Category Archives: News

Traveling With Kids For The Holiday?

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Are you looking forward to the aromas of a turkey roasting in the oven, stuffing, gravy, and all the fixings??  Don’t forget the pumpkin and apple pies that you’ll have for desert!  Thanksgiving is just around the corner!

Many people stay home and have family visit… and many travel to visit family.  If your traveling with kids, there are many challenges you may encounter… the first and foremost is probably how to entertain those kids in the car while you’re on the road.  Nothing derails a family car trip faster than bored kids in the backseat. A well-stocked activity bag can mute the “Are we there yet?” melody from the rear and help you log some serious miles in peace. Here are a few of our top picks of ideas to keep those kids occupied while you’re headed to visit your family and friends this holiday!

Tablets, laptops, and smartphones: At home, you probably limit access to these devices. But if you need to make some serious mileage, it’s okay to relax the rules on screen time. Download plenty of educational and just-for-fun games, music, and movies before leaving home.

White board and dry-erase pens: Kids can draw, play tic-tac-toe and hangman, or write notes to each other, wipe it all away, and start over.

Sticker and activity books: Extra great for toddlers. They allow kids to express creativity without using pens on the upholstery.

Crayons or markers: Markers are best for kids 3 and up, crayons for kids under 3. If you’re worried about your child drawing on the seats, try Color Wonder markers – they only leave marks on special paper.

Colored pipe cleaners or Wikki Stix: Make animals, people, jewelry, or just crazy shapes.

Busy boxes: Fill a few shoe boxes with flash cards, card games, Matchbox cars, Legos, little figurines and dolls, and other items. Your child can use the box’s lid as a playing surface, and decorate the box using stickers and crayons or markers.

Crafty toys: Drawing on an Etch-A-Sketch, Magna Doodle, or Aquadoodle can keep kids busy for miles. Toys that let them draw using a magnetic “magic wand” (like Wooly Willy) are also absorbing. All are easy for kids to hold in their lap and can be used again and again.

At CarDirect USA, our goal is to help you in finding the right vehicle for you.  Check out our inventory page to see what we currently have in stock.  Don’t see what you’re looking for?  Give us a call – that vehicle may be on its way in.  If not, we’ll find it for you!

“Your Vote, Your Voice!”

vote-election2016

It’s Your Right!

If you walk into the showroom at CarDirect USA on Tuesday, November 8th we hope that you come in after 10am.  We’re opening an hour later than normal so that all of our employees have an opportunity to get to their respective voting location and vote.  You’ll notice a theme for the month of November – Be Thankful!  We are thankful that we live in the USA, where we have a voice and have the right to vote for our leaders!  Our staff is also thankful for all of our customers, and ready to get all of our new ones into a great vehicle!

Once again, CarDirect USA is giving back!!!

This Monday thru Wendesday, when you proudly wear your “I Voted” sticker, CarDirect USA will will thank you for participating in our government, and give its customer’s $250 off* the purchase price of vehicles!! This promotion will be going on all day Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday!  If you voted early, come in any of the 3 days.  If you vote Tuesday, come in Tuesday or Wednesday.  If you don’t make it to the voting polls on Tuesday until later in the afternoon, that’s ok!  We’ll still offer this discount to you when you come in on Wednesday!! Be thankful for the country you live in, and ago cast your vote!

At CarDirect USA, our goal is to help you in finding the right vehicle for you.  Check out our inventory page to see what we currently have in stock.  Don’t see what you’re looking for?  Give us a call – that vehicle may be on its way in.  If not, we’ll find it for you!

*Promotion may not be combined with any other offers.  Discount is taken off the lowest advertised price.  Prices do not include tax, title, tags, and dealership $399 processing fee.  Offer valid 11.7.2016 thru 11.9.2016.

Be Thankful & Experience the Joy of Giving!

Toys For Tots

If you walk into the showroom at CarDirect USA today, you’ll notice a theme for the month of November – Be Thankful!  Our staff is thankful for all of our customers, and ready to get all of our new ones into a great vehicle!

Once again, CarDirect USA is giving back!!!

