So, we all have to have car insurance. It’s important – so important that you can get into trouble with the DMV if you don’t have it. But why is it important? Read on to find out!

So, like I mentioned before, you pretty much need car insurance in order to stay legal to drive. If you get into an accident without insurance, you can be faced with a LOT of penalties from the law, including the bills from any damage caused. Not good! The insurance is in place to help not only you, but the other vehicles you might damage in a collision. This includes bodily injury as well as property damage. Your insurance will help pay for repairs to property – not just another person’s, but public property as well (for example, if you hit a sign or guardrail). If you don’t have insurance and can’t pay the bills, you can be sued.

Insurance also comes in to help if you get into an accident caused by something like a deer, or if your car is vandalized or hit by a storm. If you want to make sure you’re not in the hole on a vehicle if something happens to it that’s outside your control, you should have insurance. Simple!

You can choose your insurance policy, which affects what coverage you get. Of course, there are a lot of things to weigh in terms of what you think you need and what you can afford on your budget, but insurance companies offer things like:

• Gap Insurance

• Rental Insurance

• Roadside Assistance

• Custom Equipment

• OEM Endorsement

• Minor Violation Forgiveness

• Accident Forgiveness

These are all pretty useful things to have in your pocket when you need them, but if you’re not sure what you need or can afford, you should talk to an insurance professional to help find the right solution for you. And if you need a car to insure in the first place, King Kia has that! We’re happy to help you find a vehicle that you love – just make sure you insure it!

If you have trouble seeing the light at night, then you might have an issue with your headlamps! There could be several issues – they could be actually dying, they could be half dying, or (and this is the best case scenario) they could just be dirty! In this blog, we’ll give you some tips on how to clean up or replace your headlights so that the road ahead is no longer a frightening mystery after dark.

So, the first thing you should always do is clean your headlights with some good old soap and water, or even glass cleaner. Number one, this always cleans up your headlights on the outside, no matter what. So, this is always good to do! Number two, if your headlights were just dirty and that’s why they were dim, this is the solution to that problem. However, if your headlights still look dim, you probably need to go a little deeper in terms of cleaning or reconditioning your headlights. Keep reading for that next step!

Ah, good, you’re here still. The next step is just to get a simple reconditioning kit for your headlights. This is something that you can pick up pretty much at any auto parts store for pretty cheap. Just follow the instructions and you should be set! Reconditioning your headlights, to get into the (literal) nitty-gritty, is using an abrasive polish to literally take off the layers of UV damage and damage from things like rocks and gravel and other things that can hit your headlights as you’re driving. Hopefully this will brighten your headlights up! If it doesn’t, time for step three.

Welcome to step three! This involves replacing your headlights. You can take your vehicle to your dealer or shop and have them do it, but if you are more of a DIY-er, it can be pretty easy to replace these yourself. Check your owner’s manual for the type of headlights you have, and then check out a YouTube video or other guide that’ll tell you how to replace the lights. You can even upgrade to brighter halogens or LEDs if you don’t have either of those already!

Headlights are one of the most important safety features in your car. If you see them dimming, get that checked out as soon as you can because without headlights, you’re at a SUPER high risk of crashing in the dark. Do people actually drive after dark without headlights? Don’t do it! You will probably hurt yourself and others really badly! Make sure your headlights are working well, please!

Have you ever slid into the driver’s seat of your car and immediately sneezed, or gotten a whiff of something really foul? That is a pretty good indication that you might have to clean out your air vents – or even your whole air system, if you’re really feeling ambitious. This might sound like a difficult task, but it’s actually really simple and can refresh your whole car for a long time with just a little bit of elbow grease!

So first you should grab a vacuum, especially one with a long hose. Vacuum out the air vents of your car – all of them! Not only the ones that are directly facing the front seats, but the ones in the footwells, the ones for the back seats, and ESPECIALLY the defroster vent up next to the windshield. This one is often forgotten and can really collect a lot of dust. When this comes on, it’ll just blow all that dust into the air, which then goes right into your face. Not fun.

After you’ve vacuumed, get some cotton swabs dipped in a cleaning solution like Windex, or even white vinegar if you’re living the non-toxic lifestyle. Water will do as well. You’ll definitely need a few swabs, because you’re going to really go into your vents with them and get off anything that didn’t come up when you vacuumed. This can be caked on stuff like dust and pollen, which can not only make you sneeze but also smell kind of bad, especially if there’s any mildew in the vents from moisture.

If your car still smells kind of bad, you should check your cabin air filter. You can take your car into a dealership (I’m going to suggest King Kia, of course!) to have them take a look, or if you’re more of a DIY-er, you can find tutorials on the internet and do it yourself. If your cabin air filter looks gross, replace it! It’s a cheap fix and really really helps.

If there is STILL a smell, and it’s kind of musty, that might mean that there’s mildew in your AC evaporator. Drive a little ways out from your home and run the air (no AC, just air) on as high as possible for a few minutes. This will circulate air through the evaporator and dry up any moisture that’s causing mildew.

The final steps are just to Febreeze or get an air freshener and voilà! You’re all set! Air vents are easy to take care of, so make sure you maintain them and they’ll keep your car smelling fresh and feeling cool for a long time to come.

