(NC) It’s no wonder many Canadians are apprehensive about shopping for a new car or SUV. Owning a vehicle is often the second largest (and longest) financial investment we make next to real estate. That’s a lot of hard-earned dollars to spend on a single item, so it’s important to choose wisely.

To help navigate the buying process, Hyundai Canada wants Canadians to consider these three factors before heading to the dealership for a test drive: 
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1. Think ahead: Whether you’re purchasing or leasing, selecting a new vehicle is not a short-term decision. Consider what changes you have planned for your family in the next few years. If you’ll need to fit more than one car seat in the back, or if you’ll be chauffeuring your children and their friends around town, it may be best to opt for a larger SUV even if you only need a sedan today.
   
   
2. One charge or two: Electric vehicles have made incredible improvements in the past few years and no longer need to cause drivers range anxiety. In fact, the Hyundai Kona electric gets up to 415 kilometres of range on a full charge. In addition to helping the environment, those who purchase or lease electric vehicles could be eligible for impressive government rebates. 
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3. Safety: One in five parents admit that driving with children in their vehicle stresses them out. Ensuring that your next vehicle provides these little passengers the best safety features is of course a top priority. The new Hyundai Palisade SUV comes with 2nd and 3rd row seat belt reminders so parents can rest assured knowing everyone is buckled in and ready to go. Parents should always look at vehicle safety features and ratings before making any decisions.  

You've opened your mail to find a photo radar ticket or maybe you got pulled over in a speed trap. The fine amount on your ticket is determined by how many kilometers over the limit you were driving.
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It's a good habit to confirm the fine amount of your ticket matches how far over the speed limit you were. Use the table below to make sure the fine amount you have to pay is correct. 

(NC) Did you know the right tires can be easier on your wallet and the planet?

A portion of your car’s fuel is used up providing the energy required to propel your tires along the road. It’s known as rolling resistance. Premium tires that are properly inflated require less energy to operate –less rolling resistance – which makes cars more fuel-efficient. Lower rolling resistance also helps lower carbon dioxide emissions.

Tire manufacturers work hard to lower rolling resistance, but you can help, too. The key is keeping your tires inflated at their proper level. Under-inflated tires are less fuel-efficient, so be sure to fill your tires to the recommended inflation pressure. You can find that on a sticker inside your driver’s side door or in your car’s owner manual.

Greener tires through better materials and processes

You can impact how full your tires are, but there’s plenty that happens before those tires are on your car. Eighty-five per cent of a tire’s carbon footprint is generated during its use, but the other 15 per cent comes from the way tires are sourced and manufactured. If going green is important to you, be sure to do some research about those processes before you buy your next set of tires.

Some tire companies minimize or eliminate the use of harmful oils in their tire compounds. Others audit their suppliers to ensure their raw materials are sustainably sourced. Manufacturers such as Nokian Tyres are working work hard to reduce emissions in their production processes; the Scandinavian company reduced CO2 emissions at its factories by 38 per cent in 2018.
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Hopefully this sound education about how tires impact the planet helps you select tires that are right for you and good for the environment.

NC) When it comes to buying a car, the first question that usually comes to mind is whether to buy a previously owned vehicle or something fresh off the lot.


With market trends closing the price gap between new and lightly used vehicles, and the ability to compare new and used side by side on marketplaces like Autotrader.ca, there are compelling reasons to buy new or used.


“For many car shoppers, this is the hardest question they’ll have to answer,” says Michael Bettencourt, managing editor of Autotrader.ca, Canada's most comprehensive automotive marketplace. “There is no one right answer, because it is based on each person’s unique needs, taking into consideration factors such as budget, lifestyle and personal taste.”


New cars offer important benefits, such as lower interest rates, reliable monthly payments and the ability to get exactly what you want, without any compromises on colour, accessories or add-ons. You’ll also get the added benefit of peace of mind with factory warranties, roadside assistance and the knowledge that you are the first and only owner.


On the other hand, buying a new car can cost more in the long run and depreciation – the biggest expense for car owners – will hurt the value of the vehicle as soon as it’s driven off the lot.

