Let your road trip be a time for well needed family bonding. As we all know, many vehicles now come equipped with DVD players and video games, and teenagers always seem to have their cell phones in their hands. Take an occasional break and interact with each other put those electronic devices away. Some of the best times can be had by playing simple games such as “I spy,” spot the license plate, or maybe even some trivia. These popular games can lead to some serious laughter and might prove the point that time does really fly when you’re having fun.

Take your time and relax on your road trip. A road trip is absolutely no fun when it is rushed or planned so much that everything is “written in stone.” If your travel time to your destination is eight hours, take an extra day. Also, try stopping the car and getting out to explore occasionally—you can use this opportunity to take pictures, visit a local attraction, or even an iconic dinner. Of course there will be a need to have a general itinerary, but keep it flexible and most importantly, RELAX!

Lastly, but most importantly, make sure that your vehicle is in top condition. Keep in mind that, though you are having fun and relaxing, nothing can ruin your vacation faster than an unexpected car problem. Make sure that your vehicle has fresh oil and top off all fluid levels. Also, check your tire pressure and inspect for wear, including your spare. (Read More About Road Trip Maintenance Tips Here) Finally, consider purchasing a roadside assistance plan from a reputable company. Doing these things ahead of time can give you the peace of mind needed to thoroughly enjoy your road trip.

Remember, a little relaxation and laughter goes a long way. With a little planning, preparation, a flexible schedule, and some patience then you are just about guaranteed to have a great time.

Read More About Road Trip Maintenance Tips Here

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A Negative Equity position simply means that the trade-in value of your car (what your car is worth today) is less than what you owe on the car (your loan payoff balance). For example, let’s say that you currently own a 2005 GMC Truck that has 90,000 miles and the trade-in value quoted to you is $6,000; however, the loan payoff is $7,500, which results in the negative equity ($1,500).

Essentially, there are three ways to overcome negative equity on your trade-in. The simplest alternative is to drive your car until it is completely paid off. In other words drive your car until “the wheels fall off.” The second alternative would be to find a car to purchase that has enough equity spread to cover your existing negative equity. The third alternative is to put cash down to cover the negative equity.

Equity spread as mentioned above is the difference between the purchase price of the new vehicle being acquired and its related bank retail loan value (or the NADA Retail Loan Value). For example, let’s say that you are purchasing 2006 Infinity M35X with 56,000 miles on it for $25,000 and the Bank retail Loan Value is $28,225. As such, the equity spread would be $3,225. The bank retail loan value is the maximum amount of money the Credit Union will loan on any vehicle.

Equity spread will give you the leverage needed to roll any negative equity into the new vehicle being financed. In the two examples mentioned above you would be able to roll the negative equity from the 2005 GMC Truck ($1,500) into the financing of the 2006 Infinity M35X.  For further assistance with finding vehicles that have equity spread benefits contact MAC today.