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The risk of car theft in Alaska
How you can protect yourself
Conclusion
 

The risk of car theft in Alaska

Anchorage, Alaska has long had a bad problem with vehicle theft. In 2019, Anchorage was ranked the city with the second most car thefts of any city in the entire United States. One of the main reasons for this is that Alaska has some of the most stretched thin police forces in the country. Alaska only has about one police officer per six hundred people which is one of the lowest numbers in all of the United States.

Things have gotten a bit better since the high amount of media attention this has been getting the past two years. However, it has not improved that much. This is why you need to do everything in your power to protect yourself from theft when you have a car in Alaska.
 

How you can protect yourself

Knowing what to do if your car is stolen in Alaska will take a bit of time, effort and expense on your part but it will absolutely be worth it. Stolen cars are only recovered about sixty percent of the time. If your car gets stolen and is not recovered, your auto insurance, in a best-case scenario, will pay you for the depreciated value of your vehicle minus your annual deductible. So, after that you will end up with a much cheaper replacement car. If your car is recovered, there is a chance that it will be returned with some sort of damage to it which may or may not be covered by insurance.

So, what can you do to prevent theft? The first thing that you can do is make sure that you do not miss any of the basic things. This means always lock your doors, close your windows and always take your keys out of the car.

Next, you can do a few other simple things that are not so obvious. This includes parking only in well lit areas at night, removing valuables from your car or at least from view of someone outside of the car and constantly remain alert of your surroundings.

Finally, you can invest some money and add some technological security to your vehicle. This will include getting an anti-theft device and some sort of tracking system. An anti-theft-device will be something like a steering wheel lock which will make stealing the car much more difficult. However, if it is visible like a steering wheel lock or window sticker that a potential thief can see before they start their theft it could completely deter them from even trying in the first place. A tracking system will obviously track your car as a last line of defense in the case that your car has been initially stolen.
 

Conclusion

When you have a car in Alaska, specifically Anchorage, you are unfortunately at a higher risk of your car being stolen than in most places in the United States. If you want to make sure that you are not a victim, you must be proactive. You can do simple things like locking your doors and parking in well-lit areas but you can also go further with anti-theft devices as well as getting a tracking system installed.

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Car detailing basics
Alaska’s weather and car detailing
Final word
 

Car detailing basics

Car detailing is the process when you get your vehicle washed and restored to the point it seems like a brand-new car. It is no ordinary wash process though. This is the highest end and most meticulous car wash/restoration process with the exception of replacing multiple parts of the vehicle entirely. As you might expect, it is also the most expensive as a result of that. Getting your car detailed will usually run you around a hundred dollars.

During a typical car detailing, you can expect your vehicle and its tires to get completely washed, waxed, and vacuumed. Some detailing services will even go as far as to perfume the interior, steam clean the interior, and correct the paint. The need for car detailing comes after long periods of wear and tear or not getting your car cleaned after longer periods of inclement weather. The latter is definitely the case in Alaska.
 

Alaska’s weather and car detailing

Getting your car detailed after a long Alaskan winter is a must. Dirt, road salt and sand will be all over the exterior of your car. On top of that, your interior will likely be a mess from these things as well. Your paint job will also likely have some chips or scratches from the road debris of the winter roads.

Yes, it will likely run you over a hundred dollars to do this every year, but by doing so you will be preserving the value of your car as you use it. If you try and do that after years of driving in Alaska during the winter, some of the damage will surely be irreversible. When you get your car detailed in Alaska, we advise that you get the works. You will be better off if you leave no stone unturned. You should also consider getting your car’s underbody protected on an annual or semi-annual basis.
 

Final word

Alaska’s winter roads have the potential to make your car filthy as well as damage the finish and overall appearance. This is because of all the road salt, road sand and dirt that will kick up from the road and will also end up getting tracked into your car. All of this, if left untreated, can cause permanent damage to both the exterior and interior of your vehicle. You should make sure that you get your car detailed in Alaska every spring. If you are in Alaska and you need a car shipped there, you can always get an instant free quote by visiting our homepage.

