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Those Midwestern cold snaps and first snowfalls always seem to come earlier than expected. Like with “van life,” some people yearn to be on a snowmobile. If you hate being cooped up all winter, you might even consider buying one. It’s one way to continue the outdoor fun and connect with nature.

If there’s more than one user in the household, all the more reason to consider this investment. However, there are some important considerations before committing. We’ll help you think through the decision.

1. How Much Do You Enjoy Snowmobiling?

The first question to answer is pretty straightforward. If you already know you love the snowmobiling experience, then being a proud owner of one may seem like a great idea. Here’s a map of snowmobile trails in Illinois to boost your imagination and help you plan your next trip.

The next questions are:

• How much use would you get out of it?
• Do you have space for storing one?
• Can you afford a new or used snowmobile?
• How would you transport one?

Answering them will get you closer to figuring out whether a purchase truly makes sense.

2. How Will You Transport Your Snowmobile?

Unless you have a pickup where it will fit nicely, you may need a sled deck or trailer. Transporting it is another factor that can impact the overall cost and practicality of ownership.

• Tip: If a major snowmobile trail system is hours away, plan on regular weekend road trips.

When you’re ready, contact your nearby CFSC Auto location to register your snowmobile.

3. Do You Know About Snowmobile Regulations & Safety?

Ownership means following snowmobile laws, which include registration, safety equipment like helmets for riders under 18, and abiding by trail or park rules. Being safe also means knowing how to assess ice thickness, avoid dangerous terrain, and respect other riders and hikers.

• Tip: Take a snowmobile safety course online, and learn about safe riding areas through local clubs or trail associations.

4. Consider Snow Season & Trail Conditions

Snow conditions in Illinois can be inconsistent year to year. Will you take your snowmobile out of state? You may find more gentle hills and snowy days in Michigan or Wisconsin – yay! Public trails typically require at least four inches of snow on frozen ground before opening.

Northern Illinois may get a few good stretches, but farther south the odds drop significantly.

• Tip: Check this year’s almanac for a realistic winter forecast.

5. Budget Ownership Costs Realistically

It’s like car ownership. There will be other expenses that should be factored into your budget. A few possibilities:

• Trailer for transporting it
• Fuel costs
• Maintenance and parts
• Insurance
• Other travel costs

Illinois requires registration, and some trails require permits or club memberships. In other states, those kinds of costs can add up too. Budget not just for the initial purchase, but for any ongoing annual costs. Consider renting one for a trip or two before committing.

6. Where to Register Snowmobiles in Illinois & Milwaukee?

It’s not worth risking fines for a small registration or title error.

Even in a low-use year, it’s still vital to have your title and licence in order. For simple, fast service, visit any CFSC Auto Services and an assistant will make sure your paperwork is up to date. Call first to clarify fees, requirements, and documentation needs.

Registration is also available at CFSC Auto Services throughout Milwaukee, WI.

Visit us online for more information about our licensing services, which include auto titles, transfers and much more!

Would you pass a written driving test if you took one today? Even long-time drivers might be surprised at their scores. About seven out of ten Wisconsinites fail the first time they take the written test, according to the state’s DMV website.

There’s a lot to know in order to be a responsible driver. There’s even a proper way to dispose of old license plates!

Take a stab at the questions below. If your memory is fuzzy – or just to make sure you’re still following the law – refer to Illinois’ rules of the road online for guidance.

Try These Sample Multiple Choice Driving Questions:

While these questions are not precisely as they would appear on an official test, they can still give you a sense of how you might do on one.

When an authorized vehicle approaches using its sirens and flashing lights, the driver should:

1. Signal, pull to the righthand edge of the roadway, and wait for the emergency vehicle to pass.
2. Slow down until the emergency vehicle passes you.

(Correct answer is A.)

When parking on a hill facing uphill, you should:

1. Turn the wheels away from the curb.
2. Turn the wheels toward the curb.

(Correct answer is A.)

You can help keep the driver behind you a safe distance away from your vehicle by:

1. Driving slower than the speed limit.
2. Speeding up to stay ahead of the driver.
3. Maintaining a steady speed.

(Correct answer is C.)

You may not pass another vehicle in a construction zone:

1. True
2. Unless it has striped lines – then you may.

(Correct answer is A.)

