Lorraine Explains

Welcome to Lorraine Sommerfeld's weekly column, in which Lorraine explains the finer details of driving laws and car shopping based on her decades of experience as an automotive journalist. Lorraine also often sets aside time to complain about horrible people on the roads or in the industry when they misbehave or take advantage of unsuspecting innocents. Lorraine also keeps a close eye on safety news and driving laws so you can keep your family safe on the road through smarter purchase decisions or driving safety …

Lorraine Explains: U.S. rules carmakers can't sell your data

The FTC order in favour of car owners' privacy was levied against General Motors, but has industry-wide implications

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Lorraine Explains: Could U.S. tariffs drive down used car prices for Canadian consumers?

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Used vehicles for sale

Lorraine Explains: Wake up, Toronto — it's time for congestion pricing

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Lorraine Sommerfeld Lorraine Explains

A car traffic jam at the entrance of a freeway in downtown Toronto, Ontario

Lorraine Explains: The worst drivers of 2024

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A driver confused by his car

Lorraine Explains: Consumers hesitate to spend money on car maintenance

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Lorraine Sommerfeld Lorraine Explains

Car mechanic holding clipboard and checking to maintenance vehicle by customer claim order in auto repair shop garage. Engine repair service. People occupation and business job. Automobile technician

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How carmakers and dealers are giving back in 2024

Check out these charitable initiatives from auto manufacturers and dealerships in Canada

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Lorraine Sommerfeld December 9, 2024 Lorraine Explains
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Lorraine Explains: Car-buying incentives are back

Auto manufacturers are putting a lot of cash on the hood to move dated inventory

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Lorraine Sommerfeld November 25, 2024 Experts
Canada's 10 Most Stolen Cars Last Year

It's a mix of same old and some new surprises in the latest list of top-10 most stolen vehicles, based on 2023 theft frequency data

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Lorraine Sommerfeld November 19, 2024 Lorraine Explains
Lorraine Explains: Your insurance will charge you if your car is easy to steal

If you’re in the market to buy a vehicle, you need to read this column

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Lorraine Sommerfeld November 18, 2024 Lorraine Explains
Lorraine Explains: Car insurance rates rise, settlement offers come down

It took a lot of time and stress for one woman to approach a fair settlement for her stolen vehicle

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Lorraine Sommerfeld November 4, 2024 Experts

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Lorraine Explains: We're distracted and driving ourselves to death

We do not drive autonomous cars, but the more our cars do for us with ADAS, the less we do for ourselves

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Lorraine Sommerfeld October 21, 2024 Lorraine Explains
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Lorraine Explains: What vehicles are the youngest drivers buying?

Unsurprisingly, young drivers are not buying the same cars as the Baby Boomers

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Lorraine Sommerfeld September 23, 2024 Lorraine Explains
Lorraine Explains: Ford applied for a patent to listen in and target ads in your car

Beyond Big Brother: Are car manufacturers invading your privacy to sell you more of everything?

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Lorraine Sommerfeld September 16, 2024 Lorraine Explains
Resurrecting the Road Trip: Do it for your kids, or your inner kid

For Toyota's 60th anniversary in Canada, the company invited auto journalists on a road trip from St. John’s Newfoundland to Victoria, B.C

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September 11, 2024 Travel
Lorraine Explains: Is your car invading your privacy?

Privacy, shrivacy: you won't believe what your car is saying behind your back

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Lorraine Sommerfeld September 9, 2024 Lorraine Explains

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Lorraine Explains: The parking ticket scammers are raising their game

If there is any doubt in your mind at all, contact the local governing body directly, and from a number you look up

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Lorraine Sommerfeld August 19, 2024 Lorraine Explains
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Lorraine Explains: Insurers adding $1,500 surcharge on Canada's most stolen vehicles

Car thefts are coming down, but your insurance rates may not be so quick to follow—here's what you can do to pare back your bill in the meantime

