Flipboard 2025 Car Tips

Screenshot from The Chair Company (2025)

My Neighbor’s EV Charger Cable Crosses The Sidewalk In Front Of Our Condo Every Night. Is That Something I Should Report?

Charging an EV from a home to a curbside parking space can be legal in some cities, but authorities generally expect the sidewalk to remain safe and accessible for everyone using it. Before filing a complaint, determine whether the cord is using an approved crossing method or simply lying loose across the walking path.
September 1, 2026 Peter Kinney
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My Condo’s EV Chargers Are Always Occupied By The Same Two Cars. Can The Building Set Time Limits?

If your condo has only a few EV chargers, seeing the same cars plugged in every evening can get frustrating fast. Shared charging works only when drivers actually share the equipment rather than treating charging stalls like assigned parking spaces. Federal guidance for multifamily properties specifically recommends policies that address how long cars remain at communal chargers.
August 29, 2026 Jane O'Shea
AI-generated image of a man worried about maintenance on his direct-injection engine.

My mechanic says my direct-injection engine needs carbon cleaning. Is that real maintenance or an upsell?

Your car still runs, the check-engine light may not even be on, and suddenly the service advisor is recommending a carbon-cleaning procedure you’ve never heard of before. That’s enough to make anyone suspicious.
September 3, 2026 Marlon Wright
red EV charging in garage, man in foreground looking at camera

My neighbor plugs his EV into our shared garage outlet without asking. Who pays for the electricity?

A shared garage can make boundaries fuzzy fast. One neighbor sees an outlet beside both parking spaces and thinks it is there for everyone. The other sees an EV plugged into it for hours and starts wondering exactly whose electric bill is filling that battery. So who is actually paying?
September 2, 2026 Jesse Singer
Internal - Extended Warranty

My extended warranty won’t cover a known defect. Isn’t that what extended warranties are for?

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.
December 15, 2025 Jack Hawkins
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I Bought A "Certified" Used Car, But The Inspection Missed Obvious Problems. What Does Certified Really Guarantee?

Buying a certified pre-owned car can feel like paying extra to remove the uncertainty that comes with buying used. Manufacturer-backed CPO vehicles generally go through an inspection and reconditioning process and receive additional warranty coverage. That still does not mean every component is guaranteed to be flawless or that nothing can go wrong after you leave the dealership.
September 3, 2026 Jane O'Shea
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My Trade-In Offer Changed After I Drove Two Hours To The Dealership. Can Dealers Advertise A Value And Then Take It Back?

You entered your vehicle information online, received an attractive trade-in number, and drove two hours expecting the dealership to stand behind it. Then an employee inspected your car and suddenly offered thousands less. Whether that is legitimate depends heavily on what the original number actually promised and what conditions were disclosed before you made the trip.
September 2, 2026 Jane O'Shea
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My EV’s Range Estimate Looked Fine Until I Turned On The Heater. Are Winter Range Estimates Misleading?

Watching an EV's predicted range fall after switching on the heater can be alarming, especially when the estimate looked comfortable moments earlier. The change usually reflects the car recalculating how much energy it expects to consume, not a sudden loss of battery capacity. Cold weather increases energy demand for cabin heating while also making the battery itself less efficient.
September 2, 2026 Jane O'Shea
AI-generated image of Black man standing next to EV in parking garage

My condo board says I need approval before installing an EV charger—what am I supposed to do until then?

Buying an EV in a condo? Learn how to navigate charger approval delays, use temporary charging options, understand right-to-charge laws, and improve your chances of getting home charging approved faster.
July 10, 2026 Miles Rook
Fb Og Image - Disabled Parking Ev Spot

My apartment has disabled parking that I use right next to an EV charger. My spot is always taken by someone charging their car. What can I do?

What should you do when your disabled apartment parking space is constantly taken by EV drivers charging their cars? Here’s how to document the problem, talk to management, request enforcement, and protect accessible parking rights.
May 29, 2026 Jack Hawkins
happy bearded Caucasian man smiling while charging an electric car outdoors

I charge all my neighbors $15 a month to use my home EV charger whenever they want. Am I doing anything illegal?

If your neighbors are willing to chip in $15 a month, what's the problem? As it turns out, the answer isn't nearly as simple as you might think.
July 9, 2026 Jesse Singer
Car blocking driveway, man in foreground looking at camera

I live near a school and parents keep blocking my driveway during drop-off and pickup. It’s my property—I can put up my own “No Parking” signs, right?

Living near a school has its perks. Twice-a-day traffic jams are not one of them. Every morning and afternoon, parents stop wherever they can squeeze their SUVs, and sometimes that means directly in front of someone else’s driveway. After enough blocked entrances, putting up a homemade “No Parking” sign starts to feel pretty reasonable. It’s their property, after all...right?
September 1, 2026 Jesse Singer