This November, when you bring in a toy to donate to Toys For Tots, CarDirect USA will give its customer’s $250 off* the purchase price of vehicles!! This promotion will be going on all month long!  CarDirect USA is asking for new, unwrapped toys to be donated to children in need!  Make a child’s holiday special this year!!  Be thankful for what you have, and share a little something with a child in need!

At CarDirect USA, our goal is to help you in finding the right vehicle for you.  Check out our inventory page to see what we currently have in stock.  Don’t see what you’re looking for?  Give us a call – that vehicle may be on its way in.  If not, we’ll find it for you!

*Promotion may not be combined with any other offers.  Discount is taken off the lowest advertised price.  Prices do not include tax, title, tags, and dealership $399 processing fee.  Offer valid thru 11.30.2016.

CarDirect USA Sponsors Life Rolls On Event

They Will Surf Again

This past Saturday, August 13th, CarDirect USA was proud to once again sponsor Life Rolls On at the They Will Surf Again event on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. This amazing organization has created an event that makes it possible for people affected by spinal cord injury to get into the water and surf the waves; believing that adaptive surfing and skating could inspire infinite possibilities beyond paralysis!  This was the biggest year yet!!  With over 100 surfers and 300 volunteers!

They Will Surf Again (TWSA) is an award-winning series of bi-coastal events that empower paraplegics and quadriplegics to experience the freedom of mobility by riding a wave with the assistance of adaptive equipment and the support of hard working volunteers. They Will Surf Again has the unique ability to engage and bridge the able-bodied and disabled communities, as they collaborate to push the bounds of possibility for those with SCI.

When the opportunity came up for Car Direct USA to sponsor this event, Brian Jones, a local surfer himself and Dealer Operator for Car Direct USA, jumped on it.  “As a local business owner and a father myself, it means so much to me to be able to give back to the community and make a difference.  Watching those who you wouldn’t think could get on a surfboard be able to ride the waves is an inspiration to us all, and we are proud to be a part of this event” Jones commented.

Life Rolls On is a non-profit organization that inspires others to see the boundless possibilities beyond paralysis. Established in 2002, LRO’s signature adaptive surfing program, They Will Surf Again, has grown into a catalyst of hope for thousands of individuals throughout the world.

About Car Direct USA: Located in Virginia Beach, VA, Car Direct USA has fresh Inventory arriving daily with prices starting below most Virginia Beach Competitors, and a wide selection of brands including Chevy, Ford, Dodge, Nissan and Toyota to select from. A key feature of Car Direct USA is its on-site financing and wide array of lenders. For more information about Car Direct USA, visit www.cardirectvirginia.com or call 1-757-464-1200.

Back To School Essentials

back to school

We know that feeling!  Your excited!  Headed away from your parent’s house… on your way to college… and you’re lucky enough to be driving your own car packed full of all the essentials!  There are also a number of costs associated with having your car, and we want to make sure you are prepared.

1 – Make sure you are insured.  Driving without the minimum required insurance could get you in trouble – and you don’t want to get your license revoked!

2 – Although you are headed away to college, and away from your parents to a more independent life, you might want to consider remaining on their insurance policy.  This may be a more affordable option, just be sure that you are the primary driver of the vehicle you are taking to school with you.

3 – How can you make insurance work in your favor?  Show them what a responsible person you are.

  • Keep your grades up. Some insurance companies offer discounts for a GPA of 3.0 and higher.
  • Tell them the location of your school. Rates are sometimes lower outside of bigger cities.  And if you live within 3 miles of your school, you get another discount!
  • Choose a responsible vehicle. This may be the time to pass on that sports car – go for the more responsible vehicle.  And you might even want to choose a newer model which would require less maintenance.
  • Don’t let your credit get out of hand. Insurance companies look at your credit score as a factor when determining your rate.
  • Insurance companies love safety features! Be sure to review all of the safety features with your insurance company – you may get credits on your rate for these.
  • Drive smart! Follow the rules and laws of the road!  Insurance companies will give a lower rate to a driver that doesn’t have tickets on their driving record.

