Flipboard 2025 Car Tips

Wondering if your car can be repossessed even when you thought you were caught up? Learn why repossession can happen fast, what default means, what rights you may have, and what steps to take next.

Most drivers assume a dirty license plate is the kind of thing that earns a warning and maybe a suggestion to visit a car wash. So when a cop hands you an actual ticket, it can feel completely ridiculous. After all, cars get dirty. That's normal. But depending on where you live, that officer may have had more legal authority than you think.

Can you get a ticket for a muddy truck? Learn when dirt becomes a legal issue, including fines for blocked plates, lights, and road hazards.

You found a used car, liked the condition, trusted the dealer, and imagined your daughter driving it for years. Then the check engine light came on, the car broke down, and the dealership suddenly stopped sounding so helpful. When you're told "there's nothing we can do" just days or even hours after a sale, it's natural to wonder whether that's really the law or just a convenient excuse.

You canceled your car insurance, got the confirmation email, and thought you were done. Then another payment hit your bank account, followed by another, leaving you trapped in a customer service nightmare over charges that never should have happened. It is more common than many drivers realize, but there are ways to stop the withdrawals and fight to get your money back.

You return your rental car feeling victorious after surviving highway traffic, questionable coffee stops, and a GPS that seemed emotionally exhausted by your driving choices. Then comes the email claiming you damaged the vehicle. Suddenly, you’re staring at photos of a dent you swear wasn’t there and a bill that looks suspiciously like a second vacation payment.

Do you have to list your adult child on your car insurance? Learn when to disclose drivers, how it affects premiums, and what happens if you don’t.

A self-driving car slammed the brakes and caused a fender-bender—now what? Here’s a plain-English guide to whether you can sue the automaker, what evidence matters, and why “autonomous” does not always mean “company is automatically liable.”

Can a mechanic charge storage fees for delays? Learn when storage charges are legal and what to do if your car repair takes too long.

Do you have to pay for unauthorized car repairs? Learn your rights, common mechanic tactics, and how to handle surprise repair charges.

You finally buy a new car, you are feeling great about it, and then somebody points out a GPS tracker hidden under the dashboard. That is the kind of surprise nobody expects after signing a pile of paperwork at the dealership.