How to Check for Recalls Before Buying a Used Car

It's smart to learn if any recalls exist on that used car before buying it

Buying a used car by walking around it and just kicking the tires doesn’t cut it anymore.

Thanks to technology, much of the information you seek is just a few mouse clicks away. Start with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

All you need to do is jot down the 17-digit vehicle identification number from the left side of the dashboard near the windshield.

Once you have that information you can plug it into the NHTSA’s VIN look up site. They will then be able to tell you about any open recalls.

Many automotive dealers check for such recalls. You can ask them to do it while you watch.

Number of vehicle recalls soars in recent years

More than 60 million passenger vehicles were recalled in 2014, a much higher figure than in previous years.

That, however, is not necessarily bad news.

More than two-thirds of the recalls launched in 2014 were instituted by the automakers themselves, and not by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Try consulting a mechanic before you buy

Even with potential recall issues addressed, it’s smart to take the car to a highly rated mechanic.

Used car dealerships often will let you take the car to be independently examined before signing on the dotted line.

That should give you peace of mind and maybe a little bargaining power, too.

Many used car dealerships also sell certified pre-owned vehicles. Normally, these cars and trucks have been inspected by the dealership and any found issues addressed. They often check for recall notices.

Certified vehicles may cost more, but they also may come with additional warranties to back up the work.

What to Do If Your Car Is Stolen

It’s a helpless feeling. You walk outside to where your car should be, and it’s gone.

After going over and over in your head trying to figure out where it could be, it suddenly dawns on you that your car’s likely been stolen.

The gut-wrenching feeling happens more than you might think. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a car is stolen roughly every 44 seconds in the U.S.

If this happens to you, it’s important to be prepared. Here are some tips on what to do if you’re unfortunate enough to become a victim of car theft.

1. Determine if your car was stolen

The first thing auto experts and insurance agents recommend is to try to keep a clear head.

Stay calm. At the end of the day, this is why you carry insurance.

It’s possible the car was towed or misplaced. Some people are towed when they park in a no parking spot without knowing it. Check with local towing companies or the owner of the lot where you parked to see if your vehicle has been towed. There are also websites where drivers can input their car’s vehicle identification number (VIN) to search if it’s been towed.

Retrace your steps and try to eliminate possible alternatives like, did a relative borrow it without asking?

2. Call police if your car is stolen

If you determine the car’s been stolen, alert the authorities.

Call (police) and report it missing. Most auto insurance carriers print your car’s vehicle identification number on your insurance card. Use it to provide the VIN to law enforcement.

After contacting police, fill out a police report before contacting your insurance agent. Geico, for example, won’t honor a claim unless a police report is filed first.

Many newer vehicles feature GPS technology, which can help authorities track or even stop a stolen car. Notify the police if your car has GPS or telematics capabilities that could help them track it.

Also, make sure to include any additional information in the report that might help law enforcement retrieve the car, such as the make, model, color and any other distinguishable characteristics. In addition to the VIN, be sure to provide the license plate number.

3. Contact your insurance company after theft

After notifying police, contact your insurance company to start the claim process.

Try to remember everything that was in the vehicle and make a list.

According to Geico, you’ll need to provide the vehicle’s title, location of all keys, the names of people who had access to the vehicle and personal property in the vehicle.

The agent will walk you through some detailed questions to set up a claim for you. Keep in mind, it’s the comprehensive coverage on your auto policy that affords coverage for theft, so confirm with your agent that this coverage existed prior to the theft. An old beater with liability coverage only will not be covered.

That said, even if you have only liability coverage, you should still notify your insurance company. That can protect you, should the thieves cause damage to other property with your stolen vehicle.

If you’re leasing or financing the vehicle, contact that lender and notify them of the theft. Geico recommends on its site to have the financier or leaser work directly with your insurance company to discuss the case.

Final thoughts

If you’re with your vehicle and someone tries to steal it, allow the thieves to take it without resisting.

Make sure you’re not in danger, stay alert and call the police.

Police say many thefts can be avoided by locking doors and closing windows.

