#etags

tagged by @dindjxrin @jddryder @reyesstrand @cafeshopau @avacoleman @marjansmarwani ... thank you guys for the tags ❣️❣️ sending you lots of love ❣️

three ships: oof... right now, i’ll say tk/carlos, grace/judd, sander/robbe

first ever ship: god how do you even remember this... probably something from a random kids show or anime when i was 10/11. i’ve always been really into fandom-y shit and writing about characters, but i could not tell you now 😭

last song: “nothing else i could do” by ella jane

last film: 4 months, 3 weeks, and 2 days for a class

currently reading: i just started on earth we’re briefly gorgeous a couple days ago

currently watching: 911 lone star, yellowjackets, abbott elementary, 911 s5a, normal people, euphoria, probably a ton more i’m just randomly in the middle of kfldjs

currently consuming: water and a pink lemonade sucker lol

currently craving: ngl... i’m never not craving pizza, it’s a disease

If you have ever had to rearrange your entire day just to complete your registration renewal at a DMV office or been denied use of the state’s online service because of particular circumstances, than you know how frustrating the situations can be. While DMV offices do their best to serve the thousands of vehicle owners in their area, they often fall short sometimes due to budget constraints.  But there are other options.

 At the core of any business, a good product and quality customer service is a must. eTags delivers both. eTags was created to deliver a specific need: helping customers renew their vehicle registration faster and more conveniently. eTags allows vehicles owners in California, Florida, and Maryland to renew their registration online on a secure platform anywhere they have an internet connection. eTags can be accessed on your laptop, smartphone, and tablet and without having to zoom in and out on smaller screens.

 Common Complaints about Renewing Your Vehicle Registration

 eTags serves hundreds of customers a day and they hear common complaints regarding vehicle registration renewal. Common complaints about having to go to the DMV include

·         Having to wait in long lines, needing to bring multiple forms or proofs, and unfortunately having to encounter individuals who are not in the best mood when your turn finally comes. eTags ensures you get fast processing of your vehicle registration where you never have to step foot into the DMV.  

·         Even with state-run online platforms, users often report being unable to complete an order either because of cryptic error messages or being unable to access their record. With eTags, you can breeze by the renewal process and quickly find out if you are eligible for renewal. If you are not, you find out why without having to make a run to the DMV just to find that out.

·         Another common complaint involves not being able to change or choose the shipping information or option or not receiving the registration in the mail at all. eTags can ship your registration renewal anywhere in the continental US and, in California, they provide a next day shipping option. eTags also provides free sticker and registration card replacements if they are lost or stolen.

 You can renew your car registration whenever it is convenient for you, and you will soon receive your official registration in the mail with eTags. While you wait for the official registration card to arrive in the mail, you can download a digital copy (otherwise called an eTag) that you can put in your vehicle as proof of having renewed. eTags provides an answer to a key complaint vehicle owners have had about having to go the DMV to renew their registration.

You might have read that there has been a glut of new vehicles at dealer lots across the country. As a result, automakers are putting more incentives on these vehicles to try and offset the surplus. For example, you may be able to get additional cash or a better price to purchase a new vehicle. As of April, there are more than four million new vehicles on dealer lots, which is the highest number since 2004.

 What the increase in incentives also does, besides making new vehicle purchases more attractive, is cause the value of used cars to go down. This is good news for consumers who are looking to purchase a vehicle because they may be able to get a better deal – no matter if they decide to go with a new or used vehicle. However, new cars usually qualify for lower interest rates and longer maintenance packages. These factors along with the additional incentives being offered to get new cars off their lot might tip the scale in favor of a new model. If you prefer to purchase a used vehicle, don’t be afraid to be bold about negotiating price as well as including bonus like an interior car package or full maintenance package. If you were thinking about buying a vehicle, now may be the time to do so.

 So what should you do to ensure you get the best price available on your vehicle? eTags, the web’s leading private vehicle registration service for California, Florida, and Maryland, has written extensively in the past on its blog about things you should do to ensure you save on your vehicle purchase. Their tips include researching vehicles you might be interested in, taking a look at your own finances, and mastering the art of negotiation.

Pretty soon, renewing your California car registration may be one of those things you can do in a few clicks while your car is on the move, driving itself. California just gave Apple a permit to test self-driving cars. While Google was the first to take on this venture in the Golden State, this will be the iPhone manufacturer’s first attempt at creating an autonomous car, and it provides the public with new information about the company’s plans.  It had previously not indicated publicly that it was working on a self-driving car, but there was a ton of speculation out there that this was exactly what Apple engineers were working on. News of the issued permit confirms those suspicions.

 In total, there are now 30 companies that are testing autonomous vehicles with various levels of success. Those companies include some of the biggest names in the tech industry, including Tesla and Google. In order for a company to receive a permit, it must apply to the California Department of Motor Vehicles before it can start testing autonomous cars on public roads. Chances are it will be still some time before autonomous cars make it to public roads in California. However, according to analysts, the industry could generate tens of billions of dollars in the coming years.

 The idea behind autonomous vehicles is both to change the driving experience of each motorist and to enhance public safety on the road. Many researchers believe that autonomous cars could prevent as much as 90% of crash fatalities. When you consider that there are more than 30,000 fatalities every year on the road in the United States alone, autonomous cars could save as many as 300,000 Americans in a decade. This number would be significantly higher across the globe. To put things in perspective, the life-saving estimates resemble the number of people saved from vaccines.

