A guy who bought a Toyota Corolla discovered a hidden GPS he thinks the dealer installed. When the battery ran out of juice, he checked the OBDII port and there was a tracker. Here’s how he found the tracker.
Why your car insurance hates you
ChatGPT
My car insurance jumped 32%. I didn’t crash. I didn’t speed. I simply exist.
Sound familiar? Full-coverage car insurance rates rose 25% on average last year, and in some states, it was closer to 40%. Overall, rates are up 55% since 2022.
📈 Why rates keep rising
It’s the tech. Modern cars are rolling computers packed with cameras, sensors, software and expensive materials. That makes them safer but wildly more expensive to repair.
- More parts = more money. When Toyota redesigned the Camry, the front bumper went from 18 parts to 43, mostly for driver-assist features. Even a minor front-end bump means, aside from paint, you’re recalibrating radar and cameras. A basic fender bender costs about 45% more to fix than a year ago.
- LED headlights are pricey. They’re brighter, more efficient and last longer than halogen, but they cost up to 5x more to replace. If you drive a newer car with fancy headlights, a parking lot ding is a $1,000+ bill.
- Aluminum is great until it isn’t. More automakers are using aluminum to make cars lighter. It also crumples better in crashes, protecting passengers. But it’s harder to repair, requires special tools and costs significantly more than steel.
- EVs? Even trickier. EVs take 40% longer to repair and cost about $500 more in labor per job. Not to mention there’s a nationwide shortage of EV-certified technicians.
Add in supply chain issues, inflation and the fact that 60% of car parts come from China, and any new tariff could make things even worse.
🤑 What you can do about it
I’m always hunting for ways to save and sharing the best ones with you:
- Raise your deductible. Lower premiums, but be ready to pay more out of pocket.
- Drop full coverage if your car’s older and paid off. Just keep liability.
- Get discounts. For safe driving, low mileage, anti-theft devices, bundling and more.
- Enroll in autopay, pay in full or go paperless. Easy discounts.
- Improve your credit score. In many states, it affects your rate.
- Take a defensive driving course. Knock off 5%–15% many times.
- Shop around. Don’t stay loyal to an insurer that isn’t saving you money.
Pro tip: Tell ChatGPT about your car, mileage, insurance rates, and ask it to tell you who has the cheapest rates. I did that, and it worked for me!
Art heists, redacted documents and iPads … Oh my!
I talk to David from Gainesville, Florida, who was looking for advice to beef up his business but ended up spilling the tea on a wild unsolved mystery. Then, how that tracker on your cat could double as the perfect stalking device. Plus, why your computer may be headed for the garbage, Microsoft’s debut in the world of fashion, and why you’ll be seeing more iPads on college football sidelines this season.
📍 AirTag to the rescue: A missing 71-year-old Pennsylvania man with dementia was found thanks to the Apple tracker. His family had attached one to his clothes. Pro tip: They’re under $25 and could save you a lot of panic.
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Keep a tracker hidden in your car
I use an AirTag to always know where my car is. The key is to hide the tracker so a thief doesn’t know about it. The better hidden it is, the better off you’ll be.
Fur-get hide-and-seek: Whistle dog GPS trackers are shutting down on Aug. 31. Why? Rival Tractive bought them. Trade in your old Whistle for a free Tractive tracker by Sept. 30. Subscriptions roll over, but warranties don’t.
AirTagged and attacked: This is frightening. Miami man Andres Dorado allegedly planted an Apple AirTag tracker in his estranged wife’s car, then used it to crash her hotel date and stab her new partner. A knife, broken window and GPS breadcrumbs later, cops found the AirTag was linked to his phone and arrested him on the spot.
Stolen tool bust proves why you need a tracker
A carpenter used AirTags to catch thieves in a $5 million heist. Protect your car, luggage, and bike the right way before they go missing.
Busted by their own getaway car: Three men were arrested for home thefts across North Carolina. Their rented SUV had a GPS tracker that logged their whereabouts for the past two to three weeks, linking them to more crimes in at least 10 North Carolina counties.
How to change an AirTag battery
Is your tracker running low on juice? No need to buy a new one for $29 — just replace the battery for a few bucks!
Find an AirTag? Wrap it in aluminum foil
If you find an AirTag or similar tracker stalking you, try this trick. I tell you why in this short podcast.
An AirTag, a stolen motorbike and a broken nose
What would you do if a tracker led you to your stolen motorbike? Listen to this one-minute podcast to find out what might happen if you try to get revenge.