4 – Remember that you will still have to maintain your vehicle while you are away at school.  Find out where the nearest service stations are.  Keep track of when you need an oil change, how your tires are wearing, if your windshield wipers are worn out, and make sure those brakes are working well!

5 – Consider investing in a roadside assistance program, such as AAA.  You never know when you may need it, and the small cost associated with a membership may be a huge help for you one day!

At Car Direct, our goal is to help you in finding the right vehicle for you.  Check out our inventory page to see what we currently have in stock.  Don’t see what you’re looking for?  Give us a call – that vehicle may be on its way in.  If not, we’ll find it for you!

Wiper Blades Can Melt!

Summer heat can wreak havoc on a vehicle and its function. The warm weather, hot roads, extended trips, and dry air combine to create a hostile work environment for your car.

Windshield Wipers can get ruined by snow and ice in the winter.  But did you know that wiper blades can actually melt to your windshield in high heat in the summer?! The best way to prevent this is to put your wipers through a wipe-wash cycle from time to time.

Maintaining windshield wipers is a very important part of ongoing vehicle care. It’s also an item that is often overlooked, probably since it is not a part of the engine and mechanics of your vehicle.  But when the weather turns to rain, you’ll be quickly reminded of how important your wipers are; especially if they are not properly maintained.

When inspecting your wiper blades, here are a few things to look for:

  • Broken frame – detachment of frame arms at joints or connection points.
  • Metal Corrosion – especially at joints and claws.
  • Visible cracks, tears, and missing pieces in the rubber squeegee’s edge.
  • Flex rubber squeegee back and forth to see if it is still flexible. Aged squeegees will have difficulty conforming to the shape of your windshield and create streaks.
  • Check squeegee wiping edge for rounded edges which can prevent the wiper blade from making strong contact with the windshield and reduces wipe quality.
  • Tug to ensure wiper blade has been securely installed on the wiper arm.
  • Check that squeegee is secure in the wiper frame.

Visibility is fundamental to safe driving. Although drivers depend on their vehicles’ wiper blades to clear away rain, sleet and snow, many wait to replace them until they need them the most. So remembering to maintain wiper blades regularly can maximize visibility, efficiency and reliability.

An easy way to remember to proactively change your wiper blades is to replace them on Groundhog Day. Whether the Groundhog predicts six more weeks of winter or an early spring, new wiper blades are necessary to prepare you for 6 weeks of harsh winter driving conditions or 6 weeks of Spring showers.

Your windshield wipers can be changed quickly and easily.  Here’s a quick how to:

  1. Remove the old wiper. Lift the arm away from the windshield and depress the small tab on the underside of the wiper where it meets the arm.  Slide the wiper blade off the arm by pulling the center towards the bottom of the arm.
  2. Line up the new wiper blade with the arm. Move the hook on the arm over the plastic clip on the new wiper blade.
  3. Pull the wiper blade tight onto the arm. It will click into place, and simply lower the arm slowly back onto the windshield.
  4. Repeat for the other wiper blade.

Woman paying bills

SUMMERTIME SALES EVENT IS HAPPENING NOW

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Get to CarDirect USA today!!!!!

Our Summertime Sales Event is happening now!!!

When you purchase your vehicle from CarDirect USA, we promise that you will leave with a vehicle has been:

  • FULLY SERVICED
  • STATE INSPECTED
  • Includes our SIGNATURE MAINTAINENCE PROGRAM
  • OIL CHANGES
  • VA STATE INSPECTIONS
  • Includes WARRANTY

At Car Direct, our goal is to help you in finding the right vehicle for you.  Check out our inventory page to see what we currently have in stock.  Don’t see what you’re looking for?  Give us a call – that vehicle may be on its way in.  If not, we’ll find it for you!

WET N WILD INVENTORY BLOWOUT SALE!!!

hurricane banner

Hurricane Joaquin may have turned it’s back on the East Coast… but we haven’t.  At CarDirect USA we have all kinds of vehicles ready to weather the storm!

AND WE’RE PRACTICALLY GIVING THEM AWAY!!!