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Basic information about manual transmissions
How driving with a manual transmission can affect winter driving
Conclusion
 

Basic information about manual transmissions

The two main parts of a manual transmission are the clutch pedal and gear shifter. The clutch pedal helps you transfer power throughout the engine and transmission so that you can maintain or increase speed with the most ease and efficiency. The gear shifter allows you to shift gears as you drive so that you can add more power to the engine when you are doing something like climbing a hill or it will allow you to add more power to the transmission so you can more easily gain speed.

Before you commit to having a car with a manual transmission you will need to commit to the fact that you will need to learn an entirely new way of driving. Driving a car with a manual transmission versus a car with a regular transmission (automatic transmission) is completely different. This is because even simple drives with a manual transmission will require proper shifting and use of the clutch pedal. You can learn more about manual transmissions here.
 

How driving with a manual transmission can affect winter driving

Manual transmissions can be quite useful in Alaska for two main reasons. The first is that there are inclines and declines in the road in many areas in Alaska and shifting power to or from the engine can help your vehicle handle this much better.

The second is that it can allow you to have better control over your car when the road is snowy and icy. In fact, a manual transmission can also help you gain traction in the snow. You will need to be experienced with using a manual transmission in order for it to have these effects while driving in winter weather in Alaska. So, be sure one of your first experiences driving with a manual transmission is not in the snow.
 

Conclusion

Most people these days will opt to use an automatic transmission over a manual transmission. Put simply, a manual transmission just takes more time to learn how to use correctly as well as more effort and skill to operate. However, if you are adept at using a vehicle with a manual transmission, there are a few benefits to using a car with one on the winter roads in Alaska. The ability to shift will help you navigate things like hills as well as give you the ability to have more control and handling over the car. If you need a car moved to Alaska, get in touch with Alaska Car Transport can do so with ease.

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What is a car body kit?
Car body kits and winter driving
Final word
 

What is a car body kit?

A car body kit is several modified or additional parts that you add to the original car build. Sometimes these kits are purely for looks. Other times, they serve functionality purposes. Most often, car body kits are purely aesthetic.

However, there are definitely practical purposes that car body kits serve. Better aerodynamics is the most popular increased functionality that a body kit can give a car. Body kits can also help improve the overall traction of your vehicle.

If you do decide to get a car body kit, it will need to be installed by your mechanic or dealership as you will obviously not be able to do it yourself. However, the most important thing to be aware of regarding car body kits is the price. Most full car body kits will cost around fifteen thousand dollars. Although, the price can be as low as only a few thousand dollars depending on whether or not you get a full body kit and the type of car that you have.
 

Car body kits and winter driving

Getting or having a car body kit can definitely make driving in Alaska easier, especially during the winter. By increasing the aerodynamics of your car, car body kits effectively can improve overall vehicle stability as well as handling. This is incredibly useful when roads in Alaska are frequently full of ice and snow as you will be able to have much more control over your vehicle which will help you avoid an accident.

Even more important in the snow and ice, a car body kit can really help your car’s traction. Traction can make a very big difference between being able to maintain control of your car while driving in winter weather and skidding out or much worse.
 

Final word

Car body kits can make your car look a lot cooler, but that is not all they can do. They can also improve your car’s aerodynamics and traction. This will directly lead to better car handling and overall vehicle stability. These things are crucial to driving in Alaska during inclement winter weather. Whether or not you have a car body kit installed, Alaska Car Transport can easily ship your car to Alaska. You can get a free instant quote by calling (907) 331-3100.

The differences between shipping a regular vehicle and an oversized vehicle

IN Alaska, there is a lot of construction and drilling projects that occur. So, it makes sense that a considerable amount of oversized construction vehicles is needed there. Unfortunately, it is not legal to drive the vast majority of oversized vehicles on the road pretty much anywhere. Thus, you would not be able to drive your oversized vehicle to Alaska and would need to ship it there instead.

Shipping an oversized vehicle has some similarities with regular car shipping such as the fact that any personal items must be removed from the vehicle before shipping, price and transit time is directly affected by distance and the fact that someone must be there when the vehicle is picked up as well as when it is dropped off.

However, that is just about where the similarities end. Shipping an oversized vehicle such as construction vehicles will take longer and cost more. It will also take more preparation in order to get the vehicle ready for shipping. For example, getting an oversized clean for the inspection will take much more effort.
 

