Flipboard 2025 Car Tips

Modern smart keys may require specialized programming, security credentials, and a cut emergency key, pushing replacement costs into the hundreds of dollars. Federal used-car rules do not specifically require dealers to list the number of keys included, but promises, certified-pre-owned standards, state law, and the sales contract can change what the dealer owes you.

New-car touch controls can become frustrating and distracting when winter gloves enter the picture. Here's why physical buttons may still matter for safe cold-weather driving—and why automakers are beginning to reconsider touchscreen-heavy dashboards.

Some cars lose value faster than free donuts disappear from an office break room. And while that is painful news for the first owner, it can create some almost unbelievable bargains for the person waiting patiently in the used-car market. Like...

If you leased a car and now don’t need it, the goal is pretty simple: get out with the least amount of money left on the table. The tricky part is that leases are designed to keep you locked in, and the “easy” exit options are often the expensive ones. The good news is you usually have more than one path out.

One second the roof looked normal, and the next there was a deafening bang followed by broken glass. Now the dealer says it’s an insurance issue, while you’re wondering why a factory-installed roof wouldn’t fall under the warranty.

That little scrape on the door you got in the parking garage? Those light scratches from everyday use? It’s easy to worry about whether a few cosmetic imperfections will turn into an unexpected bill. The good news is that with most leasing companies, whether you’ll be charged depends on how deep the damage goes and whether it crosses the line into “excessive” territory.

When I ordered my new car, the biggest available wheels seemed like one of the simplest upgrades on the option sheet. They looked sharper, filled out the wheel arches, and helped give the car the appearance I wanted. What I did not think much about was what those wheels would cost me several years later when the tires needed replacing. That is where an attractive factory option can turn into an unexpectedly expensive ownership decision.

Modern connected cars can transmit information without the driver manually sending anything. Depending on the vehicle, that information can include mileage, diagnostic trouble codes, oil life, battery condition, location, and other operating data. Some manufacturers use this information to power maintenance reminders and vehicle health reports.

A teenager's first car does not need to be new, luxurious, or packed with every convenience feature. Safety deserves more weight in the decision, though, because drivers ages 16 to 19 have a fatal crash rate per mile roughly three times that of drivers 20 and older. The question is therefore not whether your teenager needs an expensive car, but whether the cheaper option gives up protections that matter when a new driver makes a mistake.

Pickup trucks were originally designed around hauling, towing, and getting work done rather than recreating the interior of a luxury sedan. Ford's early F-Series trucks used purpose-built truck platforms, while comfort features gradually became more important as pickups increasingly served families as well as workers. Today's high-end trucks can offer leather upholstery, massage seats, premium audio systems, enormous displays, and sophisticated driver assistance technology. For drivers who grew up with simpler machines, some of the old features still have undeniable appeal.

To my father, his enormous old sedan is not simply a machine sitting in the driveway. He knows exactly how the steering feels, where every control is located, and how the car behaves on familiar roads. Asking him to replace it can therefore sound less like financial advice and more like asking him to surrender something that represents independence.

EV charging can save money, but higher insurance and repair costs may eat into those gains. Here’s how to decide whether an electric vehicle still makes financial sense.