Cars

Driving is Expensive!

Owning a car or truck, is generally the most expensive way to get around.

	Low Costs	Average Costs
Per year	$4500	$8000
Per month	$275	$600
Per week	$80	$150
Per day	$12	$20

                             

For more on these figures and how much you’re spending, see Your Car Costs.

Cars also wear down our roads, pollute our neighborhoods, and contribute about 20 lbs of carbon dioxide to global warming per gallon of gas burned. Try comparing the costs and benefits of a car with other ways of getting around.

The Good News
Fortunately, there are lots of ways to save money on your car—many of which also lower pollution and traffic congestion, and can even support community equity and inclusion. To trim your car diet and really fatten your wallet, see our tips on going car-lite or car-free.

Legal Requirements, Safety and Consumer Issues
Below, find resources on legal requirements of driving, including licenses, registration, insurance, safety inspections and child safety seat requirements. For tips on buying a car, dealing with insurance, car repairs and understanding lemon laws, see Consumer Issues. For resources for learning or brushing up on driving, or reducing your points or car insurance rates, see Driving Courses.

The Tompkins County Dept. of Motor Vehicles, or Ithaca Motor Vehicles is located at 301 Third Street, Ithaca, NY 14850, 607-273-7187.

The New York State Dept. of Motor Vehicles
Call for general questions and specific topics such as custom plates, road tests or identity cards. From area code 607, dial 1-518-486-9786. Visit the Call Center online if you are calling from another area code.

The NYS DMV website has a lot of information on the legal requirements of owning and driving a motor vehicle in New York State, including:

Getting a driver's license

Drivers from other nations

Registering a car that’s new to you or new to NY State

Insurance requirements and procedures -- See also our Consumer Issues page

Safety inspections

NYS DMV Forms & Publications for print or preview

 

Child safety seat information
Carefully read the owner's manuals for your vehicle and car seat before traveling with children. See also: Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families 2009 by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Check to be sure that your child's seat hasn't been recalled at: Child Safety Seat Recalls, a site provided by the for-profit group oninedmv.com.  

Roadside Assistance Services

1) Have your cell phone with you on the road, or buy and keep a charged prepaid phone in the car for emergencies. Your cell phone may even offer a towing plan.

2) Emergency assistance coverage

- Many car insurance companies offer emergency roadside assistance services, but you may want to check and see if and how your rates will go up if you use it.

- In addition, many car dealerships and even credit card companies offer emergency roadside assistance plans.

3) Car Clubs

- You might also consider joining a car club. Member benefits usually include towing, locksmith, battery, fuel delivery services, and other travel perks.

- You may want to research the lobbying activities of your car clubs. For example, Better World Club has a reputation for being more environmentally-friendly than AAA in its lobbying activities.

Some popular car clubs offering roadside assistance
AAA of Western & Central NY
Allstate Motor Club
Better World Club

See our Consumer Issues page for more on buying or leasing a car, auto insurance, auto repair, car lemon laws and more.

Last Updated: May 22, 2012