Hot Driving & Safety How-Tos

Skip the Long DMV Line: Renew Your Driver's License at a AAA Office Instead (No Membership Required)

If there's one way to get a visceral response from someone, it's bringing up the DMV. Regardless of the reason, whether it's the long lines, disgruntled employees, or just general inefficiency, I have yet to meet a single person who doesn't mind the trip. Just look at all those happy faces.

How To: Unlock a Car Without a Key

How many times have you locked your key inside your car and had to pay those outrageous locksmith fees? Ever worked for an hour or sometimes longer trying to coax a coat hanger in through a window, all the while wishing there was an easier way to unlock your car door? Well, there is, and this video will show you how. You can pop that lock open in a matter of seconds with something as simple as a tennis ball. Check it out!

How To: Unlock a Car When the Keys Are Locked Inside

In these auto lockout emergency videos, learn what to do when you've locked your keys in the car—aside from calling a locksmith. See how to use special tools, usually readily available to the public, to unlock your car free of charge.

How To: Start a car without needing the key

Please only use the information in this video if you have lost your own car key or you are helping out a friend who has lost theirs! If you need to start a car without the key, this tutorial shows you how to find the wires in the steering column to find the eight cables underneath. Here's what to look for and then what to do so you can get your car running and go to where you need to be.

How To: Are You Being Followed? How to Check Your Car for GPS Tracking Devices

There's been a lot in the news lately about tracking devices, and it's been pretty much all bad. They can be useful if your car gets stolen, but if you weren't the person who installed it, chances are you don't want it there. Just type "GPS tracking device" into Google and on any given day you'll find an article about someone who got busted by one of these things. Even if you don't have to worry about getting into trouble, you still don't want people following you. Here's how to make sure you...

How To: Unlock a Car Door with a Clothes Hanger

This video shows you how to unlock a car door with a hanger but warns it isn't easy and may take some practice. First you will need a hanger as long as your arm, then insert the hanger in the hole on the left side of the window. Try to feel around and find the pin inside the hole. After you find the pin pull up on it. Try not to lock your keys in your car so you don't have to do this anymore.

How To: Want to Find Your Stolen Car Fast? Forget the Police and Call a Taxi

A car is stolen every 33 seconds in the United States, and from that, the percentage of vehicles recovered in the first day is a whopping 52 percent. Over the next week, that number rises to around 79 percent, but after those initial seven days are up, it's unlikely the vehicle will be found.

How To: Lift a dropped motorcycle

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to lift a dropped motorcycle. Begin by turning off the motorcycle engine. Make sure that you don't have any health issues including a bad back or knee. Check the motorcycle to see if there are any leaking fluids. Make sure the bike is on an incline or decline. Pull down the shift lever to put it in gear and pull the side stand down. Now put your body against the motorcycle seat. Use your hands to grip the motorcycle ad legs to lift it up. This video w...

How To: Break into Your Car to Retrieve Your Keys

Have you ever locked your keys inside of your car before? I net you have, you've felt the frustration, you've felt the pain, but don't pull out that cell phone just yet... you don't need a locksmith.

How To: Pass a California DMV Driving Test

If all things go well, you'll only have to take your road test once. That's the goal: to ace your test on the first try and then start driving on your own. Granted, it's a nerve-racking experience, but keep in mind that the California Department of Motor Vehicles wants you to pass. So much so, they give you the examination answers ahead of time! All you have to do is study.

Quick Tip: Pointing Your Car Remote at Your Head Increases Its Range

Keyless entry remotes are great, but they don't always work how you want them to. One of the most common complaints is that they just don't reach far enough, and there's nothing more annoying when you can't remember where you parked. After all, what's the point of having "remote" entry if you have to be right next to the car for it to work?

How To: Pair your bluetooth phone to Ford SYNC

Sometimes pairing your mobile phone with your car is a difficult and unwritten chore to accomplish. But now with Ford's new SYNC system, you can easily pair your cell phone. It's as easy as pressing the Phone button. Let it search for already stored bluetooth devices, and if none are stored, simply press the Arrow buttons until you see the Add Bluetooth Device option. It's that easy!

How To: Pair a phone through Bluetooth with a 2010 Prius

Learn how to pair a phone through Bluetooth with a 2010 Prius in simple steps. 1. You can connect your phone to the vehicle through Bluetooth without using any wires. 2. Press the 'Info Phone' button on the right side of the display screen, press 'Phone' now and press 'Yes' when prompted. 3. Now enter the pass code when prompted on your phone to pair it successfully. 4. You can pair more than a single phone by using the same process but you can use only one at a time. 5. You can also transfer...