A good rule of thumb is to keep as little as possible in your car. That way you don’t have to remember a long list of personal belongings that will go missing if the car gets stolen. Never leave valuables in plain sight. If you have to leave a laptop in the car, put it in the trunk where no one can see it. And always lock your car doors.

If your car is recovered, contact your insurer so they can assess any damage and determine if it needs to be repaired or replaced.

Do you know the meanings of the road signs?

We all take the driver’s exam in order to get into the driver’s seat. In order to pass you understand the road signs. However, when was the last time you brushed up on your road sign knowledge? Our Manhattan, KS dealership cares about the safety of our drivers. That’s why we want to share the meaning behind the most common road signs. Check it out and know what to do when you see a sign.

There are common roads signs that may be obvious to figure what they mean, such a “Stop” or “Yield” sign. However, there are other road signs that are a bit more challenging to decipher.

Merging Traffic

When you see a yellow diamond shaped sign with two tails combining in one, it means that traffic up ahead will be merging into your lane. If there is a curvy tail on the right side, it means the traffic will be coming in from the right, and vise-versa if the curvy tail is on the left side of the arrow. Once the lanes begin to merge, drive with extra caution.

Railroad Crossing

You won’t see this sign if you’re not around railroad tracks. However, you might not know you’re around them! That’s why the sign will let you know what’s around! If you see a round yellow sign with a large “X” and two letter “R’s” on the side, you’re approaching a railroad. When you notice this sign, make sure to drive carefully and slowly! You may need to come to a stop before crossing the railroad.

Four-Way Intersection

If you spot a yellow diamond shaped road sign with a black “+” sign in the middle, you’re nearing a four-way intersection. The perpendicular lines indicate that traffic is coming from all four directions. Make sure to keep an eye out to yield or stop.

Divided Highway

When you see a yellow diamond shaped sign with two curvy arrows going in opposite directions and half of an oval in between them, it indicates that the highway is being divided and that the two-lane highway will end. Lookout for the median ahead where the highway will be divided.

No U-Turn 

There are times while driving when we take the wrong turn. One easy fix is to make a quick u-turn. However, there areas in which u-turns are not permitted! So if you see a sign that has a U shaped arrow with red circle and slash through it, it means you’re not permitted to make a u-turn at that location.

Now that you’ve checked your road signs, you’re ready to drive safely on the road! If you have any questions feel free to call our team at 785-539-7441.

Keep Your 2016 Toyota Tacoma's Engine Running Smooth With These Helpful Tips

Looking for a new truck? What about one that can go anywhere and do anything? Welcome the 2016 Toyota Tacoma – a midsize pickup truck that offers strong off-road capabilities, a powerful engine, and a tow rate up to 6,800 pounds. The 2016 Tacoma will take care of your needs, so it only makes sense for you to take care of its needs. One way to do so is to pay attention to your Tacoma's engine. Continue reading to learn how to be a proactive part of your engine's health.

Regular Oil Changes: One of the most important things you can do for your Tacoma (and any other car or truck for that matter) is to provide it with regular oil changes. Oil changes help keep the internal parts of your engine well lubricated so it does not overheat. Going too long between oil changes – or never changing it at all – can lead to serious, irreversible engine damage.

Keep Cooling System Working Properly: Another way to keep your Tacoma's engine from overheating is to make sure the cooling system is working properly. The best way to do this is to make sure your truck's cooling system always has the proper amount of coolant (a.k.a. radiator fluid). Coolant works by circulating through the engine, to the radiator, and back again in order to ensure it stays cool. Without coolant, your truck's engine will quickly overheat.

Regularly Replace Air Filter: Just as you require air to breathe and continue working as you should, so does your truck's engine. This is why truck's require air filters. Air filters work to provide your engine with a constant, unrestricted flow of air. However, air filters become dirty and clogged over time. The best way to keep a steady flow of air flowing to your engine, be sure to replace air filters regularly.

