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Jacking your car up is no trivial matter. You're taking thousands of pounds and dangling it over your body while you tinker underneath. I've been lucky enough over the years to never see a horrific jack accident, but I have seen a car fall off a jack, and it ain't pretty. The force of the car hitting the ground is enough to get your attention, so much that it takes you a minute to realize you might have damaged part of your car.

It only takes a second to securely support your car while you work on it. A pair of jack stands should be one of the first things you buy when equipping yourself for home auto repair.

With your car supported by the factory jack, carefully peak underneath. Behind the front wheel, underneath the car, you should see a jack point or a length of heavy duty frame.

If you don't see an obvious spot, you can put the jack stand next to the factory jack point (see your owner's manual). Start lowering the car toward the jack stand, watching to be sure you are still on target. Once the weight of the car is off the jack and onto the stand, you're ready to work - safely.