1. Hide it until the end
   Ask the salesman for a price
2. Leave it at home
   Bring your trade-in with a true market value attached

Don’t buy into the myth that hiding your trade-in will get you a better deal. Know what your car is worth before heading to the lot. If you don't like the offer from the dealership, don't take it.

1. True, rainy days keep away crowds.
   False, sunny days are best.
2. False, try Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
   False, try Saturdays or Sundays.

The myth that a rainy day is the best day to buy a car could not be further from the truth. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are better bets because crowds are sparse and salespeople are more apt to make deals.

1. Using your cell phone
   Smoking
2. Leaving the gas pump unattended
   Leaving your car running

Contrary to modern thinking, there is no evidence that using your cell phone while pumping gas will cause an explosion. However, smoking or leaving the car running could lead to fire, and an unattended gas pump may fall from the tank, spewing gas and causing danger for everyone.

1. Yes
   No
2. Only if turned to MAX
   Only in the summer

While this may be a truism, it is of little or no concern. Consumer Reports found that fuel efficiency decreased by one to four miles per gallon using the air conditioner. By the way, rolling down the windows does not affect fuel economy.

1. White
   Red
2. Black
   None

This myth has been around since sleek, red sports cars appeared on our roads. However, there is no evidence that any color of car is pulled over more often than any other for speeding.

1. January
   June
2. October
   December

The notion that January is a wonderful month to buy a car because many people are done with shopping may hold some water, but it is the last quarter of the year when the best deals are offered. If you wait until December, you are more likely to save money.

1. Internet quotes
   In person from the sales manager
2. In person from the salesman/woman
   By phone

The myth that the “manager” will get you the best deal is outdated. The beauty of today's technology is that you can choose a car and receive a price online without leaving your home. Then you bring your checkbook to the dealer, and the car is waiting for you to drive away. Voila!

1. The first few days
   The 15th
2. The last few days
   The 10th

As the trend toward no pressure sales increases at dealerships, there is some confusion about whether salespeople still have quotas to meet. Many salespeople still work off of monthly quotas and may offer better discounts before the month ends.

1. Call the sales manager and demand the best price
   Call the internet sales manager and request a quote
2. Go to the dealership and ask for a price
   Ask the sales manager to match the price from another dealership

The key to getting a good price on a new car used to be by entering the dealership with a plan of not backing down until your price is granted. That’s old hat. Conduct your own online inventory research on the specific car you wish to buy. Then call the internet manager, whose job it is to quote you a price over the phone.

1. Yes
   No
2. Only on highways
   Only in rural areas

This is a very common misconception that may get you in trouble. Speeding is speeding. No matter how little you are driving over the speed limit, you can be pulled over and ticketed.

1. After test driving
   After deciding on a car
2. Before looking at cars in person
   When the salesman calls for the sales manager

People used to think they should wait until receiving an offer from the salesman before negotiations. A much better strategy is to know the range of prices your car is being sold for at various dealerships, so you have a starting point before entering the showroom.

1. Immediately
   After the test drive
2. Following negotiations
   When a final price is offered

A fear of misunderstanding leases led to this myth. Buyers feared it would cost them too much in the end, so they believed receiving an offer before the reveal made more sense. Today's leases, however, are usually better deals when you're upfront than when you wait to negotiate.

1. True
   No, it's how big of a loan you can get.
2. True, along with a low downpayment
   No, it's the total cost of the car, including interest, which is most important.

Focusing on a low monthly payment is a bad strategy. You may end up paying way too much for the car in the long run. Pay what you can afford. The rule of thumb is a monthly payment that is equal to or less than 10 percent of your gross monthly income.

1. Yes, be demanding and crass.
   Yes, be demanding and be prepared to walk out if necessary.
2. No, be polite.
   No, be informed.

In the past, cars salespeople enjoyed the haggling process and standing their ground, causing buyers to be on guard and more demanding in their actions. Today, car salespeople are people just like you and me. Don't be demanding. Yes, be polite, but not a pushover. Arrive prepared to negotiate.

1. Yes, you must take your car to that dealership.
   No, any reputable mechanic will do.
2. No, fix it yourself.
   Yes, unless you have driven more than 3,000 miles.

In reality, you or a reputable mechanic can service your car per the owner's manual without the hassle of going to a dealership. However, to avoid voiding your warranty, detailed records must be kept to prove your case. A reputable mechanic is your best bet.

1. Yes, the proper PSI number is displayed on all tires.
   No, look for a sticker on the door jam denoting the correct tire pressure.
2. 32 PSI is standard for all cars.
   No, follow your car manual's guidelines.

The wording on the tire—inflate to 50 psi for example—is the maximum pressure for that tire, not necessarily the best pressure for your car. Dealers provide a sticker on the driver's side door jam or inside the gas flap with the recommended pressure.

1. No, every 1,500 miles
   Yes, every 3,000 miles
2. Not until your car tells you to change it
   Depends on the oil

Cars do not need an oil change every 3,000 miles. This is not as much a myth as it is obsolete advice. If you own a newer car, the internal system will alert you when it is time to change the oil. New models can be driven 10,000 miles or more before requiring an oil change.

