2005 Featured Articles

Taking the Scare Out of Auto Repair - Part 1 of 4
The best way to avoid auto repair rip-offs is to be prepared. Knowing how to select a good technician, the kinds of questions to ask, and your consumer rights is a good beginning. It's also important to know how your vehicle works and how to identify common car problems.

Taking the Scare Out of Auto Repair - Part 2 of 4
Many parts on your vehicle are interrelated. Ignoring maintenance can lead to trouble. Neglecting even simple routine maintenance, such as changing the oil or checking the coolant, can lead to poor fuel economy, unreliability, or costly breakdowns. It also may invalidate your warranty.

Taking the Scare Out of Auto Repair - Part 3 of 4
The more you know about your vehicle, the more likely you'll be able to head off repair problems. You can detect many common vehicle problems by using your senses: eyeballing the area around your vehicle, listening for strange noises, sensing a difference in the way your vehicle handles, or even noticing unusual odors..

Taking the Scare Out of Auto Repair - Part 4 of 4
Car trouble doesn't always mean major repairs. There are some common causes of trouble and techniques to help you and your technician find and fix problems.

2004 Featured Article

Planning to Donate Your Vehicle? Beware of Tax Rule Changes.
Donating your vehicle was as simple as 1-2-3. Call a local charity to pick it up. Get a receipt. Claim it as a deduction on your taxes. Simple. If you are considering the donation of your car to charity for a deduction from your federal income tax, there are new rules for donations made in 2005.

Prepare an Emergency Kit for your Car
You never know when you might need emergency supplies when on the road, whether close to home, or far away. Whether it is vehicle failure, weather conditions, or other causes, it always pays to be prepared for an emergency on the road. Consider the following suggestions for your vehicle emergency preparedness kit.

Should You Sell Your Car on Your Own?
Do you have a vehicle to sell? If you sell it yourself, you have an opportunity to make more money on the sale because there is no middleman making a profit on the transaction. The tradeoff, of course, is the time and effort required, and the ultimate sale price will depend highly upon the information and sales skills you have at your disposal.