When buying any used car, it is always a good idea to take it to a dealer of the brand for an inspection. The dealer will have specific knowledge of your car and can help you find replacement parts if necessary. A local garage may also not have the high-tech diagnosis and repair equipment that the dealer would.

Before you buy an used car always take it to a reputable mechanic that YOU trust and have him check it over completely. He can alert you to exsisting conditions, safety problems, and possible damage that the seller may be trying to cover up. You should also get a Free Car History report from CarFax.

Decoding VIN Numbers You can decode a VIN to determine what kind of car it is - Ford, Chevy, Honda, Corvette, Chevrolet, etc. With that information, you can tell almost anything about the car. Do your Vin Search with carfax.com.

Spring is here and if you haven't already done so, it's time to take a look at your tires and equip your vehicle with something suitable for the spring and summer seasons. But don't just rush out and buy the first set of tires you find, or the ones with the best sale price - make sure what you choose is best suited to your vehicle and your driving personality. A used tire tells a lot about your driving personality too, so if you're in any doubt about which tires to buy

Many people believe that their vehicle's cooling system never needs to be serviced, or it just needs a top off every now and then. But, cooling system maintenance is extremely important for every day vehicle performance, and the life of antifreeze depends on its ability to stand against temperature extremes and the ravages of rust and corrosion. Special chemical additives, called corrosion inhibitors, blended with ethylene glycol and water help prevent rust and corrosion damage. Over time, these additives work out and the inhibitor-depleted coolant will provide limited corrosion protection of cooling system metals.

Mothers teach their children that the five senses-hearing, sight, smell, taste and touch-are important for learning about the world around them. These same senses can also help moms-and women in general-with vehicle maintenance. According to the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), women now represent 65 percent of the customers who take their vehicles in for service and repair. Women also influence more than 89 percent of vehicle-service purchase decisions, and oversee the spending of more than $300 billion annually on used vehicles, maintenance, service and repair.

Want more horsepower without paying much to get it? Here are three ways today's top racers get more power from their race cars-and their personal cars-without spending a lot of money to do it.

Determining whether or not a vehicle requires a specific service or repair is one of the key tasks of automotive technicians and repair facilities-and one of the great mysteries for the average consumer. To help build consumer trust and satisfaction with the automotive service industry, a group of business owners, manufacturers and associations created the nonprofit Motorist Assurance Program (MAP), which requires member shops to adhere to a strict set of fact-based vehicle inspection and communication standards. MAP establishes criteria not only for recommending replacement of worn parts and other products, but also how these recommendations are communicated to the vehicle owner.

Which is more important, saving money on car repairs or saving your life? Finding a reputable shop to take your vehicle for major repairs-perhaps due to an accident or mechanical problems-can help protect you, your passengers and your wallet from harm. Although most body shops are honest, some will try to defraud you and your insurance company. There are a number of scams they might try-from padding charges to using defective parts to performing shoddy repair work-and it's the customer who ends up paying, via increased insurance premiums.

How many picture-perfect autumn days have you spent washing and waxing your car or truck in anticipation of harsh winter weather. As you were rubbing the last bit of wax off the car, did the thought "there has to be a better way" cross your mind? But you do it anyway, to protect your vehicle's paint from the effects of the sun's UV rays, industrial fallout, acid rain, snow and ice. Your car is a big investment that you want to keep in good condition.