Hey guys! I don’t know about you, but buying a car is just about one of of the MOST intimidating things on the planet for me. I’m actually in the market for a new [mom] car, and kinda stumbled upon Kelly’s brilliant account @the_car_mom by accident! I’m loving all of her super helpful and engaging […]

Hey guys! I don’t know about you, but buying a car is just about one of of the MOST intimidating things on the planet for me.

I’m actually in the market for a new [mom] car, and kinda stumbled upon Kelly’s brilliant account @the_car_mom by accident!

I’m loving all of her super helpful and engaging content related to car shopping as a modern mom, and her general perspective on motherhood in general!

Naturally, I couldn’t wait to have her on the show for this super fun episode. Here’s a peek at some of the things we discuss:

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We know you as The Car Mom on social media! How did you come up with this fabulous idea? (3:19)

Right in the beginning of the episode, Kelly shares a little bit about herself and her experience and history in selling cars. Like so many of us mamas, she was faced with a lot of questions and changes in her life once her first daughter was born.

She knew she didn’t want to go back to selling cars because the hours were tough, but wanted to find SOMETHING that combined her knowledge and passion about cars with her new role as a mama.

And there ya have it, @The_Car_Mom was born!

Tune in to hear a little bit more about her growth over on Instagram and how she became an “accidental influencer”!

How long do you typically get to test the cars? (9:17)

One of the best parts about Kelly’s information, reviews, and stories about ALL different kinds of cars is that she actually gets to use and test them. I asked her how this all works and how long she typically gets to test out these cars.

Here’s a little bit of what she had to say,

“It really does depend on the car. My family owns some car dealerships. As far as my new car access is concerned, I have really good access. We have Hyundais, Nissans, Volkswagens, and BMWs, and then a lot of pre-owned cars as well.”

“So, for some of the cars, I’m actually able to drive them for a long time. I actually don’t own a vehicle; I drive what’s called a demo car. So, I get a new car every 4000 to 5000 miles, and I drive a new car of whatever we have a lot of right now.”

She goes onto to say that she ALSO has access to a lot of trade-ins of other brands, but in those cases it’s for a few hours; however, given her experience with cars she can give a pretty good first look and impression after just a short time of interaction.

One thing she mentioned that I loved was how she’s hoping The Car Mom can become a collective platform! She encourages her followers and fellow moms to chime in with their experience and opinions on cars – especially ones she hasn’t spent as much time in so that everyone can benefit!

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What is your favorite car you’ve reviewed as The Car Mom? (13:22)

Not surprisingly, it was hard for Kelly to come up with just one favorite. She mentioned how she wishes she could piece together different elements from a few different cars to create the ultimate mom car!

A few she mentioned that top her list for being a bit more budget-friendly and great for moms were the Volkswagon Atlas, the Hyundai Palisade and the Suburu Ascent. For larger SUVs she had a lot of wonderful things to say about the Ford Expedition compared to others in the same class.

Tune in to hear allll the details! Especially if you’re a mom that’s in the market for something different.

What are some of the most important things you look in when you review a car? (19:20)

Here Kelly talks about the top things she looks for when she reviews a car.

The list includes:

  • Functionality
  • How a car will grow with your family as its needs change
  • Convenience features (like a power tailgate!)
  • How well car seats fit (and that you should literally bring yours when you’re test driving cars!)
  • Safety ratings (and safety features such as middle seat headrests)
  • Anti-collision type features

In this part of the episode you’ll also hear us talk in depth about car seats, ways your car needs might change as a mom as your kids and family grow, and some of the things that can be real deal breakers for Kelly.

What are some points I should keep in mind when I’m buying a car? (28:10)

This was something I had seen over on her Instagram stories, and definitely wanted to touch on in the episode! A little bit of a “how-to” and “must-do” for when YOU’RE shopping for your mom car. Tune in for all the details, but here’s the short version:

  • Bring your car seats
  • Bring your stroller
  • Bring your typical water bottles and coffee mugs
  • Select a salesperson you want to work with ahead of time – she mentions dealerrater.com to help with this and says this is her number one tip!

Can you explain MSRP, rebates, and manufacturer discounts? Pricing can be so confusing! (30:19)

Whew. I don’t know about you, but this is something that definitely intimidates me when it comes to car shopping! Kelly does an awesome job of breaking it down and giving a basic understanding to help you kind of learn what you’re up against and get you better positioned for negotiation.

To put it super simply she says,

“My tip would be look at the MSRP and then know that there’s going to be discounts from the manufacturer and then there’s also going to be discounts from the dealer [rebates] and that they are separate.”

Tune in for a lot more on this topic! And hear about APRs, too! (33:47)

How to stay connected with Kelly from @The_Car_Mom?

We round out this episode by talking about some specific car buying tips for COVID, and Kelly shared all of the different resources and support she offers to moms as they do their car shopping.

About Kelly Stumpe

Based in the Midwest and a mom of two young kids, Kelly started @the_car_mom during the pandemic to make car shopping safer and less stressful through regular car video tours from a mom’s perspective.

Her engaging and honest car reviews quickly drew a large audience and since starting a car-specific account, Kelly’s areas of influence have expanded to motherhood and female empowerment.

Through focused and authentic content creation, she shares informative reviews and educational content to help women make smarter, more educated purchasing decisions.

Liesel Teen, RN-BSN

Liesel Teen

BSN, RN, Practicing Labor and Delivery Nurse

As a labor and delivery nurse, I’ve spent countless hours with women who felt anxious — even fearful — about giving birth. I want you to know it doesn’t have to be that way for you!

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