Waterloo Automotive

You can’t just rely on driver’s ed courses when it comes to teenage driving: parent involvement before and after your teen receives their driver’s license is key. In fact, according to the Governor’s Highway Safety Association, teenage drivers whose parents establish driving rules and supportively monitor teenage driving are 50% less likely to get in an accident, 71% less likely to drink and drive, 30% less likely to use their phone while driving, 50% more likely to use their seatbelt, and generally less likely to speed. Give yourself a little peace of mind by following our tips for preventing teenage driving accidents. Tips for Parents: Preventing Teenage Driving AccidentsSupplement Required Teenage Driving Education Depending on where you live, your state will have different requirements for teenage driving education. For example, if you live in St. Louis, MO, your teenage driver will need to complete 40 hours o ... read more

Becoming independent of help from parents is one goal that many teenagers strive to attain. Whether it’s financially or otherwise, being able to handle things on your own is an important life skill. Learning about the noises your car makes, good and bad, is one way to become more independent from your parent or guardian. Squeak during braking
If you hear a high-pitched or squeaking sound when you break, it could be a result of your new (or wearing!) brake pads or a sign that you have water on the brakes. Sizzle under the hood
If you notice this most immediately after turning off the engine, it means something is leaking. It could be anything from coolant to oil, but get it checked out. Clunk in the front end
A clunking sound towards the front of your car during idling or going over small bumps, it’s probably an issue with the ball joint losing lubrication. Make an appointment to replace it. Whine while turning


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As a young adult, it’s hard to think about saving and budgeting your money. In high school and possibly the early years of college, you’re most likely making minimum wage or not much more. You may be fortunate enough to get an allowance or have most of your expenses paid for, but it’s still important to learn the value of money. Here are some guidelines to help manage your money effectively. Use a savings account.
If you don’t have one of these, go ahead and open one with the help of a parent. Having your savings in the bank instead of in cash under your bed will make it less tempting to take from. Even adding as little as $10 per paycheck will really pay off when it’s time to start college. Budget your income.
Turn your spending into smart spending. Putting some money away into a savings account is a great way to begin. Next, it’s important to make a budget and stick to it. Plan your monthly spending and compare it to how much you actually

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Before you brainstorm what your top choices might be, make sure you have an open mind. It’s easy to imagine what schools your friends are going to or to favor the “party schools.” We recommend keeping these things in mind before making a decision: Why are you going?
Before you begin your search, ask yourself the reasons for going to school. What are your goals? What are your strengths? Your weaknesses? You’re not expected to have your major chosen while still in high school, or even your first year, but why are you going? Do you want to remain close to family, or do you want a fresh start in a new city or state? Do you have specific academic goals? These are all important things to think about. Size Matters.
Now it’s time to think about whether you’d prefer a large university or a smaller college. Also- would you like to go for 2 years or 4? It’s always an option to start out at a smaller, local community college and transfer to a 4-year school. Think abo

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The next month and a half is supposed to be considered the most wonderful time of the year because of the holidays. But we all know that also means a lot of time with your family. For those of you college students coming home for Thanksgiving and winter break, you may have a big wake up call in regards to your personal space and your freedom. Here are some tips to help balance your expectations with your parents’ expectations. Prioritize – You will want to see your friends during the holidays but you also need to prioritize family time. If you go to a local college, prioritize seeing friends who may have moved out of state and are back for a short amount of time. If you went far away from home for college, consider getting a group of friends together so you get to see many people at once to limit the amount of time you are away from home.
Remember that your family will want to see you just as much, if not more, as your friends do. Your parents are u
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As school gets closer, we at Meyer’s and Waterloo Automotive have been using our blog to talk about teen driving safety. Soon they’ll be hopping into the driver’s seat to make their way to and from school, practice, work and, let’s face it, social activities. (Sometimes we parents like to forget that one.) Because auto accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers in the U.S., however, we want to make sure they are as prepared to hit the road as possible and have the best chance of making it safely to their destinations. This week it’s all about seat belts, and, of course, we’re starting with stats. Not surprisingly, as an age group, teenagers are the least likely to wear seat belts both while driving and riding in a vehicle. The biggest offenders are teenage males who choose against seat belts 4% more often than females. According to teendriversource.org, some of the common reasons teens choose not to buckle up are because they aren’t c ... read more