If two or more vehicles arrive at a four-way stop sign at the same time:

1. Let the more aggressive driver go first.
2. The driver on your left goes first.
3. The driver on the right goes first.

(Correct answer is C.)

When another vehicle is passing your car, you should:

1. Accelerate to keep up with the other driver.
2. Maintain a constant speed.
3. Slow down.

(Correct answer is B.)

A flashing yellow light at an intersection means:

1. Continue through the intersection at the same speed.
2. Speed up before the light turns red.
3. Reduce your speed, yield if necessary, and only proceed through the intersection if it is safe to do so.

(Correct answer is C.)

In Illinois, the maximum speed limit is generally:

1. 70 mph on interstate highways outside urban areas.
2. 65 mph on rural interstates.
3. 55 mph on interstate highways near cities.
4. 30 mph within cities.

(Correct answer: all of the above)

To find out more about common questions on driver’s tests, visit idrivesafely.com.

Check Out CFSC Auto Services Throughout Illinois

All of us drivers should refresh our memories by reviewing traffic rules now and then. Don’t forget to review the different traffic signs, as well, so you aren’t confused the next time you approach a less familiar one.

Even if you aced your test, visit your nearby CFSC Auto Services to register a new vehicle, pick up license plate stickers, or take care of your routine auto tasks.

Van life isn’t a thing of the past – a relic of the Woodstock era or 70s sitcoms (looking at you, Partridge Family).

It’s still popular today in some circles, and this use of one’s van is more than just a passing fad. Using your van to transform your life is as much a lifestyle choice as it is a vehicle preference, although driving and spending time in a van is certainly part and parcel of this trend.

What Is Van Life?

For many, van life started as a way to escape the grind of paying rent monthly or making mortgage payments. Imagine waking up to a new view every morning—mountains one day, a beach the next—and not needing to ask for time off to explore them.

Van life offers that kind of flexibility that can turn everyday routines into small adventures. Whether it’s cooking breakfast with the tailgate flung open to a sunrise or falling asleep to the sound of crickets in the desert, the road becomes both the journey and the destination, as long as you have a decent set of wheels to make that happen.

When and Why Did Van Life Become Popular?

The desire to explore unknown parts of the country has always existed, whether by train or some other means of transportation. However, it recently gained popularity during the pandemic, along with the tiny house craze.

Part of it stemmed from a want or need to downsize, as thousands of workers lost their jobs and were becoming isolated and homebound. People were going stir crazy due to social distancing. But they were also experiencing a desire for freedom, a simpler way of living, a better view, and more connection with other parts of society.

Your Van Can Be Your Home … Kind of

Some of those exploring van life are doing so not as a full-time lifestyle, but as a flexible addition to their existing home setup. Rather than giving everything up, many use their vans to supplement traditional living in practical as well as creative ways.

A range of factors are pushing people of different ages to consider this lifestyle, either part-time or full-time, as an alternative to home ownership:

• Flexibility: A van offers the ability to travel or relocate quickly, whether for a spontaneous getaway or an extended stay somewhere else.
• Cost of Living: In areas with high housing costs, a van can serve as a temporary or seasonal living space.
• Multi-Use Functionality: A van can double as a mobile office, guest room or quiet space away from the chaos at home.
• Lifestyle Expansion: It doesn’t have to be about downsizing. Your new van-centric lifestyle can also be about expanding your idea of what a home is, with the added bonus of waking up in a beautiful new place whenever the mood strikes.

What Do You Need to Drive a Van Legally in Illinois?

For the most part, there is not much difference between registering a van or a car to drive it legally in the state of Illinois. If you have ever owned a car – or a motorcycle, for that matter – then you should be familiar with the process.

That said, it is equally crucial to manage routine tasks like:

• Registering your van in the state where you live
• Getting plate stickers annually
• Getting city stickers, depending on requirements where you live
• Doing emissions tests as required by your local government

Your nearest CFSC Auto Services will help you sort through some of these processes so they are convenient and less time-consuming than dealing with the DMV.

If any of the above makes you less enthused about your new van life or your ability to afford this type of vehicle, take heart. There are several things you can do to make vehicle ownership less expensive, from taking the steps in this blog to purchasing a hybrid or EV and saving on gas.

Where Can You Park Vans Legally in Illinois?

