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Being a tradesman in Sydney is hard work - and your vehicle is often your lifeline. Having a van to transport your tools back and forth between jobs is vital to business success. So what would you do if you were to get into an accident that was not your fault?
Tradies (tradesman) have vehicles that work hard, have sufficient space for all of those tools and offer reliability when the going gets tough - and it’s no secret that when renting a car, you are more than likely going to get a serious downgrade. This doesn’t have to be the case - especially if you work with the best car accident management service in Sydney, Carbiz Assist!
Imagine being a tradie (tradesman) driving around in a budget hatchback! The Carbiz Assist team firmly believes in finding you a rental option that matches your car - meaning that you won’t skip a beat while you wait for those repairs to be done. Car accident replacement vehicles done properly!
Our team at Carbiz Assist, based in Sydney Australia, recently assisted Fee - this is what he had to say

Carbiz (Ben) gave me a Hyundai I-Load as courtesy car while my van is being repaired due to accident. I'm still driving it till now (until my one repaired). I'm impressed on the first hand over as it was presented so well, clean & got 'strawberry' smell (smile*) not to mention the smooth engine to drive. Clearly, it is been well looked after not just car for hire but also for the comfort of the renter. The process of renting was also very simple & quick.

So what should you do if you are in a car accident as a tradie (tradesman)? 
First thing is first - Contact Carbiz Assist as soon as possible! Our team offers the following services, we are here for you -

• Recommending quality repairers that suit your business, not the insurer
• Providing you with an accident replacement vehicle until yours is fixed
• Managing the car repair process
• Handling your car insurance claims
• Getting you back on the road in less than an hour*
• Offering fast, experienced and professional 5-star customer service

*in 90% of cases.
What is an accident replacement vehicle - and how could you qualify for the right to drive clause?
Were you in a car accident that wasn’t your fault? Then you could qualify for your loan car expenses to be covered by the at-fault party. Accident replacement vehicles can be supplied free of charge - If you’ve been in an accident and it wasn’t your fault, there were at least two cars involved and you have the details of the at-fault party. 
If you are not at fault then contact us today!

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN DECIDING ON CAR INSURANCE

How much do you understand about car insurance? Are you maybe in the market for insurance but don’t really know where to start or what insurance policy will be best for you? Here are a few things that you should consider before signing that policy.
First things first – you need to figure out what type of insurance you need. This will depend on the type of cover you want as well as how much you want to spend per month. If you are looking for protection from damage to other people’s property but no cover on your own car then you’d be looking at third-party coverage. This is a low level of cover and other options for a higher level of cover could include comprehensive cover – this, however, has a higher monthly premium.
Not all excesses are the same – there are a number of excesses that apply to a car insurance policy. It’s therefore important to properly understand your policy and which excesses may apply to you – and in which situation.
Everything will be listed in your insurance policy document, so it’s important for you to read all of your terms and conditions and ask questions about what is and what isn’t covered.

Distractions are easy to come by when driving. Driving requires your full attention – but most people get easily distracted. Here are some of the most common things that will likely distract you! 

Cell phones

While almost all of us have our cell phone on us at all times, they can be a dangerous distraction while driving. Aren’t you often tempted to quickly grab your phone and check what that last message that came through was? Better not! Cell phones distract drivers and often lead to accidents. Cell phones should rather be used in emergencies only – even hands-free devices can make you miss cues to avoid an accident.

Feeling drowsy and tired

Another leading cause of distracted driving – and a cause of accidents, drowsy drivers are as dangerous as drunk drivers. Being drowsy may just mean that you will drop off or fall asleep – possibly ending up in a crash.  

Passengers and engaging conversations

Passengers are a great source of distraction. From engaging conversations to more activity – all of which can pull your focus off the road. Even a split second could land you in trouble!

Multi-tasking while in the driver’s seat

Eating food, doing your make-up or hair – or even reading a newspaper while sitting in traffic or driving may seem like a time-saver, but it takes your full focus off of the road.

With so many drivers on the road, we are all responsible for driving safety. By staying alert and being ready to take action at any time, you can instantly be a safer driver. Here are some other tips to avoid being involved in an accident.

Check your mirrors

Besides necessary adjustments every time you drive, it’s important to regularly glance in your rear and side mirrors this will help you see what is happening around you – allowing you to be aware. 

Become a defensive driver

Always check your blind spots before you change lanes, pull out from a kerb or turn. Keep distance between yourself and others – by keeping alert to where other cars are in relation to yourself, you are able to make moves to keep yourself safe.

