Four Things AAA Says Parents Should Teach Teens Before Sending Them, Their Vehicle Off to College

ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 20, 2009; Preparing college-bound teens for life away from home can be an anxious and task-filled time. While many parents will be teaching and reminding their teens about diet, laundry and personal safety, they too frequently forget the important subject of car care and repairs before sending their teen and vehicle off to college.

"Learning the essential points of car care is something that ideally should be part of the process of learning to drive," said John Nielsen, director of AAA Approved Auto Repair and Auto Buying. "But often those key points are never taught or only briefly reviewed and never utilized because the teen's vehicle is maintained by someone else while they are living at home."

Before sending their teen and vehicle off to college, AAA encourages parents to review four main areas about properly maintaining a vehicle and preparing for the unexpected.

Check and Maintain Tires

The four points where the rubber meets the road are the only things that stand between teens and a crash. They are one of the easiest items on a vehicle to maintain, but frequently are forgotten until something goes wrong.

  --  Parents should make sure their teens have a tire pressure gauge in
      their vehicle, know where it is located and how to use it properly.
      While there are a variety of tire pressure gauges, those with
      electronic readouts might be the easiest for the teen to use.
  --  Explain that tires should be checked at least once a month when the
      tires are cold.
  --  Show teens where to find the vehicle manufacturer's recommended tire
      pressure--which is located on a label on the driver's door jamb or in
      the glove box. It's important that teens know they should not use the
      inflation pressure found on the tire sidewall. That is the tire's
      maximum pressure level, but it might not the correct pressure for the
      tire when used on their particular vehicle.
  --  Take teens to a gas station with an air pump and let them practice
      adding air to their tires so they are familiar with how it's done.
  --  Make sure teens know they should also check the tire pressure in the
      spare tire as well as the four tires on the vehicle.
  --  Explain what to look for when examining the tread of their tires. Look
      for any nails or other objects that might be stuck in the tire and
      mean it's in need of repair. Inspect the tire for bulges or other
      abnormalities that would signal the need for replacement.

  --  Demonstrate how to check tire tread depth by inserting a quarter
      upside down into a tire groove. If they can see above Washington's
      head anywhere they check on the tire, it's time to start shopping for
      new tires.

  Know the Maintenance Schedule

Performing the manufacturer's regularly scheduled maintenance on a vehicle will greatly extend the life of the vehicle and ward off costly repairs down the road. While it's a good idea to make sure their teens car is current with all maintenance items prior to sending them off to college, it's possible some items will come up while they are away.

  --  Make sure the owner's manual is in the glove box of the vehicle.
  --  Explain the recommended maintenance schedule outlined in the owner's
      manual. Many teens may only be aware of oil changes as regular
      maintenance, so be sure they see other fluids and items must be
      regularly checked and maintained.

  --  Make the teen aware of what their current mileage is and at what
      mileage mark it's time to perform maintenance again.

  Find a Repair Facility Near College

Depending on how frequently teens return home or how far away their college is located, they might be able to have regular maintenance performed at their families' usual auto repair shop while at home visiting. However, even if this is the case, it's important for parents to help teens identify an auto repair shop they can trust near their school in case an unexpected repair is needed.

  --  If unfamiliar with the area around the college, look for a AAA
      Approved Auto Repair facility. As a free public service for all
      motorists, AAA inspects auto repair shops around the country and only
      approves those that meet and continually maintain high professional
      standards for equipment, customer service, cleanliness and training.
      To search for a AAA Approved Auto Repair shop nearby, visit
      AAA.com/repair.

  --  If possible, parents should accompany their teen to the shop while
      they are in town. Allow the teens to be introduced shop owner and/or
      management so they will be more comfortable with them should they need
      return there with a repair emergency.

  Prepare for Roadside Emergencies

It's important for parents to prepare their teens for a breakdown or other roadside emergency--especially if they are attending college too far away to 'call home' for help.

  --  Provide teens with membership with a motor club that provides reliable
      roadside assistance, such as AAA. When selecting a motor club, be sure
      to choose one that will not expect motorists to find their own towing
      company or pay for service up front and later be reimbursed. Also,
      ensure they have a large dedicated network of service providers that
      offers plenty of coverage in and around the location of the college.
      Be sure teens keep their membership card with them at all times. If
      they are AAA members, the benefits will follow the teen no matter
      whose vehicle in they are in, so parents don't have to worry about
      their teens stranded in a friend's vehicle without emergency road
      service.
  --  Make sure the teen's vehicle has a well-stocked roadside emergency
      kit, and it's updated based upon the season.  A few key items the kit
      should include are a flashlight with extra batteries, jumper cables, a
      first-aid kit, bottled water, rags or paper towels, a tire pressure
      gauge, a blanket, granola or energy bars, a flathead and Phillips head
      screwdriver, an adjustable wrench and pliers. During the winter months
      in areas with inclement weather, add in an ice scraper, snow brush and
      kitty litter or other material to increase traction if stuck in snow.

  --  In addition to making sure the spare tire is in good condition and
      properly inflated, be sure the vehicle has a working jack and tire
      iron. Also, if the vehicle uses locking lug nuts, explain how they
      work to the teen in advance and where the key is located.

As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.