FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   December 10, 2001
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DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES PROVIDES SHOPPERS WITH A SMART CAR BUYING CHECKLIST

 (RENO, Nev.) – With several financing opportunities and savings options available, now is the ideal time to consider purchasing a new or used vehicle.  The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offers car shoppers a checklist to help select cleaner cars resulting in cleaner air and a healthy environment for the Truckee Meadows.

Ö        Look for smoke when you start the vehicle.  White exhaust, at first, is normal condensation. If you see exhaust for longer than 10 seconds or it is dirty or blue, the engine probably needs repair.

Ö        Verify the age of the car.  Studies show pre-1981 cars account for less than a fourth of the vehicles on the road, but produce more than half the ozone-causing emissions

Ö        Check the gas cap.  There should be a hissing sound when the cap is loosened.  Improperly fitted gas caps can cause gas to leak resulting in air pollution.

Ö        Check the mileage.  The ideal used vehicle has between 12,000 to 15,000 average miles per year over the life of the vehicle. 

Ö        Check for a valid emissions certificate.  Nevada requires used car dealers to issue a valid emissions test, when required, on any vehicle they sell.  In private transactions, the test is the buyer's responsibility.

Ö        Determine fuel efficiency.  All new cars and trucks purchased from a car dealer display a fuel economy label, usually on one of the windows that provide the vehicle's estimated miles per gallon under highway and city operating conditions.

Ö        Shop smart. Take advantage of environmentally sensitive cars including electric vehicles, gas-electric cars, dual fuel and bi-fuel vehicles.

Ö        Get expert advice.  Before purchasing a used vehicle, ask a mechanic to inspect the vehicle for maintenance problems.

Residents of the Truckee Meadows can easily help to improve the region’s air quality by reporting smoking vehicles by calling 686-SMOG.  Callers should be prepared to provide the license plate number of the smoking vehicle, the approximate time the vehicle was spotted and the location of the vehicle.  All information is confidential. 

The smoking vehicle program started in 1996, resulting in more than 32,000 calls over the last five years to the DMV.  The program has helped to get more than 5,000 smoking vehicles cleaned up resulting in cleaner air for the region. 
For more information on the smoking vehicle program call 1-877-DMV-STAT (1-877-368-7828) or access http://www.dmvnv.com/emission.htm.

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