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Lorraine Sommerfeld August 5, 2024 Lorraine Explains
Lorraine Explains: Ford government rejects mandatory rough-ins for EVs in new builds

Rough-ins for EVs in new builds was the easiest mistake not to make, but the Ford government made it anyway

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Lorraine Sommerfeld July 29, 2024 Lorraine Explains
Lorraine Explains: A glimmer of hope in the world of car theft

A glimmer of hope in the world of car theft

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Lorraine Sommerfeld July 22, 2024 Lorraine Explains
Lorraine Explains: As you read this, another kid is possibly dying in a hot car

Some auto manufacturers are combatting this problem better than others, but it's still not enough

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Lorraine Sommerfeld July 15, 2024 Lorraine Explains

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Lorraine Explains: 3 Dangerous things you might do on a summer road trip

Accidents can happen when we’re outside of our routines, so it's important to be aware of these potential road trip dangers

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Lorraine Sommerfeld July 8, 2024 Lorraine Explains
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Lorraine Explains: No 2-day cooling off period for Ontario car buyers

But who really put the brakes on the consumer protection request?

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Lorraine Sommerfeld June 10, 2024 Lorraine Explains
Lorraine Explains: How to buy a car, and how not to buy a car

Here's what you should know and what you should ask the sales rep before buying a car

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Lorraine Sommerfeld June 3, 2024 Lorraine Explains
Lorraine Explains: Is TikTok to blame for the top stolen vehicles in the U.S. in 2023?

Canada's outdated legislation from 2007 requires anti-theft immobilizers, and may be the reason the top 10 lists are so different

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Lorraine Sommerfeld May 27, 2024 Lorraine Explains
Lorraine Explains: Is China building the EVs we actually want to buy?

Welcome to the EV midway: all the rides, except the one you want?

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Lorraine Sommerfeld May 20, 2024 Lorraine Explains

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Lorraine Explains: What if you just kept your car for its intended lifespan?

Want to keep your present car on the road? Keep on top of your maintenance and keep your vehicle running well.

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Lorraine Sommerfeld May 13, 2024 Lorraine Explains
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Lorraine Explains: Does a lifetime driving ban—or nine—even mean anything?

You could be driving next to someone with a lifetime driving ban

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Lorraine Sommerfeld April 29, 2024 Lorraine Explains
Lorraine Explains: Are auto manufacturers encouraging dangerous driving?

While their advertisements tout safety, they're also showing off speed

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Lorraine Sommerfeld April 22, 2024 Lorraine Explains
Lorraine Explains: Your car is gone. Now what?

The EU has introduced stringent anti-theft legislation. Why haven't we?

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Lorraine Sommerfeld April 15, 2024 Lorraine Explains
Lorraine Explains: Will Ontario's new insurance proposals save you money?

The province's 2024 budget wants to make your auto insurer more responsible for your rehabilitation after a collision

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Lorraine Sommerfeld April 8, 2024 Lorraine Explains

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Lorraine Explains: Which EV upstarts will survive the bloodbath?

EV manufacturers lose an average of US$6,000 on each unit they sell—what does that mean for smaller companies?

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Lorraine Sommerfeld April 1, 2024 Lorraine Explains
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Lorraine Explains: Stop blaming Canadian car owners for auto theft

It's time we stop asking victims of car theft what they were 'wearing' when they were attacked

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Lorraine Sommerfeld March 18, 2024 Lorraine Explains
Lorraine Explains: Signs of an auto industry in recovery?

AutoTrader believes the slow softening of prices will continue

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Lorraine Sommerfeld March 11, 2024 Lorraine Explains
Lorraine Explains: Is a solution to car theft right in front of our eyes?

Why don’t cars come with PIN codes?

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Lorraine Sommerfeld March 4, 2024 Lorraine Explains
Lorraine Explains: Do you need a dash cam?

Probably. It’s about the one moment you need an eyewitness to something you might not have been present to see

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Lorraine Sommerfeld February 26, 2024 Lorraine Explains

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