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How To
How To Find Your Car Owner's Manual Online
By Joanne Helperin
Email | Blog
Although the promised "paperless society" may never come to pass, today's savvy consumers know the convenience of downloading large documents and foregoing the bulky paper version. Automakers realize this as well, and almost all of them have made the voluminous owner's manuals for their vehicles available on their Web sites' "Owner's" area. Most (though not all) online downloads are free, whereas buying the paper version costs anywhere from $10-$30 or more.
While owner's manuals don't make exciting reading, they are packed with valuable instructions, information and important warnings that you've probably never read. Perhaps your manual is buried in a long-forgotten pile of papers. Maybe you've purchased a used car without the manual. Or maybe you want to check the details of a car before you actually buy it. Either way, we've made it easy for you to find a car owner's manual without any digging. And accessing a manual online — or storing it on your computer — means convenient answers when you're not in the car.
Below is a list of automaker links to the page you'll need to obtain an online manual. In some cases, you can just search for a car's year, make and model, and then download the manual. Often, though, you'll need to register, and occasionally you'll need to provide a car's VIN, or vehicle identification number. You can find the VIN on the vehicle registration or insurance card, or on the vehicle itself. We also listed when the manual is free, if it requires a VIN, what model years are available and other relevant information.
Links to Online Car Owner's Manuals by Manufacturer, as of 1/18/08
| Manufacturer | VIN | Free | Notes |
|---|
| Acura |
No | Yes | 1990-present models |
| Audi |
No | No | Paper manuals available for purchase |
| BMW |
Yes | Yes | Must log vehicle into Owner's Circle. Some newer models unavailable. |
| Buick |
No | Yes | 1993-present |
| Cadillac |
No | Yes |
1993-2008 |
| Chevrolet |
No | Yes | 1993-present |
| Chrysler |
No | Yes | 2004 - present are downloadable, will link you to site to buy 2003 and earlier |
| Dodge |
No | Yes |
2004-present are downloadable, will link you to site to buy 2003 and earlier |
| Ford |
No | Yes |
1996-present are downloadable |
| GMC |
No | Yes | 1993-present |
| Honda |
No | Yes | 1990-present |
| Hummer |
No | Yes | 2003-present. Only H2 and H3 models |
| Hyundai |
Yes | Yes | 2003-present |
| Infiniti |
No | Yes |
Only 2007-present available online. Infiniti Q has 2005 and 2006. |
| Isuzu |
No | No | Isuzu Web site directs you to this company for manual |
| Jaguar |
Yes | Yes | 2000-present models only |
| Jeep |
No | Yes |
2004-present are downloadable, will link you to buy 2003 and earlier |
| Kia |
No | No | Register. For current model years, look under "Glove Box Materials." For prior years, purchase owner and service manuals through your local Kia dealership or call DDS Publications at (866) 542-6268. |
| Land Rover |
No | Yes | Register, then click "View Owner Info" at top. |
| Lexus |
Yes | No | Register, then click "Search Owner's Manual" |
| Lincoln |
No | Yes | 1996-present |
| Mazda |
No | Yes | 2002-present models |
| Mercedes |
Yes | Yes | Dealer must register you as an owner to get the manual. |
| Mercury |
No | Yes | 1996-present |
| Mini |
Yes | No | Must join the owner's lounge to obtain owner's manual |
| Mitsubishi |
No | No | Purchase owners' manuals through Helm, Inc. |
| Nissan |
No | Yes | 1996-present |
| Oldsmobile |
No | Yes | 1993-2004 |
| Pontiac |
No | Yes | 1993-present |
| Porsche | n/a | n/a | No online owner's manuals, but has warranty information |
| Saab |
No | Yes | 9-2, 9-3, 9-5 and 9-7 models only |
| Saturn |
Yes | Yes | 1993-present |
| Scion |
No | Yes | Reference guides to nav and audio features only |
| Subaru |
No | Yes | Go to "Activate" and register |
| Suzuki |
No | No | Suzuki sends you here for manuals and vehicle accessories |
| Toyota |
No | Yes | Not an owner's manual but a vehicle ref guide, for 2005-present models |
| Volkswagen |
No | No | Paper manuals available for purchase |
| Volvo |
No | No | 1980-present. |
Source: Edmunds.com
A few sites don't carry the whole enchilada
The sites for Kia, Scion and Toyota don't have the full car owner's manuals online, but Toyota's has short pocket reference guides (linked above) as well as cool interactive guides for some of its vehicles at ToyotaiGuide.com. Scion has reference guides to its navigation and audio features. After a little hunting and picking in Kia's "Glove Box Materials," you'll find Features and Functions guides similar to Toyota's. Though they're meant only as supplements to the real thing, we think they're still helpful. In rare instances, such as with Lexus, you can view the owner's manual online but cannot download it. Audi, Mitsubishi, Porsche and Volkswagen don't have their owner's manuals online at all, though Audi says it plans to have model years 2006-'08 up on its site by the end of 2007.
As a side note, many of the online car owner's manuals also include maintenance schedules, but Edmunds makes caring for your car even easier with our Maintenance page, which lets you see the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule, recalls and technical service bulletins for your car in one convenient location.
The paper chase
If you need to order a paper copy of a manual, you can often do so from the same site link or through your local dealer. Helm, Inc. offers paper manuals for Acura, Ford, all GM brands, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Jaguar, Lincoln, Mercury and Mitsubishi — for a fee. Audi and VW paper manuals can be found at the links above. And of course, if a used manual is OK or you're after an obscure model, eBay is always worth a shot.
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