Recent Alaska Shipping News

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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.

Jump to section:
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.

Jump to section:
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.

Jump to section:
What to look for in a car that you will be using in winter weather
The best cars for driving in the winter
Winter driving tips
Conclusion
 

What to look for in a car that you will be using in winter weather

If you are in an area where winter-weather driving is something that you will be doing often, you should consider getting a car that is properly equipped for such driving. The biggest thing that you should look for is all-wheel drive. Now, contrary to popular opinion, this will not help you brake any better in snowy conditions.

What all-wheel drive will help you with is to start the vehicle moving in the snow. When all of the wheels are moving it is more likely that you will end up gaining enough traction to start your car moving. As much as that is not as important as being able to brake properly in the snow, it still is quite important.
There are other things to consider too. One such thing is ground clearance. The higher up your car is off the road, the better it will perform during winter weather. This makes sense because the less amount of contact your vehicle has with the snow, the less snow can affect its performance.

Finally, you should see which cars come equipped or can come equipped with snow tires. You can always have snow tires put on a vehicle that does not have them but it much more convenient to get a car that already has them.

Things that you do not need to look for anymore are anti-lock braking and electronic stability control. These have now been required in all vehicles for years. Anti-lock braking is your brakes ability to “pump” themselves. So, you have probably heard the expression “pump the brakes” at some point in your lifetime in reference to driving in the snow. Well, with anti-lock brakes the car “pumps” the brakes for you, so, when you brake in the snow, just keep your foot down on the brake until the car stops.

Electronic stability control is a series of sensors that put small amounts of braking on specific wheels when those wheels are perceived to be skidding. This is always useful, but it is particularly useful when you are driving in the snow.
 

The best cars for driving in the winter

In 2020 and beyond you can rely on the following cars to get you through some serious winter driving:

1. 2019 Honda CR-V – This car has to option for an upgrade to all-wheel-drive as well as available upgrades that include auto emergency braking, high beams, heated seats and lane keep assist.
2. 2020 Kia Telluride – The Kia Telluride has all-wheel-drive and is great for off-road driving. As a result, it is also good for driving in the snow. The SUV has a bunch of safety features and has add-on options for heated seats and steering wheel.
3. 2019 Mazda CX-9 – The CX-9 by Mazda is an SUV with almost ten inches of ground clearance. It also has the option for all-wheel-drive. It also offers a litany of safety features as well.
4. 2019 Toyota RAV-4 – The Toyota RAV-4 has an option to come with all-wheel-drive and has multiple driver’s assistance features which include auto emergency braking and auto high beams.

Winter driving tips

When you are driving in winter weather, you should keep the following driving tips in mind:

• Keep it slow – The last thing that you want to do when you are driving in snowy weather is to speed. Braking and maneuvering become exponentially more difficult when you drive too fast in the snow.
• Keep a larger than normal distance – You should keep a bigger than normal following distance when you are driving in the snow. This will allow you more time and distance for braking.
• Clear the snow off your car before you leave – This important both for yourself and for other drivers as well. The snow can fall off the roof of your car or can kick up from the hood and temporarily lessen your vision of the road. This can also happen to another driver if they are behind you and snow flies onto their windshield.
• Have a way to contact someone in case of an emergency – Always make sure that you have your phone with you and that it is charged. If you get stranded, you will need to call for help. Waiting for someone to come along might work on a busy road, but you cannot rely on it.

Conclusion

You can always winterize your current car but if you are in the market for a new car, then why not consider one with an abundance of features that will help you when you are driving in the snow? If you live in the northeast or in Alaska, it would make sense to get a car that will be able to get you from place to place safely during some inclement winter weather.

Jump to section:
Winter roads in Alaska
Car technology will make your drive easier
Final word
 

Winter roads in Alaska

Alaska’s roads and highways can be very treacherous during more severe inclement weather. You will need all of the help that you can get when you are driving on these roads in harsh winter conditions. This will include winterizing your car and its tires. Even after that, you should really consider avoiding driving during any winter storms until they have ended, and roads have been completely cleared.

