%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20id%3D%22Layer_1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20684.6%2068.1%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%20684.6%2068.1%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cg%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M444.1%2C29.3h-17.4v14.5h17.4V29.3z%20M36.4%2C68.1l29.3-50.8V0H50.4L32.9%2C36.8L15.5%2C0H0v68.1h16.7V45.8l12.4%2C22.3H36.4z%0A%09%09%20M49.1%2C68.1h16.6V23.4L49.1%2C52.1V68.1z%20M76.6%2C68.1h45V53.8H93.3V41.6h21V27.1h-21V14.8h28.3V0.1h-45V68.1z%20M175.6%2C68.1h17.3v-68%0A%09%09h-16.5v40.3L150%2C0.1h-17.6v68h16.7V27.7L175.6%2C68.1z%20M235.8%2C14.8h15.4V0.1h-47.4v14.7H219v53.2h16.8V14.8z%20M290.3%2C45.9h-17.1%0A%09%09l7.5-15.6h2L290.3%2C45.9z%20M298.7%2C68.1h18l-32.2-68h-5.7l-32%2C68h18l3.3-7.1h27.1L298.7%2C68.1z%20M325.2%2C68.1h46.2V53.8h-29.6V0.1h-16.7%0A%09%09V68.1z%20M423.7%2C14.8h27.2V0.1H407v68h16.7V14.8z%20M462%2C68.1h46.2V53.8h-29.6V0.1H462V68.1z%20M564.8%2C34.1c0%2C10.7-7.2%2C19.2-18.5%2C19.2%0A%09%09c-11.4%2C0-18.5-8.5-18.5-19.2s7.1-19.2%2C18.5-19.2C557.6%2C14.9%2C564.8%2C23.4%2C564.8%2C34.1%20M580.6%2C34.1c0-19-14.2-34-34.3-34%0A%09%09c-20.2%2C0-34.3%2C15-34.3%2C34c0%2C19%2C14.1%2C34%2C34.3%2C34C566.4%2C68.1%2C580.6%2C53.1%2C580.6%2C34.1%20M604.8%2C20.5c0-4.1%2C3.3-6.2%2C6.7-6.2%0A%09%09c4.4%2C0%2C6.6%2C3%2C6.6%2C6.6h14.7C631.8%2C9.1%2C625.1%2C0.1%2C611%2C0.1c-12%2C0-21.7%2C9.3-21.7%2C20.6c0%2C10.9%2C5.9%2C15.9%2C16.7%2C19.8%0A%09%09c5.2%2C1.8%2C11.5%2C3.2%2C11.5%2C8c0%2C3.3-2.4%2C5.5-6.4%2C5.5c-3.6%2C0-6.6-3-6.6-6.7h-15.2c0%2C11.5%2C7.9%2C20.8%2C21.8%2C20.8c12%2C0%2C21.6-9.3%2C21.6-20.6%0A%09%09c0-10-5.3-16.4-16.7-19.8C610.6%2C26.1%2C604.8%2C25.3%2C604.8%2C20.5%20M670%2C20.9h14.7C683.8%2C9.1%2C677.1%2C0.1%2C663%2C0.1c-12%2C0-21.7%2C9.3-21.7%2C20.6%0A%09%09c0%2C10.9%2C5.9%2C15.9%2C16.7%2C19.8c5.2%2C1.8%2C11.5%2C3.2%2C11.5%2C8c0%2C3.3-2.4%2C5.5-6.4%2C5.5c-3.6%2C0-6.6-3-6.6-6.7h-15.2c0%2C11.5%2C7.9%2C20.8%2C21.8%2C20.8%0A%09%09c12%2C0%2C21.6-9.3%2C21.6-20.6c0-10-5.3-16.4-16.7-19.8c-5.4-1.6-11.3-2.4-11.3-7.2c0-4.1%2C3.3-6.2%2C6.7-6.2C667.7%2C14.4%2C670%2C17.3%2C670%2C20.9%0A%09%09%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
The Simple Reason Why Gas Stations Put a Hold on Your Debit Card
That $150 or $175 hold was no mistake—but you won’t actually be on the hook for all of it.
CARS
Why Are Gas Stations So Close to One Another?
Spot a surplus of pumps in one small area? You're seeing Hotelling's Law in action.
The 10 Best (and Worst) States for Road Trips in Summer 2025
Gas prices, road safety, and roadside attractions are all reasons to head for certain states (and avoid others).
Map Shows the Most Popular Truck Types in the U.S.
A new Google Trends analysis reveals the top truck types people are searching for across the U.S.—see which vehicle is your state‘s favorite.
Why Do Gas Stations Charge for Air?
Air is a free resource—unless you need it for your tires.
Why You Should Never Leave Your Dog in a Hot Car—Even For Just a Few Minutes
Sad but true: Your pet can die in a shockingly short amount of time.
The Top 10 Father‘s Day Activities for 2025
According to Google Trends, fathers love food, fun, and fast cars.
Mapped: The States With the Worst Road Rage
How did your state rank?
Wildlife Tunnels in Vermont Cut Amphibian Deaths By 80 Percent, Study Finds
Wildlife tunnels save lives: One study found that amphibian roadkill dropped by 80 percent thanks to the structures.
Why Do We Call Defective Cars “Lemons”?
Cars aren’t a piece of fruit, so how did they come to be associated with lemons? Discover how this slang term got adopted in the automotive world and what it really means.
America‘s Favorite Gas Station Snacks, Mapped
See if your state prefers salty or sweet snacks when hitting the road.
You Should Never Leave Plastic Water Bottles in a Hot Car—Here’s Why
It might sound unlikely, but leaving plastic water bottles in a hot car might not be safe and could actually lead to a fire.
The Fastest Drivers in America By State, Mapped
This map of average driving speeds shows which motorists are zooming down the highway and which are stuck in traffic.
Where Did All the Minivans Go?
The popularity of the once-iconic family car has dwindled quite a bit.
Why Are Tires Black?
Natural rubber is white, and so were the earliest car tires. So, why are modern-day tires black? The answer is linked to Crayola and carbon black.
Locals Shield Their Cars From Vandal Woodpecker in Rockport, Massachusetts
A territorial woodpecker has broken dozens of car mirrors in a bizarre springtime rampage.
The 5 Easiest States for Drivers to Navigate
Thousands of travelers rated the best states for stress-free driving—see which made the top five.
Why Are Objects in a Car’s Side-View Mirror Closer Than They Appear?
Learn more about the safety benefits of side-view mirrors while driving, plus why objects are so much closer than they actually seem.
How Do Cars Get Their Names?
Naming a car is like naming a baby, only with a few hundred million dollars at stake.
Why Do Cars Have Hubcaps?
Hubcaps might seem purely decorative, but they serve an important purpose for your car.
Why Do Cars Catch Fire?
A car accident in a movie usually ends in a huge fireball. But what really causes vehicle fires?
What Do These 18 Common Car Dashboard Symbols Actually Mean?
When something goes wrong with your car, a curious-looking icon illuminates on the dashboard. But what those symbols mean isn’t always obvious.
Why Many Road Signs Are No Longer Written in All Caps
Road signs have changed case in the last 15 years or so—here's why.
Frost on Your Car’s Windshield? An Onion or Potato Can Prevent It
This winter car hack can make scraping ice off your windshield even easier. And the best part of all? You might have everything you need already, right in the kitchen.