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Who qualifies for handicapped parking?
The penalty for parking in a handicapped spot without a permit
Wrapping up
 

Who qualifies for handicapped parking?

Obviously, handicapped parking is reserved for those with a legitimate handicap. However, many people might not understand what qualifies as a legitimate handicap. Regardless, you will need to have a valid unexpired handicapped parking permit or license plate in order to park in a handicapped space. Even if you do have a handicap and park in a handicap space without the permit, you will still likely be ticketed.

Handicaps that will qualify for a handicapped parking permit will typically include people with heart and/or lung disease, those with any disease that considerably decreases your ability to walk, people with certain vision issues and those who have lost a leg or hand. The specifics of this will vary from state to state in the US. In Alaska, those eligible for a handicapped parking permit can include people who cannot walk two hundred feet without stopping, those who use assistive tools such as a cane or wheelchair and people who are on oxygen. If your disability is permanent, you will qualify for handicapped license plates.

In order to get a handicapped parking permit, you will have to get the application online or from the DMV office. You will then need to fill out the portion for you and your healthcare provider will also need to fill out a portion in order to verify your handicap. You can then submit it through mail or in person. If you are not handicapped but have a handicapped person in your car who has a valid permit with them, you will be allowed to park in a handicapped space on that occasion.
 

The penalty for parking in a handicapped spot without a permit

If you park in a handicapped parking space without a legitimate permit or license plate giving you the permission to do so, you can be ticketed and fined. For a first violation in Alaska, you will receive a fine of a hundred and twenty-five dollars. For a second violation, you will be fined two hundred and fifty dollars. If you are caught using someone else’s parking permit or license plate while you illegally park in a handicapped spot in Alaska, the first fine will be two hundred and fifty dollars and the next time you are caught, the fine will be five hundred dollars.
 

Wrapping up

If you are handicapped, you will be entitled to special spaces close to the entrances of businesses in Alaska so that your walk from your car will be as limited as possible. Handicaps that will qualify for a pass will include those with heart and/or lung diseases and people who are very limited in their ability to walk. If you are not handicapped, do not park in a handicapped space under any circumstance, even for a few minutes, because you will be preventing a handicapped person from getting the space they need. You will also be ticketed and fined.

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What will it cost to own a car in Alaska every year?
Why it costs that much
Final Word
 

What will it cost to own a car in Alaska every year?

Owning a car in Alaska comes at a cost just like it does anywhere else in the country or the world for that matter. Specifically, owning a car in Alaska will primarily incur the cost of registration, insurance, gas and maintenance.

According to data assembled in 2019, the average five-year cost of owning a car in Alaska is $22,766.

This includes average insurance cost which came out to $1,183 each year. Now, that is a very rough estimate which can change based on demographics about you including age, gender, average commute distance, auto insurance carrier and more.

The average cost of owning a car in Alaska also includes the average cost of gas which ran $2,461 in Alaska over the course of a year. That comes out to per $47 week. That seems like a lot because, on average, Alaska’s gas cost almost a dollar more than most other states in the US. So, that means that Alaska’s gas prices are typically over three dollars per gallon whereas the rest of the country is usually been well under three dollars recently.

Average repair cost also is factored into the total average cost of owning a car in Alaska. In Alaska, the average repair cost ended up running about $362. This is obviously another subjective figure because your costs could end up being much lower or higher depending on how well you take care of your car. However, Alaska also averaged an additional $360 of added repairs because of the road conditions.
 

Why it costs that much

Alaska still turned out to be one of the cheaper states on the list primarily because it had one of the lowest auto insurance costs in the entire country. This helped negate the high average costs of both gas and repairs.

Gas and repairs were higher in Alaska than in other places in the United States because the cost of transporting gas costs more to Alaska thus the prices are higher. Repairs cost more in Alaska than in most places mostly because the poorer than normal condition of the roads. Unfortunately, because of the amount of snow during the year in most places in Alaska, the roads tend to have more cracks and potholes as a result.
 