1. Winter
   Summer
2. Fall
   None

This used to be a standard operating procedure, but not anymore. Beyond perhaps changing the snow tires in the winter, newer cars shouldn’t need the coolant flushed, or air conditioning charged just because the season is changing. Maintain your car per your owner's manual, and you should be fine.

1. 5 minutes
   10 minutes
2. Just a couple of minutes
   Not at all

If you have an old car, this may help, but today's models will warm up as you drive. Get in and get going. Warming the engine is not only unnecessary, but wasteful as well.

1. No, change tires when Lincoln's head is no longer covered by the tread.
   Yes, change tires when the tread is gone.
2. Yes, change tires when the minimum depth is 4/32 of an inch.
   No, change tires when the penny sticks in the tread.

The old custom of placing a penny in the tread to see if Lincoln's head is exposed can still be used, but that usually leaves you with a tread depth of 2/32 of an inch, which is an accident waiting to happen. It's better to change your tires when the tread is at 4/32 of an inch.

1. Yes, Regular (87 Octane)
   No, use Mid-grade.
2. You are better off with Premium.
   You are better off with a proper octane gas.

Refer to your owner's manual, although many cars run fine on regular old gas - 87 octane. However, most sophisticated cars may need a higher octane to avoid ignition issues.

1. Evening
   Morning
2. Anytime
   Noon

Gasoline expands from heat, so some people believe that a car receives less gas when the heat of the day has warmed the fuel. In reality, gas is stored underground to avoid changes in temperature.

1. Yes
   No
2. Only in the winter
   Only in the summer

Some drivers think that added particles on a car will reduce wind resistance. In fact, cleaner cars get 10 percent better gas mileage than dirty ones.

1. With every oil change
   Every winter
2. At 50,000 miles
   At 100,000-plus miles

In the past, 50,000 miles was a benchmark to drain transmission fluid. Today's cars use a long-lasting formula that should last for at least 100,000 miles or for the life of the vehicle.

1. Less weight in the car
   Proper tire inflation
2. Changing the air filter
   Driving slow

Cruising at slower speeds and around-the-town driving produce less efficient miles per gallon. Maintaining your car properly and not carrying extra weight in the trunk helps to give you better gas mileage.

1. 30 mph
   45 mph
2. 60 mph
   75 mph

Most cars reach optimum gas mileage between 50 and 60 mph. That's the range in which cars are tested by the government to determine gas mileage ratings, so manufacturers work toward reaching the best gas mileage in that range.

1. Driving too fast
   Idling
2. Driving too slow
   In the winter

If you are sitting in your car and the engine is running, you are getting zero miles to the gallon. You can't get much worse than that.

1. 2013 Chevy Silverado
   2016 Honda Civic
2. 2017 Toyota Corolla
   2015 Toyota Camry

While some people may think a truck is more complicated to work on, the fact that this Silverado had plenty of room under the hood and straightforward technology made it number one by mechanics in a recent U.S. News survey.

1. 2012 Honda CRV
   2014 Toyota Tundra
2. 2015 Toyota Camry
   2015 Toyota Corolla

This survey by Forbes conducted two years ago shows that it’s not always the newest cars on the block that are the most reliable. The order in which you see them is the order they placed in the survey, so you probably can't go wrong with one of the Toyotas either.

1. Through the car's sound system
   Via bluetooth
2. By holding the phone
   None of the above

Studies show talking on the phone, hands-free or not, distracts the driver. Distracted driving is now a major issue confronting car insurers. Wait or pull over to talk.

1. Synthetic
   Standard motor oil
2. Canola oil
   2-stroke oil

Synthetic oil will help your car perform better. In older cars, it may cause an oil leak, but that's because since it does such a good job cleaning your engine, flaws are exposed leading to oil drips.

1. Chevy Bolt
   Nissan Leaf
2. Tesla
   Kia Soul

All of these vehicles offer a range of more than 100 miles, but the Tesla beats them all, topping out at over 300 miles per charge. Electric cars have come a long way, and you should not be afraid of limited ranges.

1. No, they are virtually maintenance free.
   Yes, because they take too long to charge.
2. Yes, because there are limited charging stations.
   Yes, because they are expensive to maintain.

Electric cars may cost more to buy, but are virtually maintenance free. Plus, batteries and charging station access have improved, so in the long run, an electric car is a good, hassle-free investment.

1. Between now and 2020
   Between 2025 and 2030
2. Between 2035 and 2040
   Not in my lifetime

The New York Times reports that at the rate prices are falling, along with stricter emission laws on the books, electric cars will hit the mainstream between 2025 and 2030. Once sticker shock disappears, everyone will be on the bandwagon.

1. $4,000 over 10 years
   $4,000 over five years
2. $4,000 over two years
   $4,000 a year

The EPA estimates with some of the newer models, such as the Nissan Leaf, consumers will save $4,000 over a five-year span. Overall, electricity is 50 percent cheaper than gas.