My car insurance just went up 32%. Did I have an accident or get a few tickets? Nope. Since 2020, car insurance rates in the U.S. have risen by a whopping 37%. The main reason? High-tech vehicles — aka anything remotely new — cost way more to repair. And you don’t need to have a high-tech car to feel the pinch. It’s hitting everyone.

Driving up costs

Our cars are packed with dozens of sensors and endless lines of computer code. Combine that with the rising cost of replacement parts and repairs, and voila, soaring auto insurance rates. 

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A new car has over 1,400 microchips and runs on 100 million lines of code. Because it is connected, it can also collect a lot of data about you.

Your car is like your phone, computer or tablet now — always listening. What is your vehicle collecting? Way more than we’d all like to think.

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If you’ve listened to my show or read my newsletter for a while, you know I’m a car gal. There really isn’t much rhyme or reason to my car collection; you might see me rolling around in my 1946 Chevy truck, 1964-1/2 Mustang or 2015 gull-wing SLS Mercedes. My daily ride is my G-Wagon.

I always pay special attention to the automotive tech at CES. Sure, this year’s show in Vegas revealed flying taxis and Honda’s DMC DeLorean clone. But let’s check out some of the tech coming to our cars sooner rather than later. I’m talking about things like:

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Color me shocked. I knew you’d like the CES updates about new tech coming down the pipeline, but wow, I got so many notes about how much you enjoyed it.

I aim to please, so here we go with the rest of the gadgets, gizmos and updates you’ll want to know.

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When I read this report, I knew it would be important for you to know even though you do all the right things. You remove the shady apps from your phone and adjust privacy settings on your kid’s smart toys. Heck, you even stop Alexa from saving recorded conversations. You’re all set, right? Just wait until you get into your car.

Today’s cars are an absolute trainwreck when it comes to privacy. Mozilla recently researched 25 top car brands under its *Privacy Not Included warning-label project. Not a single vehicle passed the test, making cars Mozilla’s worst privacy product category examined to date.

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Let’s get ready to rumble! In this corner, we have our reigning champion: Gas cars. They’re reliable, affordable and tried-and-true.

In this corner, showing up brand spankin’ shiny and new are electric vehicles (EVs). They’re great for the environment and the government is comin’ in hot with incentives to get you to buy one.

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If you travel for business or pleasure, renting a car is always an excellent option for exploring a new city or simply getting to where you need to go. But, like buying a car, renting a car can be a time-consuming and expensive process.

With insurance coverage, mileage limits and the extensive paperwork needed to be signed, sometimes it feels easier just to take a taxi or use a ride share versus renting a car.

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Mom drives a newer Lexus and is a beautiful, well-dressed woman. I’m looking for a simple dashcam that she can easily use. Any recommendations?

— Michelle in Indiana

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]]> 895000 https://www.komando.com/lifestyle/car-models-getting-the-ax-in-2024/892359/ Tue, 15 Aug 2023 08:00:00 +0000

I collect cars, anything from classics to supercars. But my favorite is my 2012 MB SLS with the gull-wing doors. Well, I also love my 1946 Chevy Pickup and 1964 ½ Mustang … I love them all!

In 2022, most manufacturers cut at least one model that wasn’t bringing in cash. As more factory space goes into electric vehicles (EVs), it’s no wonder. Say so long to these cars. If you have one, you might want to keep it.

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]]> 892359 https://www.komando.com/money-tips/make-money-with-your-car/890849/ Sat, 15 Jul 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Your car is just sitting in the driveway or garage, costing you money. Maybe it’s paid off (hooray!), but gas and maintenance add up. You might as well use those four wheels to make some cash. Here’s how.

The obvious choice: Rideshare

Uber and Lyft are at the top of the rideshare game, and it’s worth considering if you enjoy driving and are a people person. Don’t get too chatty, or your reviews might not be great. You’ll have to pass a screening, and then you can work on your own time to generate cash from your ride.

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]]> 890849 https://www.komando.com/technology/fiat-topolino/890643/ Wed, 12 Jul 2023 08:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=890643

Nah, I don’t mean a Harley. We’re talking to you, Vespa and Lime scooter folks.

Fiat is banking on you — and Gen Zers looking for a new ride — with its new Topolino. The tiny electric vehicle is 8.3 feet long and reaches just 28 mph. Check out the unveiling vid.

