10 Things every driver must know about their car, and where to find it

Driving is an integral part of our lives, but it’s also dangerous.  Even responsible, well-intentioned drivers need to share the road with speeders, weavers and risk-takers. That takes skill and practice and it’s why we’ve compiled resources for you to help.

FUEL

• What kind of fuel does it take, where is the gas tank located, and where to find the clue on the dashboard?

FLUID

• Where to put the washer fluid for front and/or rear windows?

TIRES

• What is the correct tire pressure and where to find it?
• Does your car have a spare tire, what kind and where to find it?
• Where is the jack located in your car?

DRIVE

• Does your car have front-wheel, rear-wheel, all, or 4-wheel drive, and why this is important?

EMERGENCY

• Where is the hazard button and when to use it?
• Where is your car’s safety kit, or how to assemble one?
• Where are the insurance documents, ownership, and license located?
• Where is your roadside assistance info and call list for emergency?

 

Fuel Information

Tank Side

Knowing what kind of fuel and octane you need in your vehicle is very important. But knowing where to out it I even more so. Most vehicles have their gas tanks on the back left or back right-side, however some high-end sports cars can have it at the front. To figure out where yours is; there are a few things you can do: you can walk around the car and look at what side it’s on, check your dashboard behind the wheel to see which directions the arrow is pointing, or you can look in your owner’s manual. It may not seem like a big thing, but it makes a difference when it comes to getting gas and being safe in the gas station

How to Change Washer Fluid

Changing windshield washer fluid is very important, especially in the winter, to help you see and stay safe. The picture above is the symbol to look for when you need to replace the fluid. Your vehicle will tell you when you are out of washer fluid with that symbol appearing on the dashboard. It’s important to always have an extra bottle of washer fluid in your vehicle in case something happens where you don’t have access to buy it. To change the fluid, open your hood and look for the reservoir with the symbol above. It is usually located at the base of the hood or windshield. Most newer cars take a whole bottle or more of washer fluid, which is why having an extra on hard is always important. For most new cars if you also have back wipers, the same receptacle is used to wash both. If you have an older car, however, it may be equipped with two separate receptacles for the front and back, so check your owner’s manual to find the back one.

Tire Pressure PSI

Spare Tire

Where is my Jack?

Vehicles started including jack in the 1950s. Most new cars today come equipped with a jack, however some do not in an attempt to decrease weight and save furl economy. Jacks are used to lift up your vehicle enough to replace a flat tire. The jack is located with the spare tire in the trunk To access it, simply lift off the floor covering your trunk. You can find out if your vehicle has one by looking in the owner’s manual or opening the floor covering in your trunk. This is important to know since everyone will get a flat tire at some point in their driving career. Even if you don’t know how to use it, knowing if you have one or that it’s there, will help the roadside assistance person fix your tire.

Drive

Hazard Lights

Also known as emergency lights, hazard warning lights flash in union to alert other cars of a problem, obstruction, or abrupt slow-down. If a car breaks down on the side of the road, a crash happens on a roadway, someone is temporarily parked on a street, or traffic slows-down or stops very abruptly, hazard warning lights are used. Generally, the button is located in the middle of the dashboard above the middle console where air conditioning or GPS screens are located. The symbol is universal, so no matter where you are, you can find the button. Make sure you familiarize yourself with when to use it in different countries as their rules are different than ours.

Vehicle Safety Kit

License, Insurance, and Ownership documents

In order to operate a vehicle, the driver must have their license with them. It is illegal to operate a vehicle without a valid license. The fine for doing so is between $200 – $1000. Having all your required documents with you when driving is very important in case a collision were to occur or you got pulled over. Most people keep their license in their wallet as it is used often and for more than driving. For your ownership and insurance, it’s important to have a photocopy of each in case something happened. These documents can be stored in the glove box so you don’t have to worry about them and so they are easily accessible when needed.

Roadside Emergencies 101