Tips for shipping an oversized vehicle to Alaska

Shipping an oversized vehicle is a bit more complicated than a normal car but it is still pretty simple overall. First of all, you should always do your homework and immediately make sure that any shipping company that you are considering does have the ability to ship oversized vehicles. You should also take this opportunity to get quotes from each company, this way you will be able to comparison shop for your shipment.

You should also consider getting some help to clean your oversized vehicle in preparation for the visual inspection prior to pick up. It will likely take a while, especially if it is oversized construction equipment. If you have an extra pair of hands or two, it will cut the time you will spend cleaning in half or less.

Planning ahead with an oversized vehicle shipment is also critically important. Normally booking your car shipment a month in advance is enough. However, when you are shipping an oversized vehicle, carriers equipped to handle a shipment of that sort are in much shorter supply than typical car carriers. So, you should be sure to book your shipment eight to ten weeks in advance of the date you need your oversized vehicle picked up.
 

Final word

There is a higher need for oversized vehicles in Alaska than you might think. If you need an oversized vehicle shipped to or from Alaska, it actually will not be that difficult to do so. You will just need to take a few extra steps than you would with a normal car shipment. If you have any questions or would like a quote about shipping an oversized vehicle to Alaska, give us a call today at (907) 331-3100.

 
Alaska has some very interesting laws about driving. Some may even seem outright odd to you. You should be aware of these before you start driving there. This way you can avoid getting any tickets. Although, several of these laws actually allow drivers a little bit more freedom regarding certain things such as marijuana or firearms.
 

Driving with firearms

If you are over the age of twenty-one in Alaska with a valid driver’s license you can carry a firearm in your vehicle even if it is:

• Loaded
• In clear view and within reach
• Concealed

Driving with Marijuana

If you are twenty-one years of age or older in Alaska, you can drive with marijuana in your vehicle even if it is not for medical use.
However, you may not drive under the influence of marijuana and you can not use it in public.
 

Driving while on the phone

In Alaska, you may not drive while using any sort of visual screen device. This means you can’t text, browse the web, or do anything that involves looking at your phone while you drive.

However, you may talk on the phone while you drive. Even if you are talking on the phone with it in your hand and held to your head, it is perfectly legal.

This law does also prohibit the use of tablets, laptops or any other “visual screen devices.”
 

Trailers

This is probably the strangest one on this list, but it is a law, nonetheless. A person can not ride in a trailer while it is being moved along a street. So, this means you can’t occupy any trailer, even if it is a house trailer, if it is not part of the vehicle being driven. Recreational vehicles are an exception to this because the live-in part of the vehicle is in the same part of the vehicle which drives.
 

Headlight use

There are a couple of interesting provisions regarding the use of your headlights in Alaska:

• Flashing your headlights – You cannot use your high-beams within five hundred feet of an oncoming vehicle. This really means that flashing your headlights to let another driver know that their headlights are off at night or about police down the road could easily get you a ticket.
• Daytime headlight use – During certain periods of the year, namely the low-light winter months, most Alaskan roadways require that your headlights be on at all times while you are operating your vehicle. If you want to play it safe without having to look up the specific laws and regulations for each road that you will be traveling on, we recommend that you keep your headlights on at all times regardless of the time of year or day.

Minimum age to drive

Alaska is tied with a few other states with the lowest minimum driving age in the United States. In Alaska, a person only needs to be fourteen years of age to get their learner’s permit.

The other states that allow someone to get their learner’s permit at fourteen are Arkansas, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota with several other states allowing people ages fourteen and six months or fourteen and nine months to get their permits.
 

Conclusion

There are definitely several interesting laws in Alaska regarding driving. It is one of the more lenient states with laws about driving with marijuana and firearms. This is likely because of how difficult travel can be in Alaska.

No matter what the laws are in a place like Alaska, always remember to drive with caution. There can be very tough inclement weather conditions out on the road as well as wildlife crossing the roadways at various times of the year.

Jump to section:
Keeping your car floors clean in Alaska
What type of floor mats are right for you
Final word
 

Keeping your car floors clean in Alaska

Alaska has a natural terrain and harsh winters. What this means for the interior of your car is that it will be difficult to keep clean. You will likely constantly be tracking dirt, road salt/sand and snow into your car. You will constantly need to get the interior of your car cleaned unless you have reliable floor mats.