April is Florida Distracted Driving Awareness Month, which is a campaign by the Florida Department Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to increase awareness about distracted driving. There’s no question that distracted driving is a major concern for Florida and every other state in the country. According to data calculated by the department, there were 49,231 distracted driving crashes in Florida in 2016. This led to more than 3,563 injuries and 235 deaths.

 What Is Distracted Driving?

 It only takes a few short seconds of distractions to cause a crash. Distracted driving is anything that takes your hands off the wheel, your eyes off the road, or your mind off the task of driving. There are many things that can cause distracted driving. Here are several of the most common:

 ·         Texting or using your phone while driving

·         Listening to a podcast or CD

·         Touching or changing items on the dashboard or center console like the radio

·         Eating or drinking

·         Talking to others in the car

Distracted driving affects people of all ages, but younger drivers tend to commit this error more often. If you are the parent or guardian of a teen or twenty-something driver, it can be difficult to teach them the finer points of driving that pertain to awareness and decision making but it is something worth investing in. In addition to that, everyone should try to prevent the risk and avoid the temptation as much as possible, including parents. This could include putting the phone out of sight or eating while you drive.

If there is one invaluable resource you can find that will save you a lot of money and stress, it's a good mechanic. While dealers are usually a dependable choice, they tend to overcharge you like chain auto shops which are often trying to upsell you. Sometimes it makes sense to pay a little more for that intangible trust factor but not in excess of course. Just as renewing your registration online with services like eTags can save you a headache by helping you avoid the DMV, a good mechanic will charge you fair prices for quality service. Remember, the lowest price is not always the best deciding factor. If you're on the hunt for a good mechanic, here a few tips to keep in mind:

 Find a Shop with Experience with the Make of Your Car: This is especially important if you own an import. Many shops have specialized experience with brands and will have the equipment and experience to make the necessary repairs. When shopping around, be sure to ask the mechanic whether he or she is familiar with your automobile. As an example, you may find a shop that specifies expertise with BMWs but they may also be able to service you if you have a different similar, German brand like an Audi.

 Check the Popular Reviews Sites: Per Consumer Reports, auto shops are the twelfth most common complaint listed on the site. Once you have narrowed it down to one or two places you might considering bringing your car to, put in the shop’s name and location to see if there are any good or bad reviews. While the nature of internet reviews tends to wing toward negative experiences because consumers are more likely to share a bad experience than a good one, you will get insight into how a business operates. If you see several great reviews, that is a good sign. If you see several bad reviews and the business doesn’t seem to be committed to addressing and resolving those outlined issues, it may not be a good choice.

 Ask Family and Friends: Family, friends and even friends of friends may be able to provide you with an honest assessment of mechanics they've hired and whether they would recommend any. Like doing an online reviews search, obtaining reviews or recommendations from people you know regarding their experience can be very valuable.

When it comes time to replace your car with something new, or if you’re buying your first car, you’re going to want to save as much money as possible. But that’s not always as simple as we want it to be. Car dealers may try to talk you into buying a car out of your price range, not to mention you also have to pay for your Florida tags and renew them each year, pay for your title, car insurance, and of course sales tax.

Don’t be quick to accept an offer on a car just yet. Follow these tips to help you save money:

Determine Your Desired Monthly Car Payment

 Unless you have the money to pay in full for a car, you will have to take out a car loan and make monthly payments to pay it off. Figure out how much you can afford to pay each month, and make sure to factor in other expenses such as insurance costs. Remember to research financing options with the dealer as well as outside sources such as your bank and credit unions. Coming in pre-approved for financing is a bargaining chip that works in your favor.

 Figure Out How Much Can You Put Down

The more you pay upfront, the less you owe in car payments each month. Ideally, you should put down at least 10 percent of the vehicle’s sale price. Lenders may require a higher down payment on newer cars. Also, remember that your trade-in can be able to serve as your down payment if it has enough value. If you do have a trade in, research what the dealer will comp you for it as a trade in and what you would get if you sold outright.

 Decide When You Want the Car

 In regards to when you buy the car, try to be realistic and patient. The more time you spend saving money, the larger the down payment and the smaller your monthly payment. Additionally, you may want to wait for a major sale to start so you can take advantage of discounts and/or free upgrades. Often the very end and beginning of the year present great sales offers as do the summer months. A lot of dealerships offer great deals in August, with high discounts on current year’s models. Shop around and be prepared to wait for a sale to start if you want the best deal.

Find out the Market Price of the Vehicle One highly expensive mistake car buyers make is not knowing the market price of a vehicle before buying it. So, before you visit dealerships and shop, determine what a fair price is to pay for the vehicle whether its new or used.  You can use websites like Edmunds.com or Kelley Blue Book (KBB.com).  

Get Price Quotes

Once you have chosen a model or models you like, you want to get free price quotes from multiple dealers to see who will offer you the best price on the vehicle. Inform them of the vehicle you want, let them know you are working with multiple dealers, and ask them for a price, including all the dealer fees.

Avoid Add-Ons and Extra Fees