5 Things to Do to Prepare Your Car for a Road Trip

When a family member gives you a car, the car title and ownership must legally pass from the family member to you. New Carrollton, MD, is under the jurisdiction of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA), which has a procedure for this when gifting a car to a family member. Here are some tips so that you can get familiar with this procedure. 2 Steps to Gifting a Car to a Family Member in New Carrollton, MD Obtain the Car Title Transfer The car title is an essential document for a car, as it shows who the owner of the car is. When you want to gift a car to a family member, this involves the transfer of the title and possibly the license plates to another family member. Who Is a Family Member? The MVA defines a family member as: more Grandparents Grandchildren Parents, including step-parents Children Siblings Spouses In-laws Aunts and Uncles (only to donate to a niece or nephew, not vice versa) Transfer the Car Title Complete the Assignment of Ownership Section This section can be found on the back of your car's title deed. It needs to be completed for the MVA to transfer ownership of the vehicle from one person to another. The person gifting the vehicle must sign and date the seller section of the form and mark the purchase price as a "gift". The recipient must sign and date the buyer section of the form. The odometer section must be filled in, or you need to complete a separate Odometer Disclosure Statement. Complete a Gifting Certificate Both the giver and the receiver must complete an Application for Maryland Gift Certification (VR-103). This serves to confirm that the intention is to gift the car and that no money is being transferred. Visit the MVA The giver and the receiver should take the completed forms, and proof of their identification and residence to the local office of the MVA. The receiver will also have to take additional documents. These documents are: Proof of insurance for the vehicle A Certificate of Inspection of the vehicle to show it road-worthy A Vehicle's Emission Inspection Program (VEIP) Smog Test Certificate The change of title fee of $100 If all of the documentation is complete, the MVA will confirm the transfer of title from the giver to the receiver. The receiver will become the new owner of the title and can register the vehicle immediately. License Plate Transfer Most gift transfers of a vehicle between family members require that the new owner obtains new licenses plates. The old plates need to be surrendered to the MVA. Need to Service Your Car in New Carrollton? Call us Today! Once the title transfer process is complete, you're the new owner of a car. Call us at DARCARS Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of New Carrollton. We can take care of all your servicing and accessory needs. We can also help when you want to trade in your gifted car for a brand-new vehicle. We carry a variety of new cars, trucks, SUVs, and more.

Preventative maintenance from your dealership in New Carrollton, MD, is crucial to keep your Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, or RAM in top condition and on the road for years to come. You will get expert maintenance services and save on gas and repairs. Check out these 6 reasons to visit for your car’s maintenance. 1. Routine Maintenance Gives You Peace of Mind The qualified technicians at your dealership have the knowledge and expertise and use advanced equipment to perform expert maintenance services to keep your car in excellent running condition. You don't have to stress about unexpected breakdowns. Routine maintenance will give you the peace of mind that your vehicle is reliable and will not let you down. more 2. You'll Avoid Unexpected and Costly Repairs Routine inspections are the only way to avoid unexpected and costly repairs. It's far cheaper to take your car regularly for regular maintenance because your technician will detect minor issues early before they turn into major repairs and replacements that could cost you a bundle to fix. If you stick to the factory-recommended maintenance interval and only allow qualified technicians to perform inspections and maintenance, your car will always get you where you need to go. 3. You'll Save Cash on Gas If you regularly take your vehicle for check-ups, the qualified technicians will perform the necessary maintenance tasks. Every system and component will be thoroughly inspected to ensure your vehicle is in good working order. If your car is in top shape, your car will burn less gas, saving you money at the pump. 4. Your Car Will Last Longer The technicians at your dealership are explicitly trained to maintain your vehicle. With every maintenance service, the required fluid top-offs, corrections, adjustments, and replacements will be performed to ensure that your car is in great shape. It's a fact that a vehicle that is well looked after with a well-lubricated engine that runs smoothly will last longer. 5. You'll Be Safer on the Road When you take your vehicle at the recommended intervals for maintenance, your brake system and tires will be in excellent condition. You won't have to stress about failing brakes, flat tires, blowouts, or breakdowns. Your battery won't suddenly fail and leave you stranded. You will know that you can drive your car anywhere, and you and your passengers will get to your destination safely. 6. Your Car Will Have a Higher Resale Value Another reason to maintain your car regularly is that your vehicle will have an up-to-date service record. The day you want to sell your car and have an up-to-date service record, you will get more money for your vehicle. Regular check-ups will also keep the value longer and slow down the depreciation. Schedule Car Maintenance in New Carrollton, MD Today You'll save cash on gas and costly repairs by taking your vehicle, whether it be a Chrysler Pacifica or Dodge Durango, for regular check-ups. Best of all, your car can last longer. Check your owner's manual for the factory-recommended maintenance intervals or ask your technician for assistance. Drop by DARCARS Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of New Carrollton today for a maintenance check-up to keep your vehicle running like new.

Good tires are essential for safe driving. They can grip a surface and provide the stability you need when you're driving. Modern tires are tough, but as they're made from rubber they can still wear down. Frequent braking, rough surfaces, experiencing potholes, and general wear and tear will all reduce the treads of your tires. As your Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM dealer, we'd like you to know some of the signs that you need new tires. Signs You Need New Tires from Your Car Dealer Shaking When You Drive Under normal conditions, you shouldn't feel any shaking when you drive. If you experience this, there are several possibilities, including damaged rotors and unbalanced tires. The main possibility, though, is a problem with your tires. You can isolate the problem by how and when your tire shakes. If the shaking feels like a side-to-side movement and occurs at a speed between 10 and 40 mph, the problem is tire related. more This is a dangerous situation, as this shaking is a sign of tread separation. The tread is the raised groove section of the tire that's in contact with the surface. Tread separation means that your tire has suffered internal damage. This damage has caused the adhesives that join the parts of your tire together to start separating. It's important to call us as soon as possible so your tire can be replaced. Your tire is in the process of falling apart. Your Tires Are Past Tread Warranty Tire manufacturers have a warranty on their tire treads. This warranty varies amongst the range of tires, and it's calculated on the expected lifespan of the tire under normal conditions. The warranty also requires that your tires are regularly rotated, and you have proof of this rotation. Under these conditions, if your tires have worn evenly on their treads and you haven't met their expected mileage, you get a pro-rated discount on replacements. If you don't take up the warranty offer, and your tires have lasted longer than the warranty period, it's advisable to change them. The tires are engineered to last a particular length of time or complete a certain mileage. After this period, the tires are more likely to fail. If you don't change the tires, we advise that our technicians examine the tires to ensure they are in good working condition. Your Tires Are Bald Bald tires mean that the tread on the tires has completely worn down. Tires in this condition are not safe to drive on. Your tire tread is designed to allow the tires to grip the surface and enable you to brake, corner, and perform any other move safely. Over time your tire tread will wear down, and the lower the tread, the less control you have when you drive. When there is no tread on a tire, this severely reduces your control over your car. We advise that you don't drive your car. Visit our Service Department right away. Stop By for New Tires in New Carrollton, MD When you need the right tires for your car, call us at DARCARS Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of New Carrollton. You can also schedule a tire service online!