How to Get an Owner's Manual for a Car

How to Get an Owner's Manual for a Car
By: Kenneth W. Michael Wills

Almost all car manufacturers doing business in the United States offer access to vehicle owners' manuals online. Some are free, and some will cost you anywhere from $10 to $30 to either download or to order a print version directly from the car manufacturer. Several car manufacturers do not offer online manuals, so you will need to contact your dealer directly.

Instructions

1. Visit the website of a your car manufacturer, and click on the "Ownership" link.

2. Register, if required, by clicking on the registration button and following the instructions, or proceed to click on the given link for "Owners' Manuals." Manufacturers requiring you to register will provide you with access to the link for owner manuals. If you must register, in most cases you will need your VIN number.

3. Enter the make, model and year of your vehicle, and click on the "search" button to pull up the correct manual. The manual will be a PDF file, and you might view it online and print it. Some manufacturer's will allow you to download the file as well.

Tips & Warnings

There are at least four manufacturer's that do not offer owner manuals online: Porsche, Volkswagen, Audi and Mitsubishi. In those cases, you will need to contact your car dealer to place an order for your owners' manual.

Where to Find an Owner's Manual for Your Car

Where to Find an Owner's Manual for Your Car
By: Leonardo R. Grabkowski

Owner's manuals are essential guides that tell us the ins and outs of our vehicles. Tire pressure recommendations, oil capacity, safety specifications and electronics instructions can all be found in the owner's manual. Unfortunately, sometimes manuals are lost or shuffled between vehicle owners, leaving you with no resource to access important information about your vehicle.

Where to Find an Owner's Manual for Your Car thumbnail    The Import Owner's Manual

Owner's manuals are essential guides that tell us the ins and outs of our vehicles. Tire pressure recommendations, oil capacity, safety specifications and electronics instructions can all be found in the owner's manual. Unfortunately, sometimes manuals are lost or shuffled between vehicle owners, leaving you with no resource to access important information about your vehicle.

    Purchasing a New Owner's Manual

        A new owner's manual for your vehicle can be ordered by any automotive dealer licensed to sell your brand of vehicle. Contact your local dealer to see if they have one in stock; if not, they can certainly order one for you. Owner's manuals for vehicles that have been discontinued can be ordered by a dealer previously authorized to sell the brand.

        Instead of going through the dealer, you can order factory-authorized owner's manuals directly from the publisher. Helm, Inc publishes and distributes the factory manuals for most major auto manufacturers. Helm Inc. sells directly to the public. They can be reached by calling 1-800-782-4356 or by visiting their website at www.helminc.com.
    Purchasing a Used Owner's Manual

        Finding a used owner's manual can be a little tricky, but can usually save you some money. Always check the price of a new owner's manual before purchasing used; if there isn't a significant price difference, buying new may be a better option.

        Check with auto-salvage yards to find used manuals locally. The Internet also offers a variety of resources to help you find a used manual. Ebay.com and Amazon.com are sites where private sellers often list their manuals for sale. In addition to private sellers, many companies sell used owner manuals. See the resources below for several companies that offer used manuals.