Low-tech alternatives

If you haven't yet taken the plunge for a smart phone, consider trying these low-tech alternatives to the apps described in our article:

Find your car

To make your car easy to spot in a crowded lot, attach a brightly colored ball to the antenna. And park near a light pole or other landmark.

Keep a crash to-do list

Put a checklist of what to do after an accident in your glove box. Get the names, addresses, phone numbers, and insurance information of other drivers and take photos of the scene.

Track your mileage

Reset your vehicle's trip odometer every time you fill up. Then when you buy gas just divide the miles driven by the number of gallons you put in. Don't top off.

Keep a maintenance log

Your owner's manual lists when you should change the oil and perform other routine maintenance. Some manuals even contain blank pages where you can record services that were performed. Write down every service when it is done, noting the date and mileage, and refer to your notes once a month.