Mental Floss

CARS

Think of them as shields for your wheels.

Hubcaps might seem purely decorative, but they serve an important purpose for your car.

Perhaps a recall is in order.

A car accident in a movie usually ends in a huge fireball. But what really causes vehicle fires?

Next time, there won't be any need to panic.

When something goes wrong with your car, a curious-looking icon illuminates on the dashboard. But what those symbols mean isn’t always obvious.

Road signs shout less than they used to.

Road signs have changed case in the last 15 years or so—here's why.

If only they had an onion or a potato.

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.

Don’t skip this just because it’s still snowing.

Skipping this part of your winter car maintenance routine could spell big problems come spring. Discover the benefits of winter car washes, plus how often to do it.

Lyft has autonomous cars in store for 2026.

Your Lyft ride could arrive driver-free as soon as next year.

There‘s a FasTrak toll scam running rampant.

Received a text about unpaid tolls? You may be the target of a new phishing scam.

Worried about traction? One of these options can help.

When it comes to winter road safety, which one should you use? It all depends on whether you’re looking to melt ice, gain traction, or both.

Winter isn't always great on cars, but it still has its upsides.

Winter maintenance isn't always fun, but these clever car hacks can make navigating icy roads and snow flurries a lot easier.

Streetlights aren’t supposed to be purple.

The emo vibe isn’t an aesthetic choice—it’s the result of degrading infrastructure.

Not as clever of a move as you might think it is.

Putting your windshield wipers up to prevent them from freezing to the glass might seem like a good idea before the next snowstorm, but you may actually be doing more harm in the long-run.

They're a must-have in the wintertime for a reason.

Are snow tires really worth it? Discover the real differences with all-season tires, including affordability, rubber tread, and more.

You'll thank us later.

Many drivers think that giving your engine time to reach its normal operating temperature is easier on your car than hitting the gas as soon as you turn the ignition on. Many drivers are wrong.

Don’t look up.

Frozen precipitation comes in many forms, and they all pose unique threats.

Even Toyotas had pop-up headlights.

The ‘hidden headlamps’ were having a moment. Then pesky pedestrian safety cramped their style.

Adorable or terrifying?

Are time out dolls cursed? People in certain corners of the internet seem to think so.

Keep these laws in mind when traveling to these countries.

This map covers the surprising driving laws and customs followed in 180 countries.

Don’t let sitting in traffic become your holiday experience.

Choosing the wrong time to hit the road can make your Thanksgiving a traffic nightmare. Here’s how to avoid it.

A hearse with S-shaped bars in place of back windows.

Those evocative scrolls you see on hearses actually have a name—and going back in the 1800s, they actually served an important purpose.

The Speed Six is making a comeback for a limited time.

Meet one of the most iconic pre-war cars ever made: the 1930 Speed Six.

You might want to visit these places—or not.

Kick off the spooky season with these haunted highways from New Jersey to South Africa.

We hope this vehicle is stationary.

Dogs love a good sensory experience. But letting them stick their head out of a moving car’s window is not a good idea. Here’s why.

If you drive the same route long enough, sign fonts become fascinating.

Attentive drivers will notice more than one kind of typeface during their travels.