Third Coast Auto Group Official Blog
Archive for the ‘FAQs’ Category
A low credit score can make just about everything more expensive, including insurance
Tuesday, March 9th, 2021
Can bad credit affect how much car insurance will cost?
One of the unfortunate realities of life is that a less-than-perfect credit score can make things more difficult and expensive. This is especially true when it comes to buying a car. However, that isn’t the only area where a low credit rating can raise the cost of things. Can bad credit affect how much car insurance will cost? In the state of Texas, unfortunately, the answer is yes. According to the financial website, TheZebra.com, people on the lowest end of the credit scale can up to more than $3,700 per year in insurance premiums versus people with better credit scores. Let’s take a look at some information you might find helpful. (more…)
Buying a car can be scary, but less so if you know where to start
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2021
How do I get started buying a used car?
It is perfectly natural for people to be a little nervous when they are in the car-buying cycle. After all, this is a major investment with thousands of dollars on the line and nobody wants to be stuck with a lemon. If you’re in this situation and you’re wondering, ‘How do I get started buying a used car,’ the team at Third Coast Auto Group is here to help. The first thing you’ll want to do is examine your current financial status and put some thought into where you’ll get a loan or other means of financing as well as your specific vehicle needs. Let us be clear, that is quite a bit of work and skipping a step could have negative consequences later in the process. These videos will help you get started on the right foot. If you need help along the way, make an appointment with a Third Coast Auto Group representative today. (more…)
Would a set of snow tires be helpful next winter? Probably, but read this first
Monday, February 22nd, 2021
Is it a good idea to get snow tires in Texas?
After the last week of very un-Texas-like weather, there are probably a lot of people out there wondering, ‘Is it a good idea to get snow tires in Texas?’ Believe it or not, that has actually also been a very popular topic of conversation in and around all of the Third Coast Auto Group locations. Since our team believes in being as helpful as possible, we had a few of our teammates do a little research to come up with the best answers we could find. The bottom line is, snow tires might be a little overkill, but those aren’t the only options available. Most vehicles come with all-season tires and those might be the best possible solution. Let’s take a closer look at a few things you might want to know before the next major snowfall – which is hopefully a long way away. (more…)
Learn more about your financing options available at Third Coast Auto Group
Tuesday, February 9th, 2021
Does buy here, pay here financing hurt my credit score?
Finding financing to buy a car, truck or SUV can be a steep hill to climb under the best of circumstances. People who find themselves in a less-than-ideal credit situation may very well have an even more difficult time successfully getting a car loan. There are some things that can be done to rebuild credit, but that process can take a while. Third Coast Auto Group is what is known in the industry as a buy here, pay here dealership – meaning we largely handle financing in-house. If you’re wondering, ‘Does buy here, pay here financing hurt my credit score,’ our team has some answers for you. Let’s take a look at a few common questions our team gets asked each week. (more…)
Getting stranded isn’t the only problem with running out of gas
Monday, January 18th, 2021
Why is it bad to drive a car on empty?
Just like you eat food to fuel your body, your car, truck or SUV more or less eats gasoline (or diesel) to produce the power to move it down the road. However, your vehicle doesn’t deal with being hungry as well as you might – even if you do get a little ‘hangry.’ The most obvious answer to the question, why is it bad to drive a car on empty, is that you’ll eventually be stranded on the side of the road. This will usually happen at the most inconvenient time possible. For the most part, any given vehicle’s fuel system is going to be pretty easy to understand, that doesn’t mean car owners should be reckless. Let’s take a closer look at some things you might need to know. (more…)
Do you know what to do after you’ve changed a flat tire?
Wednesday, January 6th, 2021
How long can I drive on a spare tire?
When was the last time you thought about your tires? If things are going well, you probably don’t give them a second thought, much less a first. In fact, most people won’t know something is wrong with their tires until they experience a blowout and need to have a spare put on their vehicle. Naturally, this leads to the question, ‘How long can I drive on a spare tire?’ The roadside assistance experts at AAA say that most vehicles should follow the long-standing standard: 50/50 rule. A vehicle equipped with a donut-style spare tire should travel no more than 50 miles, no faster than 50 miles per hour. As its name implies, a spare tire isn’t a permanent solution. Here are a few things you should know about using a spare tire. (more…)
Some deals aren’t too good to be true, find some today
Tuesday, December 29th, 2020
Which used cars offer the best value?
Everyone loves a good deal. It doesn’t matter if they are buying a pack of gum or a car. Third Coast Auto Group specializes in helping people find the best deal possible on their next, or first, vehicle purchase. Naturally, some vehicle platforms are going to be inherently less expensive than others. For good reason, some people are leery of taking home a car, truck or SUV that seems like the deal is too good to be true. Our team is always looking for a way to save people some money and give them some additional peace of mind. In the process of that work, they have come across these videos from Car and Driver, a leading authority on automotive buying. Give these videos a look and compare the information shared with what you see at a Third Coast Auto Group location. If you need any additional help, make an appointment with us today. (more…)
Take advantage of the latest technology with your next vehicle purchase
Monday, December 28th, 2020
What can I do with a car’s infotainment system?
Very few industries have been as progressing as quickly from a technology standpoint as the automotive industry. Certainly, performance, safety and fuel economy are better than at any time in history. However, it’s in the area of automotive connectivity where things have really reached a new level. If you’re thinking about upgrading your vehicle to a later model that will be equipped with some of this new technology for the first time, you might be wondering, ‘What can I do with a car’s infotainment system?’ Different manufacturers offer different features, but our team thought it would be helpful to highlight some of the more common functions. Let’s take a look at a few things you might find interesting. (more…)
You can get more than 100,000 miles from your vehicle with these tips
Wednesday, December 16th, 2020
How do I make my car last more than 100,000 miles?
When someone buys a vehicle, that purchase will likely represent a large amount of personal capital tied up into a single asset. It only makes sense that vehicle owners will want their cars, trucks and SUVs to perform as intended for as long as possible. If you’re wondering, ‘How do I make my car last more than 100,000 miles,’ a few Third Coast Auto Group product experts got together to do a little research. It may seem like a complex problem to solve, but it doesn’t take an extensive knowledge of automotive engineering to get the most out of almost any vehicle. Take a look at these tips before you give up on your current vehicle. (more…)
Old dogs (cars, trucks, SUVs) can learn new tricks
Monday, December 7th, 2020
Should I use synthetic oil in an old car?
As a people, Americans are notorious around the world for falling in love with their vehicles and holding on to them for a long time. If you fall into this category, you might need to learn how to best take care of a high-mileage car, truck or SUV, and you might be wondering, ‘Should I use synthetic oil in an old car?’ For the most part, you should always follow the maintenance guidelines laid out in the vehicle’s owner’s manual, however, there are circumstances where making a change could be worthwhile. You should speak with a qualified technician before making a change like this. Third Coast Auto Group product experts get a wide array of questions from customers and this one comes up a fair bit. Let’s take a look at some info you might need. (more…)