There is little doubt that private vehicles, especially older, used cars, are among the leading contributors to smog and the emission of greenhouse gases. Yet there are a few easy strategies car owners can take to improve their driving habits and reduce their environmental impact.

1. Plan ahead. Prepare your route, schedule and shopping list before hitting the road. It can reduce your travel time and allows you to avoid unnecessary trips to stores and businesses.
2. Measure your tire pressure once a month. Maintaining proper tire inflation could save you two weeks worth of gas a year and reduce harmful emissions, reports News Canada.
3. Avoid Idling. Try to limit your idle time to 30 seconds or less or just turn the engine off while you wait.
4. Avoid ‘stop and go’ driving. Be mindful of rush hour periods when planning your travel time, you can avoid both frustration and wasteful gas usage.
5. Open windows instead of using air-conditioning. This will take a load off your engine and improve your fuel economy.
6. Park in the shade. On hot days, gasoline will evaporate from the engine and gas tank, contributing to air pollution.
7. Carpool. This will take a few cars off the road while also allowing the use of carpool lanes, resulting in faster commutes. Yippee!
8. Avoid quick accelerations, revving and speeding. Smooth, constant control of the gas pedal will reduce unnecessary fuel consumption.
9. Shed a few pounds. Carrying extra weight in your vehicle adds stress on your engine, causing it to emit more pollution.
10. Take care when refueling. Spilt gasoline evaporates into the air as pollution. Avoid overfilling your gas tank when you’re at the pump.

Well there you have it, 10 easy strategies any car owner can use to minimize their CO2 ‘footprint’. Happy travels.

For more info, check out the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (pdf).

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Does it ever feel as if your car doesn’t have a gas tank? You know, when you go to fill up on gas, either with your car, a friends or one of your family member’s, and step outside the vehicle only to find that the gas tank’s on the other side of the car? Speaking from my own personal experience, I can say this has happened to me at least 20 times in the last 5 years.

So what if there was a built-in tool that reminded the driver which side the tank is on? One that didn’t require you stepping outside the car? Someone should really do something about that! Oh wait they already have! By they I mean every major car manufacturer on the planet. Ready for the most impressive auto secret ever?

Here it is: if you look at your gas gage, you will see a small icon of a gas pump. The handle of the gas pump will extend out on either the left or right side of the pump. If your tank is on the left, the handle will be on the left. If your tank is on the right, the handle will be on the right (see photo below). It’s that simple!

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Want to ferret out the weasels before wasting time to go view that vehicle for sale?

The following questions will not only allow you to weed out the cars that you know you don’t want, even before leaving the comfort of your own home, but also give you a chance to gauge the seller. Certain types of people take better care of their cars, for instance. And let’s not forget that some sellers just want to offload their car – no matter what.

Studies show that people give away verbal clues when lying. Listen for “ums” and “ahs”, stuttering, throat clearly, a lot of expanded contractions (`did not’ rather than `didn’t’) and an inordinate amount of adjectives.

Grab some paper, a pen, get on the phone, conduct this interview like you were George Stroumboulopoulos and pay particular attention what the car seller is not telling you:

1. Why are you selling the car? You’d be surprised as to how many people will flounder when asked this very simple question. It’s because they don’t want to say it’s a piece of rubble even if they truly believe it is. If they have an alternate reason or if they have enough wits about them to make up something believable, then you can almost be certain they had enough sense to maintain the vehicle.
2. I’d like to do a history check, what is the vehicle’s VIN#? By asking this question next, it lets the seller know, first, that you’re on the ball and second, that you’ll be verifying their answers.
3. How many kilometers/miles are there on the odometer? The more mileage on the vehicle, the more used it is and the less it’s worth. Check the current value of the vehicle in the Canadian Black Book or the Canadian Red Book. For utility vehicles and motorcycles, research values in the Canadian Blue Book.
4. What’s the condition of the vehicle? This open-ended question allows the seller to use their discretion. What does their answer tell you about them? Write it down and analyze it later. If they haven’t provided you a thorough enough answer, then be more specific and ask about its structural and mechanical condition.
5. As far as you know, does it need any repairs? This very pointed question confronts the seller who may have kept this important piece of information to him/herself with the last question. If you go so far as to test drive the vehicle and notice some obvious repairs are needed, then you may want to question the honesty of this owner.
6. Does it have any special features? A moon roof, leather seats, air conditioner, MP3 player, etc. will increase the perceived value of the vehicle for most people.
7. Are you the original owner? If they are, then you’ve hit a sweet deal. They will know everything about that car, what it’s been through and how well it’s been maintained.
8. Was the vehicle ever in an accident? Collisions devalue vehicles as they are more likely to have problems now or in the future. The history check should reveal the answer, even if this owner doesn’t know or isn’t telling.
9. Any recent work done on it? Do you have service records/receipts? Obviously a brand new motor will increase the value of the vehicle. If the owner has kept track of vehicle servicing and the receipts, then they most likely have kept good care of their car.
10. How much are you asking for it? The wording here indicates that you believe the price is negotiable. The quoted price here is what they want for it, not necessarily what they’re willing to get for it.

