Vehicular　Ad-hoc　Networks　(VANETs)　are　an　emerging　field,　whereby　vehicle-to-vehicle　communications　can　enable　many　new　applications　such　as　safety　and　entertainment　services.　Most　VANET　applications　are　enabled　by　different　routing　protocols.　The　design　of　such　routing　protocols,　however,　is　quite　challenging　due　to　the　dynamic　nature　of　nodes　(vehicles)　in　VANETs.　To　exploit　the　unique　characteristics　of　VANET　nodes,　we　design　a　moving-zone　based　architecture　in　which　vehicles　collaborate　with　one　another　to　form　dynamic　moving　zones　so　as　to　facilitate　information　dissemination.　We　propose　a　novel　approach　that　introduces　moving　object　modeling　and　indexing　techniques　from　the　theory　of　large　moving　object　databases　into　the　design　of　VANET　routing　protocols.　The　results　of　extensive　simulation　studies　carried　out　on　real　road　maps　demonstrate　the　superiority　of　our　approach　compared　with　both　clustering　and　non-clustering　based　routing　protocols.　©　2002-2012　IEEE.