occur. Because of this, potholes are unfortunately a fairly frequent occurrence in Puerto Rico.

After three hurricanes and two tropical storms in the last three years in Puerto Rico, the roads have suffered severe water damage and cracks, which only get worse when left unrepaired with traffic constantly driving over the damage. Thus, you have potholes on many roads. There has been an effort to repair the potholes in recent years but there are unfortunately still many remaining.

Driving around a pothole in Puerto Rico is not as difficult as it might sound as long as you stay focused on the road ahead and you do not drive too quickly. Driving too fast dramatically decreases your reaction time to any obstacle in the road ahead, not just potholes. You also should keep a larger than normal distance between your car and the car in front of you. Doing so will allow you to see any potholes sooner which will provide you with a maximum amount of reaction time.

You also should do your absolute best to avoid driving over any puddles. Puddles often form in potholes yet give the appearance of either flat pavement underneath or that of a much smaller pothole. Finally, try to avoid driving on any roads you know or notice are very old and/or in visible states of disrepair as these are breeding grounds for potholes.
 

How to drive over a pothole

If you have no choice but to drive over a pothole because the road you are on is too narrow or because there is traffic in your proximity that will prevent you from maneuvering safely around it, you should do everything in your power to minimize any potential damage. A great start will be to be sure that you have your tires properly inflated. You can check your vehicle’s owner manual to see what the exact pressure specifications are for your particular tires. You should also keep your hands firmly secured to the steering wheel because when you do drive over the pothole, your car will get a jolt which can cause your hands to come off the steering wheel which can cause a momentary loss of control over the vehicle.

You should also avoid trying to brake suddenly. Braking right before you hit a pothole can end up causing more damage than if you had just driven over the pothole normally. This is because when you are engaging your brakes, you are actually limiting the ability of your shock absorbers and suspension in a significant way. Rather, you should take your foot off of the acceleration as soon as you see that you will be hitting a pothole. This will minimize the overall impact and any damage from it as well as preserve the protective function of your suspension and shocks during the moment of impact.
 

Wrapping up

Potholes can cause a ton of damage to your vehicle which can cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars to repair. That is why you will want to do whatever you can to avoid driving over potholes or at least you will want to minimize the damage if you do. Always avoid speeding, keep extra distance between the car in front of you and your vehicle, do not brake if you have no choice but to drive over a pothole and always keep your tires properly inflated.