We’re having a Wet N Wild Hurricane Party!  Now thru Wednesday, October 7th, mention this ad and you’ll receive $500 off your vehicle purchase!!

We have all models available – Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet and pretty much every other make and model!  Get to CarDirect today and check out our full inventory – we’ll make sure you don’t get wet!

Need to trade in your current vehicle?  NO PROBLEM!

Need help with your financing?  NO PROBLEM!

At Car Direct, our goal is to help you in finding the right vehicle for you.  Check out or inventory page to see what we currently have in stock.  Don’t see what you’re looking for?  Give us a call – that vehicle may be on its way in.  If not, we’ll find it for you!

Are Hackers Really At The Gas Station Now?

Unfortunately – yes.

As our cars become increasingly networked — not just through telematics systems like Uconnect and OnStar, but also through vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-grid communications – the risk of bad guys and gals tinkering with those networks goes up.

Well, if you’re one of those folks who truly fear the havoc that hackers can wreak, we have some bad news: they’re now targeting gas stations.

But wait, it gets worse: the gas stations aren’t really fighting back.

Following some mischief at a gas station in February, two tech researchers set up dummy systems to see if hackers would take the bait. They did. Repeatedly – especially on the systems that appeared to be in the U.S.

Some weren’t actually attacked, just “pinged”, so that hackers could verify that they were there. If the baddies found a use for them in the future, they could come back.

The good news is that gas station monitoring systems can’t be used to do anything that’s directly disruptive. For example, hackers can’t take control of a system and blow up a gas station.

The bad news is that hackers can still cause a lot of headaches by messing with these systems. For example, they could alter the readings on a particular station so that a fuel truck delivering refills could cause a tank to overflow, creating a fire hazard. The hackers could also keep tabs on delivery schedules and plan attacks that way. They could also burrow in and insert their own safety systems, locking fuel companies out until they’d paid a ransom.

And what’s the worse news? There’s not a lot of security on many of these systems, mostly because the companies that own them don’t see the potential for danger.

At Car Direct, our goal is to help you in finding the right vehicle for you.  Check out our inventory page to see what we currently have in stock.  Don’t see what you’re looking for?  Give us a call – that vehicle may be on its way in.  If not, we’ll find it for you!

gas station

Car Direct USA Once Again Supports The Local Community By Sponsoring They Will Surf Again Event

!cid_F8C2ABBB-C936-41EB-B1C6-97D7ECAA9602Car Direct USA shows their support in the local community by sponsoring Life Rolls On, a subsidiary of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, on Saturday, August 8 at the Virginia Beach oceanfront for They Will Surf Again.

They Will Surf Again (TWSA) is an award-winning series of bi-coastal events that empower paraplegics and quadriplegics to experience the freedom of mobility by riding a wave with the assistance of adaptive equipment and the support of hard working volunteers. They Will Surf Again has the unique ability to engage and bridge the able-bodied and disabled communities, as they collaborate to push the bounds of possibility for those with SCI.

When the opportunity came up for Car Direct USA to sponsor this event, Brian Jones, a local surfer himself and Dealer Operator for Car Direct USA, jumped on it.  “As a local business owner and a father myself, it means so much to me to be able to give back to the community and make a difference.  Watching those who you wouldn’t think could get on a surfboard be able to ride the waves is an inspiration to us all, and we are proud to be a part of this event” Jones commented.

Life Rolls On is a non-profit organization that inspires others to see the boundless possibilities beyond paralysis. Established in 2002, LRO’s signature adaptive surfing program, They Will Surf Again, has grown into a catalyst of hope for thousands of individuals throughout the world.

About Car Direct USA: Located in Virginia Beach, VA, Car Direct USA has fresh Inventory arriving daily with prices starting below most Virginia Beach Competitors, and a wide selection of brands including Chevy, Ford, Dodge, Nissan and Toyota to select from. A key feature of Car Direct USA is its on-site financing and wide array of lenders. For more information about Car Direct USA, visit www.cardirectvirginia.com or call 1-757-464-1200.