Hi there! It’s me, your check engine light. I know, I know, you’re not really my biggest fan. I get it! Usually, when I appear on your dashboard, you have to go get your vehicle serviced. It sends you into a big panic – trust me, I see when it happens. I just wanted to give you some reasons why I might be appearing, because that might help you know what’s going on a little better, which will make you less anxious, which will help you drive safely and not worry so much. It’s a big cycle. Anyway, here are some of those reasons why I show up from time to time. And no, none of those reasons are to “ruin your life.”

So, first of all, this isn’t the same as the “maintenance required” or “service” light. Usually, when I appear, it means there’s a problem in your engine. I’m just here to tell you about it so that you don’t end up in an accident or with super costly repairs on your hands. If I show up, you should take your vehicle into your dealer or garage as soon as you can afterward. But, there are some things you can do to check yourself before you take your vehicle in for a check by a professional.

First, you should check to see if your gas cap is loose or not on all the way. This is a common reason why I show up – a loose cap sends an error message to your vehicle’s computer, reporting a leak in the vapor recovery system, which is a part of your vehicle’s emissions system. If the gas cap is loose, tighten it and keep driving. If I don’t go away after a little while, then you might have to dig a little deeper.

There are other reasons why I might come on as well – the O2 sensor, which monitors and adjusts the air-fuel mixture; an issue with your catalytic converter (or cat, as some like to call it); a problem with the mass air flow sensor, which also monitors the amount of air mixed in the fuel injection system; or your spark plug wires might have something happening with them.

You should always take your vehicle in to your dealer or your garage when I show up on your dash! It’s not an everyday occurrence, but it is important to take note of when I’m around. You can bring your vehicle into a dealership like King Kia and have it checked out if you’re worried – or if I’m illuminated at all. They’ll take care of you and your vehicle and have you back on the road in no time.

Top 3 Kid-Friendly Kia Models

When you have a family, you might have a different list of priorities when it comes to your car. I know that our family did. Children want and need space to spread out (for our sanity and theirs), storage areas for snacks and toys, and entertainment… a lot of entertainment. Parents want a vehicle that is safe and has features that make life a little easier. Honestly, parenting is hard enough. Parenting while in a small space in motion is on another level entirely. King Kia knows what is on your family car check list and they are here to deliver all of these things and more to make your driving experience excellent!

1. The Spacious Sorento

If the phrase “Mom, he’s hitting me” means anything at all to you the Kia Sorento may well be the answer to your travel problems. The Sorento seats up to seven passengers, so as a crossover it’s large enough to compete with minivans in terms of capacity. The entertainment system also offers voice command options which make traveling easier, particularly when the kids have decided that they no longer want to watch Doc McStuffins and wish to move on to Jake and the Neverland Pirates. Arguing with a 3-year-old that “Mommy doesn’t have enough hands to do that right now” isn’t super productive so voice command is a life saver. An available roof rack provides extra space for cargo on extended road trips. Integrated safety features such as traction control, airbags, and blind spot warnings protect families from accidents.

Dual-zone automatic climate control and rear air conditioning knobs are very important words particularly when you have more than one kid. No one can ever agree on a temperature so being able to customize the temperature a bit is helpful! Little ones love the sun shades for the second-row seats and the cup holders and other small storage areas throughout the cabin. With stain-resistant cloth seats, I don’t have to worry about letting my toddler have her juice in the car.

2. Saving with the Sedona

Where are all of my budget-conscious families at? The Sedona is a minivan that offers every member of the family a smooth ride without gouging your bank account. With the SXL model, passengers in the second row get lounge seats that recline, that’s some fancy stuff!. The second-row middle seat has slide-and-stow capability, so when you have fewer people and need more storage you can make those adjustments quick and easy.

The front console has a bunch of little storage areas for all of your kids’ random things. At any given time I can reach into the center console and find a ring pop, 3 Polly Pockets, a Hot Wheels car, and 27 elastic bands courtesy of my kiddos.

As per usual, safety is an important part of the Sedona’s design with options like a rearview camera and parking sensors. The UVO emergency communications system alerts first responders for you if you’re involved in an accident. The Sedona earned the highest rating for protecting passengers in government crash tests, which I find endlessly comforting.

3. Happy Kids In A Kia Soul

With its boxy shape, the 2017 Kia Soul is so roomy my kids can’t even play the “Mom, he’s hitting me game”. It’s absolute bliss. This design is ideal for small children because the thresholds are low enough that most kiddos don’t have to step up to get in or jump down to exit. Choose one of the higher trim levels and you get Kia’s signature entertainment system which makes the long road trips WAY easier. If I have to play Eye Spy one more time I may rip my own eyes out, so having the kids quietly watching a movie is pretty nice. Keyless entry and ignition will save you time when you know you grabbed your keys but aren’t positive if they’re in the diaper bag or in one of the kid’s backpacks. You will eventually need to find those keys, but you can do that later.

Parenting is hard, fam. Let’s not pretend that’s easy, because it’s not and really it’s ok if you don’t have it all together, or even figured out. That’s why Kia is here, to make it a little bit easier for you and your family! Stop by King Kia today to make your life easier today!

