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This year, 14,000 union members and family members entered our car rental sweepstakes. But only three lucky drivers came out on top!

Elizabeth Hipwell of Chicago, IL is a longtime member of SAG-AFTRA, moving from New York to Los Angeles before settling down in the Windy City, retaining her membership all the while.

However, it wasn’t until recently that she realized the world of Union Plus benefits and discounts that was available to her. Hipwell happened to see a Union Plus email promoting the car rental sweepstakes in August 2018, entered on a whim, and much to her surprise became one of the winners! 

Walking away with three $100 gift certificates to Hertz means she can attend her family reunion in Washington next summer, worry-free. 

“How will I afford a car rental for a week?” Hipwell already fretted, anticipating ferrying around relatives and running errands for her elderly aunt. 

The answer came in her unexpected win, which felt “like a blessing from above,” she says. 

“I’m going to use Union Plus benefits from now on,” Hipwell enthuses. “The customer service with Union Plus is really awesome.”

David Butler, a member of the IATSE in Buffalo, NY calls his win “beginner’s luck.” He had also been unfamiliar with Union Plus programs and benefits before his win. 

Butler’s recent work has focused on production design for films, one of which recently won an award at an independent film festival in Woodstock, NY. 

He says, “The timing of this win could not have been more perfect.” He used the Budget gift certificates to travel cross-state to the festival and see the audience’s reception to the film in person. 

“I wasn’t sure if I would be able to go to this festival or not, and when I won this contest I thought, ‘It’s a sign, I’m going!’” Butler recalls. “I wasn’t sure if my current car was going to make it, so [the prize] was very helpful and I was very excited to have won.”

Thanks to his win, Butler says, “I’ll do my best to get the word out about Union Plus in the Buffalo area. It’s really cool that there are so many different benefits.”

Michael Boylan, a retired SEIU member living in Queens, NY, thought his win was a prank since he never expects to win anything he enters. But the Union Plus sweepstakes proved to be his lucky break. 

Boylan visits his snowbird friends in Florida every winter but is skipping his usual trip this year due to the recent hurricanes. Boylan is glad his gift certificates to Avis don’t have an expiration date, because there’s always next year. 

Congratulations to all the winners and thank to you all the entrants. And remember, union members save up to 25% on car rental rates at six Union Plus rental car partners—Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, Payless and Thrifty.

Learn more about the Union Plus
Car Rental Program
 

For Joshua Wilkins, the vacation was long-awaited. Headed to Florida for a family wedding, the UFCW Local 700 member was keen on extending his time to take a trip with his friends. Their destination? Miami. 

Wilkins heads up the dairy section of a Kroger grocery in suburban Indianapolis. He also serves as a union rep at the store and stays politically active with his local. 

The biggest challenge for trip-leader Wilkins was figuring out how he was going to afford a rental car. 

“I was looking one night and then it hit me – I went to unionplus.org,” recalls Wilkins. 

Working with the Hertz agent he contacted through the Union Plus website, Wilkins was able to get an initial discount that took hundreds of dollars off a large SUV for the week. Then the agent had an idea – why not simply rent a full-sized car and join Hertz Gold Plus Rewards? 

“It was an amazing move,” says Wilkins. “I was able to obtain an additional $400 in savings by taking the agent’s advice, and when I got to Miami, I upgraded to a GMC Yukon XL that I rented at $800 for the entire week. My friends were blown away.” 

Wilkins and his buddies used the vehicle to get explore deeper parts of the Everglades to see alligators, visit Little Havana and tool around South Beach for the night life. 

“The trip was epic, and we had such a great time,” Wilkins reminisces.  

Union Plus Car Rental rates are available exclusively to current and retired union members and their families. Visit unionplus.org/carrental to explore your options and start planning your next vacation.

Learn more about
Union Plus Car Rentals
 

When purchasing your next car, it's important to understand the entire cost and duration of your loan and to get all the facts, upfront, so you can make the decision that best fits your life.

Ready to Learn More?

