Featured Resource
Auto Care & Repair Database
- Chilton Library
- Available to members of Thrall. Auto repair procedures, engine diagrams, diagnostics, vehicle maintenance information, recalls. Access information by specifying make and model of a car.
Other Resources
Auto Shows
- Auto Show News
- From Road and Track.
- Auto Shows
- News coverage and new/concept car highlights from Edmunds.
- Auto Shows
- "Watch LIVE coverage, see videos, read news, and view photos from every famous international auto show annually." From Motor Trend.
- Chicago Auto Show
- "The largest auto show in North America and has been held more times than any other auto exposition on the continent."
- New York International Auto Show
- North American International Auto Show
- More commonly known as "The Detroit Auto Show."
Best Car Lists - Vehicle Rankings / Ratings / Reviews
- Best and Worst Fuel Economy Vehicles
- List and ratings from FuelEconomy.gov and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory.
- Best Car, Truck, and SUV Rankings
- From U.S. News and World Report. See also Top Ra
- Best Cars Lists
- Includes new, used, most popular, consumer favorites, lowest costing, and more. From Edmunds.
- Car Safety Information
- From Consumer Reports. See also their New Cars section for Best and Worst ratings.
- Car, Sport/Utility and Truck Of The Year Winners
- "The Motor Trend magazine of the Year awards are the magazine’s signature annual events that crown the best of the best in the Car, Sport/Utility and Truck segments. Every year, the newest and hottest cars, trucks and SUVs are put through an extensive battery of testing and evaluation, but only one will be crowned the winner of the sought after Golden Calipers." From Motor Trend. Also check out their Car Reviews / Road Tests section.
- New and Used Car Ratings
- From NADA guides.
- Road Test and New Car Test Drive Reviews
- From Car and Driver.
- Safety Center
- "Get the latest information on crash test results, safety technology and performance features that help you avoid an accident altogether. Our Safety Center will help you sort through safety facts and features and fill you in on today's safest vehicles." From Kelley Blue Book. See also their Car Reviews section.
Buying, Leasing, or Selling a Vehicle
- Auto Leasing: the Art of the Deal
- From LeaseGuide.com.
- Buying and Selling Cars
- Includes: How to Buy a Car, Selling Cars, How Kelley Blue Book Works, How Car Financing Works, VINs (Vehicle Identification Numbers), Car Insurance Tips, Leasing, How to Read a Car Window Sticker, How to Buy a Fuel-efficient Car. From How Stuff Works.
- Consumer Guide Automotive
- Includes "New Car Buying Tools" (Research New Cars, Compare Cars, Reviews, Local Dealers, Buying Guides) and "Used Car Buying Tools" (Research Used Cars, Local Listings, Trade-In Evaluation, Certified Pre-Owned, Prices, Ratings / Reviews, Vehicle History Reports, Sell Your Car). From Consumer Guide / How Stuff Works.
- Tips on Buying a Used Car
- From USA.gov.
- Used Car Buying Guide
- From Consumer Reports.
Driver Licenses & NYS DMV
- Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
- New York State. See also their Local DMV Offices page.
- General Information about Driver Licenses
- From the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.
- New York State Driver's Manual and Study Guide
- "New drivers, prepare for your NYS learner permit test and your road test. Veteran drivers, brush up on the rules of the road. This online version of the New York State Driver's Manual contains the information from Part 2 of the printed Manual (Chapters 4 through 12). Chapters 4 through 11 include the material you must read and understand to pass the written test for a Class D, DJ or E learner permit. Each of those chapters has an interactive quiz that includes actual DMV written test questions." From the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
General Information about Automobiles
- Car and Driver
- Articles, reviews, buyers' guides, automotive news.
- Car Talk
- Tips, advice, and troubleshooting. Blog and audio programs. From National Public Radio (NPR).
- Cars.com
- "Visited by more than 10 million car shoppers each month, Cars.com is the leading destination for online car shoppers, offering credible and easy-to-understand information from consumers and experts to help buyers formulate opinions on what to buy, where to buy and how much to pay for a car. With comprehensive pricing information, side-by-side comparison tools, photo galleries, videos, unbiased editorial content and a large selection of new- and used-car inventory, Cars.com puts car buyers in control of their shopping process with the information they need to make confident buying decisions."
- FuelEconomy.gov
- From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Find and compare cars and their energy consumption and environmental impact scores. Sections include: Alternative Fuel Vehicles, New Fuel Economy Ratings, Find Your Car's Energy Impact Score, Energy Efficiency, EPA MPG Ratings, Hybrid Vehicles, Gas Mileage Tips, Gasoline Prices, Videos, Where Can I Buy Ethanol/E85/Flex-Fuel Vehicles?, News.
