Buying and Selling
The Dealer Fee Rule That Never Took Effect
Federal rules on advertised car prices and junk add-ons were written, challenged and withdrawn. What protects you now, and how to price a deal properly.
Independent guides for car owners
What a car really costs, and when to stop paying it
Plain-language guides on what owning a car costs: repairs, maintenance intervals, warranties, and the arithmetic behind keeping a car or replacing it.
Featured · Ownership Costs
When a Repair Costs More Than the Car Is Worth
The rule about never spending more than the car is worth is the wrong test. Here is the arithmetic that actually answers repair or replace.
Just published
No affiliate links. No sponsored posts. Every article shows how an ownership cost is put together, with the sources cited and dated.
Browse by section
Latest
Buying and Selling
Out-of-State Used Car Shipping Costs and Purchase Budget
Estimate transport with a provider's published open-carrier ranges, then add inspection, tax, delivery conditions and a comparison with local buying.
Buying and Selling
Cash or Financing for a Used Car: The Total Cost Difference
Compare cash with a used-car loan using published APRs, calculated payments and interest, while separating purchase price, reserves and loan conditions.
Buying and Selling
Lease Buyout Cost: Residual, Taxes, Fees and Interest
Calculate a lease buyout beyond its residual value, with Texas's published tax rule, a labeled fee worksheet and the interest from financing the purchase.
Buying and Selling
Is a Flood-Damaged Car Worth the Discount?
Separate a flood-car price cut from inspection costs, hidden damage and insurance limits, with free VIN checks and a clearly labeled discount worksheet.
Buying and Selling
Is Buying a Former Rental Car Worth It?
Compare a former rental with a matched used car using inspection costs, maintenance records, warranty limits and Enterprise's published buyback conditions.
Ownership Costs
Repair or replace, warranties, depreciation and what the next five years cost.
Ownership Costs
When a Repair Costs More Than the Car Is Worth
The rule about never spending more than the car is worth is the wrong test. Here is the arithmetic that actually answers repair or replace.
Ownership Costs
How Much Does Paying Off a Car Loan Early Save?
Calculate early car-loan payoff savings with a $12,000 example, extra-payment schedules, daily interest, penalty checks and add-on refund rules.
Ownership Costs
Is Auto Refinancing Worth It? Total Cost Examples
See how a $20,000 auto refinance changes monthly payments and total interest, with published lender rates, fee checks and payoff comparisons.
Maintenance
Intervals that are real, jobs worth paying for, and the ones sold too early.
Maintenance
How Much to Budget for Car Maintenance and Repairs
Turn AAA's 2026 maintenance figure into a monthly starting allowance, then replace averages with your car's service schedule, tire costs and repair history.
Maintenance
Brake Fluid Flush Cost: What the Quote Includes
Read a brake-fluid service quote with a published $189 example, compare Honda and Tesla schedules, and distinguish a fluid test from replacement.
Maintenance
What You Are Paying For in a Brake Job
Pads, rotors, calipers and fluid are four separate decisions sold as one price. How to read a brake quote and which parts of it are optional.
Buying and Selling
Used car checks, dealer paperwork, recalls and getting a fair price.
Buying and Selling
Used Car Buying Budget: Taxes, Fees and Selling Proceeds
Calculate a used-car purchase beyond the listing price, with tax, inspection and loan examples, then separate a trade-in or sale from the lender payoff.
Buying and Selling
Dealer Add-On Refunds: How to Calculate a Prorated Refund
How to calculate a service contract or GAP refund: a prorated example from $2,400 to a $1,415 credit, cancellation fees, California rules and your loan balance.
Buying and Selling
Car Consignment Fees: Commission and Seller Proceeds
Compare percentage commissions with a net-return agreement, using a classic-car dealer's published fee terms and calculations that separate other costs.