Last updated: October 2, 2026
These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern your use of CarDependability.com (the “Site”), operated by MotoWords LLC (“we,” “us,” or “our”). By accessing or using the Site, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.
1. The CarDependability Index is informational only
The CarDependability Index (CDi) and all ratings, grades, scores, rankings, and related content on the Site are provided for general informational purposes only. CDi scores are derived from owner-reported complaint data measured relative to how common each vehicle is; recalls are reported separately and are not part of the grade.
The CDi is not a guarantee or prediction of any individual vehicle’s reliability, condition, safety, or performance, and it is not professional, mechanical, financial, or purchasing advice. A specific used vehicle’s condition depends on its history, maintenance, and use. You should independently verify any vehicle before purchase—for example, with a vehicle history report, a test drive, and a pre-purchase inspection by a qualified mechanic. Any decision you make based on the Site is your own responsibility.
2. Intellectual property
The Site and its contents—including the CarDependability Index (CDi), its scores, grades, rankings, methodology, text, graphics, logos, and the selection, arrangement, and compilation of all data—are owned by MotoWords LLC or its licensors and are protected by U.S. and international intellectual-property laws. “CarDependability,” “CarDependability Index,” and “CDi” are marks of MotoWords LLC. Underlying facts drawn from public sources are not themselves owned by us, but our compilation, presentation, and scoring of them are.
3. Citation and permitted use
We welcome references to the CarDependability Index in journalism, research, and commentary, subject to the following. In all cases, any use must credit the source as “CarDependability Index (CDi).” For purposes of these Terms, a “data point” means the CDi information for a single vehicle/model year.
- Single data point. You may cite the CDi score, grade, or rank for one vehicle/model year with attribution to “CarDependability Index (CDi).” No link is required.
- Two to ten data points. You may cite CDi information for up to ten vehicle/model years, provided you include both attribution to “CarDependability Index (CDi)” and a visible link to CarDependability.com.
- More than ten, tables, or rankings. Any use involving more than ten data points, or any reproduction of our tables, full or partial rankings, or a substantial portion of the dataset, requires our prior written permission.
- No circumvention. You may not divide a larger body of data across multiple articles, pages, accounts, or periods of time to stay under these limits. We may revoke permission for any use that functions as a reproduction of the dataset.
To request permission or a license for uses beyond the above, contact hello@cardependability.com.
4. Prohibited uses
You agree not to:
- Use automated means—including bots, crawlers, scrapers, or similar tools—to access, collect, or copy data from the Site, except for standard search-engine indexing that respects our robots file;
- Harvest, mine, bulk-download, scrape, or systematically extract the CDi data or any substantial portion of the Site;
- Copy, reproduce, republish, distribute, sell, or sublicense the CDi dataset or substantial portions of it, except as expressly permitted in Section 3;
- Use the Site’s content or data to build, populate, or improve a competing product, database, or service, or to train or develop any machine-learning or AI model;
- Reverse engineer, decompile, or attempt to derive the underlying methodology, source data, or weightings behind the scores;
- Circumvent, disable, or interfere with security features, rate limits, or access controls, or place an unreasonable load on our infrastructure;
- Frame, mirror, or cache the Site beyond ordinary browser use; or
- Use the Site in any way that is unlawful, infringing, or that misrepresents your relationship with us or implies our endorsement.
5. Affiliate links and third-party sites
The Site contains affiliate links and links to third-party websites and advertisements. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through affiliate links, as described in our Affiliate Disclosure. We do not control and are not responsible for the content, products, or practices of third-party sites, and a link does not imply our endorsement.
6. Submissions and communications
If you contact us or subscribe to our newsletter, you agree to provide accurate information and not to submit unlawful, abusive, or infringing content. We handle the information you provide as described in our Privacy Policy.
7. Disclaimer of warranties
The Site and all content, including the CDi, are provided “as is” and “as available,” without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including warranties of accuracy, completeness, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. We do not warrant that the Site will be uninterrupted, error-free, or that any rating or data is accurate, current, or complete. You use the Site at your own risk.
8. Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, MotoWords LLC and its members, officers, and contributors will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for any loss arising from your use of (or inability to use) the Site or your reliance on any content or rating, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. To the extent any liability is not excluded, our total liability for any claim relating to the Site will not exceed one hundred U.S. dollars (US$100).
9. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless MotoWords LLC and its members, officers, and contributors from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising from your use of the Site or your violation of these Terms.
10. Changes to the Site and these Terms
We may modify or discontinue the Site, or update these Terms, at any time. When we update these Terms, we will revise the “Last updated” date above. Your continued use of the Site after a change means you accept the revised Terms.
11. Governing law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Wyoming, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules. You agree that any dispute arising out of or relating to the Site or these Terms will be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Wyoming, and you consent to their jurisdiction.
12. General
If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in effect. Our failure to enforce any provision is not a waiver of it. These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and Affiliate Disclosure, are the entire agreement between you and us regarding the Site.
13. Contact
Questions about these Terms? Contact us at hello@cardependability.com.