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The Everyday Car Guide

Stop guessing about cars.

How cars work, how to buy one, how to pay for it, and how to keep it running. Nine plain-English guides you can read in a parking lot and walk in knowing what to ask.

Instant PDF download. Read on your phone or print it.

Carl, smiling in the driver's seat of his car
Cover of Buying a Used Car, Step by Step
9 guides + printables
246pages
9guides
24fill-in worksheets
121car words explained
Why this exists

Most car money is lost in a few minutes.

Not over years. In a handful of moments where someone across the desk knows more than you do. This guide closes that gap.

✕"What monthly payment works for you?"

The question that turns a fair price into a long, expensive loan. Guide 3 shows you the math and the answer to give.

✕The extras in the finance office

Add-ons, service contracts and fees slid in at the end. Guide 4 lists what you can say no to and how to say it.

✕The used car with a hidden past

Flood damage, rolled-back miles, a branded title. Guide 4 walks you through the free checks that catch them.

✕The repair you didn't need

Knowing what a warning light means, and what a fair shop does, keeps you calm and in control. Guides 1 and 5 cover it.

What's inside

Everything a car owner should know, in one place.

Cover of How Cars Work
Guide 1

How Cars Work

Engine, brakes, tires, battery and every warning light, explained simply.

Cover of Car Brands and Their Reputations
Guide 2

Car Brands and Their Reputations

Toyota, Honda, Tesla, Ford and more: what each is known for and what to check.

Cover of Money, Credit and Insurance
Guide 3

Money, Credit and Insurance

The real cost of a car, loans, credit, the monthly payment trap and insurance.

Cover of Buying a Used Car, Step by Step
Guide 4

Buying a Used Car, Step by Step

From the first listing to signing day: what to check, ask, pay and when to walk.

Cover of Owning and Selling
Guide 5

Owning and Selling

Maintenance, finding a good mechanic, after a crash, and top dollar when you sell.

Cover of Electric and Hybrid Cars
Guide 6

Electric and Hybrid Cars

Whether one fits your life, charging, battery health and buying used.

Cover of Helping a Family Member Buy
Guide 7

Helping a Family Member Buy

A safe first car for a teen, co-signing, helping a parent, passing a car down.

Cover of Car Words Dictionary
Guide 8

Car Words Dictionary

The terms dealers, lenders and mechanics use, in one or two sentences each.

Cover of Printables and Worksheets
Bonus pack

Printables and Worksheets

Checklists and fill-in sheets for the lot, the test drive and the glove box.

Look inside

Simple pages. Clear charts. Checklists you can use.

Real pages from the guides. Swipe to see more.

Sample page: Dashboard warning lights
Dashboard warning lights
Sample page: The monthly payment trap
The monthly payment trap
Sample page: Should I walk away?
Should I walk away?
Sample page: Brand cheat sheet
Brand cheat sheet
Sample page: Car-care calendar
Car-care calendar
Sample page: My car info card
My car info card
Sample page: Add-on: check your oil
Add-on: check your oil
Carl
Hi, I'm Carl

I explain cars the way a friend would.

On my channel I make short videos for people who don't want to become mechanics. They just want to stop getting burned.

This bundle is the full version of those videos: every topic, laid out step by step, with the checklists and worksheets I'd hand you if we were standing on the lot together.

See the bundle
Is this for you?

Made for regular drivers.

Yes, if you are

  • Buying your first car, or your first in a long time
  • Shopping used and nervous about getting a bad one
  • Trying to get a fair loan, or fix your credit first
  • Helping a teen, a parent or a friend choose a car
  • Tired of nodding along at the repair shop
  • Curious whether an electric car or hybrid fits your life

Probably not, if you are

  • A mechanic or car dealer already
  • Looking for repair manuals for one exact model
  • Hoping for legal or financial advice for your situation
Get the guide

Pick your bundle.

The Everyday Car Guide

$29.99

One-time purchase. Instant download.

  • All 9 guides, 246 pages
  • How cars work, brands, buying, money, owning and selling
  • Electric and hybrid guide
  • Helping a family member buy
  • Car words dictionary
  • 24 printable worksheets and checklists
Get the bundle
Most complete

Bundle + Do-It-Yourself Car Care

$39.98

The bundle plus the $9.99 add-on.

  • Everything in the bundle
  • Do-It-Yourself Car Care, 64 pages
  • 26 driveway jobs with step-by-step instructions
  • Safety stops on every job
  • Fill-in specs sheet and car care log
Get both
Cover of Do-It-Yourself Car Care
The add-on

Do it yourself. Save the shop fee.

Plenty of car care takes ten minutes in your driveway and a few basic tools. This guide shows you exactly how, two pages per job, with clear photos, the tools you need, and a red box that tells you when to stop and call a pro.

Check the oilChange a flatJump-start safelyReplace wipersSwap air filtersChange a bulbRead a check engine codeRestore headlightsTouch up paint chips+ more
Add it for $9.99
Questions

Good to know.

What do I get, exactly?

PDF files you download right after checkout: the 9 guides plus the printables pack, and the do-it-yourself guide if you add it.

Can I read it on my phone?

Yes. The PDFs open on any phone, tablet or computer. The pages are letter size, so they also print cleanly at home.

Does it work for my state?

The guides are written for U.S. drivers. Taxes, title rules and insurance minimums vary by state, so the guides show you what to check and the official place to check it.

Is this legal or financial advice?

No. It's plain-English education to help you ask better questions. For your own situation, talk to a licensed professional.

Does it cover electric cars and hybrids?

Yes. Guide 6 covers how they work, charging at home and on the road, battery health, and what to check on a used one.

Can I buy the do-it-yourself guide alone?

It's made to go with the bundle, so it's offered as an add-on with it.

Walk in knowing what to ask.

The Everyday Car Guide. Nine guides, one download.

Get the bundle, $29.99 Get both, $39.98
$29.99Get the guide