Motoring Tips
The Glovebox Guide
A great new guide for consumers contemplating auto business!
Launched by the Minister for Fair Trading on the 25th September 2001, the Glovebox Guide is the result of a partnership between the Office of Fair Trading, the MTA-Q, and the RACQ.
The Glovebox Guide is designed to make the process of buying and maintaining a motor vehicle less daunting. It provides comprehensive information on all aspects of buying and maintaining a vehicle, including how to buy a car, buying used and new cars, looking after your car, dealing with repairers, and dealing with an accident.
Motor Trades Association of Queensland (MTA-Q) Executive Director Tony Selmes said: "This is a comprehensive guide for consumers of the products of the retail motor industry be it motor vehicles, service, or repairs. The motor industry welcomed the opportunity to participate in the development of this guide and the development of informed and satisfied customers."
To get your copy of the Glovebox Guide: contact us, or download your copy now (pdf, 667kb).
General Motoring Tips
Listed below are some general motoring tips for the public. If you have any queries, you might be able to find the answers here! If not, then please go to our Hot Industry Links page, or Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
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Fuel Consumption Guide - which cars are more economical to drive?
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Do you really need a new battery? (pdf, 43kb)
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Holiday Safety Alert for Children (pdf, 46kb)
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Speed - it's the sudden stop that kills (pdf, 14kb)
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Potential dangers in the use of snatch straps (pdf, 25kb)
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Eating while driving – a big distraction (pdf, 25kb)
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Competition key to cheaper petrol: Wildly fluctuating petrol prices are a contentious issue with consumers, but the reality is that oil companies, NOT service stations, control the retail price.
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Tyres worth a check: Many drivers have little or no knowledge of appropriate tyre pressures.
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National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council: Car theft is one of Australia's criminal industries which is estimated to effectively rob licensed motor dealers and the public of a billion dollars every year.
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Safety Certificates to apply from April (pdf, 25kb): It will be an offence for anyone in Queensland to offer a registered vehicle for sale without a safety certificate from 1st April 2000.
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Be a smart driver and save on fuel (pdf, 27kb): Here are a few ideas on how to be a smart driver in the smart state – and save yourself a couple of dollars.
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Time for those pre-holiday vehicle checks (pdf, 33kb): Despite the escalating cost of petrol and diesel, it’s a safe bet that lots of families will be taking to the road for school holidays so it’s not too soon to start thinking about the safety and reliability of your vehicle.
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Make sure the load is secure: Having had your vehicle serviced and safety-checked for the motoring holiday, the next priority is to ensure that the gear you’re taking with you is safely stowed – either in the vehicle, the trailer or the caravan.
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Kilometres by the billion (pdf, 18kb): Motor vehicles in Australia travelled an estimated 199,055 million kilometres in the 12 months ended 31 October 2004. While the number of vehicles increased by 10.3% compared with the 12 months ended 31 October 2000, the distance travelled by these vehicles has only increased by 7.8% over this time.
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Higher Fuel Prices an incentive for top maintenance (pdf, 10kb): The higher price of petrol, diesel, and LPG is one of the best incentives for keeping vehicles properly tuned and maintained.
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What's involved in a Recall? (pdf, 64kb): Information on what recalls involve, and what to do if a vehicle you own is recalled.