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Buying used helps you save money by avoiding new car taxes and depreciation, because someone else has already taken on most of the initial depreciation costs. While the level of uncertainty that comes with buying used may keep some people away, you can shop with a certified pre-owned program to mitigate any unseen issues and an extended warranty can be added for a cost. If you’re buying used, it’s a good idea to complete a pre-purchase inspection to make sure you know what you’re signing on to before picking up the keys.

(NC) Spring has sprung and so have bad habits. This season, ditch your old ways and improve your car maintenance practices to avoid any that may be harming your vehicle.

Here are four bad habits OK Tire recommends changing to keep your car in tip-top shape:
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1. Not Getting a Deep Clean
   
   Much like you would spring clean your home, your car deserves the same care. Often, we neglect our vehicles and their need for a good cleaning once winter finally ends. Winter months wreak havoc on vehicles as cold temperatures and corrosive road salt can eat away at both the interior and exterior. Don’t forget to clean from the inside out this spring to avoid any damage, and top things off with a fresh coat of wax.
   
   
   
2. Forgetting Regular Maintenance  
   
   Much like we go to the dentist for check-ups, your vehicle needs the same attention with specific mileage intervals and changing of the seasons. Whether it’s a fluid top-up or an engine flush, regular maintenance will keep your car running smoothly. Consider getting your drum brakes inspected, cleaned and adjusted in combination with cleaning and lubricating the “sliders” on the disc brake calipers to help deal with any salt and sand build-up that can take a toll on these components.
   
   
   
3. Treating Winter Tires Like All-Weather
   
   A common misconception about leaving your winter tires on all year is that it can save you money. This is a false statement. In fact, leaving them on year-round will cost you more in the long-run. Winter tires are made from a softer rubber-polymer mix that allows the tire to better grip the road when it’s below 7°C. This different type of material will wear rapidly in warmer temperatures, causing premature wear and reducing the tread life of the tire. If you use winter tires all spring and summer, you will need to purchase a new set of winter tires come fall. A better alternative to driving on your winter tires year-round is to purchase a set of all-weather tires. Because they can handle light to moderate rain, ice and snow conditions, they might provide you with the best of both worlds.
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4. Ignoring Your Air Filter
   
   ​Your cabin air filter keeps the air flow for your heating and cooling systems working efficiently. It also keeps your interior free of musty odours and allergens. Getting rid of an old air filter is essential for keeping the air flowing efficiently within the interior of the vehicle. A dirty cabin air filter can reduce the air flow within the car and cause the inside of the windows to fog up, making it difficult to see where you are going. This should be inspected and replaced, if required, at every oil change interval.

Ditching these 4 habits will keep your car in great shape longer. Warmer weather also tends to bring more photo radar or speeding tickets. 

Want to pay less on your ticket? Pay it with Rooco.ca. 

​Driving even a little too fast in Alberta can have unpleasant consequences.
 
Yes, it’s true that sometimes we can be in a little too much of a hurry, and it’s easy to press on the gas pedal a little harder, or to simply get preoccupied or distracted and miss noting the speed limit, only to be startled by the flashing lights; either red and blue ones or the flash of camera.
 
If you are a driver in Alberta and commute any distance regularly, there is a good chance that you may be tempted to try and pick up the speed and arrive at your destination sooner. 

Driving over the speed limit is considered reckless driving, since the limit is put there to limit speeds to what is considered 'safe' for that area or location.

In 2016, Alberta Transportation Traffic Collision Statistics reported that,
 
“Nearly one quarter (23.8%) of drivers in fatal collisions were reported as traveling at an unsafe speed compared to 7.7% in injury collisions. Collisions involving these 1,194 drivers resulted in 72 fatalities and 1,699 injuries.”

• Fines are doubled is you are caught speeding in a construction zone, with workers present or if you don't reduce your speed when passing tow trucks or emergency services vehicles who have their lights on;
  
  
• You can receive a speeding ticket in Alberta for going even 1 km over the posted speed limit;
  
  
• There are a few provinces in Canada (Alberta is one of them) where you are charged increasingly for each km you go over the posted limit.