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]]> 890643 https://www.komando.com/news/gm-apple-carplay/887721/ Mon, 29 May 2023 08:00:00 +0000

Don’t expect your iPhone to work seamlessly with a GM vehicle. The carmaker plans to swap Apple CarPlay in its future electric vehicles (EVs) for a custom system developed using the Android Auto backend.

Apple: Fine. Forget you, GM

If it’s important for you to have CarPlay in your next vehicle, check Apple’s website to view the more than 800 models that still support it. The list includes models from Volkswagen, Nissan, Ford, Honda and Audi, among others.

Click here to read full story.

]]> 887721 https://www.komando.com/security-privacy/cars-tracking-you/886065/ Mon, 08 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Whether you drive a classic or a 10-year-old car, safety should still be your chief concern. Here are five ways tech can modernize your old car.

New cars are computers on wheels. Don’t believe me? The average vehicle nowadays has over 1,400 microchips in it. Because your car is connected, it can also collect a lot of data about you. Your car is like your phone, computer or tablet now — always listening.

Click here to read full story.

]]> 886065 https://www.komando.com/deals/amazon-car-gadgets/883179/ Sat, 08 Apr 2023 10:30:00 +0000

The little things really can make a big difference. Something as simple as an LED light turns a simple drive into a magical ride. Keep reading for some of the best (and cheapest) ways to revamp your ride.

Keep your ride clean a this portable handheld cordless vacuum

Cleaning your car isn’t easy. There are all sorts of nooks and crannies that are hard to reach. Using a wired vacuum is especially tricky — those cords get in the way!

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]]> 883179 https://www.komando.com/safety-security-reviews/hyundai-kia-fire-risks/881659/ Fri, 24 Mar 2023 08:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=881659

Is it just us, or are automotive recalls becoming more common? We recently reported on a pair of dangerous recalls that not only affect 140,000 Dodge SUVs but also nearly 60,000 child safety seats from a major manufacturer. You’ll want to check this out.

If you have a Hyundai or Kia and a garage, you should park it on the street for a while. A new recall involves a fire risk for more than half a million vehicles from these manufacturers.

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]]> 881659 https://www.komando.com/amazon/wireless-charging-in-your-car/859930/ Sun, 12 Mar 2023 20:30:00 +0000

Are you still buying gas station charging cables for your phone? Stop plugging it into the cigarette lighter and leaning it in the console (we all know it will slip between the seats anyway).

Magnetic-safe wireless charging is finally here for your car. Keep your battery full, your eyes on the road and charge smarter without dropping your phone. Here are our top picks.

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]]> 859930 https://www.komando.com/lifestyle/kia-class-action-settlement/878024/ Sun, 26 Feb 2023 03:00:00 +0000

Vehicle manufacturer Kia is in damage control mode, and you could be in line for money if you drive a specific model. Hyundai and Kia recently rolled out an anti-theft software patch for about 8 million models.

However, the possible compensation has nothing to do with car thefts. Instead, Kia has agreed to a class-action lawsuit settlement related to anti-lock brake systems (ABS).

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]]> 878024 https://www.komando.com/safety-security-reviews/most-stolen-cars/878028/ Sat, 25 Feb 2023 03:00:00 +0000

Between 2021 and 2022, car thefts skyrocketed. Some Hyundai and Kia models have a manufacturing flaw that makes them more vulnerable to theft. Tap or click here to learn how to get the fix.

But other models are even bigger targets for car thieves. Read on for a list of the 10 most likely vehicles to be stolen.

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]]> 878028 https://www.komando.com/news/worst-drivers-study/860580/ Mon, 20 Feb 2023 10:00:00 +0000

You can keep your car on the road for years or even decades with routine maintenance. Tap or click here for five monthly checks to do on your vehicle.

A well-maintained car is safe, but what about your driving habits? Do you ever feel that you’re the only good driver out there? It’s a common enough belief.

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]]> 860580 https://www.komando.com/safety-security-reviews/tesla-self-driving-recall/877185/ Sat, 18 Feb 2023 03:00:00 +0000

The automotive industry is no stranger to recalls, and those can affect thousands or millions of vehicles. Nissan recently recalled over 400,000 vehicles that are potentially fitted with a dangerous airbag system that could cause serious injury. We have the list of affected vehicles and instructions for resolving the issue.

Now, Tesla’s “Full-Self Driving” beta mode, or FSD, is being recalled for crash concerns that could have deadly consequences. Here’s what you need to know.

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