Take your gut feeling and the answers to these questions to evaluate whether or not you want to deal with this seller. If you do, then before going to see the car and test drive it, arrive to the meeting with some figures in mind. According to your budget, determine the most you’d pay for the best case scenario about this car.

Good luck in buying a car; and keep your eyes and ears open to those behavioural cues!

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The auto repair industry is notorious for overcharging customers for shoddy work, and considering that your new or used vehicle is one of your biggest investments, it is essential that you know the signs of a bad mechanic. Here are some things to look out for:

Lack of Certification.

Professional mechanics will display their certificates or wear patches to indicate that they have the proper automotive training. Know what associations grant certificates in your area and avoid mechanics that lack these credentials.

Lack of specialization

You should be wary of mechanics who offer both diagnostics and repair as they may lack the specialization to fix specific problems with your vehicle.

Verbal Estimate

Always have a written estimate! A dishonest mechanic may just give you a verbal estimate over the phone or over the counter. It is important to have a written estimate after the initial inspection before you approve of any work.

Cheap parts and labour

It is important to ask where the replacement parts are coming from. Cheap parts from K-Mart or other retail chains may not be sufficient and can result in you bringing the vehicle back for more work. Insist on using official parts from your vehicle’s manufacturer. You can ask to keep the old part being replaced if you want to show it to a second or third party to assure that it really needs replacing. An honest mechanic would certainly have no qualms about this. Also, overly cheap labour may suggest that the mechanic is untrained or inexperienced.

Distracting Deals

Watch out for ads for free brake pads, etc, as there may be high fees for other services.

Poor condition of the garage

A clear sign of a bad mechanic is the appearance of his garage. Dirty and disorderly garages should be avoided.

Not a people person?

Avoid dealing with irritable or impatient mechanics. Overtly demanding or brash mechanics may try and rush the work being done on your car to avoid accurately explaining its condition.

Unnecessary Work

Probably the most encountered problem in auto-repair. A mechanic may perform unnecessary tasks and replace parts that have been recently installed or do not need to be checked. For example, during an oil change, a mechanic may also want to change the air, fuel or transmission filters when really only the oil filter needs to be checked. It is important for drivers to know what needs to be done before going in to the garage.

The following videos also provide useful tips on avoiding rip-offs:

How to avoid getting ripped off by a mechanic

How to avoid getting ripped off by a mechanic if you’re a woman

Remember to consult your vehicle’s manual before heading into the shop to see what specifically needs to be done and if there is anything you can do personally to fix it. Research any of your car’s problems to get a basic idea of what work needs to be done and relatively how much it should cost. It is always best to be prepared! Finding a reliable and honest mechanic can take some time but with a little background knowledge as well as the recommendations of insurance companies, car dealers and basic word of mouth, you’ll track one down.

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Found a deal on a used car that’s just too good to be true? That’s because it probably is. Take a look at your second hand vehicle and see if you can spot any of these tell-tale signs that you’re used car is indeed a very sour lemon.

1. Odd movement. Problematic steering can lead to dangerous situations on the road.
2. Body damage. Rust and holes are difficult to repair and more often than not call for a full replacement of panels.
3. Bad Brakes. Squeaking, grinding and shaking are things to look out for.
4. Transmission Trouble. Any unusual noises when shifting are a clear indicator of problems.
5. Check the clutch. If it’s loose and noisy you may be in trouble
6. Oil in the tailpipe. Often associated with significant motor problems.
7. Erratic Exhaust. Is that your car violently coughing out black and blue smoke?
8. Broken electrical components. Problems with turn signals, the horn, or windshield wipers can indicate a major electrical problem with the car
9. Torn Interior. Rips in the upholstery and excessive wear and tear are sure signs that the car was poorly maintained by the previous owner.
10. A battle uphill. Rough and slow acceleration on a hill may indicate a weak engine.

When buying a used car, you should always take it for a test drive with these concerns in mind. You don’t want to be stuck on the road with a dirty, rusty and smoky disaster. For more helpful tips and strategies for buying a used vehicle, check out Tony Iorio’s Insider Car Secret’s article.

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