Editorial Policy

Why a page belongs here

We publish vehicle reports, practical guides, comparisons and original research. A useful page explains what a record means for a buyer: what to ask, what to verify and where to go next. Repeating a table in prose or attaching a verdict to a complaint count does not meet that standard.

Claims must fit the source's scope. We distinguish a manufacturer's statement, an owner's report and our own calculation. We identify dated snapshots, name limitations that could change the conclusion, and do not fill gaps with invented experience, repair prices or reliability scores.

Who checks the work

Editorial drafts are reviewed against their sources before approval. AI-assisted model-year summaries also pass through automated checks. Approval is an editorial review, not a mechanic's inspection or an independent expert endorsement. We identify a specialist reviewer only when that person has actually reviewed the work and agreed to be named.

Data tables update through imports, separately from the approval of written summaries. Our methodology and AI policy explain that distinction.

Advertising and paid links

CarTold is free to read, with advertising intended to fund the site. Advertisers do not choose our findings, approve our copy or buy the removal of an accurately reported concern. Advertising must be distinguishable from editorial content.

If we use a link that pays a referral commission, we will identify that relationship beside the recommendation. A payment is not evidence that a product or service is right for a reader. Recommendations must explain what the product does, who it suits and the limits of our assessment.

Corrections

We check reported errors against the evidence and correct our own mistakes. If an argument goes further than the data supports, that wording needs correction too. Here is how to report an error.