Tips, Tricks & Trends

Tips, Tricks & Trends
Car maintenance | Daniel Acker via Getty Images
Tips, Tricks & Trends
Follow what’s happening in all things motorized: you’ll find tips, tricks, and trends on anything engine-equipped here.

We’ll help you find out how to properly store gasoline, what to do when your Tesla’s door handle is covered in ice, and fill you in on fun motorized gadgets.

Entertaining news, consumer support, and maintenance insights on everything motorized

Wondering how to maximize fuel economy or why you might not need an oil change every 3,000 miles? From how to clean car seats or winterize your lawn mower to guides on car safety features, we’re talking about purchasing, maintaining, and accessorizing here.

Check out the latest in motorized Tips, Tricks, & Trends:
Trends
14 hours ago
Florida’s New License Plate Law Is Confusing Drivers
Trends
15 hours ago
California Woman Discovers Man Hiding in Waymo Trunk, Shares Scary Encounter on TikTok
Trends
17 hours ago
Serial Boston Car Thief Charged After Leaving a Piece of Mail in a Stolen Mercedes
Trends
17 hours ago
New AI Safety Cameras Spot Over 31,000 Distracted, Speeding, and Unrestrained Drivers in Just Four Weeks
Trends
19 hours ago
10 Used Cars With the Worst Problems According to Real Owners

Trending now

A modified white Lexus IS300 sedan drifting on a frozen lake

Best Tuners Under $5,000

Tuning, customizing and modifying cars has been a booming culture since the first car hit the streets. Breaking into it doesn't have to break the bank.

by Danyell Marshall

Published on May 11, 2021 1:02 pm

A 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge P8 all-wheel-drive SUV in Glacier Silver sitting in a pink studio

Trends

Volvo Just Earned This Huge Safety Honor

Volvo brought home a whopping 14 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation in 2021. Here's which models are the big award winners.

by Erin Culver

Published on May 11, 2021 12:19 pm

Trends

Safety Probe: 2013-2015 Honda Accord Steering Wheel Issue

Honda Motor Co. is under investigation this week over a steering wheel issue. More than 1.1 million Honda Accords potentially have a fault that causes a loss of steering. The wheel suddenly breaks free and can cause a crash. There are presently more than 100 complaints from Accord drivers. A potential Honda Accord recall in …

by Amanda Cline

Published on May 11, 2021 10:00 am

An employee comes out from a white 2019 Lexus ES 300h luxury car at the company's showroom in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Trends

Do Luxury Cars Get Pulled Over Less?

It turns out that certain types of cars might reduce your chances of getting a ticket. Could it be that driving luxury cars could help you?

by Erin Culver

Published on May 11, 2021 9:36 am

Lotus Elan barn find pulled out into the sun

Trends

Impossibly Rare Lotus Elan Barn Find Unearthed Wearing Super Limited F1 Livery

Nothing gets the blood pumping like a fresh (dirty) barn find. That moment a crusty relic long forgotten is pulled from its dusty depths into the light is what vintage car nerds live for. Take this insanely rare Lotus Elan Barn find, for instance. Not only is it a Lotus, but it is also an …

by Peter Corn

Published on May 11, 2021 8:43 am

Trends

The Most Complained About ATV Brands Don’t Have to Be the Worst

Like any other vehicle, ATV brands have loyalists and haters. But the most complained about ATV brands aren't necessarily the worst.

by Jordan Almond

Published on May 11, 2021 7:57 am

A dark-gray metallic 2021 Mazda3 2.5 Turbo compact car traveling on a two-lane highway next to a mountain

Trends

The 2021 Mazda3 Is the Perfect High School Daily Driver

The Mazda3 is one of the safest but cheapest vehicles you can buy this year for your teens, MotorTrend reports. Here's why it's so safe and which model MT recommends.

by Wendy Johnson

Published on May 11, 2021 6:22 am

A car's headlights shine across a snow-covered road in the thick of evening snow

Trends

Could Flashing Your Headlights at an Oncoming Car Lead to a Potentially Deadly Gang Initiation Rite?

