FTC Affiliate Disclosure

Last updated: July 27, 2026

VehCalc participates in affiliate marketing programs. This means we may earn a commission when you click on links to our partners' products or services. This comes at no extra cost to you and helps keep our tools free for everyone.

Our Commitment to Transparency

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires websites to disclose when they have a financial relationship with companies whose products or services they recommend. We take this requirement seriously — and honestly, we think it's just the right thing to do.

On VehCalc, you'll never have to guess whether a link is an affiliate link. Here's how we label them:

  • Affiliate links are marked with #ad
  • Pages that contain affiliate links include a notice at the top of the page
  • This disclosure page is linked from every page on our site

If you ever see a link on our site that you believe should be labeled but isn't, pleaselet us know. We appreciate your help in keeping us accountable.

How Affiliate Links Work

When you click on an affiliate link on VehCalc, a small tracking cookie is placed on your device. If you then make a purchase or sign up for a service with our partner within a certain time frame (typically 30-90 days, but this varies by program), we receive a commission from the partner.

Important things to know:

  • It costs you nothing extra. The commission comes from the company's marketing budget, not your pocket. The price you pay is exactly the same whether you use our link or go directly to the company's website.
  • We only link to products we believe in. We don't promote products or services just because they pay a commission. Every affiliate partner we work with is vetted for quality and relevance to our audience.
  • It helps support VehCalc. Affiliate commissions are one of the ways we fund the site, pay our team, and keep all our calculators and content free for everyone.

Editorial Independence

This is really important, so we're putting it in its own section. Affiliate relationships never influence our editorial content. Period.

Here's how we keep content independent:

  • We choose what to cover first. Our editorial team decides which topics, products, and services to write about based on reader interest and research — not based on which companies have affiliate programs.
  • Affiliate partners don't approve content. Our partners do not review, edit, or approve our content before publication. What we write is based on our independent research and analysis.
  • Negative coverage is still published. If a product or service has drawbacks, we write about them honestly — even if it means fewer commissions. Our readers' trust is worth more than any commission check.
  • Rankings are based on research, not revenue. When we compare products or services, the ranking is based on our evaluation of features, cost, and value — not which pays the highest commission.

We believe that good, honest content is also good business. Readers who trust us are more likely to find our recommendations useful and click our links when they're ready to buy. It's a win-win.

Types of Affiliate Programs

VehCalc participates in several types of affiliate programs. Here are the main categories:

Auto Loan and Financing Partners

We may have affiliate relationships with auto loan providers, refinancing companies, and lending marketplaces. When you apply for a loan or get pre-qualified through our links, we may receive a commission from the lender. This does not affect your loan terms, interest rate, or fees in any way.

Insurance Partners

We work with insurance comparison services and insurance companies. If you request a quote or purchase an insurance policy through our links, we may earn a commission. Your premium is determined by the insurance company based on your individual risk factors — our commission does not change what you pay.

Automotive Products and Services

We may recommend automotive products (like accessories, tools, or maintenance supplies) and services (like warranty providers, vehicle history report services, or extended warranties) through affiliate links. When you make a purchase, we may receive a percentage of the sale as commission.

General Affiliate Networks

We also participate in general affiliate networks (like Amazon Associates and others) that allow us to earn commissions on a wide range of products. These programs give us flexibility to recommend products we find useful without needing a direct relationship with every company.

Our Partner Selection Criteria

We don't work with just any company that offers an affiliate program. Before we add an affiliate partner, we consider factors like:

  • Reputation: Does the company have a good track record with customers? We check reviews, ratings, and any regulatory actions.
  • Transparency: Is the company upfront about pricing, fees, and terms? We avoid companies that bury important details in fine print.
  • Relevance: Is the product or service relevant to our audience? We only promote things we think car buyers and owners would actually find useful.
  • Value: Does the product or service offer good value for the price? We don't recommend overpriced or low-quality products just for a commission.
  • User experience: Is the website easy to use? Do they have good customer service? We want our readers to have a positive experience.

We regularly review our affiliate partnerships. If a partner's quality declines or they stop being a good fit for our audience, we remove the links — even if it means losing revenue.

Amazon Services LLC Associates Program

VehCalc is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases made through links to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This does not affect the price you pay for items on Amazon.

Advertising vs. Affiliate Content

It's worth noting the difference between advertising and affiliate links, since both appear on VehCalc:

  • Display ads: These are the banner ads and other ad units you see around the site. They are served by advertising networks and we do not necessarily endorse the products or services advertised. These are clearly labeled as advertisements or identified by standard ad formats.
  • Affiliate links: These are links within our content (articles, calculator pages, etc.) that go to partner sites. If you make a purchase, we earn a commission. These links are marked with #ad.

Both help support the site, but they work differently. With affiliate links, we only earn if you take a specific action (like making a purchase). With display ads, we may earn based on impressions or clicks regardless of whether you buy anything.

Your Choice Matters

Using our affiliate links is completely optional. If you prefer not to use them, you can always go directly to the company's website instead. We won't be offended — we're just glad we could help with your research.

If you do choose to use our links, thank you. It's a simple way to support our work at no extra cost to you, and it helps us keep building more free tools and content for everyone.

Questions About Our Disclosures?

If you have any questions about our affiliate relationships, how we choose partners, or anything else related to this disclosure, please don't hesitate to contact us. We're happy to provide more information and we take transparency seriously.

For more information about the FTC's guidelines on endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you can visit the FTC's website.