Trust & Transparency
HOW WE MAKE MONEY
Full transparency about how this site earns revenue and why it never affects what we recommend.
The Short Version
mycarneedsthis.com is reader-supported. When you click certain links on our site and make a purchase or sign up for a service, we may earn a commission from the partner company. This is called affiliate marketing, and it is how most independent review sites stay in business. You never pay more because of our affiliate links.
Our Revenue Sources
Affiliate Partnerships
We earn commissions when you use links on our site to purchase products or services from our partners. Current and planned affiliate relationships include:
- Vehicle history report providers: VIN lookup and vehicle research pages
- Amazon Associates: Gear and accessory product reviews
- Auto loan comparison services: Loan calculator page
- Insurance comparison tools: Vehicle detail pages
Display Advertising (Planned)
We plan to display non-intrusive advertising on some pages as the site grows. Ads will be clearly distinguishable from editorial content and will never appear in positions that could be confused with recommendations.
Our Commitments to You
No sponsored placements.
Companies cannot pay to appear higher in our rankings, “Best Of” lists, or MyCar Score™ ratings. Rankings are determined by data, not revenue.
Editorial independence.
Our content team writes articles and reviews based on data and research. The existence of an affiliate partnership with a company has no influence on whether we recommend their products or how we rate vehicles.
Clear disclosure.
Affiliate links are disclosed on every page where they appear. Gear review pages include an FTC-compliant disclosure banner at the top. The site footer notes our reader-supported model on every page.
Data-first approach.
We lead with free, publicly available government data (NHTSA safety ratings, EPA fuel economy, recall notices). Paid services are offered as optional next steps, never as the only way to get useful information.
No cost to you.
Clicking an affiliate link does not increase the price you pay. In many cases, partner companies offer the same price (or promotional pricing) through our links as they do on their own websites.
Why This Page Exists
Many automotive sites blur the line between editorial content and advertising. We think you deserve to know exactly how a site makes money before you trust its recommendations. If you have questions about our business model, reach out anytime.
Read Our Editorial Standards
Learn how we create content, verify data, and maintain editorial independence.