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Students are busy preparing for college and the last thing on their list – if it makes the list at all – is checking out the condition of the car they will take to school. The expectation may be that parents handle the routine auto maintenance, but regardless of who does it, the Car Care Council recommends a thorough checkup on the car before it leaves to ensure safety and reliability.

With gas prices on the rise, there is no better time than now to think about vehicle maintenance.

“Proper car care is critical during the travel season,” said Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council. “With gas prices exceeding an average $2 per gallon, performing a few basic, inexpensive maintenance checks will make road trips both safe and fuel efficient.”

In light of the higher gasoline prices, the Car Care Council suggests you pay attention to these items:

Walking in a winter wonderland is a beautiful sight but safely driving through the glistening snow can rattle your nerves if you and your car aren’t prepared for winter. The Car Care Council suggests motorists have their vehicles winterized before harsh weather arrives and especially before embarking on road trips for the holidays. According to the council, the following steps will help get your vehicle ready for winter:

Winter is the season to be “Car Care Aware.”

The Car Care Council recommends performing the following tasks to get your vehicle ready for severe winter conditions. If you’re not a do-it-yourselfer, visit a professional auto technician before the temperature dips.

More than 70 percent of motorists admit that they did not have their cars winterized in preparation for inclement weather, according to a survey conducted by the Car Care Council. This can prove extremely dangerous if your car breaks down due to a lack of preventative maintenance. Why take the risk?

The good news is that it’s not too late to prepare your vehicle for harsh winter weather. The Car Care Council recommends the following tasks be performed by a do-it-yourselfer or professional automotive technician”:

Car commercials would have us believe that the mark of success is in the vehicle that we drive. Reality is quite different, according to The Millionaire Next Door. The New York Times Best Seller maintains that “you aren’t what you drive,” citing that most millionaires don’t live extravagant lifestyles, but spend wisely and live within their means regardless of their income.

A new Car Care Guide for motorists turns technical automotive jargon into easy-to-understand everyday language, taking the mystery out of vehicle maintenance and repair. The free guide, published by the Car Care Council, can be ordered on the council’s Web site at www.carcare.org.

According to a recent story in USA Today, more motorists are maintaining their current vehicles instead of purchasing new ones because of the uncertain economic environment. However, recent Car Care Council survey results show that 80 percent of the vehicles inspected during vehicle check-up events needed either service or parts.

Part of parenting is dispensing driving advice. For example, in icy weather young drivers may be told, "Take it slow. Don't drive any faster than the speed at which you're willing to hit a brick wall." Thanks Mom. Thanks Dad. Driving slowly and cautiously is good advice, but the Car Care Council reminds motorists of other cold weather tips.

The first and most important is to be proactive. That means making sure you're car is mechanically sound before the temperature dips and the streets get icy.

The use of a car cover can help protect your car from a myriad of harmful factors such as sunlight, acid rain, fallen braches, etc. However, if you do not use the cover properly, you may risk the chance of damaging your vehicle rather than protecting it.

Most car covers are used to shield your car from the outdoor elements but some people use them indoors as well to protect against dust. There are three basic types of car covers: water proof, water resistant and non-water resistant. Each of these covers has advantages and disadvantages.