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Autos & Mobility Edition

Autos & Mobility

Car ownership, maintenance, and transportation tips for everyday American drivers.

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Car Ownership Basics

Car Ownership Basics

Tires, fluids, lights, brakes—use this checklist to make sure your car is road-ready before you leav…

16 stories
Maintenance & Repairs

Maintenance & Repairs

When your car won't start, one of three components is usually responsible. Learn how they relate, ho…

16 stories
Transportation Choices

Transportation Choices

From bikeshare to carshare to transit passes, here's a clear-eyed look at every mobility option avai…

16 stories
Before Every Long Road Trip: A Pre-Drive Walkthrough
Featured

Before Every Long Road Trip: A Pre-Drive Walkthrough

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 6 min read · May 10, 2023

Latest in Autos & Mobility

Car Ownership Basics Car Depreciation Explained: How Value Drops Over Time

Car Depreciation Explained: How Value Drops Over Time

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 8 min · Jul 23, 2024
Car Ownership Basics Car Maintenance Intervals That Actually Matter

Car Maintenance Intervals That Actually Matter

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 5 min · Oct 14, 2024
Car Ownership Basics Car Ownership Myths That Cost Drivers Time and Money

Car Ownership Myths That Cost Drivers Time and Money

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 6 min · Dec 10, 2024
Car Ownership Basics Dealer Service Centers vs. Independent Mechanics

Dealer Service Centers vs. Independent Mechanics

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 6 min · Nov 10, 2023
Car Ownership Basics Decoding Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

Decoding Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 7 min · Dec 31, 2023
Car Ownership Basics Keeping a Vehicle Log: What to Track and Why It Pays Off

Keeping a Vehicle Log: What to Track and Why It Pays Off

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 7 min · Feb 1, 2023
Car Ownership Basics Leasing vs. Financing a Vehicle: What Changes After You Sign

Leasing vs. Financing a Vehicle: What Changes After You Sign

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 6 min · May 23, 2025
Car Ownership Basics Negotiating a Car Purchase Without Losing the Plot

Negotiating a Car Purchase Without Losing the Plot

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 7 min · Dec 2, 2024
Car Ownership Basics Reading a Window Sticker: What the Numbers Really Mean

Reading a Window Sticker: What the Numbers Really Mean

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 7 min · Jul 7, 2026
Car Ownership Basics The True Cost of Owning a Car Beyond the Sticker Price

The True Cost of Owning a Car Beyond the Sticker Price

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 8 min · May 24, 2026
Car Ownership Basics Tire Wear Patterns and What They're Telling You

Tire Wear Patterns and What They're Telling You

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 8 min · Jan 4, 2023
Car Ownership Basics Understanding Auto Insurance Coverage Types

Understanding Auto Insurance Coverage Types

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 5 min · Oct 1, 2024
Car Ownership Basics When Repairing Your Car Stops Making Financial Sense

When Repairing Your Car Stops Making Financial Sense

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 6 min · Jan 11, 2026
Car Ownership Basics Why Your Check Engine Light Isn't Always an Emergency

Why Your Check Engine Light Isn't Always an Emergency

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 6 min · May 16, 2024
Car Ownership Basics Your First Car: What Nobody Tells You Before You Drive Off the Lot

Your First Car: What Nobody Tells You Before You Drive Off the Lot

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 8 min · May 17, 2024
Maintenance & Repairs Battery, Alternator, and Starter: The Electrical Trio That Gets You Moving

Battery, Alternator, and Starter: The Electrical Trio That Gets You Moving

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 7 min · Sep 24, 2025
Maintenance & Repairs Brake Pads, Rotors, and Calipers: Understanding Your Stopping System

Brake Pads, Rotors, and Calipers: Understanding Your Stopping System

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 8 min · Jan 6, 2024
Maintenance & Repairs Cabin Air Filter vs. Engine Air Filter: Two Parts, Two Very Different Jobs

Cabin Air Filter vs. Engine Air Filter: Two Parts, Two Very Different Jobs

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 5 min · Aug 14, 2023
Maintenance & Repairs DIY Oil Change vs. Taking It to a Shop

DIY Oil Change vs. Taking It to a Shop

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 6 min · Nov 6, 2024
Maintenance & Repairs Fluids Under the Hood: A Driver's Field Guide

Fluids Under the Hood: A Driver's Field Guide

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 5 min · Feb 13, 2026
Maintenance & Repairs Independent Mechanic vs. Dealership Service Department

Independent Mechanic vs. Dealership Service Department

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 5 min · Dec 8, 2024
Maintenance & Repairs Keeping a Car Running Well Past 150,000 Miles

Keeping a Car Running Well Past 150,000 Miles

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 6 min · Feb 6, 2026
Maintenance & Repairs Oil Change Myths That Are Costing Drivers Unnecessary Money

