Flipboard 2025 Car Tips

Your HOA may object if you park an older car in your driveway. We look at what you can do.

Here is the uncomfortable truth. Brake wear often creeps up slowly enough that many drivers do not notice a dramatic change in feel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says brake problems can show up as longer stopping distances, pulling, vibration, noise, or warning lights, but a car can also seem normal before the wear gets severe.

If you grew up hearing that every car needs 15 minutes of idling on a freezing morning, you are not alone. It was common advice for older carbureted cars, especially before electronic fuel injection became the norm. But for most modern cars, that long warm-up is no longer necessary, and several experts say it can actually be counterproductive.

You hit a parked car, but couldn't find the owner. Unfortunately, you can't leave the scene or you can be charged with hit-and-run.

They say that rules are made to be broken—and that's kind of how it feels for Boomers whenever they get in the passenger seat with a younger driver. Rules they grew up with—and have followed for decades—seem to be forgotten or, even worse, ignored by those upstart Millennials.

You've got a street parking permit and you drive it once a week, but your worst neighbor keeps reporting your car as "abandoned." The annoying part is that a complaint by itself usually does not let a private citizen get your car towed.

You see “Certified Pre-Owned” on a windshield and it sounds reassuring. Obviously, it suggests the car was checked over carefully and comes with extra protection. But if you bought a certified used car and now it has problems all over the place, the hard truth is this: “Certified” does not mean flawless.

Should you choose a gas car over an EV if your parents refuse to buy electric? Explore the pros, cons, and smart ways to handle this common first-car conflict.

Why does Supreme fuel cost more than regular gas? This fun, easy-to-read guide explains octane, refining, additives, demand, and whether premium gas is really worth it for your car.

Can new vehicles secretly record conversations inside the cabin? Here’s what in-car microphones, voice assistants, and telematics systems really do—and what they don’t.

Does connecting your phone to your car share your location with the manufacturer? Here’s what smartphone mirroring really does—and doesn’t—do with your driving data.

Discover why extended warranties often refuse to cover known defects—and what you can do about it. This in-depth automotive guide breaks down warranty loopholes, TSBs vs. recalls, consumer rights, and effective strategies to get your repair approved. Learn how to fight back, document your case, and understand your true coverage so you’re never caught off guard at the service counter again.