High Gear Media Editorial Policy

At High Gear Media, we are committed to offering honest, unbiased reviews. We are also committed to transparency, and to that end we have created this policy describing our practices around accepting loaned cars, expense reimbursement or other things of value from the companies’ whose products we review.

We accept loaned cars or expense reimbursement because, as a lean operation, without them we would not have hands-on access to the latest cars to enable us to produce the best reviews. Our practices are similar to countless other review sites.

Even when we accept a loaned car, expense reimbursement or other assistance, we retain full discretion to express our honest opinion. We do not allow manufacturers to influence our reviews.

Set forth below is a description, by category, of our policies applicable to all High Gear Media employees and independent contractors.

Press Cars
We regularly test drive cars that are made available to the press on a loaner basis in order to review the car. When we accept a press car, the automaker generally provides delivery of the car to our offices, use of the car for a few days, fuel, parking reimbursement and insurance.

Travel Reimbursement
When we travel to auto shows or “first drives” in order to cover them for the site, our travel is often paid for by one or more car automakers whose cars will be featured at the event or by the event organizer. This generally includes air fare, ground transportation, lodging, meals and Internet access.

Customary Gifts and Entertainment
As part of their outreach efforts, manufacturers will often host members of the press at lunch or dinner, or will offer give-aways such as pens, clothing, and other marketing items. Our policy is to accept these items or entertainment only when consistent with standard industry practice and only when the value is less than $50. If a gift is accepted that is worth more than $50, we give it away to readers in our “Friday Freebies” feature.

Note Regarding Community Contributions
High Gear Media allows users to make comments on our site and to submit content pursuant to our Open Content Platform feature. While our terms of use require that users disclose whenever they have received compensation, expense reimbursement, or other items of value from the company whose product they are discussing or when they are employed by or otherwise affiliated with that company, we have no way of verifying compliance with this requirement.

Content Submitted for Contests
Occasionally we offer contests that award prizes to winners for submitting articles to our site. Sometimes the winner, who may be awarded prizes by HGM and the manufacturer such as travel, gifts, cash and a test drive, is asked to write a review of a car.