Another thing to consider before riding off into the sunset in your dream van is where to park it. Illinois Highway Rest Areas & Welcome Centers have spots that are typically open 24/7 and may allow you to rest up for a few hours. Personal contacts with access to property may be another option.

It’s important to follow parking rules, particularly when it comes to overnight parking. Be sure to do your research if you are planning to park your van for extended lengths of time – for your safety, as well as to keep up with local regulations.

Drive Your Van to CFSC Auto Services in Illinois & Wisconsin

Need help with some of the licensing services mentioned above? We’ve got you and your van covered.

Call CFSC Auto Services with questions, or head to one of our locations in person and a team member will tell you what you need to know.

The topic of being an organ donor captures imaginations on countless TV shows, in which one person’s fate ends up saving the lives of strangers. There is some truth to these stories. A single donor can help or save the lives of multiple people – up to 25, according to the Illinois Secretary of State. Tissue donations of non-organs such as skin, tendons, corneas and heart valves are also life savers.

But in reality, getting enough people to register to be on a donor registry list is still a challenge.

Your Driver’s License and Organ Donation

Have you signed up to be an organ donor? You’ll know if your driver’s license has an indicator on it – such as the word “donor” stamped in the shape of the state of Illinois. But a combination of fear, misconceptions and simple delays in acting are keeping the numbers lower than they need to be.

Afraid to Register as an Organ Donor?

Registering as an organ donor doesn’t necessarily mean you will become one. Numerous other factors would need to come together. If a person loses their life, that doesn’t mean their organs are automatically accepted. Whether an organ is donated may depend on blood type, urgency, the wait time and other factors.

Most important to those afraid to register, doctors will try just as hard to save your life – if you are in a car accident, for example – as they do with everyone else. Read about how new technology is making cars safer than ever in our recent blog.

Why Consider Registering as an Organ Donor

Thousands of people await transplants every day for life-saving and life-extending operations. Even with kidney donations, in which the donor is alive, the need far outweighs yearly donations. It’s understandable. Agreeing to potentially donate a part of one’s body for any reason can be a difficult one to make for many people.

Meanwhile, several hundred people pass away annually due to a shortage of available organs.

Most Americans Want to Donate Their Organs

Illinois has one of the biggest donor registries in the U.S. But like in other states the need is still urgent, with 4,000 people currently on the wait list. Far more people say they would want to be donors than those who actually register, which shows that helping to inform people of the process might lead to many more registered donors, and more lives saved.

As a driver, there are a few steps you can take if you either didn’t realize you weren’t registered as an organ donor or have had a change of heart. You can:

1. Register at LifeGoesOn.com (the official Secretary of State’s website)
2. Register in person at a DMV office
3. Wait until your license expires and make the change on your next driver’s licence

Organ & Tissue Donation in Illinois

The need is so great in Illinois that a new public awareness campaign is highlighting the powerful ripple effect of organ donation. The campaign’s debut ad, airing on TV and digital platforms, tells the story of a firefighter whose life was saved by a transplant who then goes on to save others. Inspired by real-life accounts. It shows how one donation can spark a chain of lifesaving acts, while also creating a second chance at life for recipients who go on to commit other acts of service.

How to Register as an Organ Donor in Illinois & Wisconsin

Registering is quite simple. There’s nothing to expect other than a note on your driver’s license – if you have one – identifying you as an organ donor. The Illinois Donor & Tissue Registry offers other information for people who are interested:

Who can register: You must be 16 or older with a valid ID to register (there is no standard maximum age limit).

Diversity Needed: Donors from all races and ethnic backgrounds are needed.

Life-Saving Priority: All life-saving efforts will still be taken.

Is there a cost: There is no charge related to organ donation or registration.

What Can Be Donated: The heart, kidneys, lungs, and other organs, as well as tissues (corneas, etc.)

Legality: Buying, selling, or getting paid for one’s organs is illegal.

Withdrawal: You can change your mind and withdraw your consent any time through the Secretary of State’s office.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services provides more information on its website on becoming a donor in that state.

CFSC Auto Services in Illinois & Wisconsin

While CFSC Auto Services doesn’t register people as organ donors, we provide many licensing services that are important to know about if you want to drive legally and avoid tickets:

• Car title and registration
• Title transfers
• Lost or stolen plates and stickers
• Many other auto and financial services

Call CFSC Auto Services or stop by your nearest location for more information and assistance!