Car wax is looking better and better everyday.

Spring is here, and for many motorists, this is the season for paint-smearing bugs. Whether you fear the 17-year Cicada Brood II apocalypse moving up the East Coast, love bugs in the South, or some other local winged horror, this is a great time to protect your car with a fresh waxing.

Beyond an imminent bugmageddon, spring brings pollen, tree droppings, and other natural hazards down on your beloved automobile. If you haven’t given the car a proper spring cleaning, this adds urgency to the need to break out the elbow grease this weekend. Our tests have shown that a coat of car wax lasts only a few weeks, meaning you should plan on waxing three to four times year to protect the paint and preserve its factory shine. (Visit our car maintenance guide.)

via Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports findings are not looking good:

This is what people told us they saw in the previous 30 days:

• 91 percent saw a driver talking on a handheld phone.
• 62 percent saw a driver texting.
• 22 percent saw a driver using hands to operate a smart-phone app.

We also asked drivers to reveal their own behaviors behind the wheel in the past 30 days:

• 43 percent had a conversation on a handheld phone.
• 33 percent of smart-phone owners used their hands to operate an app.
• 18 percent of smart-phone owners accessed e-mail or social media.
• 14 percent texted.

via Consumer Reports

Jalopnik has some interesting reasons why Google Glass would be good for Gearheads.

Sure, you’ll probably look a bit like a tool wearing them, and West Virginia’s already banned their use while driving, but even so I think Google Glass(Google’s reality-augmenting spectacles project, for those unaware) can offer a great deal to car lovers, both while driving and otherwise. So far, I’ve got five reasons why.

via Jalopnik

Are you in the market for a new or used car and need some advice? Our automotive experts can help.

On Friday, March 8th, from 12-1 p.m. EST, Auto Testing Director Jake Fisher, Senior Automotive Engineer Tom Mutchler, and Program Manager Gabe Shenhar will be taking calls.

via Consumer Reports

Some nice tips for saving money at the pump.

Drive at a moderate speed
Drive smoothly
Reduce unnecessary drag

Plus many more!

via Consumer Reports

As winter and the holiday season fast approaches, now can be a great time to purchase a meaningful gift for the driver on your list—something that can give them convenience, safety, and security.

While many recipients may dream of something fun and fancy, these practical gifts show you truly care. To aid you in this quest, we present recommendations below in several key categories based on our extensive testing. This will make shopping easier for you and ensure that the recipient gets a smart gift.

via Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports has long advocated that drivers check their car’s tire pressure monthly to prevent uneven tire wear and tire failure. Now, a new study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reinforces that advice by determining that vehicles driving on tires underinflated by more than 25 percent are three times more likely to be involved in a crash related to tire problems than vehicles with proper inflation. And tires underinflated up to 25 percent run the risk of overheating, leading to failure, and at the very least adversely affecting handling and tread life.

via Consumer Reports

Have you ever had a car that wouldn’t start, heard a noise from under the hood, or felt a pull in the wheel, and you didn’t know why? Now, there is an app for that.

Car Trouble can help with the maladies listed above and more, by taking you through a series of basic trouble-shooting questions. Based on your simple yes or no answers, the app can help identify the problem, or at least the problem area, by process of elimination.

via Consumer Reports

Cleaning your car or truck like a pro is easier than you think. We talked to real auto detailers to bring you helpful cleaning tips so you can make your vehicle showroom clean.

•     Step 1: Slide seats forward and clean out the junk
•     Step 2: Deep-clean carpet and upholstery
•     Step 3: Clean and condition leather or vinyl seats
•     Step 4: Remember to clean nooks and crannies
•     Step 5: Brush out the air vents
•     Step 6: Wash the windows, including the top edges
•     Step 7: Scrape off those annoying stickers
•     Step 8: Kill bad odors.

via The Family Handyman

As cars have become more advanced over time, it has been increasingly difficult for enterprising owners to perform basic maintenance and repairs. While some jobs do require professional expertise and pricey tools, there are still many things that a handy owner can do to keep a car running in top shape and save money in the process. Below are a few tips from our automotive experts.

via Consumer Reports

With gasoline prices averaging close to $4.00 per gallon nationwide, a free app promising the best fuel prices wherever you are would seem like a valued travel aid. And that’s just what GasBuddy is.

Using your smart phone’s built-in GPS capability, GasBuddy pinpoints your location and pulls up area fuel prices at stations in your area, displaying major brands and independents by name. The app even lists prices for regular, mid-grade, and premium, as well as diesel fuel where available, and indicates how recently displayed prices have been updated.

via Consumer Reports

If even if you’ve been checking your tires’ pressure throughout the winter months, spring is a good time to do a through inspection of your tires and wheels. With the nicer weather, you can take the time to check-out their condition and consider if you will need new rubber soon. Here are some tips to follow.

via Consumer Reports