How To: Use Active Trac (A-TRAC) on the 2010 Toyota 4Runner

The 2010 Toyota 4Runner comes with a feature called Active Trac or A-TRAC. A-TRAC traction control has the traction benefit of locking front and rear differentials, but with less weight. The ABS (anti-lock braking system) will automatically brake a slipping wheel. This will provide extra torque so that wheels with more traction can continue to push the car along. This automatic feature works seamlessly and the driving experience is not hindered in any way. However, the driver can turn this on...

How To: Use turn-by-turn navigation with Ford SYNC

Turn-by-turn navigation is easy with Ford's new SYNC system. Cities, businesses, your favorite places - name your destination and SYNC returns with your turn-by-turn directions. To add your favorite locations, you simply need to visit your owner account online, then you're ready to find your favorite directions, or any other directions needed.

How To: Use basic car controls and start driving a manual car

If you're just starting out learning to drive, get the lowdown on some of the basic car controls with this video tutorial.

How To: Perform an off-set cone weave on a motorcycle

Learn how to ride a motorcycle by performing the off-set cone weave. The off-set cone weave is one of the skills you will need to perform on a bike to pass the Alternate M.O.S.T. test. The tutorial shows you the layout for the off-set cone weave test and how to perform it on a motorcycle.

How To: Do a Burnout on your motorcycle

This video will teach you how you can do a burnout on your motorcycle. This burnout will create lots of smoke and look really cool. All you need is a worn out tire and a motorcycle. Pretty soon, all the babes are going to be flocking to you and riding away on your bike in a cloud of smoke.

How To: Get a vehicle health report with Ford SYNC

To make sure your car is healthy and up to par with required maintenance, you can use Ford's new SYNC system to get vehicle health reports for you car. It gives you vehicle diagnostics, scheduled maintenance, recall information, and more. You just need to go online to your owner's account and set up your reports.

How To: Use a trailer hitch ballmount and coupler lock

This part is for a 1 1/4 inch by 1 1/4 inch class I and II receivers and the trailer lock fits lever style couplers with a 1/2 inch span. This video will show you the operation of the trailer hitch ballmount and coupler locks.

How To: Use the 3rd row seats on a 2010 Toyota 4Runner

This video produced by Toyota USA shows an owner of a 2010 Toyota 4Runner how to use the 3rd row seats in this vehicle. First we learn that only certain 2010 Toyota 4Runners have the 3rd row seats that fold into the floor. Next we are shown how to raise the seats, to do so you simply pull down on the handle at the top of the seat and then raise the seat back into position. Next pull the seat base forward. Finally go to the rear of the vehicle and rotate the headrests into the upright position...

How To: Do the Left Hand Reverse for Driving Tests in England

Here is a video to help you with the left-hand reverse manoeuvre, which occurs on the driving test. There is a full explanation of the manoeuvre followed by an in-car demonstration. Make sure you keep your speed low and do plenty of observations when you perform this. It should help you along with your driving lessons.

How To: Drive a manual car

This is a presentation from WatchMojo detailing the operation of a manual/standard automobile. Explanation includes the placement of pedals listed from left to right as the clutch, the brake, and the gas. There is also an explanation on the gearshift which includes a diagram of where gears are located. Explanation for the beginning of driving includes instructions as follows; ensuring that the ground is flat, the application of the parking brake, the process of depressing the clutch, placing ...

How To: Drive a stick shift without stalling

This video gives a funny and down-to-earth tutorial on how to drive a stick shift without stalling it. Joseph, the teenaged narrator, demonstrates starting a jeep, shifting gears when in motion and stopping in two different ways, giving safety tips along the way. He makes sure to warn you about what could happen if you do it wrong. This is a useful skill to learn, as it can prevent stalling in the middle of intersections and annoying other drivers.

How To: Adjust interior lights in a 2010 Toyota 4Runner

This video illustrates to adjust the interior lights in a 2010 model Toyota 4Runner. Procedure: To adjust the intensity of the instrument panel lights, rotate the thumb wheel that is located to left of the steering wheel. Rotating it upwards increases the intensity of the lights, rotating it downwards dims the instrument panel lights. A central interior light switch located on the roof has two positions, all the way to the left is off. All the way to the right turn the lights on and off when ...

How To: Drive a stick shift/manual transmission car

In the event that your manual transmission car is out of service, you may want to learn how to drive stick if given a stick shift car to borrow. In this video, learn about the basics for learning how to drive a stick/manual transmission car in minutes!

How To: Retrieve Keys Locked in a Car

In this 15-part video guide, you'll learn how to retrieve keys locked inside a car, use tools to unlock a car without a key, and prevent car theft, taught by an expert locksmith.

How To: Handle it when your car stalls

Have a small fear that your car might stall and you'll have a freak out? Stay calm. If you are driving down the road and your car suddenly dies, you need to know how to avoid a crash.