Oil Change Myths That Are Costing Drivers Unnecessary Money

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 6 min · Sep 19, 2023
Maintenance & Repairs Reading a Repair Estimate: What the Line Items Actually Mean

Reading a Repair Estimate: What the Line Items Actually Mean

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 8 min · Apr 22, 2024
Maintenance & Repairs Seasonal Car Care: Preparing Your Vehicle for Changing Conditions

Seasonal Car Care: Preparing Your Vehicle for Changing Conditions

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 6 min · Feb 23, 2023
Maintenance & Repairs Signs a Repair Shop Is Being Straight With You — and Signs It Isn't

Signs a Repair Shop Is Being Straight With You — and Signs It Isn't

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 6 min · Oct 28, 2024
Maintenance & Repairs Tire Rotation, Balancing, and Alignment: Why Each One Matters

Tire Rotation, Balancing, and Alignment: Why Each One Matters

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 8 min · Nov 4, 2024
Maintenance & Repairs Vehicle Maintenance From Scratch: A New Driver's Starting Point

Vehicle Maintenance From Scratch: A New Driver's Starting Point

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 8 min · Jul 29, 2024
Maintenance & Repairs Warning Lights on Your Dashboard and What They're Actually Telling You

Warning Lights on Your Dashboard and What They're Actually Telling You

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 6 min · Jan 27, 2026
Maintenance & Repairs Why Skipping Routine Maintenance Catches Up With You

Why Skipping Routine Maintenance Catches Up With You

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 5 min · Oct 30, 2023
Maintenance & Repairs Your Car's Maintenance Schedule, Explained

Your Car's Maintenance Schedule, Explained

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 7 min · Apr 19, 2026
Transportation Choices Beyond Car Ownership: A Map of Modern Mobility Options

Beyond Car Ownership: A Map of Modern Mobility Options

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 9 min · Dec 6, 2023
Transportation Choices Carsharing vs. Car Rental: What Actually Makes Sense for Occasional Drivers

Carsharing vs. Car Rental: What Actually Makes Sense for Occasional Drivers

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 6 min · Jun 16, 2024
Transportation Choices Electric Scooters and Bikeshare: What Casual Users Need to Know Before Their First Ride

Electric Scooters and Bikeshare: What Casual Users Need to Know Before Their First Ride

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 8 min · Jan 18, 2025
Transportation Choices Evaluating a City's Transit Network Before You Relocate

Evaluating a City's Transit Network Before You Relocate

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 6 min · Jan 5, 2024
Transportation Choices Getting the Most Out of Public Transit as a Supplemental Option

Getting the Most Out of Public Transit as a Supplemental Option

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 6 min · May 24, 2025
Transportation Choices How Employer Commuter Benefits Work and What Qualifies

How Employer Commuter Benefits Work and What Qualifies

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 5 min · Apr 10, 2025
Transportation Choices Owning One Car in a Two-Adult Household: How Families Make It Work

Owning One Car in a Two-Adult Household: How Families Make It Work

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 6 min · Feb 25, 2024
Transportation Choices Park-and-Ride, Vanpool, and Commuter Rail: Underused Tools for Long-Distance Commuters

Park-and-Ride, Vanpool, and Commuter Rail: Underused Tools for Long-Distance Commuters

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 7 min · Jul 31, 2025
Transportation Choices Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing: What Owners and Renters Should Understand

Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing: What Owners and Renters Should Understand

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 9 min · Jan 25, 2026
Transportation Choices Rideshare vs. Personal Vehicle: Weighing the Tradeoffs by Lifestyle

Rideshare vs. Personal Vehicle: Weighing the Tradeoffs by Lifestyle

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 5 min · May 10, 2026
Transportation Choices The Real Costs of Owning a Car That Never Gets Driven

The Real Costs of Owning a Car That Never Gets Driven

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 7 min · Sep 3, 2025
Transportation Choices Things People Get Wrong About Living Without a Car in the Suburbs

Things People Get Wrong About Living Without a Car in the Suburbs

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 6 min · Feb 26, 2024
Transportation Choices Transit Pass, Monthly Carshare, or Rideshare Credits: Structuring a Car-Free Budget

Transit Pass, Monthly Carshare, or Rideshare Credits: Structuring a Car-Free Budget

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 7 min · Sep 25, 2024
Transportation Choices What 'Mobility as a Service' Actually Means—and Why It's Relevant Now

What 'Mobility as a Service' Actually Means—and Why It's Relevant Now

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 7 min · Oct 10, 2023
Transportation Choices When Leasing a Car Outperforms Owning One

When Leasing a Car Outperforms Owning One

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 6 min · Sep 12, 2025
Transportation Choices Why Monthly Transportation Costs Are Harder to Track Than People Expect

Why Monthly Transportation Costs Are Harder to Track Than People Expect

By Autos & Mobility Editorial Team · 5 min · Sep 12, 2023