"So you're ready to buy a new set of wheels that gets better mileage. Good idea. The period between Labor Day and the end of the year is often the best time to shop for cars. And you can save even more if you buy a vehicle that's eligible for a federal income tax credit.

The way it works is this: The IRS has doled out tax credits for the first 60,000 qualifying vehicles sold by car manufacturer. Sadly, you can no longer claim a credit for a Toyota or Lexus hybrid, and the credit for the Honda Civic hybrid is about to go bye-bye. Still, several other hybrids still qualify and some brand-new diesel models do, too."