It’s never a good idea to focus on anything but the road when driving, but something that’s become an increasingly serious problem on the road is drivers who text while operating their vehicles. 9 Americans are killed every day from motor vehicle accidents that involve distracted driving – something that encompasses not only texting while driving but also using a cellphone in general or eating. The probability that a cell phone was involved in a motor vehicle crash is an astounding 1 in 4, and using a cellphone while driving increases the risk of a crash by 4x. Texting while driving is banned in 47 states, including the District of Columbia, and talking on the phone while driving is banned in 15 states and the District of Columbia.

The statistics speak for themselves – texting while driving is incredibly dangerous, not only to yourself but to the drivers on the road with you. Some solutions to needing to use your phone while driving are:

1. Let people know that you will be driving and unable to answer your text messages while you are doing so before you get behind the wheel. That way, nobody will worry or get mad at you for not texting back.

2. Utilize text stops, parking areas, and rest stops along your route. Many states have places for drivers to pull over, turn off the engine, and check their messages safely while on the road.

3. If you have a co-pilot, have them take custody of your phone for the drive. If an important message or call comes in, have them use your phone for you to answer.

4. Utilize your car’s Bluetooth capability for phone calls. You’ll be hands-free and able to pay attention to the road while using your phone.

5. Put your phone away for the duration of your drive. As the old adage goes, “out of sight, out of mind.” If you can’t see your phone, you won’t feel the urge to use it while driving.

Texting and driving is a huge problem these days, and it’s up to us to set an example and follow the letter of the law when it comes to cellphone use in the car. You could save not only your car, but your life and the lives of other drivers around you.

When you first get your license, you automatically go from drool to cool within the first minute the driving instructor tells you that you passed.

I remember I called, yes called, all my friends and told them. For us, it used to be a sign of being older, more mature, and our road trips. I was so happy that day, but I was still nervous to drive. I remember my parents begging me to get out there and drive, especially because I had a job to drive to. I was so cautious and would check every mirror, every stop sign, and every street corner. I was so nervous about every little thing, that people would beep and go around me for how slow I would drive.

Flash forward to years down the line when my brother goes for his driving test. Mind you, this kid did not practice as much as I did, he wasn’t scared like I was, and his first thought about getting his license is that now he can drive girls home. *Insert eye rolls* You can pretty much say he was born ready to drive. The one thing that we both had nerves about doing for our road test was the awful parallel parking.

So unless you live in the city, why is it needed to learn how to parallel park? I guess it is something you should learn just in case you have to do it at some point in life. My brother learned how to parallel park overnight, no I am so serious. Passed his test no issue. Remember when I said I had to call my friends to let them know? My brother instead Snapchatted all his guys. That same day he decided that he would drive everyone anywhere they needed to go, me? Heck no, I was crying that I had my license. I wanted to be driven everywhere.

My point to this is that most “teens,” “kids” whatever you want to call them, are fearless nowadays. They expect that car at 16. When I was growing up, the only reason I got a car at 16 was that I had a job. Although my brother does have a job, his friends do not. The purpose of getting a car or a license is to show off to your friends, or in my brother’s case, girls.

The way he drives is great. One arm out, the other on the steering wheel. I laughed one night asking him why he does that. His answer was that it was comfortable, but I knew the real reason. He’s 16 and ready to flirt with girls, he thinks it’s cool.

I laugh every so often thinking of all that is different about my brother and I getting our license. I was the chicken, he is the one already planning to drive cross-country.

The hippest car right now is the Kia Soul. So when it was time for me to get my first car, I knew exactly what I was going for.

I needed something not too big, not too small that fit all my friends and our shopping bags, something with stand out colors, but good on gas, and it must have a smooth ride.

My first time test driving, I literally drooled. I have never seen a car that fit me and my lifestyle more perfectly. Affordable but also high class. I first became a fan of the Kia Soul when their commercials came on with the dancing hamsters. They were a hit! This vehicle adds so much personality to the mix. The sunroof is great for a girls trip to the beach. That’s what we plan on doing the first week I get this baby!

It comes with cool features like LED headlights which I need at night. Comfortable seats are also great for long rides, ventilated seats let me be hot or cold whenever! Keeping my bum warm in the winter and cool in the summer is what everyone wants! It also has this cool feature that changes the lights in the vehicle with your music. I know, I know! It’s like a dance party in your car, a safe one, that you don’t dance while driving-  you get it!

This one is for the parents out there, the Kia Soul comes with many safety features to always keep everyone in the vehicle safe. Some safety features include airbags, no you don’t get it, there are so many airbags in the Soul, even side ones! It comes with brake assist in case I need a little extra help stopping, hill-start assist control, traction control, and vehicle stability management to help with steering.

I know you are probably wondering where I found all this information out, easy! I fell in love with the car. Also, the staff at King Kia knows their vehicles, like, really knows them. We got an amazing deal which pleased Mom and Dad and I got my very own Soul! The girls were ready for the car rides as well as the shopping trips! Stop in to see my new friends at King Kia today and check out the Kia Soul!