Check For Leaks: An easy way to keep your truck's engine running smoothly is to check for any leaks that may have sprung. The intense heat and pressure that occurs under your truck's hood can cause engine hoses to become old and cracked. Two main leaks to watch out for are oil and antifreeze leaks. These fluids leaking from your engine should never be looked over, otherwise you can expect overheating and other damages to happen. From time to time, pop your truck's trunk and inspect hoses for any problems. Another simple way to check your truck for leaks is by looking on the ground underneath it. If you see any puddles on the ground beneath your truck, take it to see a mechanic for further inspection.

Looking for more tips and tricks to keep your 2016 Toyota Tacoma running its best? Just ask us! Visit our Toyota dealership, located in Manhattan, Kansas.

Little Apple Toyota Honda: Kansas's leading auto dealer specializing in new and used cars, trucks, hybrids and SUVs. Serving Manhattan and surrounding areas.

Are We There Yet?

 10 Road Trip Games For Kids

Remember the awe and wonder you felt as a kid? When a simple game of “I spy” could keep you joyously occupied for hours? Road games are a great way to keep children of all ages entertained during long and boring road trips. In addition to preventing road fatigue, they make the experience more pleasant for everyone--especially mom and dad. Here are 10 simple and fun games anyone can enjoy.

One: Bottled Treasure
Fill a two-liter bottle about 3/4 full with rice or birdseed. Add a variety of small household objects like paperclips, buttons, marbles and toy soldiers. Make a list of everything you hid and seal the container. Have your kids shake the bottle and hunt for all the treasures you buried.

Two: A Map Mission
Give your children a map and have them mark it up to chart your journey. As you pass different towns and landmarks, help the kids note them on their maps. Fun for the kids and also educational, this game is a win-win and one that the whole family can get involved in.

Three: Counting Cars
Come up with fun, age-appropriate challenges. For example, be the first to find five green cars or ten semitrucks. Or keep count of how many different types of cars you can spot in an hour. Or how often you see a Toyota pass by. This simple game keeps kids occupied and teaches them how to stay alert.

Four: License Lookout
Before you hit the road, ask everyone how many different state license plates they think they’ll see. Write down their guesses. Keep a running list of the ones spotted along the way and fill time in between plates by talking about the 50 states, what their capitals are and what they’re famous for.

Five: Games Galore
Simple card games can keep children occupied and entertained for a long time. Games like Go Fish, Solitaire, Uno or even just practicing shuffling can be a fun way to pass the time. In addition, most favorite board games come in magnetic versions that are designed for travel and are perfect for road trips.

Six: Media Savvy
Have your kids pick a new book or movie, something they can get into and spend some time with during the long ride. Interactive games are a good means of entertainment and education. For electronic gadgets, make sure batteries are charged and that you have headphones.

Seven: What Do You See?
"I Spy" is a classic car game. Find a fixed object that everyone in the vehicle can see and say, "I spy with my little eye something that is …" Then give a clue as to what the object is.

Everyone takes turns asking “yes" or "no” questions about the mystery object. The asker then guesses what the object is. This repeats until someone gets the right answer. That winner chooses the next object.

Eight: Rest Stop Athletics
Pack some small athletic gear in your car like squishy footballs and Frisbees. If you don't have room, when you’re at a rest stop, create races where everyone has to run from tree to tree in different ways: run to the first tree, hop to the second, jump to the third and run back to start.

Nine: Scavenger Hunt
Create a list of items you think you'll see along the way. Make copies for everyone. As each person sees an item, he or she calls it out. Another person verifies it. The first one to cross off the entire list wins. Once you’ve finished this list, try and make another more challenging list and keep going.

Ten: Alphabet Game
As you pass signs, find each letter of the alphabet in order. You can only get one letter from each sign. When you see the letter, call it out. For example, you'd say, "I see an 'A' on 'Dairy farm this exit'." Keep going all the way through the alphabet until the first person finishes it entirely.

These car games are fun and keep young passengers occupied in safe, healthy and educational ways. Be sure to reward the winners by letting them choose the next DVD, hour of music, place to stop for lunch, etc.