Floor mats are a relatively inexpensive investment. Constantly getting your car floors cleaned and/or eventually needing to get new carpet installed in your car will come at a much higher expense. Car floor mats will cost you about a hundred dollars for a set. If you get your car floors cleaned every week, it will cost you a hundred dollars or more every single month. Even worse, getting new carpet installed in your car will likely cost at least a thousand dollars when you consider both the cost of the new carpet as well as the labor.
 

What type of floor mats are right for you

There are multiple types of floor mats that you can get for your car. When you are getting floor mats to protect your car floors in Alaska from dirt, snow and salt/sand you will need the right mats. There are fabric floor mats, rubber floor mats, all weather mats, and 3D floor mats.

You can use any of these to protect your car’s carpet. However, your best bet in Alaska will be the all-weather mats or rubber floor mats. Fabric floor mats will do a decent job and are the cheapest, but they will not last nearly as long as the other mats mentioned. They also tend to slide around a bit while you drive.

3D floor mats, on the other hand, are the most expensive type of floormats that you can get. They are the best looking and will normally be made to specifically fit your vehicle. However, they are usually made of some sort of plastic or polymer so the mat will not soak up any moisture which is less than ideal for Alaska.

Rubber floor mats are the longest lasting. They also soak up dirt and moisture incredibly well. They do not look too great but for the low price and their high function, they are one of your best choices in Alaska in terms of protecting your car floors.

Finally, all-weather floor mats are essentially super heavy-duty rubber mats. They are a bit more expensive than regular rubber mats but are well worth the slight additional cost. They are the most effective of all car mats at protecting your car’s carpet from dirt and moisture and also grip the carpet so as to avoid any sliding or movement while you are driving.
 

Final word

Put simply, do not drive without floor mats when you are in Alaska. Too much damage can occur to your car floors from the dirt and moisture that you track into the car. If this happens and you end up needing to replace carpet in your car, it could end up costing you hundreds of dollars or more. In Alaska, your best bet is to go with either rubber or all-weather car mats.

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The protection your bumpers offer your car
Why your car needs all the protection it can get in Alaska
Conclusion
 

The protection your bumpers offer your car

Your car bumpers purpose is to prevent damage from occurring to the rest of your car. It is much more inexpensive to fix or replace a bumper than it is to fix or replace other parts of your car. Fixing or replacing a car bumper will only run you a couple of hundred of dollars.

However, if you need to fix or replace other parts of your car, it could cost thousands of dollars. Plus, damage to your bumpers does not affect your car’s ability to run, whereas damage to other parts such as those in the engine could, in fact, affect your car’s ability to run properly.
 

Why your car needs all the protection it can get in Alaska

It should not come as a surprise that you and your car will have a much higher potential for an accident in Alaska when you are driving on winter roads. You could easily end up slipping or sliding into another vehicle on the snowy and icy Alaskan highways. Your bumpers could end up being a huge help when it comes to avoiding serious damage to your vehicle when your car goes sliding on snow or ice.

Just about one out of every four accidents in the United States every year has something to do with winter weather. So, you clearly need to be careful on the road in Alaska during the winter but even that will not guarantee you stay out of an accident. That is exactly why you need all the extra help you can get, and your bumpers are a big part of that.

It is for that reason that you should make sure your bumpers are in top condition at all times. This includes making sure that any damage or defects on the bumpers on your car gets repaired as soon as possible. You can even go as far as getting a bumper guard for your bumper. This will allow your bumper to do its job in the event of a fender bender but also prevent damage to your bumper in low speed collisions.
 

Conclusion

Your car bumpers are even more important on the winter roads of Alaska. They can prevent much more serious damage from occurring to your car which is important because there is only so much that you can do to prevent an accident on slick winter roads. Finally, always make sure that your bumpers are replaced or repaired if they are damaged or even consider using a bumper guard to prevent light damage from occurring to the fenders.

Jump to section:
The high importance of your headlights in Alaska
How you can replace your own headlights
Final word
 

The high importance of your headlights in Alaska

No matter where you are driving, you must make sure that your headlights are working for your safety and because it is against the law to drive if they are not working. In Alaska, it is even more important to have reliable headlights. That is because both weather and extremely low amounts of day light during certain times of the year can make a bright set of headlights crucial. It is obviously also against the law if you drive at night while your headlights are off in Alaska.

