May 21, 2026

Dear Car Pro Family,

I hope everyone has a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and takes just a moment to remember what the true meaning of the day is. I have a reminder for you below on what Monday is really all about, please take a moment and read it. I know some of you plan to get yourself a new vehicle this weekend and timing is great to do that, I have more on that below also. Also, a note of thanks to all those who reached out to tell me how much they enjoyed my new song, Black Tape On My Badge.

Just a few of the many stories you’ll find today: Catalytic converter thefts are up again, especially if you own one very popular hybrid. 45 million of us will be traveling this weekend, I give you the most congested times, and a lawsuit alleges a Kia dealership of inflating the advertised price and hiding fees, which it looks like they did, but there is more to the story. Check out Wacky Waymo Adventures below. Are we sure we are ready for full self-driving cars?

True Story #14 is at the bottom of this publication, and it is called I Quit. I was young and naïve but knew the difference between right and wrong and I quit a job I truly loved. For this week’s car reviews, I have the beautiful 2026 Lincoln Navigator L Black Label. I also spent time with the 2026 Toyota C-HR SUV, which has just returned to the Toyota lineup. Amy Plemons brings you a full review of all-new 2026 Toyota RAV4 Limited Hybrid, which many of you have asked about. See what she thinks .

In advice this week, I want to put to bed your fear of turbo engines in an article titled: Turbocharged & Terrified? Don’t Be! In my closing message, it is titled simply: 7,300 Days. That is how long it has been since I walked away from the last car dealership I ever owned. I have thoughts for you as I look back on this past 20 years. I’ve got some great stories for this week’s Quick Shifts, and Suits & Settlements-my legal roundup feature, don’t miss those.

We’ve got another quiz from Kim Komando and some really cool tech tips. If you aren’t used to looking at her section, give it a try, there are some real gems there. If you haven’t perused my FAQ page, please do. There are likely multiple articles you can use, every one of them written by me.

All of our other regular features are below including the Classic Car Contest, the radio stations we are on, how to call the show to talk directly to me, and much, much more.

We very much appreciate you being part of the newsletter family. Without you, there is no Car Pro Show. Let us know how we can help you, and if you haven’t been to our website lately, check it out at CarPro.com. It changes daily.

Have a terrific week. See you on the radio!

YOU’LL FIND THE FOLLOWING STORIES AND A LOT MORE INFORMATION AS YOU SCROLL DOWN THE NEWSLETTER:

Memorial Day: America’s most sacred holiday
Huge Memorial Weekend car sales-Snag a bargain!
Feedback on my new song Black Tape On My Badge
Catalytic converter thefts rise again-Thieves target popular hybrid
More buyers are getting approved for car loans
Jeep teams up with Captain America
Gas prices aren't slowing down travel this weekend
Wacky Waymo Adventures: Robotaxi’s gone rogue
April new car prices: Increases slow, EV prices rise
Ford ditches 6.8-liter gas in favor of 7.3 Godzilla
Lawsuit accuses Kia dealership of inflating prices & hiding fees
Suits & Settlements-Car Pro legal roundup
This week’s Quick Shifts
Kim Komando’s Quiz & great tech tips
Car Pro Advice: Turbocharged & Terrified? Don’t Be
Car Pro Car Review: 2026 Lincoln Navigator L Black Label
Car Pro Car Review #2: 2026 Toyota C-HR XE AWD SUV
Car Pro Review by Amy Plemons: All-new 2026 Toyota RAV4 Limited Hybrid
Videos of the week
True Stories from a former car dealer #14:I Quit
Closing message: 7,300 Days
Plus, all your normal, weekly information!

By Monday afternoon, millions of Americans will be standing around a barbecue grill, shopping a Memorial Day sale, watching baseball, or heading home from the lake. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Memorial Day weekend has long marked the unofficial start of summer across America.

But before the weekend ends, every one of us should stop for a moment and remember why we have the freedom to enjoy it in the first place.

Because Memorial Day is not really about a three-day weekend.

It’s about sacrifice.

And unlike Veterans Day, which honors all who served, Memorial Day is reserved for the men and women who never made it home.

The sons and daughters who left for war and never returned. The husbands and wives whose families received a folded American flag instead of a welcome-home hug. The young Americans who gave up not only their lives, but the lives they would have lived.

President Ronald Reagan once said at Arlington National Cemetery: “They gave up two lives. The one they were living and the one they would have lived.”

That may be one of the most powerful descriptions of sacrifice ever spoken.

Think about it for a second.

The birthdays never celebrated. The businesses never started. The children never born. The retirement years never enjoyed. Entire futures surrendered for people they would never meet.

People like us.

Memorial Day traces its roots back to the years following the Civil War, when communities gathered to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers and flags. It was originally called Decoration Day. In 1971, Memorial Day officially became a federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May.