Final Word

Overall, it is not that expensive to own a car in Alaska. Certain things like gas might cost more than it does in many places, but the total cost is lower than the majority of US states. We highly recommend that you have a car in Alaska because it is difficult to get around otherwise. If you need your car shipped to Alaska, you can always call the car shipping experts at Alaska Car Transport at (907) 331-3100.

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Child car safety 101
Child car safety statistics
Final word
 

Child car safety 101

Nothing is more important when you drive than keeping any children in your vehicle completely safe. This goes for when you drive in Alaska or anywhere else in the world. Many times, children can be their own worst enemies when it comes to safety. So, the most fundamental part of keeping children in your car safe as you drive is to check on the kids (when it is safe to do so, such as at a red light) to make sure they are not doing anything dangerous such as removing their seatbelts. One great tip to get kids to avoid doing anything dangerous is by keeping them occupied with a toy or entertainment such as an iPad.

You should also make sure that if the children in your car are using car seats that the car seats are properly and safely installed and secure. When shopping for a car seat, be sure that you do not skimp on cost because cheaper car seats may not provide as much safety as more expensive ones.

Finally, it is obvious but deserves to be mentioned that exercising extra and extreme caution while driving will go a long way to keeping the kids in your vehicle safe. Drive defensively, slowly and un aggressively at all times. If you need to pull over, do not hesitate and do so as long as there is a safe space on the side of the road to do so. With kids in the car or without, never drive while distracted.
 

Child car safety statistics

Back in 2018, one third of all children twelve years of age and under who were killed in a car accident were not wearing a seatbelt at all. So, you must make sure not only to drive safely and defensively with children in your car, but you must also always ensure that the kids are always buckled in.

Car seats can actually reduce the risk of an injury to a child in a car accident by an incredible seventy to eighty percent. For children too old to use a car seat, just using a seat belt reduces the risk of injury in a crash by about fifty percent. It is clear, buckling your kids in is an absolute necessity and makes all the difference in the world.
 

Final word

Keeping any children that are in your car safe when you are driving is of absolute critical importance. You should always drive as safely and defensively as possible with kids in the car, but you can go beyond that. You need to check on them when it is safe to do so and, most importantly by far, you must make sure that they are always buckled into their seat safely.

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When you must legally change your studded tires by
How you can change your tires
Conclusion
 

When you must legally change your studded tires by

It snows a lot in many parts of Alaska and the possibility of snow lasts for a larger part of the year than it typically does in many places in the country. This means that for a majority of the year in Alaska, you can legally drive with studded snow tires. However, there comes a point during each year in Alaska, which varies based on where you live, where it becomes illegal to have studded tires on your vehicle as you drive. This is because if there is no snow or ice on the road, studded tires can end up causing considerable damage to the road, especially if many drivers have them.

So, the big question is when do you need to have the studded tires off of your vehicle in Alaska by? Well, if you live south of Glennallen (62 degrees latitude), you can only use studded tires from October 1st through April 30th each year. If you live in Glennallen or north, you have from September 16th until April 30th each year to use studded tires in Alaska.
 

How you can change your tires

If you have some experience and already have the tires that you want to replace the studded ones with, you can change your tires on your own. If you want more guidance, you can follow this instructional guide. Otherwise, you can take your car to a mechanic or tire service location and they will be able to change your tires for you. Be sure to bring along the tires you want to have put on your car, or you will need to purchase new or used tires when you are there. If you are not buying new or used tires, the service will likely cost between two and three hundred dollars. If you need to purchase tires in addition to the service, it will like cost six or seven hundred dollars.
 

Conclusion

Studded snow tires are a very useful and effective tool to help you drive in the snow and ice that can accumulate quite easily and frequently on the roads of Alaska during the course of the long winter season. Although, if you use studded tires with no snow or ice on the road, they can cause damage to the roads that can add up as more and more drivers do that. So, as a result, Alaska has made it illegal to drive with studded tires in the late spring through the entirety of the summer. Be sure you get your tires changed before it becomes illegal to have them on your vehicle in the late spring in Alaska.