- From How Stuff Works:
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- Auto Basics Library
- "The Auto Basics Channel offers detailed, accurate articles about cars and educates you on auto terminology. For fun, get to know how car crushers and car washes work or which 33 cars are named after animals." Includes: How Automobiles Work, How Car Crushers Work, How Car Washes Work, How Automotive Production Lines Work, Glossary of Automotive Terms.
- Auto Racing
- Includes: NASCAR Drivers History, Jobs, Quizzes, Race Tracks, Racing, Season Recaps.
- Automobile Parts and Systems - Under the Hood
- Sections include: Aftermarket Accessories and Customization, Auto Manufacturing, Car Part Longevity, Car Trends and Innovations, Cost of Car Ownership, Dignosing Car Problems, Engines, Exhaust and Emissions, Motorcycle Parts and Accessories, Options, and more topics. From HowStuffWorks.com.
- Car Models (types of)
- Includes: Classic and Collectible, Concept Cars, Exotic Cars, Hybrid Cars, Luxury Cars, Modern Cars, Muscle Cars, Race Cars, Sports Cars, Unusual Cars.
- Future Cars
- Preview upcoming cars and their specifications. Sports, hybrid, electric, compact, exotic, luxury, sedans, SUV, trucks.
- How Car Engines Work
- Includes: Basic Engine Parts, Internal Combustion, Engine Problems, Engine Valve Train and Ignition Systems, Engine Cooling, Air-intake and Starting Systems, Engine Lubrication, Fuel / Exhaust / Electrical Systems, Producing More Engine Power, Engine Questions and Answers, How 4-cylinder and V6 engines differ, and a Car Engines Library.
- How Motorcycles Work
- Includes: Chassis, Driving a Motorcycle, Engines, Future, History, Motorcycle Types, Transmissions.
- Plug in America: Links and Resources
- Links for information on the electric car and other alternative transports, as well as on its history. Provided by an advocacy group promoting electric cars.
History of Automobiles
- America on the Move
- This onilne exhibit "explores the role of transportation in American history." From National Museum of American History / Smithsonian.
- Automobile in American Life and Society
- Topics include Design, Environment, Gender, Labor, and Race. From the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
- Automobiles
- From History.com
- Electric Cars and History
- From the Edison Tech Center.
- General Motors History and Heritage
- Slideshows and information.
- Great Achievements: Automobile
- Topics include Timeline, Early years, Assembly line, and Continuing developments. From the National Academy of Engineering
- The History of Cars and Engines
- From About.com.
- Who Invented the Automobile?
- From the Library of Congress.
- Women's Automotive History Highlights
- A PDF from the Antique Auto Museum.
Terminology
- Alphabetical Glossary of Automotive Terms
- From Edmunds.
- Antique Car Glossary
- Vintage vehicle terminology. From Classic Car Club of America (CCCA).
- Automobile Insurance Terms
- From FindLaw.
- Automotive Terms Glossary
- From AutoZone.
- Automotive Glossary
- Described as "a glossary of common automotive innovations, some of which may not have existed the last time you bought a vehicle." From ConsumerGuide / How Stuff Works.
- Glossary of Auto Loan Terms
- From Automotive.com.
- NASCAR Glossary
- Auto racing terminology. From NASCAR.
Vehicle Safety & Inspections
- Car Driving and Safety Channel
- Includes: Automotive Accidents and Hazardous Conditions, How Crash Testing Works, How DUI (Driving Under Intoxication) Works, How Odometers Work, How Road Rage Works, How the Jaws of Life Work, How Traffic Works, Rollover Accidents Explained, Top 10 Car Summer Maintenance Tips, Top 10 Car Winterizing Tips, What if I threw my car into reverse while I was driving?, Winter Driving Tips. From How Stuff Works.
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
- Rates automobiles for safety, has consumer brochures and videos.
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Crash test results, recalls, auto safety hotline, and more.
- Vehicle Safety, Inspection, Repairs and Dealers
- "At this web site, you can search for DMV-regulated businesses by ZIP Code or by county." From NYS DMV.
- SaferCar.gov
- "The nation's premier source of vehicle safety information from the government." From the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Sections include: Defects and Recalls, Crash Test and Rollover Ratings, Become a Safer Driver, Tires, Air bags and safety, Buying a Safer Car, New Car Assessment Program.
Vehicle Values (New, Used, Trade-in) & Price Guides
- Edmunds
- New or used prices, buyers advice, use VIN # to perform carfax history on a particular vehicle. See also Edmunds' Best Cars Lists, which includes new, used, most popular, consumer favorites, lowest costing, and more.
- Kelly Blue Book
- New or used prices on autos, mororcycles, personal water craft or snowmobiles. Lemon check feature.
- N.A.D.A. Guides
- New car prices, used car values, reviews, buying guides.