But the purpose has never changed.

Remember them.

That simple idea matters now more than ever.

Many younger Americans today have never personally known someone killed in military service. War often feels distant now, something seen in movies, documentaries, or social media clips between everyday distractions. Yet for thousands of families across this country, the loss is still painfully real.

This weekend, Arlington National Cemetery will once again fill with visitors. So will small cemeteries in tiny towns all across America. Families will place flowers beside headstones. Tiny American flags will wave in the wind. Some people will quietly cry. Others will tell stories and laugh together because sometimes laughter is the only thing that softens grief.

For Gold Star families, Memorial Day is not a holiday. It is deeply personal.

I’ve always felt Memorial Day differently myself because I’ve worn a uniform too. Long before radio and the car business, I worked for the Dallas Police Department. I know the silence that falls when people gather to honor someone who made the ultimate sacrifice. I know what it means to place black tape across a badge after losing one of your own.

That’s one reason this holiday has always stayed with me.

Sacrifice wears many uniforms in America, but the meaning is always the same.

Freedom is never free.

Not at Lexington and Concord.

Not at Normandy.

Not in the jungles of Vietnam.

Not in Iraq or Afghanistan.

And not today.

This weekend, enjoy your family. Fire up the grill. Watch the race on Sunday. Hug your kids and grandkids. Laugh a little louder than usual.

That’s exactly the kind of life those fallen heroes fought to protect.

But somewhere during the weekend, pause for a moment.

Maybe at 3 p.m. Monday during the National Moment of Remembrance. Maybe while looking at an American flag blowing in the breeze. Maybe during a quiet drive home.

And think about the Americans who never got that chance.

Not as names etched into stone.

Not as statistics in a history book.

But as real people with dreams, fears, families, and futures who willingly gave everything so the rest of us could live free.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.

AI-Generated Using ChatGPT Plus.

I want to thank all those that reached out to tell me they enjoyed my new song. I especially appreciate those in law enforcement who took the time, the work and time I put into it was all for you. Many police departments and officers across the country from Cleveland to Detroit, to Dallas, to Los Angeles shared it. Many expressed it brought them to tears. If you did not hear it on the show last week, here is a link to listen to it now, along with the lyrics you can read. It was showcased by the Dallas Express, a very popular online newsletter here in Dallas-Fort Worth. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing and producing it.

Click here for the song and lyrics →

I am constantly asked when is the best time to buy? I always say Memorial weekend and the last week of December. Car dealers start planning for May months in advance. Everything lines up just right for May. The weather is usually nice, there are five Saturdays PLUS a Monday Memorial Day, then lots of time after the holiday to clean everything up and make a final push.

Most of our dealers have got more inventory than they need and are pricing very aggressively. Incentives have continued to rise as this year has gone on, and Ford upped the ante with Employee Pricing, causing the other automakers to raise them as well.

The used market is going up every week. Your trade-in is worth more today that it was just a few weeks ago, no matter the year, make, model, or mileage. If you tried to trade your car earlier in the year, try again, the picture looks very different today.

I will repeat this: If you were going to buy a car later this year, look at numbers NOW. The moon and stars have aligned for buyers who want to get a new set of wheels.

Use our dealers from here, email them in advance so they can be ready for you:

Find a Certified Car Pro Dealer

Here is a helpful tutorial for finding the nearest Car Pro Certified Dealer to you, and how to search for a specific vehicle at one of our Certified Dealerships: Click here for our tutorial→

If you’ve put this off waiting for that right time to pull the trigger, I submit that time is NOW.

suits and settlements chat gpt plus jerry reynolds

AI-Generated Using ChatGPT Plus.

Suits & Settlements is a weekly feature highlighting recent automotive-related legal matters. Whether they impact customers and drivers, a specific automaker or have wider implications for the industry, they are important lawsuits and settlements I think you'll find as interesting as I do.

In this week’s Suits & Settlements, you’ll find the following reports:

Volvo Seeks Dismissal of Rearview Camera Defect Claims
Subaru Faces Lawsuit Over Sudden Braking Complaints
Mercedes, Ford and Nissan UK Emissions Ruling Expected This Summer
Volkswagen Hit With EV Battery Fire Risk Lawsuit

I hear from a lot of people who end up with an extra car for some reason. Sometimes it is due to a death in the family, or someone gets transferred overseas. I’ve seen many occasions where this happens. Well, now, we have two ways to dispose of a vehicle.

ThisCar has been with us for quite some time. They are terrific buyers and make the transactions very easy. They have helped many of our listeners and I’ve had terrific feedback. They are great, too, if you need a good idea what your car is truly worth and as I always say, a car is only worth what someone is willing to write a check for it. ThisCar writes checks, and lots of them.

