BETHESDA, Md. – With National Car Care Month (NCCM) in April right around the corner, the Car Care Council offers the following tips to help you plan your vehicle check-up event.   

• Choose a location for your event. Once a date and time for your event has been set, secure a location. If you have an off-site event, consider these five things:

                 * Convenience
                 * Traffic
                 * Space
                 * Power
                 * Insurance Permits

• Determine sponsorship opportunities. Once a date, time and location for your event has been set, identify and secure potential event sponsors. Sponsors can help defray the costs of your event either through monetary donations or in-kind contributions. For extra help, consider vendors, other shops or local automotive vocational departments and be willing to treat these organizations as sponsors.

• Secure technicians and volunteers. A check-up event requires technicians to do the inspections and many additional volunteers to welcome motorists and answer their questions. A rule of thumb is to have five technicians per check lane. Volunteers are needed the day of the event to coordinate any additional activities, such as displays and demonstrations.

• Register your event online and request inspection forms. When you register your event online at www.carcare.org, you may request free copies of the Car Care Council’s inspection form to use during your event. If you need additional forms, please e-mail us and we’ll gladly send them to you.

For more information about National Car Care Month and the tools needed to host your own event, go to: www.carcare.org.