Before you hit the road in Alaska, you will want to be sure that you have headlights that are bright enough for the potentially dark and snowy roads. This means that your regular headlights and brights should be a bit brighter than normal. This is obviously due to the possibility of extremely low visibility when you are driving. We recommend getting HID or projector beam headlights for your car in Alaska.
 

How you can replace your own headlights

If you have a headlight burn out, you will need to replace it immediately or else you will risk getting a ticket or into a serious accident. Replacing your own headlight will be pretty simple but it will be different for every type of car. However, a few things will remain the same.

First, you should always keep the correct type of spare bulbs somewhere in your car. This way, if one of your headlights burns out as you are driving, you will be able to pull over and quickly replace it. Even if that happens and you get pulled over before you notice, police officers will frequently let you quickly replace the bulb in order to avoid a ticket. Next, you should always make sure that you have your owner’s manual handy. It will tell you exactly how to uninstall the old bulb and how to install the new one. You can always try looking the directions up online on your phone as well but you should not rely on this as there might be times when you are in areas where you will not have service.

Next, you will want to be sure that you have gloves because the bulb you are taking out will likely be extremely hot to the touch. Finally, after you have installed the new bulb you should turn your headlights on and walk twenty or fifty feet in front of your car and check to see that the headlight looks fine.
 

Final word

Your headlights are one of the easiest things to forget about in regards to your car. If one of them burns out, you could end up with a ticket or getting into an accident as a result. In Alaska, winter weather and much less day light greatly increase the need for reliable and bright headlights. Always have your owner’s manual with you so that you will be ready to change a headlight if need be. Finally, keep spare bulbs in your car at all times because you never know when you might need them.

When you want skip driving hundreds or thousands of miles in order to get your vehicle to or from Alaska, you should trust the car shipping experts at Alaska Car Transport. For a free instant quote, you can always visit our website or call (907) 331-3100.

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The advantage of shipping your car during a pandemic
How you can ensure that you stay safe during the shipping process
Conclusion
 

The advantage of shipping your car during a pandemic

In the middle of a pandemic, traveling hundreds or even thousands of miles in your car is a risky venture that you should do everything in your power to avoid. Not only do you risk getting yourself and/or your family infected with the virus, but you also might risk being forced into quarantine for two weeks depending on your travel route.

Also, there are the normal drawbacks of taking a trip like that with your vehicle. These include taking days or weeks to make the trip, the cost of the trip in terms of things like gas and lodging, and the stress and energy a long trip like that will take out of you.

You can easily avoid all of these numerous drawbacks by shipping your car to or from Alaska during the covid-19 pandemic. Shipping your car to or from Alaska during the pandemic is easy. You will just need to do the normal preparation for a car shipment as well as taking the proper safety precautions because of the coronavirus.

The normal preparation for shipping your car will include getting the car cleaned so that your driver can conduct a visual inspection for preexisting damage. It will also include taking any personal items out of the vehicle because they will not be covered by the auto transport insurance if they are damaged or lost during the trip.
 

How you can ensure that you stay safe during the shipping process

On top of the very simple preparation for your car shipment, you will need to take the proper steps to ensure your safety from the virus during the pickup and drop off of your car. It is obviously critically important to follow these safety precautions during these uncertain times, not only for your own safety, but for the safety of others as well.

When your driver arrives to pickup or drop off your vehicle you should wear a mask and sanitize your hands prior to going outside to meet them. Also, you should consider wiping down and sanitizing all the surfaces in your car that get touched in your car both before and after your car gets picked up and dropped off. Finally, be sure you maintain the proper social distance from your driver with the exception of giving/receiving the keys and any paperwork that needs to be signed.

Rest assured that your car transport driver will also be taking the proper precautions to keep you safe as well while shipping your car during the pandemic.
 

Conclusion

Shipping your car instead of driving it a long distance during the covid-19 crisis is a great way to avoid unnecessary exposure to other people as well as to avoid spending too much time and money on the road. You will just need to be sure that you properly prepare for your car shipment as well as take all of the protective precautions when your car is being picked up and delivered.