Now, if you have more time, RetailMyRide.com is now an official partner of the Car Pro Show and they take cars on consignment. You’ve heard me recommend them in the past most likely, and they have helped many of our listeners. They market the car at all the right places, they get top dollar for it, take a little off the top, and you get the rest. It’s that simple. No people coming to your house, calling or texting, no worrying about how to complete the paperwork, they do all that for you.

So, the question is: Do you want quick cash or the most cash? We’ve got you covered either way with CarPro AppraisalPro OR CarPro ConsignPro.

It all starts at CarPro.com, click SELL A CAR at the top, or click here →

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.

I recommend you subscribe to Kim’s daily newsletter. I learn something new every single day, and it’s free! Subscribe here →

If you are searching for a particular new or used vehicle, we can help you! The best news is, if you use CarPro to search, when you find the car of your dreams it will be at a CarPro approved dealership.

Our search feature is simple to use. Choose new, used, or certified. You can select the make and model, or find a price range you are looking at. Choose the number of miles you are willing to travel and enter your zip code. From there, you can look through all your matches, knowing you are shopping at a dealership I have handpicked that adheres to the high standards I require.

Start your search on the front page of CarPro.com. If you don't find the car of your dreams, check back regularly.

have 5 hours to call the show! From 9AM- 2PM Central, 7AM-Noon Pacific, and 10 AM to 3 PM Eastern, the phone numbers are:

DFW Show: 9 AM to 11 AM Central,
- 1 (800) 288-9227
National Show: 11 AM to 2 PM Central,
- 1 (800) 926-7777

Add the numbers to your cell phone; you never know when you are going to need straight talk and honest answers about everything automotive.

So, what is the CarPro Radio Show?

Confused about the car buying process? Worried you won’t get a fair deal? Wondering about which vehicle is best for you? Then tune in to the CarPro Radio Show every week where Jerry Reynolds and Todd Chambless will guide you through the car-buying process with confidence.

No matter where you listen to the show or which station you listen to, you have five hours to call in and ask your questions. We take calls every Saturday from 9 AM-2 PM Central time, 7 AM to Noon Pacific. The phone number is different the first two hours, then changes, so keep that in mind.

We would love to help you in any way possible! Keep in mind, we don’t take mechanical questions, but everything else is great!

The Car Pro Radio Show is heard every weekend all over the United States, and every weekend we deliver straight talk and honest answers about everything automotive. We would greatly appreciate it if you would take a moment and tell a friend about the show.

Most of our listeners tell us that they never thought they would look forward to a show about cars. You may have friends or relatives who feel the same way in the cities below, please make them aware.

Here are the DFW markets the show airs in, times, and stations, and don't forget you can now listen to WBAP on the FM dial at 93.3 FM!

Dallas, TX: WBAP 820 AM/93.3 FM/99.5 HD 2, Saturday 9am to 11am Central
Dallas, TX:
➡️ NEW!!! KRLD 1080 AM, Saturday 1pm to 2pm Central Dallas Show Airs LIVE
KRLD 1080 AM, Saturday 2pm to 4pm Central - Pre-recorded National Show
Granbury, TX: KPIR 1420 AM, Saturday 11am to 2pm Central
Listen to the WBAP Podcast (up every Tuesday)→

This is #14 in a series of 40 stories written by me about occurrences from my days in the car business. Each story had a lasting impression on me for some reason or another. Some because they were funny, some because they were sad, and some were just strange. But whatever the case, over the next 25 weeks, we’ll feature one of them, in order for you to enjoy.

Today, I tell you about an event that could have changed the entire course of my life. I was a young car washer at a Ford dealership in Dallas and witnessed an elderly couple being ripped off. I couldn’t believe it but knew I didn’t want to be a part of anything like what I just witnessed, so I quit a job I truly loved.

You can read #14 here: I Quit→

Click here for the True Stories library →

7,300 Days

Twenty years ago today, I walked out of the last dealership I owned for the very last time.

I remember it like it was yesterday.

I walked out around lunchtime that day.

No dramatic farewell. No big speech. The dealership was still operating like any other day. Salespeople were talking to customers. Phones were ringing. Cars were pulling into service. Somewhere, somebody was probably complaining about their trade value.

And there I was, walking out the doors of the last dealership I would ever own.

I paused for a second before getting into my car. Not because I was unsure—but because I realized a chapter of my life that had consumed me for decades was suddenly over.

Then I drove away. That day closed a chapter of my life that had defined me for decades.

I had spent my entire adult life in the car business. I went from wash boy to salesperson to manager to dealer. I had lived through victories, disasters, sleepless nights, factory battles, financial pressure, and moments of incredible joy. I’d hired thousands of people, watched careers begin, watched others end, and learned more about human nature standing on a car lot than most people learn in a lifetime.

