WARNING: TRUMP’S TARIFFS COULD CRANK UP YOUR CAR BILL BY A WHOPPING $10,000!

As tariffs loom over the auto industry like a dark cloud, car buyers are left shouting one question: "Is This Baby Made in America?"

With car prices on the brink of skyrocketing, savvy shoppers are frantically searching for answers about what’s really under the hood. High stakes are on the line because under President Trump’s new regime, if these tariffs stick around, expect to cough up an extra $10,000! Better get ready to dig deep or become a super sleuth to dodge that price hike!

TARIF-IC OR NOT? HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!

Right now, no instant price spikes are imminent—new vehicle stocks are abundant. But hold onto your wallets, because the car industry is in a tizzy. Whether automakers will absorb the extra costs or pass them on to you is anyone’s guess. This spring, if you want to steer clear of the tariff trap, your best shot is to snatch up American-made cars or foreign models imported before the tariff hammer dropped!

DRAMA IN THE DETAILS: WHERE’S YOUR CAR REALLY FROM?

Hold onto your seats—figuring out where your car comes from is trickier than finding a needle in a haystack! Even those "All-American" brands you see on TV might rely heavily on foreign parts. Patrick Masterson from Cars.com lays it all out: “A car can be slapped together in one country, using parts from everywhere else, with a badge from a far-off continent!"

But don’t panic just yet! You can keep it simple—check the assembly location. That may be enough to dodge those nasty tariffs!

TARIFF WAVE HITS ON APRIL 3RD!

Mark your calendars—April 3rd saw Trump impose a massive 25% tariff on vehicles assembled abroad that incorporate non-U.S. components. That means millions of vehicles are caught in the crossfire, affecting both American brands working overseas and foreign manufacturers like Honda and Volkswagen. Last year alone, half of all cars sold in the U.S. came from foreign assembly lines. Yikes!

For now, if your dream ride is made in America but has some foreign parts, you can breathe easy—no tariffs… for now!

PARTS TARIFFS TO DROP LIKE A BOMBSHELL IN MAY!

But hold the phone! If your car is put together in the U.S. using foreign parts, brace yourself! Starting May 3rd, the tariff on car parts—think engines and transmissions—is set to hit like a freight train. Costs for automakers could rise faster than inflation, making it hard to find any cars escaping the financial fallout.

But don’t worry just yet! The NHTSA database has your back—providing crucial information about the U.S. content of vehicles. Check that window sticker because thanks to the American Automobile Labeling Act, you’ll know just how much of your car is truly American!

THE TRUTH BEHIND "AMERICAN-MADE": IS YOUR CAR TRULY AMERICAN?

Want to uncover the full truth about your wheels? Take advantage of the Cars.com American-Made Index, ranking the top vehicles based on assembly location and parts origins. Or dig deeper with the Kogod School’s Made in America Auto Index, which reveals the roots of your ride based on everything from assembly to the company’s HQ.

But beware! Not all cars are listed—the Toyota Camry is missing from the NHTSA’s latest roll call! So, get resourceful! Use VIN numbers to uncover your car’s secret: the first digit will clue you in on where it was born. U.S. cars can be spotted by the digits 1, 4, or 5.

Don’t be caught off guard! With Trump’s tariffs creeping in and automobile prices ready to spike, knowing where your car comes from has never been so crucial! Stay alert, stay informed, and don’t let those sticker shock prices take you by surprise!

photo credit: money.com