10 Best Magazine Subscriptions for Car Fans & Gearheads
Despite having the internet (and The News Wheel) for the most up-to-date information on what’s going on in the auto industry, magazines still offer exclusive personal stories, how-to guides, model testing, and event coverage. Plus, some people prefer having a physical publications in their hands they can flip through and save for future re-reads.
Here are some of the most popular automotive magazines you can subscribe to and have shipped to your mailbox–or virtually through digital subscriptions.
Our 10 Favorite Car Magazines
Hot Rod | The preferred magazine for dads who are into classic cars, this publication covers unique muscle car stories from the past 50 years–including what work hot rod owners are doing to their cars today. | |
Car and Driver | Originally launched as Sports Cars Illustrated in 1955, this global magazine has broadened its content from small, imported sports cars to a wide assortment of road tests, car maintenance tips, industry news, and shopper suggestions. The magazine is known for its irreverent tone and criticism of American automakers. | |
TopGear | A publication now synonymous with its BBC television program counterpart, this magazine focuses primarily on high-performance sportscars, including exclusive looks at rare models and related news. | |
Road and Track | One of the most-read magazines in the United States, this publication is known for its thorough technical details in model spotlights and road tests of performance cars. Road and Track is considered the standard for evaluating the capabilities of cars on the track. Up-to-date statistics on auto shows and auto racing are also included. | |
Motor Trend | Arguably the most widely-recognized and extensive automotive publication around, Motor Trend‘s articles are thorough and lengthy, devoting a significant amount of attention to details other magazines overlook. It only focuses on modern, trend-setting cars, but it’s a great source of information. | |
Classic Cars | Offering monthly spotlights on classic cars from the past 100 years, this long-running British publication has been publishing in-depth stories on automotive visionaries for over 40 years. Classic Cars magazine is called Thoroughbred & Classic Cars outside the UK. | |
Hemmings Motor News | “Geared” toward collectors of antique and exotic cars, Hemmings is the longest-running publisher of its kind in the United States. Known for its large classified sections, the magazine was founded by Ernest Hemmings in 1954. Its series of monthly publications include Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car. | |
Automobile | Circulated in over 40 and constantly recommended by auto enthusiasts, this US-based magazine maintains an editorial approach that covers the auto-enthusiast lifestyle, rather than all the nitty-gritty. It’s received a lot of contributing material and staff writers from automakers and other publications. | |
4-Wheel & Off-Road | Not all magazines are about exotic sports cars. Truck enthusiasts love this magazine, which always has its finger on the pulse of the light-truck off-roading circuit. Showcasing practical modifications and product reviews, these articles are perfect for readers wanting to avoid fluff. | |
AutoWeek | Begun as a bi-weekly motorsports newsletter called Competition Press, this magazine has undergone significant changes over the years but still is an up-to-date source on what’s going on in the global racing area. |
Aaron is unashamed to be a native Clevelander and the proud driver of a Hyundai Veloster Turbo (which recently replaced his 1995 Saturn SC-2). He gleefully utilizes his background in theater, literature, and communication to dramatically recite his own articles to nearby youth. Mr. Widmar happily resides in Dayton, Ohio with his magnificent wife, Vicki, but is often on the road with her exploring new destinations. Aaron has high aspirations for his writing career but often gets distracted pondering the profound nature of the human condition and forgets what he was writing… See more articles by Aaron.