In addition to receiving a ticket, getting fined can have adverse effects on your Alberta Auto Insurance rates. When an insurance company determines your rates, a number of are looked at, including how many tickets you have received, how long you have been driving, the type of offence and how fast you were driving over the speed limit.
 
Alberta speeding tickets will remain on your driving record for three years from the date you are convicted. Photo radar tickets do not have any demerit points associated to them. ​

Demerits for Alberta Speeding Offences:

• 1-15 km/hr over : 2 demerits
  
  
• 16-30 km/hr over : 3 demerits
  
  
• 31-50 km/hr over : 4 demerits
  
  
• 51+ km/hr over : 6 demerits

Speeding ticket fines in Alberta:

• 1-15 km/hr over : $78 - $120
  
  
• 16-30 km/hr over : $140 - $239
  
  
• 31-50 km/hr over : $253 - $474
  
  
• 51+ km/hr over : $650 - $2000, plus the potential for a driver’s license suspension

Have questions about a ticket you received or how you can save money paying your ticket, learn more about how Rooco guarantees you'll save 10-15% off the fine amount. 

Our Founder and CEO talk with Global News about the massive traffic ticket backlog on the way to drivers in Edmonton and Calgary. 

See it on Global News or read the full article. 

​FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DECEMBER 28, 2018


Calgary, Alberta: Pending fears of a Canada Post work stoppage, both Edmonton and Calgary decided to stop mailing photo radar and red light camera tickets. This created a massive backlog of more than 120,000 tickets.

According to the Alberta Government, “Because of potential and actual postal service interruptions, the mailing of photo enforcement tickets was suspended from September 20 to December 3, 2018 by many law enforcement agencies to ensure service of violation tickets by mail would be legally valid.”

Drivers, already in the annual post-holiday money crunch, are now receiving tickets from as far back as September. Rooco Founder and CEO, Andrew Ashton, talks about how Rooco can help you save money on your ticket. “Rooco is Canada’s first traffic ticket sharing app. We guarantee anyone who pays their ticket at Rooco.ca saves 10-15% off the fine amount. There’s no line-ups, fees or service charges to worry about and you can do it all from your phone or computer in less than 90 seconds.”

Ashton, on Rooco helping people save more than $1.8 Million on outstanding traffic tickets. “January brings a new year and a fresh start, after a hectic and expensive holiday season. Most people don’t set money aside to pay a photo radar or red light camera ticket, so that money comes directly off the bottom line of their budget. Being able to save fifty or even twenty dollars, goes a long way this time of year.”

About Rooco: Rooco Limited, is a Calgary, Alberta based tech startup that developed Canada’s first traffic ticket sharing app. Pay your ticket with Rooco and you’re guaranteed to pay for 10-15% less than the fine amount. Rooco.ca is a web application, so there is no app to download. It uses technology to help select tickets with a higher likelihood of being reduced, and passes that onto each customer. Regardless of what happens on any individual ticket, nobody ever pays more than the initial discounted amount. Rooco is accepting tickets from Calgary and Edmonton, but plans to add more cities throughout 2019.

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More than 104,000 tickets are on the way to Edmonton drivers alone.

The senate has approved back to work legislation for striking Canada Post workers. This will help to clear a massive backlog of more than a million pieces of mail.

Both the City of Edmonton and the City of Calgary put in reactive measures to deal with the Canada Post work stoppages.

The City of Edmonton, stopped sending all photo radar and red light camera ticket notices as of September 20, 2018. According to city officials there are now more than 104,000 violation notices that will be mailed to drivers.
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In Calgary, photo radar and red light camera tickets are issued by the Calgary Police Service (CPS). As of September 20th, 2018 CPS received authorization to individually serve all violation notices. So some drivers were still receiving tickets it was just a much slower pace.
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​Both cities are now facing a massive backlog of outstanding violation tickets.

Pay your ticket with Rooco.ca and you're guaranteed to save 10-15% over the fine amount. No line-ups, no added fess and no hassles.