1. Check the insurance offers – Read up on the offers that come with the purchase of every new car. You may be buying something cheap, but if it’s insurance that can only cover you for less than a year, then think again.

2. Ask about maintenance – Ask your local dealer about what it might cost you if you go to their shop for a simple change of oil procedure. The first 1000 to 5000 kilometers will usually come with free labor charges and sometimes the offer will also include free oils and other consumables that will be used in maintaining the car. Also try to get a run down on costs for spare parts just in case you need to invest in any in the future.

3. Ask about the warranty – The usual? 3 years on parts and services. In this competitive day and age, some even offer as far as five years. And if you are investing in a hybrid vehicle, you just might get luck yon having your parts serviced and replaced for free within the first five years of your owning the vehicle.

4. Check the car – Do the brakes work fine? Does it accelerate well? Is it comfortable? Are there any small knocking noises or tugs when you go uphill or when breaking on a downhill slope? Do all the lights work? Does the onboard computer work properly (if any)? Are all the safety features the kind that you imagined (seatbelts, airbags, side impact bars, etc.)? These are only some of the questions that should weigh down on your mind when you are test driving a brand new car.

5. Check the lease – Are their hidden charges? How transparent are the dealers with you when it comes to their offers? What banks do they support for financing options? Is the person you are dealing with a legitimate worker for a legitimate dealership? Read the fine print on every paper that is given to you. Don’t cheat yourself on a potentially great deal.

• Aspare tire
• Triangle reflectors (to place on the road and indicate to other drivers that you are having a little car trouble)
• Tools (a jack, bolt loosener / tightener, WD40, screwdrivers, extra lightbulbs, fuses, a flashlight, portable tire pump, extra air valves for tires)
• Security measures (This can be anything from a taser to anything licensed by the police for your own personal protection from robberies and what not.)
• Car manual (It’s doubtful that you know every square inch of your vehicle. Don’t leave home without this.)
• A spare battery (only if you have the budget and the extra space in the trunk)
• An emergency fire blanket
• Miscellaneous oils and greases (brake fluid, engine oil, extra gas in a gas can, power steering fluid, engine coolant)
• Cleaning solutions (car wax, glass cleaning liquids, a spray can, clean and dry rags)
• Emergency light (A flashing bright light, like a strobe, is definitely something you may need especially if you are one who drives long distances at night. This will grab the attention of anybody within range.)

With gas prices rising every single day, it is no wonder more and more people are looking at alternative ways to save their money. But it’s not all about the money; at least, not all of the time. The point about getting hybrids onto the streets is about hitting so many birds with just one stone. Sure, it may be something seemingly expensive, but imagine this:

1. Better gas consumption (meaning less money spent for more mileage)
2. Cleaner emissions (almost zero carbon dioxide emissions for select model cars)
3. A better environment (resulting from cleaner emissions)
4. More savings (resulting from spending less on gas)
5. Warranties that cover parts and services virtually free for 5 years (on select hybrids)
6. Less maintenance (as there are less mechanical parts in a hybrid making it more manageable than a regular car)
7. A future (for your children who will be inheriting whatever you leave off today and that includes fuel and the quality of air)

This has to be enough to get you talking about it. And beyond the talking, you should probably start the walking as well. Weigh the benefits over the disadvantages and promote the hybrid to your friends as soon as possible.