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The different types of sensors in your car
Why the sensors must be working
Final word
 

The different types of sensors in your car

Your car has several types of sensors that are in it. Each sensor serves a different yet equally important purpose that will keep you, other drivers and the environment safe. If you see a dashboard indicator light up saying something is off with one of your sensors, take your vehicle into the shop as soon as you can to get it fixed.

The different types of sensors in your car includes position sensors, speed sensors, acceleration sensors, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, coolant sensors, oxygen sensors, air flow sensors, knock sensors and more. Every car has between sixty and a hundred sensors with each being important for safety and or environmental protection. You can see a list of the most common and important sensors here.
 

Why the sensors must be working

If your most important sensors are not working, your car will function just fine, in theory. However, the sensors are what warn you something is going wrong before it gets to a dangerous point so that you can get it fixed. Plus, if you have mandatory sensors in your car that are not functioning, your car will not pass an inspection.

If you happen to have sensors in your car that are broken or not working, you will not be able to fix or replace them unless you are an experienced mechanic yourself. Thus, you will need to take your car to see a mechanic. If you do need to get a sensor replaced in your car it will likely cost between a hundred and two hundred dollars. This is because most sensors will cost between twenty and a hundred dollars. You then have to add in the cost of your mechanic’s labor which will cost between fifty and a hundred dollars for a sensor repair or replacement. Unfortunately, there is not much that you can do to care for your sensors other than by making regular trips to get your car serviced and by driving carefully. Over the course of your driving life, you will likely need to get a few sensors replaced.
 

Final word

Your sensors are more important than most people tend to think. Your car could have hundreds of them depending on the make and model. It is almost a certainty that you will have a couple broken sensors in the lifespan of a vehicle. There is not much that you can do about that but make sure that you do get your sensors repaired or replaced immediately because other, much more expensive problems can end up popping up as a result of a sensor not functioning and warning you in the early stages of an issue. Keep in mind, all of your sensors must be functioning properly in order for your car to pass inspection.

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The importance of your gas cap
Gas cap safety advice
Wrapping up
 

The importance of your gas cap

Many people wonder if you have a secure latch that closes over your gas cap if the gas cap is even necessary. Believe it or not, your car’s gas cap actually has several very important functions. Those are safety, emission reduction and fuel economy. With this in mind, if you currently do not have a gas cap, get it replaced immediately.

In terms of overall safety, your gas cap prevents your gasoline from being polluted with outside contaminants that can possibly harm your engine when the gasoline reaches the combustion stage. This can cause engine issues which directly puts you in danger when you are operating the vehicle. Your gas cap also prevents the gasoline’s fumes from leaving the tank and being exposed to flammable elements such as static electricity sparks. The fumes from gas are even more flammable than the gas itself thus the fumes escaping the tank are extremely dangerous. Finally, if the gas cap is not on gas can spill out which is not only dangerous, but it is inefficient and costly.
 

Gas cap safety advice

You should always exercise caution and safety with your gas cap considering the safety purposes it serves. This is easy but not everyone knows how or even cares enough to do so. As we mentioned, you obviously need to make sure that you have a gas cap at all times. If you do not, get one immediately. There are gas caps out there that you can buy that can be attached to the inside of your gas latch so that you will never lose or forget it.

Next, you must always make sure that your gas cap is tightly and securely fastened after pumping gas. If it is too loose, gas and gas fumes can still leak out of the tank. If it is ever damaged, just get a new one. Finally, if it is dirty wipe it off and give it a quick cleaning.
 

Wrapping up

Your car’s gas cap is much more important than you think. It provides safety and fuel efficiency for your vehicle. Having one can easily prevent a spontaneous fire or loss of fuel. Be sure that you always have a gas cap, make sure it is always tightly secured and that if it gets damaged you replace it or if it gets excessively dirty you clean it. You must have a gas cap in order to ship your car to Alaska.