The car business wasn’t just what I did.

It was who I was.

Or at least I thought it was.

That final drive away from the dealership twenty years ago was emotional in ways I never expected. There was pride, certainly. Gratitude too. But also fear.

Because when you’ve done something your whole life, walking away from it feels a little like losing part of your identity.

I didn’t know then what the next 7300 days would hold.

I didn’t know radio would become such a huge part of my life. I didn’t know I’d spend thousands of hours talking to callers all over America about cars, dealerships, warranties, tires, insurance, scams, and everything in between. I didn’t know I’d build friendships with listeners I’ve never even met face-to-face.

And I sure didn’t know that helping consumers would become even more rewarding than selling cars ever was.

Back then, I thought I was ending a career.

What I was really doing was opening a new door.

Funny how life works that way sometimes.

The strange part is the world doesn’t stop when a major chapter of your life ends. You expect trumpets or fireworks or at least some dramatic feeling. Most of the time, life just keeps moving.

There have been plenty of moments over these past twenty years where I missed the dealership life. There’s an energy to a showroom on a busy Saturday that never quite leaves your blood. I still miss the excitement of the end of the month. I miss the people. I even miss some of the pressure.

Well…maybe not all of it.

But what I’ve gained has been extraordinary.

I’ve had the chance to help people instead of sell them. I’ve been able to tell listeners the truth, even when it wasn’t popular. I’ve helped families avoid bad deals, save money, and find dealerships that treat them the right way.

And somewhere along the line, I realized something important.

The best part of my career was never the cars.

It was always the people.

The employees who became family. The customers who trusted me year after year. The listeners who still stop me in airports, restaurants, grocery stores, and gas stations to say, “You helped me.”

That means more to me today than any sales trophy ever could.

Twenty years is a long time. 7300 days.

A lot changes in that many days.

The industry changed. The technology changed. The cars changed. Heck, I changed too.

But some things never did.

I still believe honesty matters.
I still believe hard work matters.
I still believe your reputation is everything.
And I still believe people deserve straight answers when they’re making one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives.

When I walked out of that dealership for the last time twenty years ago, I honestly thought I was leaving behind the most important chapter of my professional life.

Turns out, I was just getting started.

Straight Talk and Honest Answers — always.

Memorial Day: America's Most Sacred Holiday

My New Song: Black Tape On My Badge

AI-Generated Using ChatGPT Plus.

HUGE Memorial Day Sales - Don't Miss The Deals!

Straight Talk and Honest Answers

AI-Generated Using ChatGPT Plus.CarPro Advice: Turbocharged and Terrified? Don't Be.

U.S. Auto Market

More Buyers Are Getting Approved For Car Loans

April New Car Prices: Price Increases Slow, EV's Rise

FAQ: This Week's Q&A Spotlight!

Q: Is Now A Good Time To Buy A Car?

Q: What Is GAP Insurance And Do I Really Need It?

Legal Matters

Lawsuit Accuses Kia Dealer Of Inflating Price, Hiding Fees

AI-Generated Using ChatGPT Plus.

Self-Driving Cars

Wacky Waymo Adventures: Robotaxis Gone Rogue

On The Road: Test Drives

2026 Lincoln Navigator L Black Label

Lincoln's flagship SUV is a rolling luxury lounge with thoughtful features everywhere you look!

2026 Toyota C-HR XSE AWD

The Toyota C-HR goes all-electric, delivering performance, style and plenty of personality.

All-New 2026 Toyota RAV4 Limited

The sixth-generation RAV4 ushers in a more stylish, modern era along with new Toyota technology.

Quick Shifts

Bumper to Bumper: Industry News

Jeep Brand Teams Up With Captain America

Catalytic Converter Theft Rising Again: Thieves Target One Popular Hybrid

Gas Prices Aren't Slowing Travel This Weekend

Ford Ditches 6.8-Liter For 7.3 Godzilla

Weekly Recalls

Incentives Guide

Sell Or Consign Your Car For Top Dollar!

Kim Komando Quiz and Interesting Info

Check Out Our Newsletter Archive Page!

Classic Car Contest: Win An AutoHeatShield!

Exclusive Approved Products & Services

Get Your Car Pro Show T-Shirts, Hats and Mugs

Subscribe to the free DFW Newsletter

Miss the Show? Catch Our Podcast!

Searching For A New Or Used Vehicle?

You Have 5 Hours To Call The Show!

Where to Find Us

Jerry's Must-Watch Video of the Week!

Todd's Video of the Week!

True Stories From A Former Car Dealer

Closing Message From Jerry

7,300 Days

AI-Generated Using ChatGPT Plus.

CarPro Advice: Turbocharged and Terrified?
Don't Be.

Q: Is Now A Good Time
To Buy A Car?