Flipboard 2025 Car Tips

Every cold snap seems to revive the same claim that convertibles are toys for warm states and beach towns. The truth is more interesting. Modern convertibles are far more weather-ready than the drafty soft-tops many people remember from decades ago.

If your parking garage says you cannot store a spare tire next to your parked car, it can sound fussy or arbitrary. In many cases, though, the rule is tied to a very real concern about fire load, smoke, and how quickly a garage fire can become dangerous. The short answer is that a loose tire is usually not the most likely thing to ignite, but once rubber burns, it adds heat, toxic smoke, and firefighting complications.

Letting your brother borrow your car for a cross border road trip sounds simple until insurance enters the picture. The biggest surprise for many drivers is that crossing into another country can change what proof of insurance you need, what your policy actually covers, and who gets stuck with the bill after a crash. Before you hand over the keys, it is worth slowing down and checking the fine print.

You pick up a rental for a work trip and assume your auto insurance follows you like it does in your own car. Then the insurer says the rental is not covered because you were driving for work. That answer feels wrong, but in many cases it can be partly right depending on your policy language, the reason for the trip, and whether the car was rented in your name or your employer’s.

If your dealer says your first oil change is not due until 15,000 miles, it is fair to raise an eyebrow. That number can be safe for some cars in some conditions, but it is not a universal truth. The real answer lives in your owner’s manual, the oil-life monitor, and how you actually drive.

Remember when someone in the family brought home a new car and everyone wanted a ride? Well, with some of these 80s models, the excitement didn’t last nearly as long as the payments. They attracted plenty of buyers. Keeping those buyers happy? Not so much.

Should you start your classic car every week during winter storage? Discover why experts recommend leaving it alone, plus essential tips for protecting your engine, battery, fuel, and tires until spring.

When I bought my car, I expected the interior to hold up for considerably longer than five years. Instead, the seats are showing wear, some plastic surfaces look tired, and the trim doesn't feel as solid as it once did. I'm careful with my belongings, so watching the cabin deteriorate this quickly is frustrating. Is this just normal aging, or did I buy a car with disappointing interior quality?

Taking your car to the dealership for routine maintenance can get expensive surprisingly quickly. AAA's 2026 research estimates that owning and operating a new vehicle costs American drivers an average of $12,863 annually, including maintenance and other ownership expenses. While professional mechanics are essential for complicated repairs, many everyday maintenance tasks require only basic tools and a little patience. Learning which jobs you can safely handle yourself could save money throughout the year.

Modern cars are packed with features that make driving easier, safer, and more comfortable. Heated seats, panoramic roofs, automatic parking systems, and electronic controls can make an ordinary vehicle feel luxurious. But when these features stop working, owners sometimes discover that a seemingly simple convenience requires specialized parts, expensive labor, or complicated repairs.

I brought my car in for a routine oil change, expecting a straightforward appointment. Instead, my mechanic found several additional problems and handed me an estimate that was much higher than expected. This wasn't the first time it happened, and now I'm wondering whether my car really needs all this work or whether someone is taking advantage of my trust.