Did you know that keeping your family’s car safe and trustworthy can be easy? I’ve been on a quest to find a reasonable way to make sense of all the news surrounding automobile recalls. Of course we’ve all heard the news about the Toyota recall, but did you know that Ford, Volkswagen, Jeep, and Volvo also recently issued recalls? Momentary panic – I have a Ford AND a Jeep – now what do I do?

First off, I need to determine if those recalls even pertain to my cars, and second, if it is safe to drive my car to get the problem fixed. First stop – I fire up the internet and do a quick search. Both Ford.com and Jeep.com – and most other brands as well – offer “Check for Recall” links right on their corporate websites. This is an excellent place to start – I simply enter the type of car I own and the vehicle identification number, and voila, a list of applicable recalls generates. Whew, safe for today, but what about tomorrow? They keep issuing these recalls left and right.

For all of life’s tomorrows, register with an online service like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a branch of the U.S. Department of Transportation. This site allows you to register for vehicle, tire, and child restrain recall alerts via email or RSS feed. For the utmost in convenience, you simply enter up to five of your family’s cars and this site will provide recall information immediately as it becomes available. Next, establish a relationship with a trusted mechanic who stays on top of automotive recalls. They can be one more line of defense in keeping you informed.

It’s a quick and easy process to check for recalls and the repairs are free, so don’t ignore what the auto manufacturers are telling you. A lot more than just groceries and sports equipments rides around in your car – make sure it’s safe!