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Note the first three characters. They represent the World Manufacturer Identification, or WMI. For your Aurora, the WMI is 1G3; "1" for United States, "G" for General Motors" and "3" for Oldsmobile.

Characters four and five describe the car line and series: "GS" or "GR" for Auroras.

Look at character six to determine the body type, such as "5" for four-door sedan.

Character seven describes the restraint system. For instance, "1" means the vehicle has manual seat belts.

Character eight identifies the engine type.

The ninth character is a check digit used to verify the VIN.

Characters 10 and 11 identify the model year and assembly plant, respectively.

The final six characters represent the production sequence number.

Go to the Mitchell Support web page to view the range of VIN characters and explanations for features such as body type and restraint system.

Take care of your car. Routine maintenance will both increase fuel economy and reduce CO2 emissions. Ensure the air filter and fuel filters on your car are changed regularly and that your tires are correctly inflated. This will improve your cars performance and reduce emissions in turn. The less fuel your vehicle consumes, the less emissions it will produce, so many fuel saving measures also help reduce emissions.

Use high quality fuel and low viscosity oil in your vehicles. The higher quality fuel burns more efficiently, reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Lower viscosity engine oil has been demonstrated to increase fuel mileage according to BP, which claims switching your car to a lower viscosity oil will also reduce CO2 emissions.

Car pool or take public transportation whenever possible. Combine trips and avoid unnecessary driving. Plan appointments and errands so that they are centrally located. Park your vehicle in one place and then walk to the various locations within the area rather than driving from parking lot to parking lot. If you can, walk or ride a bike instead of driving whenever possible.

Use alternative energy. Convert your vehicle to solar power or bio-diesel to reduce emissions and help the environment. Electric golf carts and scooters can provide a non-polluting transportation alternative as well.

Replace your car with a more fuel and CO2 efficient vehicle. Newer cars meet higher emissions standards. If you really want to make a big change to reduce your emissions, trade your car in for a high-fuel economy car such as a hybrid.