Sky-high car insurance rates? Blame it on all the tech in our cars

My car insurance just went up 32%. Did I have an accident or get a few tickets? Nope. Across the U.S., the average full-coverage car insurance bill went up 25% last year. In some states, it was closer to 40%. Geez.

The main reason? Today’s high-tech vehicles cost way more to repair. You don’t need to own a high-tech car to feel the pinch, though; it’s hitting everyone.

Driving up costs

Modern 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.

No wonder the average collision insurance claim jumped 64% between 2018 and 2022. In 2023, auto insurance rates climbed 20%, the biggest increase since 1976.

The rate increases are slowing a bit, but there’s no telling how tariffs could impact that. About 60% of car parts used in repairs are imported from China.

Let’s look under the hood

In 2018, Toyota redesigned its uber-popular Camry. The number of parts in the front bumper alone increased from 18 to 43. Most are related to advanced driver-assist features.

The upgrades also mean a front-end collision repair is 43% more expensive. It’s not just driver-assist jacking up costs.

  • Many new cars have LED headlights, which cost around five times more than halogen lights to replace.
  • New cars contain more aluminum. Compared to steel, aluminum is lighter, provides better gas mileage and offers more protection in a crash, but it’s harder to fix and more expensive.
  • EVs take 20 days on average to repair. That’s 40% longer than traditional vehicles and $500 more expensive for labor.

Smart ways to save

I make it my business to find the best ways to save. Then, I pass them along to you. Let’s do this.

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She wasn’t dating Keanu Reeves

67-year-old Katherine Goodson from Vista, California, fell for a romance scam. She thought it was the real thing with the Keanu Reeves. She sent “him” tens of thousands of dollars for “emergency expenses,” only to get ghosted when her money ran out. Now, she’s living in her car. Seriously, where’s John Wick to hunt these criminals down?

Drive down Deals Lane

🚘 Beep, beep! That’s your car saying, “Hey, check these out.”

  • A collapsible trunk organizer (11% off) puts clutter in the rearview mirror.
  • Don’t touch that dirty gas station squeegee. Snag this tool (15% off, plus click the coupon) to clean your windows.
  • No heated seats? No problem. This seat cover will keep you toasty.
  • Grab an air freshener for guys ($15) or gals for a fresh-smelling ride.
  • Be prepared for a flat tire with this portable air pump (33% off).

🚓 If you get pulled over: Pull out this registration and insurance holder (23% off, around $5). It comes in 27 different styles!

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Saving car rental evidence: My pal Clark Howard always recommends taking pictures of a rental car before you drive away from the lot to prevent false damage claims. But when is it safe to delete them? Clark suggests keeping them for two months. Subscribe to Clark’s free newsletter to receive more must-have money tips every day.

Check for recalls on your car now

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Millions of vehicles with safety defects are on the road. Don’t risk your life. I have an app to easily check for recalls.

🚘 Turo in trouble: The terrorists in the New Orleans attack and Cybertruck explosion outside Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas had one thing in common: They used the same car-sharing app, Turo. With Turo, you rent from a person, not a big car rental company. Turo’s no small app; it had 3.5 million bookings last year.

Almost $1,600 a year

What Gen Z adults pay on average for basic DIY tasks. A survey of 2,000 18- to 27-year-olds showed they’d rather pay someone to clean their car or hang a picture frame. About 30% can’t even identify a flathead screwdriver. How many Gen Zers does it take to screw in a light bulb? Just one … to call the handyman.

You deserve a nice ride

🏁 Look inside your car. It needs a little TLC, right? Yeah, I thought so.

  • This tiny cordless car vacuum (38% off) charges by USB.
  • A nice dust brush (29% off) tackles the fuzz on your dashboard and vents.
  • Hang your bags instead of tossing them on the floor with these $5 headrest hooks.
  • These cupholder coasters can catch coffee or anything else that drips.
  • Washable cloth garbage bags for $8 keep trash off the floor.

Laundry sheets are the best. They’re 19% off, so now’s the time to see if you prefer them over the heavy jugs of liquid and pods, too.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

MVPs = Most Valuable Purchases

  • Jar openers ($10), because no one needs to know you’re standing in front of the fridge at 2 a.m. eating pickles.
  • Is there anything more rage-inducing than dropping your phone in between the car seats? Save your sanity with a car seat gap filler.
  • A smart coffee warmer (25% off), so cold coffee never ruins your morning again.
  • Let your nosy neighbors think you’re hosting a rave with smart light bulbs (under $15).
  • This bug bite relief tool sucks out all the stuff that makes bites so itchy. It’s under $10, too.

Save money: Check this page to see if anything you’ve bought on Amazon is on sale. I love a good stock-up.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Stuff for life’s little annoyances

These finds will make your day-to-day issues a little easier.

