Automobiles
CHILTON LIBRARY: DO-IT-YOURSELF AUTO REPAIR INFORMATION - Photographs, diagnostics, step-by-step repair procedures, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) maintenance schedules, wiring diagrams, recalls and Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) for automobiles and light trucks in one easy-to-use web site. If you're using
Chilton Library from your home or office, you'll need to enter your library card barcode to begin.
Aging Drivers - A guide for family, friends, and caregivers concerned about the safety of an older driver (NY State Office for the Aging). See also Family Conversations with Older Drivers (The Hartford), GrandDriver (American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators), and Information for Older Drivers, which includes advice on driving for those with a variety of health conditions, including Alzheimer's, Sleep Apnea, Arthritis, Cataracts, Diabetes, Seizures, and others, plus info on driving when you are on medication (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).
Alternative Fuels Locator
- Enter a zip code to find the nearest suppliers of alternative vehicle fuels such as Biodiesel, Compressed Natural Gas, Electric, Ethanol, Hydrogen, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (propane). (U.S. Department of Energy)
Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit - You may be eligible for a significant income tax credit if you buy or lease a new hybrid automobile or advanced lean burn technology motor vehicle. This site provides up-to-date information on which vehicles qualify for the credit, when credits are available, and credit amounts (Internal Revenue Service). See also Hybrid Vehicle Tax Credits (Alliance to Save Energy).
Alzheimer's, Dementia and Driving: a Practical Guide - Advice to help individuals diagnosed with dementia, and their caregivers, to determine when it is time to stop driving. (The Hartford).
Automobile Insurance - This consumer page from the NJ Department of Banking & Insurance offers information on selecting auto insurance in New Jersey, comparing premiums, filing a complaint, etc. See also Auto Insurance Information (Insurance Information Institute).
Automobiles: Consumer Information - Consumer information from the Federal Trade Commission on buying, financing, leasing, or renting a car, and auto repair & maintenance.
Battery Maintenance - Explains how to perform routine maintenance on your car battery, with clear illustrations. See also Troubleshooting a Car That Won't Start and other auto maintenance how-to's from Dummies.com (commercial site). Got a dead battery? Car Talk provides a printable illustrated guide to Jump-Starting Your Car [LINK OPENS A PDF DOCUMENT].
Bicycling Life - Considering taking up bicycling as an alternative to car travel - or just for fun? This site offers all kinds of useful information on safe bicycling, bicycle maintenance & repair, and more (personal site, by four bicycling enthusiasts). See also Biking in New Jersey (NJ Department of Transportation).
Car and Driver Magazine 
- Reviews of new and used cars, along with 'Best' lists and a variety of other auto-related features, including video reviews. (Commercial site)
Car Care - General advice on keeping your vehicle in top condition, along with specific maintenance tips and detailed diagrams for every part of your vehicle. (Car Care Council / Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association)
Car Connection - Weekly updates of automotive news, reviews, and opinions from around the world. Tools and advice for car buyers, plus a complete photo gallery of every new model on sale in America, comprehensive links to other automotive related sites, and more. (Commercial site: High Gear Media)
Carfax Vehicle History Reports - Check by VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) to learn about a car's salvage history, ownership, odometer reading, and past flood, accident or fire damage. You will have to pay to get the reports, but can search the VIN for free to see if any reports exist on the car you are considering. Experian AutoCheck Vehicle History Reports is another service offering similar information. (Commercial sites)
CarInfo.com - Tips on buying or leasing a car, plus consumer advice on auto repairs, and links to a wide variety of automobile-related websites. (Commercial site, by author Mark Eskeldson)
Car Safety - Crash test results, recalls, tires, air bags, rollovers, and other auto safety information, plus driving and purchasing tips. You can also file a complaint online. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
Car Survey - Reviews of cars, written by consumers who have owned and driven them. NOTE: These reviews may provide useful information (and some are hilarious!), but they are NOT written by experts, and the individual owner's experience with the car may or may not be typical - so information obtained from this site should be used with particular caution!
Car Talk - Website for America's funniest auto mechanics from the popular public radio talk show - 'the Marx Brothers meet Mr. Goodwrench.' Model previews, discussions, columns, surveys, and lots of humor. You can download podcasts or listen to the show online, too (free). (NPR)
Cell Phone Driving Laws - A chart outlining state laws governing cell phone use while driving. (Governors Highway Safety Association)
Center for Auto Safety - Consumer advocacy group founded by Ralph Nader offers an online complaint form and a searchable database of recalls, crash test data, and other information going back to the 1960s. Also offers news and other information about auto safety issues, fuel economy, and more. See also
Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety for advice and links to help you avoid buying a lemon, or take action if you've already got one.
Child Safety Seats - Injuries resulting from motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children 1-14 years old. This page offers helpful guides for parents, with information on the proper size and type of seat for children of different ages, safety seat recalls, and a chart with Ease of Use Ratings, along with other related information (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). See also Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families (American Academy of Pediatrics).
Child Transportation Safety [UPDATED!] - Materials for parents and other caregivers, teachers, and other concerned adults to use for teaching and/or reinforcing children's pedestrian, bicycle, and school bus or public transportation safety habits. See also Child Vehicle Safety Tips and related materials on
Bicycle Safety,
Pedestrian Safety,
Teen Drivers, and
School Bus Safety. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
Consumer Reports Car Blog - Consumer news, updates and trends on cars and automotive technology. Subscribe to the blog's RSS feed for regular updates.
