Sources and original illustrations

Primary references and the limits of this educational collection.

Primary references

• FTC: Buying a Used Car from a Dealer — Buyers Guide, independent inspections, warranties and used-car shopping.
• FTC: Financing or Leasing a Car — Purchase and lease terms, costs and contract review.
• CFPB: Comparing Auto Loan Offers — APR, term, amount financed and total borrowing cost beyond monthly payment.
• CFPB: Trading a Car That Is Not Paid Off — Loan payoff, trade value and negative equity in a replacement transaction.
• NHTSA: Vehicle Safety Ratings — Test categories, comparison limits and safety-concern notices.
• NHTSA: Recall Search — Vehicle-specific recall lookup, limitations and remedy information.
• NHTSA: Driver Assistance Technologies — Warning versus intervention functions and driver responsibility.
• NHTSA: Vehicle Product Information Catalog — Basic VIN decoding based on manufacturer-submitted information.
• FuelEconomy.gov: Gasoline Vehicle Label — Fuel-economy label measures, assumptions and estimated costs.
• DOE AFDC: Charging Electric Vehicles at Home — Home charging, electrical assessment, suitable equipment and local installation requirements.
• Joint Office: Charging Connector and Adapter Compatibility — Connector and adapter compatibility must be checked for the actual vehicle and charging equipment.
• EPA: Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle Label — PHEV electric and gasoline operation, MPGe and label assumptions.
• U.S. DOJ NMVTIS: Consumer Information — Title-history reports, approved providers and limitations.
• NHTSA: Adapted Vehicles — Personal fit and specialist assessment for adaptive driving equipment.
• NHTSA: TireWise — Vehicle-specific tire and loading information and maintenance needs.
• Ford: Towing Guides — Example of a manufacturer source for model-year and configuration-specific towing information; not a brand recommendation.
• FTC: Car Dealer Ads and Promotions — Written out-the-door prices, vehicle availability and advertised conditions.
• NHTSA: Distracted Driving — Keeping attention on driving and handling devices before moving.
• Consumer.gov: Buying a Car — Budgeting for a vehicle and considering costs beyond the advertised price.
• FuelEconomy.gov: Compare Cars Side by Side — Comparing the exact model-year and powertrain configuration using official estimates.

Original visual material

The diagrams in this edition are original SVG illustrations explaining the sequence or decisions in each guide. They do not show a laboratory experiment, a personal trip or a tested product result. No photographs from the linked sources are reproduced.

Check the source in context

References were consulted during preparation of this edition. A source may cover a broader or narrower question than a particular guide; the support notes above explain why it is listed. Read the original for methodology, exceptions and updates.