Watch our Understanding Auto Loans module. It's quick and easy. Simply click the yellow button at the bottom of this page. You'll then see the "Understanding Auto Loans" page. To start watching, simply click the orange "play" button. This video will include helpful information about auto loans, such as:

• How are auto loans financed?
• How long are the terms of the loans?
• What's the difference between a fixed rate loan and a variable interest rate?

Tips

Once you've started the module, you can see captions, adjust volume and pause the module by using the controls at the top right of the screen. You can also select the transcript button to see all of the content from the module.

Check out the Understanding Auto Loans Module Now

With around 5 million vehicles in the wake of Florence, flood damaged vehicles could run in the thousands. “While, hopefully, these vehicles will have their titles marked flood damaged and go to salvage yards, many will likely re-enter the market as used cars,” said Jack Gillis, the Consumer Federation of America’s Executive Director and author of The Car Book. “Because of the computerization, electronics and sophisticated safety technology in today’s vehicles, it’s critical that you avoid getting stuck with one of these lemons.”

“Looks can be deceiving—with a nice clean up, these water infested vehicles, may actually look pretty good—which means knowing how to identify a flooded vehicle is critical. When it comes to buying a car, three out of four of us buy used. So there’s a big incentive for disreputable sellers to move flood damaged vehicles north hoping to sell them to unsuspecting buyers,” said Gillis. “While luckily less cars have been flooded compared to Harvey and Irma, flooded cars remain a significant risk to unsuspecting consumers. By following these tips, consumers can protect themselves from purchasing a vehicle which can put themselves and their families at risk,” Gillis continued.

Ten Tips for Avoiding a Flood Damaged Vehicle

1. Check the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) which is located on the driver’s side dashboard, visible through the windshield, with the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System established by the U.S. Department of Justice. You’ll have to pay a small fee for the information, but it’s the most comprehensive data base.  You can also check with the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) or CarFax (both currently offering free flood history information). Even if the database has no flood information, beware, as fraudsters have ways of getting around VIN registration information or it simply wasn’t reported.
    
2. Use your nose. Beware if the vehicle smells musty or damp or if you smell some kind of air freshener. Close up the windows and run the air conditioner and check for a moldy smell.
    
3. Look for dirt, mud and water stains. Check the carpets, seat upholstery, cloth lining inside the roof, if you see any dirt or mud stains, beware. Feel under the dashboard for dirt or moisture and look in the glove boxes, ashtray, and various other compartments for moisture or stains. If you see straight stain line either on the inside of the door panel, engine compartment or trunk—watch out, that’s probably how high the water went in the vehicle.  Tip: If the carpeting, seat coverings or headliner seem too new for the vehicle, that’s a sign that they may have been replaced due to flood damage.
    
4. Listen for crunch. Pull the seats forward and back and try all of the safety belts. If you’re looking at an SUV with folding seats, try folding them all.  Listen for the ‘crunchy’ sound of sand or dirt in the mechanisms or less than smooth operation.
    
5. Check the spare tire (or inflator) area. Look for mud, sand or stains on the spare tire and jack equipment and the well under the spare tire. Check under the trunk carpet for a rigid board and look to see if it is stained or has water damage.
    
6. Power up. Be sure to try all the power options including windows, locks, seats, moon roof, automatic doors, wipers, window washers, lights, AC system, etc.  If any don’t work, sound funny, or operate erratically, beware. And don’t forget the sound system.  Try out the radio, CD player and Bluetooth connectivity. Adjust the speakers front and back and side to side to listen for any crackling or speaker failure.
    
7. Check for rust or corrosion. Look around the doors, in the wheel wells, under the seats, under the hood and trunk and inside the engine compartment.
    
8. Look under the hood. Look at the air filter.  It’s often easy to check and will show signs of water damage.  Check the oil and transmission fluid.  If it looks milky or has beads of water, watch out.
    
9. Take a test drive and listen for unusual engine or transmission sounds or erratic shifting and acceleration. Set the cruise control to see if it is working properly.
    
