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Never ignore these important dashboard lights on your car

Your car’s dashboard is a sophisticated piece of technology that was designed to help you and your vehicle perform with a higher degree of safety and efficiency (which is always good for your auto insurance rates). Think of those dashboard lights meaning as the motherboard that is responsible for pointing out error messages and warnings. Its purpose is to protect you and the vehicle, so don’t ignore them.

Keep an eye out for these ones in particular.

Oil dashboard lights meaning

The oil dashboard lights meaning signals an oil change in your very near future. Even if you know very little about cars, the least you should know is that oil powers your vehicle the way blood powers your body. Failure to keep the oil topped up will quickly affect your car’s performance, and your ride will come to a quick and expensive end—possibly forever, if the damage is extensive.

The better maintained your vehicle is, the more your insurance company is going to like you and your low-risk car.

Car's dashboard lights meaning explained with icons, including a lit-up high beam light.

Engine dashboard lights meaning

This red looming reminder is your car’s way of trying to tell you that there’s something seriously wrong with the engine. This is one of those dashboard lights meaning that you never, ever want to ignore.

Pay serious attention to it! When your engine light comes on, you may not know precisely what the problem is or how long you have to fix it. That’s okay as long as you can get it towed to a mechanic who can answer those questions.

Depending upon your familiarity with your car, you may be able to assess the problem using your car manual or past experience. Either way, the best thing you can do for your car insurance and the health or your car is to take it to a mechanic.

Yes, repairs are expensive, but so are claims of negligence against your insurance policy just because the car wasn’t taken in for a $40 oil top-up.

Gas dashboard lights meaning

It seems like a no-brainer, but there are a lot of people out there on the road tempting fate with their gas tank. If you cause an accident because you’ve run out of gas, your vehicle insurance may be re-evaluated. We guarantee that re-evaluation will cost you more than the time and money it would have taken to keep your car safe on the road for yourself and other drivers.

A good rule to live by is to never to let your gas tank fall below 1/4 of a tank. Know where the gas stations are on your regular routes and always keep an eye out for them if you’re driving in unfamiliar territory. It’s a simple thing, but it’s part of the responsibility of being a car owner and the privilege of being a driver.

Know your vehicle

Whether you drive a new car or a second-hand gem, your vehicle will have some form of dashboard system that alerts you to problems. Spend some time reading the car manual and become familiar with the dashboard lights meaning of your car. Your vehicle and your insurance company will thank you for being a responsible driver.


Are your dashboard lights on the fritz? Check out the lowest rates you can get with the car you have today and the car you want next! What else can you do with 3 minutes?

Seriously, what else can you do in 3 minutes?

Boil half an egg?

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