Here's what you need to know about this urban legend regarding flashing your headlights, its origins, and proper car safety etiquette.

by Tegan Watson

Published on May 11, 2021 3:11 am

Ford Explorer crossover SUV models at a dealership

Trends

Recall Alert: Ford Recall Affects 661,000 Explorer SUVs

This recall covers an issue that the NHTSA first inquired about over a year ago. Now the U.S. automaker has issued an official recall for affected Ford Explorer SUV models.

by Jordan Almond

Published on May 11, 2021 1:33 am

A silver 2021 Honda Civic Hatchback Sport Touring parked in front of mountains and the sun

Trends

More Consumers Buy 1 Honda Civic Trim Over Experts’ Pick

If some high-end perks aren't important to you, this Honda Civic trim is a fine choice. And that's what most consumers choose. Here's why.

by Wendy Johnson

Published on May 10, 2021 11:57 pm

The three main heroines of the Super Cub anime with their bikes by a mountaintop rest area

Trends

The Honda Super Cub Anime Captures the Reality of Riding

There's an anime series centered around a girl getting a second-hand Honda Super Cub. And the show nails what the appeal and reality of motorcycle riding is like, and how bikes can change your life.

by Matthew Skwarczek

Published on May 10, 2021 11:36 pm

Trends

Three Common French Car Brands You Won’t See on American Roads

There are plenty of options for car manufacturers in America. We have US-based options like Ford, Dodge, and Chevrolet, and foreign options like Nissan, BMW, Audi, and so many more. In all of the diversity, there are even newer manufacturers rising in popularity like Tesla and Kia, so it is easy to forget that there …

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Published on May 10, 2021 11:12 pm

The Houston skyline appears above an intersection of freeways approaching from the east on April 11, 2021, in Houston, Texas on a post-vaccination road trip

Trends

3 Fun Rental Cars for Your Next Road Trip

If you're excited for your first road trip in a while, consider these three options. But don't wait too long to book — they're going fast.

by J.L. Seto

Published on May 10, 2021 9:04 pm

Chevrolet Volt electric car parked on the driveway of a suburban home, San Ramon, California, November 28, 2019. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

Trends

Is Remotely Starting Your Car Illegal in Your State?

Being able to remotely start your car is a luxury. But did you know that it could be illegal in your state? Here is a list of states and how long you can let your car idle.

by Joe Santos

Published on May 10, 2021 8:15 pm

A saleman helps out a customer at a Ford dealership August 3, 2009 in Downers Grove, Illinois.

Trends

What Does the Phrase ‘Kick the Tires’ Mean?

You might have heard the term "kick the tires." But what does it actually mean and where did it come from? Technically, it just means that a customer is just looking.

by Joe Santos

Published on May 10, 2021 6:16 pm

Trends

Why Is Milwaukee Police Giving Free Locks To Kia and Hyundai Owners?

The city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is seeing a huge uptick in car thefts compared to last year. Especially Kias and Hyundais are getting swiped. ?Now the police are taking preventative actions by giving away steering wheel locks.

by Thom Taylor

Published on May 10, 2021 5:55 pm

Trends

Do All Newer Cars Come With an Alarm System?

A car alarm system is great for security, so you would think that every newer car has it. Here is how to check if your car has a factory alarm system.

by Joe Santos

Published on May 10, 2021 4:17 pm

John Deere riding lawn mowers in front of a store

Trends

John Deere Topped Consumer Reports’ List of The Best Riding Lawn Mowers and Tractors

When it comes to choosing the best riding lawn mower for your lawn care needs? Consumer Reports’ data shows that you really can’t go wrong with a John Deere riding lawn mower or tractor.

by Sarah Brennan

Published on May 10, 2021 3:11 pm