10. Check out the head and tail lights; look closely to see if there is any water or fogging inside.  Same with the dashboard—are any of the gauges foggy or containing moisture droplets.

Contact: Jack Gillis, 202-939-1018

Union members buying a preowned vehicle are eligible for a free CarFax Reports on most vehicles.

Learn more about The
Union Plus Auto Buying service

Boston has a reputation for having the nation’s worst gridlock. Still, each day, Sharon Matthews, who is a member of Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 6, makes the commute from her home in Cambridge, Massachusetts to her job at the Roxbury Division of the Boston Municipal Court.  

One day, Matthews’ trusty car’s check engine light illuminated. She faced the all-too-common conundrum: to repair or to replace?

“It required major exhaust and emissions systems work,” recounts Matthews. “That means it was going to be very expensive.”

Then, she remembered getting a piece of mail that highlighted the Union Plus Auto Buying service. Matthews logged onto the Union Plus website and began seriously considering a new car purchase.

The Union Plus Auto Buying Service partners with price-comparison service TrueCar to let union members research pre-screened and certified dealers, see prices online, and get additional dealer discounts, in addition to offering rebates for union-made cars.

“I found a union-made car and a car dealership that was union friendly,” Matthews recalls. “They gave me a discount on the spot. I got the cutest Chevrolet Sonic in blue. It’s easy to park on the city streets and it gets great mileage. I love driving it to work.”  

The vehicle Matthews purchased made her eligible for the Union Plus union-made green car** rebate that totals $200. Union Plus automatically sends rebate checks to members who purchase qualifying union-made vehicles, with no additional paperwork from the member.

“The savings were great,” says Matthews happily. “What I didn’t expect was the rebate I received in the mail. I was in total shock.

“I can’t say enough good things about Union Plus,” she enthuses. “They save union members so much money and their benefits are great.” 

find out more about the Union Plus Auto Buying Service

Working in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles requires a lot of support and a working car. That’s why Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) administrator Grace Danziger was so excited to get help from Union Plus with her latest car purchase when the lease on her old car was ending.

“I have been receiving Union Plus benefit emails for quite some time,” Danziger recalls. “The auto buying program caught my eye.”

“Choosing a plug-in hybrid was important for environmental and economic concerns,” Danziger notes, adding that she and her husband Marc wanted to find the best deal possible. 

That is why they decided to take advantage of the Union Plus partnership with the price-comparison service TrueCar. The Union Plus Auto Buying Service lets members research pre-screened and certified dealers, see prices online, and get additional dealer discounts, in addition to offering rebates for union-made cars.

In addition to enjoying an easy search and application process, Danziger says that she felt personal support from the Union Plus partnership as well.

“I feel like we were taken extra care of,” she says, noting that the dealer they bought from was affiliated with Union Plus. “They had great customer service and they made buying our car a worry-free experience.”

To top it all off, the Union Plus service added a $200 rebate to the deal since the Danzigers bought a new union-made car and a hybrid at that.

Danziger says that the entire process was “so easy that it felt like we received a gift!”

"Union Plus offers so many ways workers can save money on things they are already doing like buying cars and taking vacations,” Danziger concludes. “All union members and staffers should take advantage of Union Plus programs!"

To learn more about the Union Plus Auto Buying Service, visit unionplus.org/autobuying.
 

Icy roads are one of winter’s biggest dangers. Fortunately, you can take simple steps to keep you safer.

Change Your Tires

If cold, icy winters are common in your area, swap your regular tires for snow tires to gain more control. Snow tires have more contact edges than normal tires, allowing them to grip the road better. Also, the rubber on snow tires stays pliable in low temperatures, which helps provide better traction.

