Owner Tips

Owner Tips: All Articles

Editorial forest fire wildfire unsplash marcus kauffman

What to Know About Wildfires and Car Insurance

With wildfires on the rise, here’s how to make sure your car is protected.

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What to Know About Wildfires and Car Insurance
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Own the Road with AutoTrader, Episode 29: Unwritten and Forgotten Rules of the Road

Dan and Jodi take the terrible driving they’ve witnessed recently and turn it into a refresher course on forgotten and unwritten rules of the road.

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Own the Road with AutoTrader, Episode 29: Unwritten and Forgotten Rules of the Road
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You’re Probably Making Some Tire Pressure Mistakes

5 reasons why it’s important to check your tire pressure often, especially in the spring.

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You’re Probably Making Some Tire Pressure Mistakes
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What is Vehicle Depreciation and How Do I Calculate It?

Understanding how your car depreciates is key to knowing how much it’s worth.

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What is Vehicle Depreciation and How Do I Calculate It?
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Own the Road with AutoTrader, Episode 24: Why Are We So Grumpy About EV Charging?

If you don’t have a place to charge at home and are considering an EV, don’t miss this episode.

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Own the Road with AutoTrader, Episode 24: Why Are We So Grumpy About EV Charging?
Editorial 00 ford bronco winter tire comments jp

Winter Tire Experts React to Misinformed Comments Section

Here are some of the funniest / scariest / misinformed comments about winter tires we’ve ever seen.

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Winter Tire Experts React to Misinformed Comments Section
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Stop Faster and Avoid Crashes This Winter with One Easy Trick

Winter tires can be the difference between getting into a crash or staying safe.

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Stop Faster and Avoid Crashes This Winter with One Easy Trick
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Truck Driver Has Lightbulb Moment After Trying Winter Tires for the First Time

Winter tire expert and winter tire virgin compare notes on the Toyo GSi-6 LS

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Truck Driver Has Lightbulb Moment After Trying Winter Tires for the First Time
Editorial 5c jp winter mileage maximization

Lesson Learned: Reddit Posts Show Why Spark Plug Changes Are Best Left to the Pros

A shoddy spark plug job can end up costing you thousands in repairs.

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Lesson Learned: Reddit Posts Show Why Spark Plug Changes Are Best Left to the Pros
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Real Talk About Electric Vehicle Maintenance

It’s a misconception that EVs don’t require any maintenance. Here are the facts.

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Real Talk About Electric Vehicle Maintenance
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7 Easy Ways to Save Money on Your Vehicle Expenses

With inflation knocking us all out, here are seven easy ways to cut your vehicle expenses because every little bit helps.

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7 Easy Ways to Save Money on Your Vehicle Expenses
Editorial 03 mb kumho solus all weather

Where and How Should You Store Your Winter Tires?

Definitely don’t throw them into the backyard and call it a day.

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Where and How Should You Store Your Winter Tires?
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Winter Tire Talk: Here Are All the Terms You Need to Know

We demystify the most common winter tire terms you’re likely to come across when shopping around.

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Winter Tire Talk: Here Are All the Terms You Need to Know
Editorial windshield repair gettyimages 1168352638 ran kyu park

How to Deal with a Damaged Windshield

Basically, you need to fix it before it gets worse.

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How to Deal with a Damaged Windshield
Editorial wheel lost after forgetting retorque reddit cmffcmff

Lesson Learned: 2 Mistakes That Turn Your Car into a Ticking Time Bomb

It all starts with understanding how to read and measure tire pressure.

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Lesson Learned: 2 Mistakes That Turn Your Car into a Ticking Time Bomb
Editorial 15 hl nokian white hell winter tire testing

We Answer Your 7 Most Popular Questions About Winter Tires

The short answer is: Yes, you absolutely should have winter tires.

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We Answer Your 7 Most Popular Questions About Winter Tires
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Lesson Learned: How to Protect Your Catalytic Converter from Theft

Some clever and sometimes weird ways to protect this commonly stolen part.

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Lesson Learned: How to Protect Your Catalytic Converter from Theft
Editorial 00 wc ildar sagdejev flat tire

Experts Answer Your Most Common Questions About Getting a Flat Tire

Better read this stuff now before a flat tire catches you by surprise.

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Experts Answer Your Most Common Questions About Getting a Flat Tire
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Lesson Learned: Using These Little Hooks Could Save You Thousands

These photos of a messy gravy spill will make you cringe – and it could have been easily avoided.

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Lesson Learned: Using These Little Hooks Could Save You Thousands
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Lesson Learned: Here’s Why You Need to Be Extra Careful with Your Car’s Electrical Components

Messing it up can result in not-so-fun scenarios that can involve fires, melting, and repair bills totalling into the thousands.

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Lesson Learned: Here’s Why You Need to Be Extra Careful with Your Car’s Electrical Components
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Answering Your Most Common Questions About Saving Fuel

If high gas prices have you looking for easy ways to save on fuel, read this!

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Answering Your Most Common Questions About Saving Fuel
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Top 6 Contributing Factors in Fatal Car Collisions

Over the past 100 years, car safety has improved exponentially and continuously. Despite these advancements, the only things more fatal than fatal automotive collisions are heart disease and cancer. In ascending order, here are the leading contributing factors in deadly car collisions and how you ca

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Top 6 Contributing Factors in Fatal Car Collisions
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Should You Get Your Alignment Checked? Yes, and Here’s Why

Tire misalignment is surprisingly common, and it can result in premature tire wear, increased fuel consumption, and reduced handling capability. It also tends to come on gradually, so you may not notice there’s an issue until you need to replace a set of tires earlier than expected.

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Should You Get Your Alignment Checked? Yes, and Here’s Why
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Is It Normal for My Car to…?

