CarPro

For millions of Americans carrying an auto loan, refinancing could be worth a closer look. New data suggests borrowers who qualify for a better deal are finding some substantial monthly savings. According to F&I and Showroom, citing the latest Auto Refinance Trends Report from auto refinancing provider Caribou, customers who refinanced their vehicle loans to reduce their payments during the second quarter of 2026 saved an average of $162 per month. The average refinance loan balance was $34,378.

New-vehicle prices moved higher in July as automakers reduced incentive spending and more 2027 models began arriving at dealerships, according to a new report from Kelley Blue Book. Kelley Blue Book says the average transaction price, or ATP, for a new vehicle reached $49,855 in July, the highest level so far in 2026. That was up 1.9% from July 2025 and 0.2% from June. Even with the increase, the average remained below the all-time record of $50,612 set in December 2025.

Editor's note: Suits & Settlements is a weekly column in which Car Pro Show host Jerry Reynolds takes a look at the latest automotive-related legal headlines.

I’m not sure they asked any of us here in Texas, but it is what it is. Automakers may be spending billions of dollars developing autonomous driving technology, ever-larger infotainment screens and sophisticated connected-car features, but when shoppers are asked what they really want in their next new vehicle, something considerably simpler comes out on top: heated seats.

New-vehicle inventories tightened in July as sales outpaced the arrival of replacement vehicles, but the market is nowhere near returning to the empty-lot conditions of the pandemic era. Cox Automotive reported that 2.73 million new vehicles were available at the beginning of August, a 3.5% decline from a month earlier and roughly even with the year-ago level. If you are wondering why this matters to you, this is the biggest reason automakers put on incentives.

One piece of advice I give on the radio fairly often, especially to those whom I tell they don’t need to trade cars, is to get “in tune” with your vehicle. I’m not talking about becoming a mechanic or spending every Saturday afternoon under the hood. I mean knowing your car well enough to recognize when something changes, because vehicles often give us clues that something is wrong long before they leave us sitting on the side of the road. Think about a car you've owned for several years.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is warning used car shoppers to watch out for flood-damaged vehicles during peak flood season. As storms and severe flooding continue to impact communities across the U.S., the NICB is urging consumer to exercise caution when shopping for a used vehicle.

The interest rate matters, but it is far from the only thing determining where auto dealers send their financing business. That is one of the major findings from the J.D. Power 2026 U.S. Dealer Financing Satisfaction Study, which shows dealers are placing increasing value on speed, consistency, easy-to-use technology and getting problems solved correctly the first time.

There are certain firsts in life we never forget. Your first day of school, your first car, your first real job, your first date with the person you eventually married, the first time you held your child or grandchild, or the first day you walked into a new business with your name on the door. We take pictures of firsts, write down the dates, celebrate their anniversaries, and tell the stories years later because we know when a first is happening. Lasts are different.

Editor's note: Suits & Settlements is a weekly column in which Car Pro Show host Jerry Reynolds takes a look at the latest automotive-related legal headlines. Ford Takes Lemon Law Billing Fight to Appeals Court Land Rover Renews Push to Arbitrate Brake Defect Lawsuit Judge Pauses Carvana Manager’s Safety Whistleblower Suit Tesla Seeks Dismissal of Full Self-Driving Fraud Suit Ford Takes Lemon Law Billing Fight to Appeals Court.