Speaking & Workshops

My goal is to offer automotive education for regular car owners in an accessible and
easy-to-understand format and to encourage questions.

Are you looking to spice up your virtual educational offerings?

I’m an internationally featured automotive educator, featured in publications like Oprah Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, Forbes, and Al Jazeera. With over seven years of virtual teaching experience and references from libraries, universities, and non-profits across the US, you’re sure to get a well-thought-out program that benefits the average car owner.

I offer eight different automotive programs so that you can find the perfect fit for your needs. These programs are designed for a diverse audience, taught live by me, and run ~ 60 – 90 minutes. I’ve taught classes at libraries, universities, and nonprofits across the United States (and Canada, too!), including John Jay Criminal College, Vanderbilt University, LeMay—America’s Car Museum, University of California, and others.

FAQs Book a Workshop

Places Chaya’s Taught Include

What Libraries Are Saying

  • Anna Arundel County
    Public Library

    Chaya provided an excellent, engaging, educational program on the Whys and Whens of Car Maintenance for my library. Her presentation was accessible and informative and we received numerous compliments from our customers. One comment stated “Car maintenance is something that always gives me anxiety, however, Chaya explained things so simply and so easy to understand and relate to.” Chaya was incredibly responsive to questions and as a library program coordinator she made my job very easy! Kelly Topita,
    Kelly Topita

  • Milwaukee Public Libraries

    Chaya presented two of her workshops, “Be Prepared for Car Ownership: A Class for Teens and Young Adults” and “The Whys and Whens of Car Maintenance.” Both were excellent, and I would say that people of all ages, including those who have previously owned cars, would learn something from “Be Prepared for Car Ownership.” A word that comes to mind when I think of her presentation is hospitality. In addition to her expertise and fluency with both her topic and the Zoom platform, attendees were very comfortable asking questions. As librarians, we were impressed with how easily and flawlessly she incorporated participant questions into her presentation
    Amy Waldman

  • Brookings Public Library

    Chaya presented her class “The Whys and Whens of Car Maintenance” for my library and I cannot speak highly enough of her. Not only does she truly know her stuff, but she’s charismatic and makes her audience feel comfortable asking questions they might be scared to ask their mechanic. The presentation was given in simple terms, but yet it was comprehensive enough for me and other participants to leave feeling far more confident about caring for our cars. I would recommend Chaya’s classes to anyone. 
    Mikaela Neubauer

  • Elmhurst Public Library

     Chaya presented her “Whys and Whens of Car Maintenance” class virtually for my library in September 2020 and it was very well received. We had a good turn-out, especially for a Friday night, and attracted a variety of ages, including many 20-30somethings, which is one of the hardest demographics to attract to library programs. Chaya is very professional and easy to work with and patrons immediately warmed to her personality and presentation style. Everyone—myself included—came away with valuable information from her program.
    Jez Layman

Courses Offered

From budgeting to negotiating, this class walks you through the car buying process to get the best deal on the best car for you.

This class covers the foundational maintenance items, what they do in their specific systems, why they should be changed in addition to things like the owner’s manual, and what preventive maintenance even means.

Want to dive deeper than the basics? This class covers topics like tune-ups, transmission fluid, cleaning your car to protect your investment, amongst others. While this is often offered as part of a series following the “Why’s and When’s of Car Maintenance” class, you don’t have to take the first one to understand and benefit from the second fully.

Spending $700 or more on tires? This class gives you an understanding of tires beyond rubber, round and rolling. From maintenance to purchasing, this class will save you $$$ long term.

Often thought of as the “dad’s job,” teaching a teen the fundamentals should be a must before car ownership. Covers warning lights, when to tow a car, how to say no to a mechanic, and more.

The foundational elements of car insurance, what insurance companies are “best”, and what to do if you get into a car accident.

Finding a mechanic is made easy with this class. Delve into the differences between repair shops, how to choose the type that best fits your needs, how to find and build a relationship with a mechanic that will last a lifetime.

Electric cars are dropping by the dozen, but yet a majority of consumers still aren’t taking the plunge. Fears of running out of charge, spending loads of money on repairs, and sitting at the charging station for hours are abundant. But in reality, 97% of people who actually take the plunge report that they won’t buy another internal combustion engine again. This virtual class is a roadmap to making an educated decision. I’ll lay out the pros and cons, and do a deep dive into purchasing, buying, and maintaining an electric car.

Chaya Milchtein takes her decade of automotive knowledge and experience and packages it into one paperback book written with the average car owner in mind. There’s no jargon, no BS, and no patronizing attitude. In Mechanic Shop Femme’s Guide to Car Ownership, you’ll learn how to buy, insure, maintain, and sell a car, along with deep dives into finding a mechanic, tires, electric cars, emergencies, and more. Jill Trotta, an ASE-certified Master Mechanic and automotive industry leader, wrote the foreword and it received a rave review from Booklist.

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