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💵 Today’s Top Stories
Surprise hidden fees have made their way to leases. Protect yourself before you sign a rental agreement by asking for the full fee schedule early and getting an itemized breakdown in writing. Read more.
Is one phone line all you need? Team Clark highlights your top choice across six categories, including “best unlimited plan” for one person. Read more.
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Airlines are pushing customers to buy flight insurance. Here’s Clark’s checklist to go through before you consider it (most people don’t need it). Read more.
Millions of Discover cardholders are getting migrated to Capital One. Here’s what to expect – and what you may need to do. Read more.
🏠️ Today’s Current Mortgage Rates
According to Freddie Mac, 30-year mortgage rates are 6.67% and 15-year rates are 5.96% as of August 13, 2026. The following chart shows the 30-year mortgage rate trend over the last year.
🚘 Cost of Owning a Used Vehicle Up 32-41% in 5 Years
How much does owning your vehicle cost you per year?
If you sit down and pencil out the math, it may shock you. One report suggests that as of mid-2026, average annual used vehicle costs range from $7,800 to $9,000.
Subprime shoppers pay $560+ per month on used vehicles (up about $140 per month from 2021), while prime borrowers pay $470+ per month (up about $110).
Monthly insurance premiums rose from just over $125 to nearly $200 at their peak in 2024, before landing close to $180 a month today.
Maintenance and repair costs have climbed steadily for five consecutive years and are up 45% (+9% per year) in that span.
Average gas prices are more volatile but have topped the +40% mark twice in the last five years (including earlier this year).
If you’re on the low end of that range thanks to a good credit score, it’s still costing you $650 per month on average to own a used vehicle.
Not having a car payment at all can make a huge difference financially. So score a point for driving your used vehicle longer (rather than upgrading) — even though maintenance costs can go up over time.
And Clark often reminds us that re-shopping your car insurance can save you valuable cash as well. This is especially true now that some insurance companies have rolled back prices.
📊 Stat of the Day
🏡 6.9 million: Number of owner-occupied million-dollar U.S. homes according to the most recent analysis by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). That’s 8% of the market, including roughly 40% of the homes in Hawaii. It’s also up from about 1.5 million in 2005.
💰 Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals
🎙 Podcast
It’s time for "Clark Stinks!" Christa reads the latest "Clark Stinks!" submissions and Clark responds. Also, to protect your young adult and give your family peace of mind, there are critical legal and financial forms every teenager should sign the moment they turn 18. Setting up these documents is simple, inexpensive, and essential for any family navigating the transition to adulthood. Taking a few minutes to put these protections in place today can save your family from unnecessary hardship when it matters most, as Clark explains.
☎ Need Money Help?
The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.
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