Take care around parked cars and buses

People that are walking around cars and buses are often hard to see – especially children. Slow down and be prepared to suddenly stop or pull out of the way if necessary.

 Keep a safe following distance

Ideally in good driving conditions, a 2 second gap between you and the car in front of you is recommended – this needs to be increased in wet weather and at night. This following distance will allow you time to stop should you need to, or give you enough time and space to remove yourself from any sudden change.

So you’ve had a car accident – now what? Many of us are often unsure about what to do – from securing the scene to making sure you are covered for any damage. It can all be overwhelming – and what happens when it’s not even your fault?

Here is a quick list of things you should do in the event of an accident.

Do you or anyone else need medical assistance?

If anyone is injured, then call 000 immediately for assistance.

Check the surrounding area

It’s important to make the area safe to prevent another accident from happening.

Do you need to call the police?

You will need to call the police if someone has been injured or if there is third-party property damage where the owner is not present. Notify the police if there is any suspicion of any drugs or alcohol being involved in the accident 

Collect and exchange information

Once the scene has been secured, the next thing to do is to exchange details with other drivers involved. Here is a list of details you should exchange:

  - Full name

  - Residential address

  - Mobile number

  - Drivers licence number

  - Registration number

  - Insurance details

Call us

Our team at Carbiz will be able to talk you through the process to follow after an accident – as well as providing more information on accident replacement vehicles should you require one.

What happens if it wasn’t your fault?

Accidents can leave you without a car while it’s getting fixed. And an accident that isn’t your fault can leave you with bills for panel beaters and rental cars. If it’s not your fault and more than one car is involved, you may have the right to a loan car with the costs covered by the at-fault party – contact Carbiz to find out if you qualify.

Breakdowns are often frustrating – and can be a hassle, they can happen to anyone for all types of reasons. From a dead battery to mechanical faults, breakdowns can often be unexpected.

Hopefully you have roadside assistance – and if you do, then be sure to pull over to a safe location. Here are some tips on how to stay safe while waiting for help to arrive.

• Look for the safest place to pull over, as far left as possible.
• Turn on your hazards.
• Leave your car from the passenger side if possible (Away from any traffic).
• If it’s not safe to leave your car, then stay seated in your car with your seatbelt fastened.
• Be vigilant and have a constant awareness of your surroundings.
• Knowing where you are is important information to give your roadside assistance support agent, be sure to always have an idea of where you are.

Things to avoid when you have broken down

• Avoid crossing the road at all times.
• Don’t stand on the road, rather move behind any safety barriers.
• Avoid any distractions, such as playing on your phone.
• If you can’t get out of your car, don’t take off your seatbelt.

Driving at night is vastly different to driving in the middle of the day – oncoming traffic will look different and unknown roads can be more difficult to navigate.

Here are some tips to stay safer when driving at night.

Know how to operate your headlights – do you know how to use your headlights at a moment’s notice or how to flick on/off your high-beams? This should be second nature to you so be sure to learn where all of your light controls are.

Don’t look into the headlights of oncoming cars. Never look directly at the lights of cars approaching – potentially dazing yourself or creating light spots in your eyes. Rather look at the lane markings on your side of the road - your lights will illuminate these so that you can follow the curve of the road if one is approaching.

Keep an eye out for pedestrians, bicycles and animals – they can be harder to see at night.

Other key tips include keeping your headlights and windscreen clean, keep distractions in your car to a minimum and plan out your route so that you are aware of any steep descents, sharp corners or blind rises.

What’s the importance of oil in your car? The oil circulating around your engine keeps all of the moving parts lubricated. Lubricant is vital to the longevity of your engine – without proper oil maintenance, you risk creating friction, wear and heat between moving parts and can land up with a very expensive repair bill. Or worse!

Is it necessary to change your engine’s oil? Yes! – with so many components to your engine and a lot of them needing proper lubrication when the engine is running. Over time your engine oil collects contaminants which will result in the oil not being as effective.

Not changing your oil could end up with your engine’s pistons welded to the cylinder wall, causing the engine to seize up.  

But how will you know when or how regularly to change your engine’s oil?

There are many factors that will influence how often you need to check and change your engine’s oil, such as what type of car you are driving, your manufacturers suggestions, how often you drive the car or what type of oil you’ve used before. Because all cars are different, it’s best to check your oil regularly using the oil dipstick, perhaps once a month or every time you fill up with fuel.