Answering the internet’s top questions asked by you

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Is It Normal for My Car to…?
Editorial 05 lightning strike tire and wheel damage jakeeeenator

Lesson Learned: Here’s What Happens When Lightning Strikes Your Car

Downloading from a different kind of cloud.

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Lesson Learned: Here’s What Happens When Lightning Strikes Your Car
Editorial 2022 kia ev6 02 mg

How I’m Dealing With EV Driving in Atlantic Canada

It’s not perfect, but perfectly doable

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How I’m Dealing With EV Driving in Atlantic Canada
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The Pros and Cons of Higher Speed Limits

Ontario is raising the speed limit for parts of its highways – what effects might it have?

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The Pros and Cons of Higher Speed Limits
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7 Things I Learned as an EV Newbie

What to expect with EV ownership

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7 Things I Learned as an EV Newbie
Editorial broken control arm flat tire reddit gotme11

Lesson Learned: Here’s Why You Should Leave Suspension Work to the Pros

Having someone unqualified do the job can result in a dangerous situation

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Lesson Learned: Here’s Why You Should Leave Suspension Work to the Pros
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Pothole Problems: What Happens If a Pothole Damages Your Car?

Winter wreaks havoc on Canadian roads

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Pothole Problems: What Happens If a Pothole Damages Your Car?
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What’s With These High Gas Prices and What Can I Do?

Our best tips to minimize fuel costs

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What’s With These High Gas Prices and What Can I Do?
Editorial gotm run flat tire 01 reddit stingray 47

Lesson Learned: A Bad Assumption About Run-Flat Tires Totals a BMW

This isn’t how run-flat tires work

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Lesson Learned: A Bad Assumption About Run-Flat Tires Totals a BMW
Editorial suvs in mud ryan edwardson

Lesson Learned: Here’s What NOT to Do When Your Car Gets Stuck

Flooring the gas pedal to get out of a jam can be a costly mistake.

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Lesson Learned: Here’s What NOT to Do When Your Car Gets Stuck
Editorial 03 jp rust feature

Lesson Learned: Corrosion Protection Adds Years to the Life of Your Vehicle

Corrosion can steal years from your vehicle’s life and thousands of dollars from its resale value.

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Lesson Learned: Corrosion Protection Adds Years to the Life of Your Vehicle
Editorial broken window maksim shklyaev

Top Tips on Preventing Auto Theft

Car theft is on the rise. Here’s what you can do to protect your vehicle.

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Top Tips on Preventing Auto Theft
Editorial 00 jp winter washup

Winter Washup! Where to Wash Your Car During Winter?

Options are numerous and compelling in keeping your ride’s body and underneathy bits clean this winter.

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Winter Washup! Where to Wash Your Car During Winter?
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Lesson Learned: How to Avoid Losing a Wheel

Wheel Bearing of Fortune

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Lesson Learned: How to Avoid Losing a Wheel
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How to Get the Most Out of Your Electric Vehicle in the Winter

Cold is the range-killer

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How to Get the Most Out of Your Electric Vehicle in the Winter
Editorial all the stuff you should keep in your car nf di

Here’s The Stuff You Should Always Keep in Your Car

Not all are as obvious as you’d think

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Here’s The Stuff You Should Always Keep in Your Car
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Lesson Learned: How to Prevent Wildlife from Making Your Car Their Winter Home

Our best lessons from years of covering creatures in cars

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Lesson Learned: How to Prevent Wildlife from Making Your Car Their Winter Home
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Tucking in Your Summer Car for the Long Winter Ahead

What to do when storing your fair-weather ride for the cold-weather season

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Tucking in Your Summer Car for the Long Winter Ahead
Editorial dangerously over inflated tire pressure gauge reading reddit vaultboy4111

Lesson Learned: The Wrong Way to Turn Off Your TPMS Light

Whoops, your tire’s a ticking time-bomb

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Lesson Learned: The Wrong Way to Turn Off Your TPMS Light
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10 Easy Tips to Make Your Vehicle Last Longer

Avoid headaches and keep your vehicle going

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10 Easy Tips to Make Your Vehicle Last Longer
Editorial 2021 volvo xc90 recharge inscription expression 09 db fr

Everything You Need to Know About Charging an EV at Home

Charging options and installation considerations for new EV owners

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Everything You Need to Know About Charging an EV at Home
Editorial lesson learned water leak disaster reddit kylegina1116

Lesson Learned: Can Your Sunroof Survive a Summertime Downpour?

A moment’s maintenance can prevent sunroof disasters during summer storms

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Lesson Learned: Can Your Sunroof Survive a Summertime Downpour?
Editorial 15 smart car of america uneven wear

What Should You Do With Your Old Car Tires?

Don’t simply kick your old rubber to the curb.

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What Should You Do With Your Old Car Tires?
Editorial engine fluid slurry 02 cdmertz reddit

Lesson Learned: Dramatic Video Shows Why an Overheating Engine Should Never Be Ignored

Learning your temperature gauge the hard way

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Lesson Learned: Dramatic Video Shows Why an Overheating Engine Should Never Be Ignored
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Lesson Learned: Don’t Forget About Your Car's Humble Rubber Belt

Routine maintenance doesn't begin and end with an oil change

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Lesson Learned: Don’t Forget About Your Car's Humble Rubber Belt
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Lesson Learned: Frightening Video Shows Why You Should Never Delay Your Oil Changes

Resetting your oil life monitor doesn’t reset the oil

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Lesson Learned: Frightening Video Shows Why You Should Never Delay Your Oil Changes
Editorial tire change mechanic gettyimages 954140942 standret

Best Practices for Preparing Your Car for Spring

When to swap your tires, how to spring clean your car, and more

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Best Practices for Preparing Your Car for Spring
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