Drive Cautiously

• Think gradual. Quick movements, such as fast acceleration or sudden turns, have little effect on icy roads—you just spin your wheels or continue in the same direction. Slow your motions so your vehicle has time to respond. Brake gradually, too: Slamming on the brakes, even antilock brakes, can cause your car to slide. To give yourself enough time to brake, allow up to 10 times the normal distance between your car and the car ahead of you.
• Slow Down. Remember that posted speed limits are for ideal driving conditions. If the roads are icy, reduce your speed to reduce the risk of getting in an accident.
• Correction. If your car starts to skid or slide, take your foot off the gas. Slowly turn the wheel in the direction you want the car to travel. If your vehicle has antilock brakes, apply firm pressure until you regain control. You can steer during this maneuver. As your car spins, work to regain a neutral steering position. You have more control when your tires face the same direction.

Know the Roads

To stay ahead of icy roads, know when and where ice forms. Any winter precipitation can cause ice, as can sudden temperature changes. “Black ice” (a thin, almost invisible coat) is most likely to form on intersections, bridges, overpasses, underpasses and ramps. For more about dealing with black ice, follow this advice from MetLife Auto & Home.

Be Aware of Other Drivers

Driving slowly offers some protection from other drivers, but be sure to keep an eye on the cars ahead of and behind you. If you see brake lights ahead, slow down. If a driver follows closely behind your vehicle, keep a slow pace to force him or her to do the same.
 

These tips were brought to you by the Union Plus Auto and Home Insurance program. Drivers saved an average of $586* a year on their auto insurance when switching to MetLife Auto & Home®.

Take advantage of the Union Plus Auto and Home Insurance Program by calling 855-666-5797 today. Remember to mention your discount code: DJ7.

Consider these five thoughtless distracted driving habits and how to change them:

1. Eating or Drinking
   
   Hot coffee spills, greasy hands or stray crumbs could distract you from the road. Eat before you get behind the wheel or after you’ve reached your destination. If you need a snack now, find some place off the road to stop.
    
2. Making Hands-Free Calls
   
   You may not take your hands off the wheel, but calls can take your mind off the road. Turn off your phone’s Bluetooth capabilities before you drive off, and silence your phone to help prevent temptation. If you really need to make a call, safely pull over to talk.
    
3. Messing with Dials or Controls
   
   Adjusting volume, looking for a radio station, plugging in GPS directions or turning up the heat diverts your eyes from the road. Take care of all of the above before shifting into gear. If you must make adjustments, wait until you come to a complete stop at a stoplight, pull over safely, or ask your front-seat passenger to handle them.
    
4. Paying Attention to Other Passengers
   
   Young children and infants can be up to eight times more distracting than adult passengers, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Make sure your little ones have something to occupy them. Or stop the car and pull over safely before investigating the cause of screaming or crying.
    
5. Applying Makeup or Shaving
   
   The vanity mirror blocks your eyes from the road. Give yourself enough time before leaving home to finish getting ready.

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   These tips were brought to you by the Union Plus Auto and Home Insurance program. Drivers saved an average of $586* a year on their auto insurance when switching to MetLife Auto & Home®.
   
   Take advantage of the Union Plus Auto and Home Insurance Program by calling 855-666-5797 today. Remember to mention your discount code: DJ7.

Here are four things to keep in mind when you’re considering an offer in a car ad:

1. The fine print is important. Read the entire ad. The small print shouldn’t contradict the big print.
    
2. Compare offers from multiple dealers. If you don’t understand what an ad is offering, you can look for an offer from another dealer.
    
3. Speak Spanish? All of the ad should be in the same language. A company should give you all the important information in the same language, so you can understand the entire offer. Be skeptical if the ad you see is in Spanish, but parts of it are in English. The FTC recently announced a case against a dealership that advertised attractive terms in Spanish, but had other important information in English.
    
4. Asking questions is important. When you visit the dealer, you should ask many questions. If you decide to buy, be clear on the terms you’re agreeing to before signing anything.

When you see a car ad, keep a critical eye. If the ad offers, for example, low monthly payments or 0% rates, and if the fine print at the bottom of the ad contradicts the offers in large print on the same ad, the ad may not be telling the whole story.

To find the best car deal, it’s a good idea to shop around and compare offers from different dealers. Also, consider various financing sources like banks or credit unions. Learn more about buying and owning a car at www.FTC.gov/cars.