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The danger of reckless driving
Reckless driving in Alaska
Final word
 

The danger of reckless driving

Reckless driving is a very broad term. It encompasses all sorts of dangerous and careless types of driving. This includes excessive speeding, passing someone by crossing into on-coming traffic, passing a stopped school bus, drunk driving and more. It goes without saying that all of these types of driving behaviors should always be avoided.

Driving recklessly poses a very serious threat of danger to yourself, your passengers, and all other drivers out on the road. These dangers include tickets with hefty fines, losing your license, having to pay more for insurance, possible jail time and, worst of all, serious injury or even death.

In order for you to make absolute sure that you avoid even coming close to driving recklessly there are a few things you can do on a regular basis. First, you should always keep yourself up to date on the laws and rules of the road. A good way to do this is by taking a defensive driving course. Next, you can always leave for your destination early so that you have plenty of time to get where you are going. This will cut down on dangerous driving like speeding and passing. Finally, you can keep yourself in the right-most lanes of traffic where people drive at or even slightly below the speed limit.
 

Reckless driving in Alaska

Driving related fatalities in Alaska are often tied to speeding. Many years nearly half of the driving related deaths in the state are due to speeding. Back in 2016, the percentage of driving related fatalities in Alaska due to speeding was 43%.

That is why you should do whatever is in your power to avoid reckless drivers when you are out on the road. There are a few ways that you can do this. First and foremost, resist the urge to possibly engage them. This means trying to out-speed them or block them in behind you. You should also try to avoid driving at night, especially on weekends and holidays, as it is the time with the highest frequency of drunken drivers. If you do see a reckless driver, you should always pull over and call 911.
 

Final word

Reckless driving is no joke in Alaska or anywhere else. It is very important to make sure that you yourself do not drive recklessly. There is too much at risk such as fines, increased insurance premiums, damage to your vehicle and even injury and death. However, it is equally important that you avoid other reckless drivers out on the road. If you see a reckless driver, pull over and call 911. Always drive defensively and safely in Alaska or wherever you drive.

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When and where to use your brights in Alaska
Using your brights safely
Conclusion
 

When and where to use your brights in Alaska

Your high beams should only be used in the circumstance that you are on a poorly lit road and/or visibility is low. Based on that it does not sound like you will be using your high beams too often regardless of where you are. However, in Alaska you will likely find ample opportunity to properly and safely use your car’s brights.

Alaska has some of the more poorly lit stretches of highway in the country. These highway stretches are also quite long and very desolate, so using your high beams will be a great idea. There are also much higher rates of snow on these roads during the winter. So, on top of darker conditions, you could very well be dealing with low visibility as well.
 

Using your brights safely

It is without a doubt the right choice to use your high beams if you are on a long dark Alaskan highway in the snow without any oncoming cars across from you. However, there are definitely times that you should absolutely not use your brights because they can become hazardous to yourself and other drivers.

You should turn them off when an oncoming driver is approaching because you could blind them, and they could lose control of their car. That also means when they do, they could possibly cross the divider and crash into your car. You should also never use them in a fog which does go against the general rules for using them but in fog, your brights can reflect back off the fog and lower your visibility even more.

Finally, if you have a headlight that is out, do not try and fool the police by using your high beams instead. First of all, it is dangerous and can blind other drivers as we previously mentioned. Second, police can recognize a driver improperly using high beams instantly and can ticket you for doing so. Also, always check your brights to make sure that one or both of the bulbs has not burned out.
 

Conclusion

Your car’s high beams are a critically important tool for your safety in Alaska. However, they can be the opposite if you use them improperly. Only use your brights in Alaska when there is not close oncoming traffic, the road is poorly lit and/or visibility is much lower than normal due to something such as snow (Fog is an exception, do not use your high beams in the fog). Finally, always be sure to check that your brights are in working order at least twice a month.

