Bloomington Public Library has many resources to help you in your search for a new vehicle, or find infomation to repair and maintain your current vehicle.

Ask a Librarian at the Reference Desk

We have price guides for new & used vehicles, including cars, trucks, SUV’s, mini-vans, motorcycles, and classic cars. We also have current Consumer Guide and Consumer Reports evaluation guides for new and used vehicles at the Reference Desk.

Online Resources

Auto Repair Reference Center
Offers easy access to repair information searchable by car model, from 1945-present. Content is taken from Chilton's Auto Repair Information, and resources available include service manuals, repair procedures, wiring diagrams, specifications, service bulletin and recalls.

Magazines

ProQuest indexes magazines in our collection that have evaluated new and used cars, trucks, etc.

• Automobile
  Car & Driver – Slickly designed and full of photographs, Car & Driver has well-written reviews, tests, and interesting articles about domestic and foreign automobiles.
• Cars & Parts – Services the needs of all collector car hobbyists. Each issue contains how-to articles, in-depth marque history, pre- and post-war antique car features, hands-on restoration projects, collector car shows, auction results, salvage yard coverage, new parts reviews and evaluations, events listings, and more.
• Hemmings Motor News – Caters to traders and collectors of antique, classic, and exotic sports cars. Hemmings Motor News is best known for its large classified advertising sections.
• Hot Rod – Visually oriented with hundreds of photographs of cars, this popular magazine takes most of its readers into a gasoline-powered fantasyland. Focusing on high-performance vehicles, the technical (chassis, drive train, engine, etc.) and how-to (painting, oiling, installing, etc.) articles make up the majority of the magazine.
• Lowrider – The nation's leading Latino crusing publication dedicated to the lifestyle and creativity of lowriding. Provides readers with information on all aspects of the sport, including vehicle showcases, hands-on technical articles, and music and lifestyle features.
• Motor Trend – Covers news and trends in the worldwide automobile market along with excellent road tests and reviews. The writing is breezy, funny, and critical when it needs to be. Unlike some car reviews, those in Motor Trend tend to take into account what sort of driver is drawn to a car and why.
• Road & Track – Focuses on automotive design, engineering, driving reports, road tests, racing coverage, and in-depth technical discussions. The magazine’s road tests are detailed and fun to read, the technical articles truly interesting, and the photographs ensure car lust.

Motorcycle

• Cycle World – In addition to reviews and side-by-side comparisons, this generalist bike magazine contains lifestyle articles, reports on races and rallies, video game reviews, book reviews, and more.
• Motorcyclist – Covers racing bikes, cruisers, American motorcycles vs. others, reviews by experienced writers/bikers. Sections include “First Rides,” “Road Tests,” “Flashback,” “Gearbox,” and “Motorcycle Escapes.”

Other

• ATV 4 Wheel Action – For those who love four wheeling, this magazine covers all aspects of high-performance ATV riding. Including race coverage, ATV tests and shootouts, and product reviews.

Price Guides

• Automobile Red Book – The 11 most current years of auto/light truck vehicle identification and values; it includes VIN identifiers, mileage, options, factory SRP, GVWs and regional classifications.
• Consumer Guide – Focus is to make car shopping easier for consumers by providing professional, objective reviews of new and used cars and trucks. Consumer Guide produces Consumer Guide Car & Truck Test Monthly, a very thorough new vehicle buying guide.
• Consumer Reports Used Car Buying Guide – This fabulous tool will help steer any consumer in the market for a used car towards the better-performing and more reliable used car models.
• NADA Classic Collectible & Special Interest Car Appraisal Guide
  NADA Motorcycle/Snowmobile/ATV/Personal Watercraft Appraisal Guide
  NADA Official Older Car Used Car Guide
  NADA Official Used Car Guide
  NADA Recreational Vehicle Appraisal Guide
  NADA Van/Truck Conversion Limousine Appraisal Guide
• New Car Cost Guide -- This important publication provides the actual prices dealers pay for most new automobiles, as well as the suggested retail price for each vehicle, available options and wholesale and retail prices.