Defensive Driving Course - Interactive online defensive driving course allows you to analyze real driving situations, spot driving hazards, and identify the correct defenses. 'Based on the same content used in the National Safety Council's eight-hour, instructor-led Defensive Driving Course, the most widely used driver safety program in the world.' NOTE: The site offers a free demo, but there is a fee to take the full course. (National Safety Council)
Driver Safety [UPDATED LINK!] - A variety of resources focusing on issues such as defensive driving, distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding, teen drivers & older drivers, and more. (National Safety Council)
Drowsy Driving - Info and a quiz to help you recognize when you are too sleepy to drive safely (AAA). You can also view a
Driving While Drowsy video from Baylor College of Medicine (scroll down and click on 'Driving While Drowsy' - Preview).
Edmunds.com - Prices and reviews for new and used cars, trucks & vans. Includes a Fuel Economy Center covering alternative fuels, hybrid vehicles, and fuel economy tips, and Green Car Advisor offering news & commentary on environmental automotive trends and technologies. (Commercial site)
Fuel Cost Calculator - Planning a long car trip? Select your starting point, destination, and vehicle information, and this tool will calculate the estimated fuel cost of your trip. You can also find out the average price of gas in your region (AAA). To find gas stations and prices in any local area, enter a zipcode on Mapquest's Local Gas Prices search page (commercial site).
Fuel Economy - Check this site to find out the expected gas mileage for any car you are thinking of buying. Data covers cars from 1985 to the present. Includes features on hybrid cars, fuel cells and more (US EPA / Department of Energy). See also Stretching Your Fuel Dollars, a collection of articles from Consumer Reports (some articles only available to subscribers) and 'Gas-Saving' Products: Fact or Fuelishness? (FTC).
Gas Mileage Tips - Advice on driving more efficiently, keeping your car in shape, planning and combining trips, and choosing a more efficient vehicle to save money and energy (US EPA/Department of Energy). See also Saving Money at the Pump (FTC) and Edmunds' collection of Fuel Economy articles, including What Really Saves Gas? And How Much? (Edmunds.com).
Gold Book is now NADA Classic Car Values.
Greener Cars - Whether you're looking for a sedan, minivan, SUV, or truck, this site will help you choose the most efficient, eco-friendly vehicle in any vehicle class. Includes Green Driving Tips. See also Green Vehicle Guide (EPA) and Car Talk's Eco-Page. Sign up for the Better World Club's free Kicking Asphalt e-Newsletter to get news and information about green cars, fuel efficiency, alternative fuels and more.
Hemmings Motor News - 'The World's Largest Vehicle Enthusiast Site.' Includes links to Car Clubs, dealers, parts suppliers, classified ads, and other resources. (Commercial site)
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety - Vehicle crash test ratings and other safety information; covers the latest model year plus four previous years.
Intellichoice Car Center - Information on new and used cars, trucks and vans; covers all makes and models. Includes detailed dealer pricing, complete ownership costs, and much more. (Commercial site; from the publishers of The Complete Car Cost Guide.)
Lemon Law (New Jersey) - Stuck with a lemon? Find out what your rights are in NJ, and what remedies are available to you. (NJ Division of Consumer Affairs)
Motorcycle Helmet Use Laws - Answers common questions about helmet use, including 'How effective are helmets?' 'Are there drawbacks to helmet use?' 'How do helmet laws affect motorcyclist deaths and injuries?' and more (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety). See also Motorcycle Safety (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).
Motoring Technology - Articles on the latest in automotive research and development. Full text of some articles is available only to subscribers. (Commercial site: New Scientist magazine).
Multicultural Drivers - Targeted materials aimed at raising awareness about the importance of traffic safety among African Americans, Asian / Pacific Islanders, Hispanics and American Indian / Alaska Natives. Use the tabs across the top to select a population group, then to select type of material. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
NADA Guides - A popular source of 'book values' for new and used cars, plus tips and advice for buying or selling a car. Now also includes Classic Car Values, formerly the Gold Book. (National Automobile Dealers Association)
NJ Highway Safety Laws - A quick overview of New Jersey laws related to aggressive driving, cell phone use, child restraints, seat belts, alcohol- & drug-impaired driving, graduated driver licensing, helmet laws, and more. (Governors Highway Safety Association )
NJ Motor Vehicle Commission - Information on how to get a driver's license, permit, vehicle registration, inspections, plates, etc., in New Jersey (official State of NJ website). See also Licensing Links for links to motor vehicle departments in other states (commercial site).
NIASE - The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence website provides car care tips and a directory of certified repair shops.
Oil Safari [UPDATED LINK!] - 'Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Salopek traces gasoline sold at a Chicago-area station back to... some of the most violent corners of the planet - and to a petroleum economy nearing crisis.' (Chicago Tribune)
Scooter Rundown - 'Record numbers of Americans are getting out of their cars and hopping onto scooters, spurred by high gas prices and concerns for the environment. But with many options and styles to choose from, picking the right ride can be tricky.' This page offers tips on choosing the right scooter to fit your needs, with links to related information on scooters and scooter safety. (NPR)
Tire Tips - Advice on maintaining your tires for maximum safety (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). See also What To Do If You Have a Blowout on the Highway [UPDATED LINK, OPENS A PDF DOCUMENT] (National Safety Council).
Toxic Chemicals in Cars - This consumer guide to toxics in car interiors provides test results for chemicals that off-gas from vehicle parts such as the steering wheel, dashboard, armrests, seats, and carpet. 'These chemicals become part of the air we breathe, contributing to "new car smell" and a variety of acute and long-term health concerns'. Includes tests for children's car seats (Ecology Center). For more background on this issue, see
What's that Stuff? New Car Smell (Chemical & Engineering News).
Vehicle Repossession - Advice on what do to if your car is repossessed (and how to prevent repossession). (FTC)
Winter Driving - Vehicle maintenance and driving tips to help keep you safe on the road in winter. Click on Cars in the menu for additional auto-related articles; there is no cost to view them online (Federal Citizen Information Center). CarTalk also has a page of tips on Winter Driving.