If you need any type of car or vehicle transported to or from Alaska at any time of the year, get in touch with our vehicle shipping experts today!

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How horsepower affects engine performance
Why more horsepower helps in Alaska
Wrapping up
 

How horsepower affects engine performance

Horsepower is one of the most marketable and sellable parts about a vehicle. It is a single metric representation of a car’s power. As you might expect, it is more complex than that but not by much. Horsepower is five hundred and fifty pounds of energy output per second. So, when a typical car has about 120 horsepower, it means that the energy output per second is 66,000 pounds. That is why cars, which are thousands of pounds, can accelerate so quickly and then maintain high speeds for extended periods of time.

So, horsepower allows us to compare one car’s power to another. However, there are other measurements of a car’s performance such as torque. If you are looking into buying a car, horsepower should not be the only factor you consider. You should always look for the most balanced driving experience for your specific driving needs.
 

Why more horsepower helps in Alaska

In Alaska, your car’s horsepower and torque both matter as your car will need all the power it can get when you are driving in the snow. However, your car’s tires and things like all-wheel drive will matter most. Believe it or not, lower horsepower has advantages. It can help keep a vehicle smaller, more fuel efficient and affordable.

However, these advantages go by the wayside when it comes to driving in the snow. There is a reason why larger and more imposing car such as SUVs and trucks have a much easier time performing in the snow than smaller compact cars, and that reason is their power.
 

Wrapping up

Your car’s horsepower is a measurement of its power in comparison to other vehicles. It is not the only measurement of a car’s performance. Horsepower should be an important consideration when buying a car but not the only one. You should always look for an overall balanced driving experience based on what your needs are which will obviously vary for each person. In Alaska, you want a car with good horsepower, torque and, most importantly, reliable winter tires and all-wheel drive.

When you need any type of vehicle moved to or from Alaska at any time, you can always count on the car shipping experts at Alaska Car Transport to get the job done efficiently and safely. Call us any time for an instant and free quote at (907) 331-3100!

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Heavy snow in Alaska
Getting your car out of the snow
Conclusion
 

Heavy snow in Alaska

It is far from being a secret that some areas in Alaska such as Fairbanks and Anchorage have some of the heaviest annual snow totals of any place in the country. According to recent data, Alaska has six of the top twenty cities with the highest average annual snow totals which includes Valdez, Alaska at number one. Snow has fallen in every month of the year in Alaska with the exception of June, July and August. Heavier snow can fall from October through March. In terms of frequency, in anchorage there is at least one inch of snow a hundred and fifty days a year on average.

With this in mind, you can see that you will be getting your car out of the snow frequently in most places in Alaska. Doing so can be time consuming and frustrating even if it is just a handful of times in a year. So, you should be aware of how to do this most efficiently.
 

Getting your car out of the snow

As we said, getting your car out of the snow can take up time and will be an annoying experience. So, if you do the following, you can spare yourself some of that negative experience each time you need to do it in Alaska which will be frequently. You should start by doing the typical clearing out and off of your vehicle. This is unfortunately inevitable. However, you likely do not have to do as much as you think.

You can try doing a minimum, then try carefully driving your way out. If that does not work, you can try the “rocking method”. The rocking method is when you roll forward a bit in drive then back a bit in reverse and repeat over and over. This will slowly but surely move your car out of the snow pile that it is in. It might not be the fastest way, but it will save you some physical labor. If you have an automatic transmission make sure that you are using a low gear if you attempt to drive your way out of the snow pile. You should also consider using sand or kitty litter to add traction to the areas nearest to your tires.
 

Conclusion

Snowfall in most places Alaska is frequent, on-going and heavy. Your vehicle will constantly be getting snowed and or plowed in when you are there. You should know how to quickly and easily get your car out of the snow so that you are not stuck without driving for days or even weeks at times. If you need your car hauled to or from Alaska any time of the year, be sure to call Alaska Car Transport for a free quote or with any questions at (907) 331-3100.