The Weekly Driver publishes car reviews from real test miles, automotive news, engine-by-engine reliability ratings built on NHTSA data, and recall coverage. Publishing since 2004. This page explains how cars are tested, who pays for what, and how to report an error.
How vehicles are tested
Most test cars come from manufacturer press fleets on a loan of about a week. They are driven in areas such as the Sierra Nevada foothills, to Tahoe, Napa Valley and the Bay Area, to the beach in Central California, and to Mount Shasta, depending on the car and where a road trip is decided for the week. They are also used for the regular day to day, getting groceries and running errands. Each review says how long and how far the car was driven.
Reviews end in a written verdict. The Weekly Driver does not give numerical scores or star ratings.
Disclosure of press loans
Every article that uses a press-fleet car, or photos taken of one, says so at the end: “The manufacturer provided the vehicle for this review with a full tank of gas.” A press loan never buys coverage or a favorable verdict.
The Reliability Database
The Reliability Database scores each vehicle generation from owner complaints and recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, counted per vehicle built and compared with similar vehicles. The scores come from fixed rules applied to federal data. No manufacturer pays for placement in the ratings, and the database is free to use with no account. The methodology page lists what the score measures and where it falls short.
How the site is paid for
The Weekly Driver earns money from display advertising, affiliate links and sponsored posts. Affiliate links pay a commission when a reader buys through them and never change what a review says. Sponsored posts are written or paid for by an outside company. Advertisers have no say in editorial coverage.
Corrections
When a fact in an article is wrong, it is corrected, and a dated note at the end of the article says what changed. Specifications and prices that a manufacturer revises after publication are updated without a note. To report an error, email publisher@theweeklydriver.com with the article link and the correction.
Photos
Manufacturer press photos are credited in the caption.
Contact
Story tips, press releases and media requests go to publisher@theweeklydriver.com. Partnership and press details are on the Media and Partnerships page.