Category Archives: Tips and Tricks

Hello Spring banner with grass in the background

How to Avoid the Dangers of Spring Driving?

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Posted in Tips and Tricks

Safety Tips for Driving in Spring 

We know that Spring is a great time to drive on those open country roads. The warmer weather and the excitement of driving without worrying about freezing cold make Spring driving the perfect way to unwind. While drivers are relieved that Winter has come to an end and Spring is here, they don’t know that driving in Spring could be dangerous too. Those open country roads may not be as safe as you think for you and your vehicle. That being said, our team at Third Coast Auto Group in Austin, TX, has a list of safety tips for you to drive in Spring. If you follow these tips, you’ll be able to avoid the dangers of Spring driving like a pro. 

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A technician placing a new battery into the slot

When Should I Get My Car Battery Replaced?

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Posted in Service, Tips and Tricks

How to Tell When Your Car Battery Needs Replacement 

Not every car owner will know when and how to replace the battery and its components for better performance on the road. Most people tend to take a step when a repair is overdue. Nevertheless, the circuits and acids work together to enable proper functioning for longer periods. However, you will need to pay attention to signs of a dying battery so that your car doesn’t fall into the pit of total damage. Early warnings should be taken seriously and acted upon, leading to mishaps of lower impact. If you are confused as to how frequently a repair or replacement should be done, here’s how to tell when your car battery needs replacement. Contact our team at Third Coast Auto Group in Austin, Texas for further guidance and service assistance. 

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Image of a flat tire being changed using a jack and a wrench

How to replace your flat tire?

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Posted in Tips and Tricks

Helpful and Straightforward Flat Tire Changing Tips

Flat tires are every driver’s arch-nemesis. Knowing how to change a flat tire will let you go on every drive with a calm and peaceful mind. The task can be done in a few easy steps, and you will be set for the rest of the journey. Join us at Third Coast Auto Group in Austin, TX, for helpful and straightforward flat tire changing tips. Continue reading for more information.

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person using FordPass on phone

A User’s Guide to FordPass Remote Start

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Posted in Ford, Technology, Tips and Tricks

How to Use FordPass Remote Start

At Third Coast Auto Group, we know that the Texas heat is no joke. Whether you are parked near our North Lamar location or heading out from our I-35 dealership, stepping into a sweltering car is never ideal. That is why we want to make sure you know How to Use FordPass Remote Start to get your climate control running before you even open the door.

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A stock photo of a person picking out a new tire.

Do you know when it’s time to replace your car’s tires?

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Posted in FAQs, Tips and Tricks

How long should car tires last? 

Most vehicle owners don’t think about their vehicle’s tires until they are stranded on the side of the road with a flat. If you’re wondering, ‘How long should car tires last,’ the automotive experts at Third Coast Auto Group have some answers for you. Like any other automotive component, a set of tires will take care of a vehicle owner as well as they take care of their tires. That means keeping up with regularly scheduled maintenance procedures, like having the tires rotated on time as well as demonstrating good driving habits. Our team wants to be a total automotive resource for current and future Third Coast Auto Group customers. Let’s take a closer at a few things you might be interested in knowing.  Read the rest of this entry >>

A person washing their vehicle with a microfiber cloth.

A clean car is a happy car, check out these businesses

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Posted in Texas, Tips and Tricks, Trucks, Used Cars

Best Car Detailing Services near Austin, TX 

There is a lot of pride to be had when someone buys a vehicle. Even if it isn’t the latest model year, or it might have a few extra miles on the odometer, that car, truck or SUV is yours and you likely want the best for it. A major part of taking care of a vehicle is keeping it clean. You certainly can wash your vehicle yourself in the driveway, in fact, we’ll have some tips on that later, but if you’re short on time, you might be looking for businesses that offer the best car detailing services near Austin, TX. The product experts at Third Coast Auto Group came up with a list of a few of their favorite places to take their vehicles. Let’s take a closer look at what they came up with.  Read the rest of this entry >>

Visit a Third Coast Auto Group location to find the best used car to meet your needs and budget.

Does one automaker have better used cars than another?

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Posted in FAQs, Tips and Tricks

Which brands make the best used cars? 

There are a lot of decisions a person needs to make when they buy an automobile. The top two categories people use to start their search for a vehicle are the purpose (who is using the vehicle and what are they using it for) and price. Once they figure out those elements, the next question they ask a Third Coast Auto Group product expert is, ‘Which brands make the best used cars?’ Certainly, some original equipment manufacturers have better reputations than others in terms of reliability and cost of ownership. However, the badge or logo on the front of the vehicle might tell the whole story. Let’s take a look at a few things you might need to know before you visit any of our dealerships.  Read the rest of this entry >>

A stock photo of people finishing the paperwork to buy a car.

Understand how buy here, pay here financing works today

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Posted in FAQs, Tips and Tricks

How does buy here, pay here financing work? 

It is almost impossible to comfortably live one’s life without access to some kind of automobile. Combine that idea with the fact that buying a car, truck or SUV is likely to be of the one most expensive and consequential purchases of a person’s life. It’s very important that everything goes as smoothly as possible. However, paying for a safe and reliable car can be a very steep hill to climb, doubly so if the buyer has less-than-ideal credit. That’s where Third Coast Auto Group is ready to help. Our dealership specializes in helping people in a not great credit situation get a car that will get them where they need to go without being harmfully expensive. So, how does buy here, pay here financing work? Let’s take a look.  Read the rest of this entry >>

A stock photo showing a $100-dollar bill and toy car sitting on an insurance form.

A low credit score can make just about everything more expensive, including insurance

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Posted in FAQs, Texas, Tips and Tricks

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.  Read the rest of this entry >>

A stock photo of a person using a checklist to inspect a vehicle.

The miles on the odometer won’t tell the whole story

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Posted in Safety, Tips and Tricks

How many miles is too many for a car to have? 

The lifespan of a car, truck or SUV is measured with an opaque formula involving years and miles. To be sure the number of years a vehicle has been on the road is important, but that isn’t much of a measuring stick without the context of how many miles are driven. Making things more difficult, the reverse of that statement is also true. So, the answer to the question, how many miles is too many for a car to have, doesn’t really have a magic number. A vehicle could have 200,000-plus miles on the odometer and be in better shape than a comparable model that is only a few years old with fewer recorded miles. The difference really comes down to, how was the vehicle cared for. Let’s take a look at a few things you should know.  Read the rest of this entry >>