{"id":6067,"date":"2022-04-19T12:31:40","date_gmt":"2022-04-19T19:31:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/?p=6067"},"modified":"2023-01-03T14:58:43","modified_gmt":"2023-01-03T14:58:43","slug":"4-tips-for-finding-the-right-car-for-your-california-commute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/4-tips-for-finding-the-right-car-for-your-california-commute\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Tips for Finding the Right Car for Your California Commute"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The good news, of course, is that COVID-19 is on the decline. Hospitalizations and death rates are down; masks are coming off. As in the rest of the country, workers in the Golden State are beginning to go back to work. Meaning, back to working in person, at least part-time. Reviewing your auto insurance<\/a> needs for commuting in California should become a priority. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you almost forgotten the unique challenges of commuting in California? It will all come back to you on your first congested rush hour drive. If your current work status involves you driving to your place of employment, even just for part of the week, you might be shopping for a new car. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What factors are important? Where do you begin your search? Here\u2019s what we think the four starting points are for finding the right car for your commute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Look for Fuel Efficiency in a New or Used Vehicle <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

California is a huge and expansive state. Gasoline has always been more costly here than in most other states. Congratulations if you live within biking distance or a ten-minute drive from your workplace. But that doesn\u2019t describe many of us, does it?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s more typical for Californians to live in the suburbs or surrounding smaller communities and commute to the big city. That means long drives and plenty of idling on congested highways. The irony is that the price of gasoline<\/a> is skyrocketing at the same time that workers are getting in their cars again and commuting to work like in those nearly forgotten pre-COVID days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It may be time to think of alternatives to fossil fuels. Put electric vehicles on your research and shopping lists, and the costs of getting to and from work drop dramatically. Not quite ready to make that revolutionary change in what you drive? Then consider a hybrid automobile \u2014 a vehicle that uses both conventional fuel and an electric battery. You won\u2019t totally abandon the fuel pumps you know so well, but you might not meet up with your friendly neighborhood gas attendants as often as you do now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not yet convinced about electric power? No problem. There are plenty of good commuter cars out there that burn conventional fuel, but you need to shop carefully. Do your research to find the most fuel-efficient options. Consumer Report is a great place to start looking for the car models that can best keep your gasoline costs under control. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consumer Report\u2019s most recent review<\/a> of the fuel efficiency of gasoline-burning vehicles ranks makes and models by category. So you\u2019ll find separate ratings for compact, subcompact, mid-size, and large cars, as well as for small and large SUVs, hatchbacks and wagons, minivans, and even pickup trucks, among other size categories. Other Consumer Report reviews rank hybrid and all-electric models for fuel-efficiency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Make Reliability Key <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve possibly witnessed vehicles left steaming in the sun or slowing down traffic from breakdown lanes where drivers nervously awaited tow trucks during the height of a weekday rush hour. Maybe you\u2019ve been the one at the side of the road. Or perhaps you\u2019ve had to call your boss to report that you won\u2019t be able to come to work because your car needs emergency repairs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever the situation, you understand the importance of driving a reliable vehicle for your California work commute. So that\u2019s another direction your careful research should take you as you shop for the ideal commuter car. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are plenty of credible online resources<\/a> to help you find the ideal ride when it comes to this critical factor. And remember, sometimes the decision to pay more for your commuter car can mean deeper savings in the long run if the brand is more reliable than a cheaper model. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Consider Carpooling to Work <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s better than one reliable and fuel-efficient commuter car? How about three or four of them? That\u2019s one of the advantages of teaming up with others at or near your workplace and commuting together to and from work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are websites geared to matching up commuters for carpools. Your HR director at work might also be encouraged to help put carpool teams together. See if you can put a notice on the company website or in the next newsletter issue. You might find a lot of enthusiasm for sharing both the cost and the labor of driving to work if you have a long or difficult commute. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Don\u2019t Forget to Check for Car Insurance Savings <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Minimal coverage might have been more than sufficient when you were working from home and driving a few thousand miles a year. But what if your commute time adds another 10,000 or even 15,000 miles annually? Are you still adequately covered? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your California auto insurance<\/a> for getting back on the commuting track might look a lot different than your current needs. Understanding how you can keep your commuting and car insurance costs down in this new reality can make a big difference to your checking account. Here are some ideas for how to do that: <\/p>\n\n\n\n