| By Chilton Staff |
Winter’s coming—is your car ready? October Car Care Month reminds us to maintain our vehicles so they can be safe and dependable in cold-weather seasons. Car maintenance involves inspecting and refreshing vehicle components, like wipers and fluids. It’s preventive maintenance because it reduces the risk of breakdowns and repairs. Car care saves time and money down the road.
Living Pedal to the Metal
Cars and trucks are expensive—and rising costs can lead some to defer vehicle care.1,2 While many of us depend on transportation to get to work and school and for necessities like groceries and healthcare, increasing costs have strained American budgets. In May, the Federal Reserve reported that 37% of U.S. households can’t pay an unexpected $400 expense,3 such as a car repair.
Car expenses are a source of stress for about half of Americans and, on average, about 20% of our monthly income goes to auto loans, fuel, insurance, and maintenance.4 Bank of America analysts reported in 2024 that median car payments were more than 30% higher than in 2019 for both used and new cars.5 The percentage of income we spend on our cars is twice what financial experts recommend.6
Due to rising new car prices, a study by Edmunds found 19.3% of new car buyers have monthly payments of $1,000 or more—a record high.7 In a survey by Big Bear Engine Company, almost 1 in 3 reported taking a second job to afford a vehicle. Specifically, these are people reporting they took on a side gig to be able to pay for their current car or to save to purchase a car. That number rises to 55% among Gen Z.8 Low-income and younger Americans shoulder the heaviest financial burden in order to own a vehicle.
DIY Car Care
To save money, 31% of car owners perform at least some of their own maintenance according to a study published in July.9 These do-it-yourselfers need accurate specifications and procedures to maintain their vehicle’s reliable performance. That’s why the ChiltonLibrary knowledgebase includes licensed Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) maintenance, labor, and repair information.
How do internet or AI queries compare? With automaker original source material locked behind paywalls, individuals are left to discern whether online information is relevant, accurate, and complete; safe for themselves and their vehicle; and applicable to their specific year, make, and model vehicle components. Add to that the time required to sift through sites in attempt to make these determinations. In contrast, ChiltonLibrary is a source of instant relief with automaker data specific to the year, make, and model vehicle.
The ChiltonLibrary automotive knowledgebase is an authoritative reference to maintain vehicles and understand them better. The app includes automaker step-by-step service and repair procedures, diagnosis, and specifications for cars and trucks. It’s online 24/7 and mobile responsive, making it easy to bring information carside. The app has rich accessibility features, such as ReadSpeaker text-to-speech technology and multiple text display options, including OpenDyslexic font and on-page language translation.
Providing access to high-quality automotive reference information is just one of the many ways that libraries assist their communities. Check out Gale’s fall car care–themed materials to help highlight October Car Care Month and ChiltonLibrary as winter approaches.
If your library isn’t a current subscriber, contact your representative or request a trial.
1. David Tinsley, Joe Wadford, John Kaplan, “Caution on the Road Ahead: Key Takeaways” Bank of America Institute, September 17, 2024, pp 3, 4. https://institute.bankofamerica.com/economic-insights/consumer-morsel-auto-loan-caution.html
2. “Driven to Debt: The Automotive Affordability Crisis: Key Findings, Big Bear Engine Company, 2025. https://4btengines.com/driven-to-debt-the-automotive-affordability-crisis/
3. “Economic Well Being of US Households in 2024,” The Federal Reserve System, May 28, 2025, page 41. https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/files/2024-report-economic-well-being-us-households-202505.pdf
4. Taylor Bowley, David Michael Tinsley, Jon Kaplan, Moses Sulukyan, John Murphy, CFA, Federico Merendi, “Autos: How much gas is left in the tank? Key takeaways, Bank of America Institute, June 12, 2025. https://institute.bankofamerica.com/content/dam/economic-insights/autos-cost-buying-ahead.pdf
Kea Wilson, “Study: How Car Ownership is Keeping Americans from Financial Stability,” https://usa.streetsblog.org/2024/03/25/study-how-car-ownership-is-keeping-americans-from-financial-stability
Rylie Sullivan, “The real cost of car ownership in the USA (2025),” Way.com, updated August 20, 2025. https://www.way.com/blog/the-real-cost-of-car-ownership-in-the-usa/
Erin Witte, Tara Mikkilineni, “Driven to Default: The Economy-Wide Risks of Rising Auto Loan Delinquencies,” Consumer Federation of America, pdf, page 6: “Americans are Struggling with an Auto Affordability Crisis,” September 10, 2025. https://consumerfed.org/reports/driven-to-default-the-economy-wide-risks-of-rising-auto-loan-delinquencies/
Taylor Bowley, David Michael Tinsley, Jon Kaplan, Moses Sulukyan, John Murphy, CFA, Federico Merendi, “Autos: How much gas is left in the tank? Key takeaways, Bank of America Institute, June 12, 2025. https://institute.bankofamerica.com/content/dam/economic-insights/autos-cost-buying-ahead.pdf
5. David Tinsley, Joe Wadford, “Caution on the Road Ahead: Some U.S. households have seen increasingly large auto loan repayments,” Bank of America Institute, September 2024. https://institute.bankofamerica.com/economic-insights/consumer-morsel-auto-loan-caution.html
6. Kat Tretina, “How much should I spend on a car: Key Takeaways,” November 6, 2024, Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/how-much-should-i-spend-on-a-car-5187853
7. “A Record 1 in 5 New-Car Shoppers Committed to a $1,000+ Monthly Payment in Q2 2025,” Edmunds, July 1, 2025. https://www.edmunds.com/industry/press/a-record-1-in-5-new-car-shoppers-committed-to-a-1000-monthly-payment-in-q2-2025-according-to-edmunds.html
8. “Driven to Debt: The Automotive Affordability Crisis: Key Findings, Big Bear Engine Company, 2025. https://4btengines.com/driven-to-debt-the-automotive-affordability-crisis/
9. Daniel Robinson, Clara Haverstic, Shelby Fishman, “The Financial Burden of Car Ownership: 2025 Study. Ballooning car costs are causing stress for the majority of car owners. Graph: Which of the following have you done in the past twelve months to reduce car expenses” July 18, 2025 https://www.marketwatch.com/insurance-services/auto-insurance/car-ownership-budget-struggles/