  • Stop wasting your time pulling the ladder out of storage to change one bulb. Use a light bulb changer.
  • Trying to hold onto your bag in a bathroom stall without a hook is one of life’s greatest struggles. This portable hanger ($20) is genius, and every woman I know would want it.
  • Let them eat bagels! This bagel guillotine is too fun and works surprisingly well.
  • QR code labels ($10) stick onto boxes so you can scan to know exactly what’s inside. Ah, storage nirvana.
  • Use a cup holder expander ($10) so you don’t have to let your big water bottle roll around the car.

🥶 Rough winter? This space heater is 43% off right now. Go, go, go, before the frostbite hits!

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Clean up your car

🚘🧽 A spotless car makes me wheel-y excited.

  • Ever get pulled over and have to dig through a messy glove box? Save yourself from future embarrassment with a glove box organizer ($12).
  • This car coin holder ($8) is genius. Plus, it’s 43% off right now.
  • I’ll admit it — I’ve absolutely tripped over a phone charging cord while getting out of my car. A retractable car charger ($20) probably would’ve prevented that.
  • Keep your leather seats clean and free of scratch marks with a backseat dog hammock.
  • A road trip isn’t a road trip until someone desperately needs a tissue. A sun visor tissue holder ($14) comes in handy for all snot-related emergencies.

Bonus find: This drink cover looks like a scrunchie you wear on your wrist but stretches to cover your glass so no one can spike it. Buying these for all the college kids in my life …

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

$1,500 in fines 

If you don’t clear snow and ice from your car. That includes the roof! Most states have laws against driving with snow on your car. As an Arizona gal, I had no idea. You’d probably end up paying a lot more than $1,500 if a giant slab of snow hit the person behind you.

Household helpers

There’s enough annoying stuff in the day-to-day. Let’s knock out a few little troubles so you can focus on what matters.

  • You scrub and scrub surfaces, and they’re still dirty. This drill brush attachment pack for under $20 does the hard work for you.
  • When twisting the lid off the pickle jar is a real struggle, try this grip jar opener (17% off) to win the battle. It mounts under a cabinet, so it takes up no space.
  • Does your dog get nervous or too excited in the car? This seatbelt tether (around $10) keeps your pooch safe so you can focus on the road.
  • Every time you need brown sugar for Grandma’s cookie recipe, it’s rock hard. Never again! This $5 fired clay bear will help maintain its moisture.
  • This handy-dandy vegetable chopper (9% off) is a no-tear solution to make soup, stew or anything else a lot faster.

🤑 Good deal alert: A bunch of home essentials (think cleaning products, toilet paper and batteries) are part of Amazon’s buy $50, get $15 in Amazon credit promo — a no-brainer if it’s stuff you already buy!

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

🚦 Stock your car: Emergencies happen and you’ll be glad you were prepared. Consider an emergency kit and a jump box. Excellent gifts for new drivers, too!

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Ever wonder who’s behind scam rings? The Wall Street Journal just published a great story about a giant pig-butchering scam operation (paywall link) in the Philippines run by the former mayor of a town 60 miles north of Manila. Alice Guo had thousands of workers scamming people, including Americans. She swindled millions from mostly retirees to pay for fancy cars, designer goods and a helicopter. Now, the 34-year-old is facing human trafficking and corruption charges. I hope she rots in jail.

💔 She wasn’t dating Keanu Reeves: Katherine Goodson, a 67-year-old in Vista, California, fell for a romance scam. She thought she was enjoying the real thing with actor Keanu Reeves. She sent “Keanu” tens of thousands of dollars for “emergency expenses,” only to get ghosted when her money ran out. Now, she’s living in her car. So sad. Seriously, where’s John Wick to hunt these criminals down?

Google Street View helped crack a murder case: A Google car grabbed snapshots of a man taking a suspiciously human-shaped bag out of his car and moving it in a wheelbarrow. And that’s not even the wildest part: It was the first time in 15 years a Google car had driven through the town.

Your gas is as good as mine: California and 11 other states just got the OK to ban sales of new gas cars by 2035. Hitting that goal is a long shot; this year, about 25% of California’s car sales were EVs and hybrids. When President-elect Trump’s back in the driver’s seat, expect the brakes to slam quickly on the ruling.

🚗 Amazon now sells cars in 48 cities: Right now, it’s limited to new Hyundai models, but more brands and leasing options are coming to Amazon Autos next year. The price at checkout is what you’ll pay, so no back-and-forth with pushy salespeople. PSA: Don’t drink and shop, because that would be wheelie, wheelie bad.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

🛸 UFOs over New Jersey? Mysterious drone-like crafts the size of cars have been hovering over the Garden State every night for a week. No one’s saying why, but the FAA banned drones from flying over Trump’s New Jersey golf course. Are these the newest Communist China spy tactics? The FBI says there’s “no known threat” to the public.