Recent Alaska Shipping News

Jump to section:
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.

Jump to section:
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.

Jump to section:
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.

Jump to section:
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.

Jump to section:
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!

Jump to section:
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!

Jump to section:
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.

Jump to section:
The risk for chips and scratches in Alaska
Keeping your paint looking fresh
Conclusion
 

The risk for chips and scratches in Alaska

In general, your car’s paint is always at risk for wear and tear. Whether its weather, other drivers or road debris, your paint will be constantly under attack no matter where you are. In Alaska, however, the weather and road debris factors get compounded by how extreme they are here.

On its own, Alaska’s weather is not too bad for your paint. Rain can cause corrosion but not much worse than it would anywhere else. But, when you combine snow with road salt and add them to the side of your car when you drive through it, it adds up to quick paint corrosion and damage.

Larger road debris is a rare issue in Alaska, but micro road debris like pebbles, road salt and sand are in high quantity in Alaska. When you drive over these things it kicks up and can instantly chip and scratch your paint. With that in mind, you should take whatever steps possible to protect your paint in Alaska.
 

Keeping your paint looking fresh

Thankfully, keeping your paint protected and looking fresh is simple and easy. You should start by getting your car washed regularly, at least once a month if not twice. When you do get it washed, get it waxed as well. Getting your car waxed will form a protective layer that will help protect against smaller forms of damage against your paint. Regular washing and waxing will go a long way to preventing corrosion from road salt and sand.

You can also consider getting a synthetic coating for your paint. A synthetic coating will be used instead of regular waxing. A synthetic coating is also a type of wax, but the difference is that the synthetic coating is more durable and will last longer. Finally, if you do get any chips, scratches or damage to your paint, be sure that you get it fixed as soon as you can as it can get worse over time and when you do get the additional damage repaired, it could end up costing you more.
 

Conclusion

If you value the appearance of your vehicle, you should take the best care of your car’s paint job possible. In Alaska, that will mean being a bit more vigilant due to the weather and all the small rocks, sand and salt on the roads which can cause considerable damage to your paint. In order to protect your paint, get your car washed and waxed often and get any damage to your paint repaired as soon as you notice it.

Jump to section:
Driving to Alaska
Shipping your car to Alaska
Conclusion
 

Driving to Alaska

Right now, you cannot drive to Alaska due to the restrictions regarding the pandemic in Canada. Eventually, those restrictions will come to an end. So, it makes sense to weigh the pros and cons of shipping your car to Alaska versus driving it there yourself.

Driving your car to Alaska yourself could be beneficial if you are in a rush to get your car there as shipping it will take a few more days than driving straight there will. Other than that and being able to sight-see there are no discernible benefits other than directly saving a few bucks.

However, with the money you save by not paying a shipping company, you will be spending money on things like gas and food while you travel to Alaska. If you are driving from further away, you will also need to spend money on lodging. Furthermore, you will need to miss more time off of work in order to drive there than if you just flew there while your car shipped.

Keep in mind that the drive times to Alaska are no picnic. One of the shortest drives that you can make, from Seattle, will take about 40 hours. From Houston, Texas it will take about 60 hours to drive to Alaska and from New York, New York, it will take approximately 72 hours.
 

Shipping your car to Alaska

Shipping your car to Alaska will make life much easier for you. You will be able to take a quick flight there while your car is transported by a professional. You also will not need to worry about the physical and mental stress of driving several thousand miles. You will also be able to avoid having to go through customs twice (once into Canada and once into the US/Alaska).
 

Conclusion

Shipping your car to Alaska is a much better option than trying to drive there yourself is. Driving will take days, if not close to a week depending on your starting location. Driving there yourself will also not save nearly as much money as you might think. If you do make the decision to make your life easier and to ship your car to Alaska, call the auto transport professionals at Alaska Car Transport for a free quote today!

Jump to section:
Staying safe with fuel for your vehicle
Getting the most out of your fuel
Conclusion
 

Staying safe with fuel for your vehicle

Most people take for granted how dangerous the fuel in their car can be. Once the fuel is safely in your car, you will not have anything to worry about. However, the process of pumping gas into your car can have a higher potential for danger.

For example, static electricity can cause a serious fire and explosion at the pump. The worst part is that this can seemingly occur without warning. To avoid any chance of this occurring, you need to make sure that you never use your cell phone or get back in your car while you are still pumping gas.

You can also cause fire by smoking while pumping gas or by not paying attention. The first is self-explanatory, never smoke while pumping gas, at a gas station or even right after pumping gas until you wash your hands. The later, not paying attention, simply could lead to over filling your tank with gas which is its own type of fire hazard. Be sure to always pay attention and do not over-fill or top-off your tank.
 

Getting the most out of your fuel

You will also want to get the most out of the fuel that you purchase, especially in Alaska. In Alaska, you will find yourself driving long distances more frequently than most places because towns and cities are considerably more spread out in Alaska. Thus, not being efficient with your fuel will end up costing you more.

So, in order to get the most out of your car’s gas, you can do a few simple things. First, you can do your best not to accelerate too fast or brake too hard. You can also do your best to avoid driving too much over fifty miles per hour. Next, you can also stop idling your car when possible. Finally, using cruise control can help a bit because maintaining one speed for long periods burns less fuel.
 

Conclusion

Fueling up your car can be dangerous if you are not careful. It can also be expensive if you are not careful. Thankfully, there are several very easy and simple ways to be careful when you are gassing up as well as to maximize fuel economy. Pay attention, do not smoke and do not get back into your car when you are pumping gas. Drive at a consistent speed, avoid quick braking and idling to get the very most out of your fuel. If you are in Alaska and need your car transported somewhere, contact us today for a free quote!