If you do drive during inclement winter weather in Alaska, it is critically important that you do so with extreme caution. Always drive well under the speed limit and use your brights. If you have all-wheel drive be sure to put that into use as well. Finally, make sure you have an emergency plan of action, emergency supplies, and a way to summon help in case you get stranded or into an accident.
 

Car technology will make your drive easier

What many people fail to realize is that advances in car technology are making winter weather driving much easier and safer. So, if you are in the market for a new car in Alaska or have a car with the compatibility to have some of these features added, you should consider getting a car with them or having them added.

This technology includes rearview cameras which will help you maneuver your car in the snow if you are trying to do something like back into or out of your driveway. There are also things like fuel injection systems which will help your car start and run at maximum efficiency in tough winter weather. Key FOB tech has also made driving in the winter a bit easier and more comfortable by allowing you to warm your car up with the click of a button from your home.

Future car technology will help your winter drives even more. At the moment, the technology is being developed for multiple autonomous driving features that can operate efficiently in inclement winter weather conditions. However, it still might be a few years before the technology is readily available.
 

Final word

Current car technology can make a big and important difference during your drive on Alaska’s winter roads. It can be the difference between you getting to your destination safely and ending up stranded on the side of a desolate highway. No matter what, you should always have an emergency plan of action as well as emergency supplies in your car.

Remember, you can contact Alaska Car Transport at any time if you need your car shipped to or from Alaska. You can call us at (907) 331-3100.

Jump to section:
Terrestrial and satellite radio
CDs and DVDs
Other forms of in-car entertainment in Alaska
 

Terrestrial and satellite radio

The easiest form of in-car entertainment to use in Alaska is the radio. You have two primary options when it comes to your car’s radio in Alaska: regular radio (otherwise known as terrestrial radio) and satellite radio.

There are various terrestrial radio stations for you to enjoy in Alaska. These include country music, rock music, talk, top 40 hits and more. Keep in mind that “regular radio” includes both FM and AM radio. FM radio is much more popular and widely used than AM radio these days. FM radio tends to be music programming while AM radio tends to be talk and sports coverage programming. Both AM and FM radio do include a substantial number of commercials.

Satellite radio is completely different than terrestrial radio. Satellite radio has no commercials for its music programming channels and considerably less commercials for its talk programming and sports programming channels. It will, however, cost a monthly subscription fee. Right now, there is only one satellite radio provider available in the United States, SiriusXM. Unfortunately, SiriusXM is only available for streaming in Alaska rather than as a straightforward service. You can learn more about that here.
 

CDs and DVDs

Other forms of in-car entertainment in Alaska also include CDs (compact discs) so long as you have a CD player installed in your car. These days, CDs and CD players are much rarer in vehicles. However, you can still order whatever CDs you want online. In terms of getting a CD player installed, you have several options. These include independent automotive sound stores as well as stores such as Best Buy.

You can also get a DVD player installed in your vehicle in Alaska. However, these are obviously only for your passenger’s entertainment. Also, only newer vehicles made in the past ten years or so will have the capability to have these installed. If you do get DVD screens installed in your car, they are good for entertaining children that you have in the backseat.
 

Other forms of in-car entertainment in Alaska

Other forms of Alaskan in-car entertainment will include anything that you can connect to the car with an auxiliary connection. Primarily, this means your phone. By connecting your phone to your car, you will be able to use streaming services such as Spotify to play music through your car’s speakers.

In-car Wi-Fi is also another form of available in-car entertainment in Alaska. The Wi-Fi will allow you to connect your phone to various apps and streaming services that you will be able to use hands free while driving or normally while you are parked or pulled over. Remember, regardless of the form of in-car entertainment that you are using while you are on the road in Alaska, if you are driving you must always keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road to maintain complete safety for you and your passengers.