On The Road Recreation

• American Road – An all-color, glossy magazine that celebrates America's two-lane highways and the people and places that make them great. American Road is your armchair guide to the back roads of our country—complete with breathtaking photography and tales that will make you laugh out loud.
• Route 66 Magazine – Route 66 Magazine is your passport to the scenic beauty, charm, and spirit of America's most storied highway.

Web sites

There are many Web sites available for people interested in purchasing cars or just looking into lemon laws, insurance availability, car care tips, and much more!

Some of the following sites have lots of information in them; included are pricing information for new and used vehicles. Many of these sites also include classified listings, consumer advice, and manufacturers “800” numbers.

• Auto Alliance
  This coalition of thirteen car and light truck manufacturers is committed to improving the environment and motor vehicle safety using market-based, cost effective solutions. Included are articles, press releases, news, and statistics covering the auto industry and environmental and safety issues of interest. These include topics such as alternative fuel technology, fuel economy standards, and vehicle safety.
• Auto Trader
  Resources for research, finding new and used cars and selling your car online.
• Auto Site
  Includes new and used car pricing, reviews, auto quotes and a car buying guide.
• Auto Web
  Their mission is to empower automotive consumers with the tools and information they need to make smart, well-informed vehicle purchasing and ownership decisions.
• Autotropolis
  This site will help you do research on new and used vehicles.  The website gives car photos, pricing, reviews and locations around the nation for the new or used car of your dreams.
• Car Care
  A consumer education campaign about the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair. The site features tips for preparing cars for summer and winter use and for road trips, articles about various aspects of car care (such as mechanical and appearance), part and store finders, a service schedule, information about National Car Care Month each April, and more. Some material is available in Spanish.
• Car and Driver
  A service of Car and Driver magazine. This Web site offers information about buying and selling new and used vehicles, road test information, and lots of feature articles.
• Car Prices
  Helps buyers find the best price available on a new or used vehicle.
• Car Smart
  Their goal is to give consumers the information they need to make well-informed vehicle purchases.
• Car Survey
  Learn how car owners feel about their vehicles. Reviews are submitted by automobile owners and can be sorted by manufacturer and limited by geographic region.
• Car Talk
  Features columnist and radio hosts, Tom and Ray Magliozzi. There is serious information about purchasing new and used vehicles, as well as fun articles about cars and the people who drive them on this Web site.
• Edmunds
  Launched in 1995 and this was the first automotive information Web site, formed to empower, engage, and educate automotive consumers, enthusiasts, and insiders.
• Kelley Blue Book
  Offers pricing information as well as pictures and information about vehicles for sale, reviews, and pricing information.
• Motor Trend
  Motor Trend magazine’s Web site gives information on new and used car purchasing, road tests, future vehicles, and feature articles.
• MSN Autos
  Gives information about buying and selling new and used vehicles, as well as how to care for the car you own.
• My Ride
  Price quotes on new and used cars, and auto reviews. This is the Internet’s largest new car buying service, generating more than billion dollars per month in auto sales.
• Nada Guides
  NADA is a well known print resource for pricing new and used vehicles. Many banks and lending institutions, dealers, insurance companies, and government agencies use the NADA as a provider for this type of information. 

• 1 Stop Auto
  Offers new and used car buying information, car title checks, financing and insurance information, and car title checks.  Local dealerships are listed as affiliates.
• The Auto Channel
  A Web site for consumers interested in cost information, reviews, and much more when purchasing new vehicles.

The following websites are a bit specialized, but may be interesting and helpful!

• Inner Auto Parts
  You can shop online for body parts, engine parts, and accessories for all types of vehicles.
• Car Fax Vehicle History Reports
  Provides consumers with the vehicle history reports on any used car or light truck.
• Car Shopper
  Sells practically everything…it links to Web sites for everything from jewelry to educational information to beauty products, as well as automotive Web sites.
• Dealer Net
  Has new car purchasing information to help consumers find the right car for their lifestyle, free Internet price quotes, and references to dealers in the area.
• 4 X 4 Connection
  Provides 4 x 4 parts, sales, and service information for consumers.
• Speed Trap Exchange
  Can direct consumers to information about speed traps throughout the United States, help in fighting undeserved speeding tickets, and information about state laws regarding speed traps.