Don’t Make This Big Wintertime Mistake In Wyoming

Cold weather can cause many types of headaches that could be avoided.

For instance, frozen pipes can be eliminated by insulating them, keeping a trickle charger on your car battery can help you avoid a dead battery, eliminating cracks or openings where cold air can enter your house can help reduce high energy bills, and not starting your car early can eliminate the chance of it being stolen.

We've all caught ourselves leaving our keys in our car or keeping our vehicles unlocked because "we've never had problems before," but it only takes one time for the fit to hit the shan. 

New research by car insurance experts Money Super Market advises against starting your car early to warm up. Doing so could void your car's insurance policy if it were stolen.

Depending on whom you talk to, some mechanics say you shouldn't start your car and let it warm up for any longer than to clear your windows of ice and snow. Others say that warming your short amount of time is ok.

Many cars have autostart features, which allow your vehicle to start and warm up but cannot be driven without the key or key fob. This eliminates the likelihood of your vehicle being stolen if it's running and you're not in it.

Not everyone has the autostart luxury, and if they want to warm their car, they have to use the key to start it, then go back inside and let it warm. This is when the issues can arise.

According to their insurance policy, many drivers don't realize that leaving their keys in their car and leaving it running can be considered negligence. Many policies have a "key in the vehicle" exclusion, blaming the car's owner if it gets stolen.

If you leave your car warming with the doors unlocked, theft is avoidable, and the insurance policy may not cover you. That means replacing your vehicle will be out of your pocket.

When you leave your car running unsupervised, it is called "puffing," some insurance companies will use that against you if your vehicle is stolen. Experts also recommend checking your insurance policy for the terms "keys in car" and "reasonable precautions." This would mean that the claim may not be settled if you left the keys in your car or exited without locking the car.

To stay protected, remember these tips:

• Remain in your vehicle when the engine is running.
• Use alternate defrosting methods, like window covers, ice scrapers, or de-icing sprays.
• Scan your policy for exclusions on key and leaving the vehicle unattended.