Gas prices are down substantially from last year, and you can buy great new car for under $20,000, but owning and maintaining a vehicle is still expensive. These websites will help you save green — dollars, that is — with whatever you drive.
Repairs — Check Repairpal.com to find out what the job should cost. This website monitors thousands of repair shops to determine what costs what, and where, since some parts of the country are simply more expensive than others, and lists the three top-rated repair shops in your area. You can also find the authorized dealer nearest you handling recall repairs.
Recalls — Not all of them are announced in front page headlines, like the Toyota and Lexus gas pedal fiasco. Some recalls are under the radar, and it may take months for a manufacturer to let you know. Safecar.gov is the direct link on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) website to check by make and model year to see if your car is on the lemon list. And this page also lets you file a complaint.
Gas — You can estimate the cost of your family vacation or business trip on FuelCostCalculator.com. Just enter the make and model year you are driving, and the distance you are traveling, and the website will calculate how much it will cost to get from here to there.
More Gas Savers — Find the cheapest gas station in your area, or the one you are visiting by using GasBuddy.com or GasPriceWatch.com
Speed traps — Ironically, some police departments want you to know about Trapster.com, which posts the location of the speed traps that can result in a speeding ticket of $100 or more, and perhaps points on your license, as well. Knowing where the speed traps are encourages you to slow down, which cops really want you to do. Makes sense to me.
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