The car market has nearly recovered from the pandemic. Dealers have good supply of both new and used vehicles, and that’s pushing down prices: The average new-car buyer paid $47,000 in March, according to Kelley Blue Book. That’s a two-year low, but still nearly 16% higher than in March 2021. With more cars on the lot, some dealers and manufacturers are offering bigger incentives.

In this episode, the latest new-vehicle reliability ratings from Consumer Reports, the right way to take a test drive, and how to get the best deal on that new car. Plus, should you use a buying service to simplify the process?

Additional Resources:

From Checkbook:

Car Buying Strategies

Crash Course on Auto Insurance

From Consumer Reports:

CR’s Best Cars of the Year: 10 Top Picks of 2024

Who Makes the Most Reliable New Cars?

Four of the Five Least Expensive Car Brands to Maintain Are American

7 Questions to Ask Before You Buy a Car

Support our podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/consumerpedia/support

The best body shops not only do great work but employ staff who can explain and justify exactly what needs to be done. An articulate representative at the body shop will be the key to getting all the work you need performed and paid for by your insurance company.

In this episode, we’ll walk you through the collision repair process from the estimate to the guarantee. We’ll also explain the differences between the three types of parts that might be used, and how to deal with the insurance company—especially if the shop wants to do one thing and they want to do something else.

Read Checkbook’s full report on auto body shops including ratings and undercover price research.