Free checks for vehicle leaks return to the Puget Sound area and expand throughout the state with the new year.

Vehicle leaks can bring heavy costs, both for the environment and for vehicle owners. The successful Don’t Drip & Drive program will again provide Washington residents with an affordable fix.

Starting in January, drivers can take their vehicles to one of more than 200 participating repair shops for a free and easy visual leak inspection (a service valued at up to $80). If a leak is found, the shop will offer a 10 percent discount on repairs (up to $50 value).

The program also offers free classes where motorists bring their cars about maintenance and includes a free leak check from the instructor. Classes are taught by automotive program instructors from local high schools and technical colleges.

In the Puget Sound basin, vehicles release 7 million quarts of motor oil from drips and leaks. This volume of oil is roughly equivalent to a tanker truck being spilled every day. Stormwater runoff carries this oil to the lakes and streams that flow to Puget Sound.

Don’t Drip & Drive partner shops and automotive training centers have tested more than 10,000 vehicles for leaks since the program’s 2013 debut. Previous work has shown that at least 1 in 10 vehicles has a leak, and with about 5 million cars in Washington – that’s a lot of leaks.

“A vehicle leak isn’t just damaging to the environment, but it also may indicate that your vehicle is in need of repair and may eventually lead to a mechanical breakdown if not addressed,” said John Milbrath, AAA Washington’s vice president of Automotive Services. “AAA is excited to have almost 200 AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities in their repair network participate in this great program that will reduce environmental damage and could prevent motorists from having a roadside emergency.”

“People who have come to the classes or talked with our mechanics have been really interested in learning about car care. Everyone from new to longtime drivers have appreciated finding out what maintenance works best for their car,” said Mary Rabourn, project manager with King County. “And they love finding out it helps the environment too,” she added.

To find a participating repair shop or a free class near you, visit fixcarleaks.org.

The program is organized by more than 80 local governments in the Stormwater Outreach for Regional Municipalities (STORM) consortium, the Washington Department of Ecology and more than 400 non-profit partners. The Department of Ecology provides major funding through a grant to King County.