Besides the Car Pro Show and our weekly newsletter, my other favorite radio show and newsletter is Kim Komando’s. We are on many of the same radio stations across America. She does for her listeners and newsletter subscribers exactly what I endeavor to do: Give you useful information to keep you up to date on the latest in cars, only she does it with technology and there is nobody who does it better. Not sure how she puts out a top-notch newsletter seven days a week, but she does.
With her permission, I comb her newsletters each week and curate a list of her tips and advice that I think you'll find relevant and interesting. Here's what I have for you this week!
As written in Kim Komando's newsletters:
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Radio won shotgun: AM/FM still gets 55% of in-car listening in 2026, while streaming pulls 16%. Even listeners ages 13 to 34 still pick radio, 46% to 30%. Some carmakers keep ditching AM (bad idea), even though 77 FEMA-linked stations can reach about 90% of us in an emergency. The scan button has never asked for your password, throttled your signal or put an ad in the middle of a tornado warning.
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Avis owes you: If you rented from Avis, there’s a chance your personal data hit the open road first. A class action settlement from the 2024 Avis breach is offering up to $5,000 for documented losses, or a smaller payment if you just want something for the trouble. Exposed info reportedly included names, addresses, driver’s license numbers and card data. File by June 21, 2026, here. And yes, this is a real settlement. The scam version would ask for your SSN up front.
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3-second tech genius: Bulk deals look like they’re saving you money. Too bad that giant pack is not always cheaper. Check the unit price first, meaning cost ÷ number of items, or the cost per item, ounce or count. On Amazon, it’s right there in small print next to the price. A lot of these “value” packs are from stores clearing stock and hoping nobody does the math.
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3-second tech genius: You can silence an incoming call without sending it to voicemail. On iPhone, press the side button once. On Android, press either volume button. The call keeps ringing on their end, your screen goes dark, and you look like you didn’t notice. Nobody has to know.
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Your phone is a snitch: Every app you download wants to track your digital footprint to sell to advertisers. If you’re tired of seeing ads for a lawn mower because you walked past one at Home Depot, shut it down. On iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking and toggle off Allow Apps to Request to Track. On Android, go to Settings > Google > Ads and hit Delete advertising ID. It takes 10 seconds to stop the stalking.
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There’s a free version of Microsoft Office: It’s called Google Docs, Slides and Sheets. Same thing, no subscription, works straight in your browser from anywhere. Bonus: Collaboration is where it really shines. Hit Share in the top right, set General access to Anyone with the link and work on a document live with colleagues simultaneously. Microsoft will send you a renewal reminder. Ignore it.
Visit Kim Komando's website and subscribe to her newsletter here →
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