How To: Operate the backup camera on the 2010 Toyota Prius

In this tutorial, we learn how to operate the backup camera on the 2010 Prius. The Prius models can come equipped with a navigation and a backup camera. When you shift into reverse, the navigation screen will change to show what the camera sees behind the vehicle. You will also hear a repeating beep to indicate that you are going in reverse. This is a great tool to use while you are backing up your vehicle, which can help you avoid small things in the road. This is also a great tool to help a...

How To: Open the gas door & cap in a 2010 Prius

Learn how to open the gas door and cap in a 2010 Toyota Prius in simple steps. Locate the remote fuel filler door which can be found on the floor next to the driver seat. Pull the lever up to open the fuel filler door. Remove the cap by turning it slowly counter clockwise and hang it on the filler door. After filling the recommended fuel place the cap and turn clockwise till you hear a click sound. Finally lock the fuel filler door to finish.

How To: Operate the windshield wipers in a 2010 Prius

Toyota USA provides this quick video guide to show you how to use the windshield wipers in the 2010 Prius. If you want to control the wipers and washers, take the following steps: To operate the wipers, move the right hand stalk up for a single wipe, or move it down to activate the intermittent setting. Move the stalk down one more position to select a slow and constant wiper mode. One more down pull selects the fast wiper mode. Pulling the entire stalk towards you will activate the windshiel...

How To: Enter Address in Hyundai Tucson Navigation System

How to enter address in navigation system (infotainment) in Hyundai Tucson (2015 – 2016 model, formerly known as ix35) in depth »how to« video.

How To: Pass a California motorcycle skills test

Safe motorcycle riding requires knowledge and skill. Testing two-wheel vehicle operators is the best measurement of the skills necessary to operate safely in traffic because people often overestimate their own abilities.

How To: Drift with go karts

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to drift with a go kart. When making a drift, do not press hard on the brake pedal and slow down at the turns. As you make a drift, press smoothly on the brake pedal and stick as close to the left side as possible. When you press the brake pedal to hard, the wheel will spin and will cause the kart to spin out. This video also provides a visual demonstration on how to properly drift with a go kart. This video will benefit those viewers who enjoy drivin...

How To: Pair your cell phone in a 2010 Toyota 4Runner

This instructional video demonstrates how to pair a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone with a 2010 Toyota 4Runner that does not have a navigational system. In a series of simple steps, the 2-minute video covers the precise process of pairing one's phone with the vehicle. Then, it finishes by showing how the voice-activated system in the 4Runner can be used to make a phone call. This short, step-by-step tutorial is perfect for anybody with a Toyota 4Runner who is having difficulty getting a cell pho...

How To: Use different drive modes in the 2010 Toyota Prius

In this tutorial, we learn how to use different drive modes in the 2010 Prius. The Prius offers a smooth and gentle ride, and new technology lets you tailor the driving experience to your needs. All you have to do is press the button and let the car do the rest. The EV mode lets you drive for longer distances at low speeds using the electric motor only. This is an extremely quiet ride that doesn't produce any emissions. The ECO mode makes the most of fuel economy, even on stop and go city str...

How To: Use the auxiliary audio port on a 2010 Toyota 4Runner

Each Toyota 2010 4Runner has a mini plug auxiliary audio input port in the center console. When you want to play your personal playback devices, e.g. iPods or other MP3 players, on your car's sound system, simply plug it in the mini plug socket and press the aux button of the sound system. Depending on the model you drive there may also be a USB port in the glove box for selected models. Connecting your iPod to it will play the device as well as charge it when you drive. Playing sounds in you...

How To: Operate a Semi-Auto Quad ATV

This video provides a tutorial on how you can operate a Semi-Auto Quad ATV. The quad used in this movie is a Kawasaki Bayou 250cc 2wd.

How To: Use the auxiliary audio port in a 2010 Prius

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to use the auxiliary audio port in a 2010 Toyota Prius. This car is equipped with a mini plug auxiliary input port in the lower rear section of the center console, below the armrest. This will allow users to use personal playback devices such as an iPod. Simply plug the device into the mini plug socket and press the AUX button to listen through the car's audio system. This video will benefit those viewers who have a Toyota Prius car, and would like to...

How To: Shift gears on a 2008 Ninja 250 motorcycle

In this tutorial, we learn how to shift gears on a 2008 Ninja 250 motorcycle. First, pull in the clutch, take it down to first, then give it gas and release the clutch to get the bike started. To shift gears, pull in the clutch, pick up, then ease out the clutch, then give the bike gas. Keep doing this to change in between the different gears on the bike. Practice doing this in an empty parking lot and don't forget to keep on the gas while you are doing this. You may let go of the clutch to q...