Where money or favours could compromise editorial coverage, we tell you. This page sets out every category of commercial relationship that could touch what you read on Revline Drive, what we do about it, and how to know which is which.
The short version
- Affiliate links earn us a small commission if you click and buy. They never change what we recommend.
- Sponsored content is paid placement, labelled
Sponsoredat the top of the article. We have not run any to date. - Press fleet cars are loaned to us by manufacturers for review. We disclose this in every review that uses one. We do not pay for the loan; the manufacturer does not pay us.
- We reject anything that compromises editorial independence. Period.
1. Affiliate links
An affiliate link is a URL that includes a tracking code identifying Revline as the referrer. If you click one and make a purchase on the destination site, that site pays Revline a small commission. The price you pay does not change.
Current programs: Revline Drive does not currently participate in any affiliate programs. When that changes, the programs we use will be listed in this section by name (e.g. Amazon Associates Canada, Bring a Trailer affiliate, manufacturer accessory stores). Until something appears in this list, assume no link on the Site is generating commission for us.
How affiliate links will be marked. When we start using them, every affiliate link will be marked with one or more of the following so you can tell at a glance:
- An explicit tag (e.g.
(affiliate)) next to the link. - A note at the top of the article: “This article contains affiliate links.”
- The
rel=“sponsored”HTML attribute on the link itself.
What affiliate relationships do not do:
- They do not change our review verdicts.
- They do not get a product onto the Site that wouldn't have been there on merit.
- They do not get a product more favourable wording than it earned.
- They do not buy placement at the top of a list, in a recommendation, or anywhere else.
2. Sponsored content
Sponsored content is an article paid for by a brand. We have not published any to date. If we ever do, every sponsored article will:
- Carry a
Sponsoredlabel at the top of the page, in the article card, in social-share previews, and in the URL slug. - Identify the brand by name and link to the brand's site.
- Be excluded from any “best of” or “recommended” editorial coverage written separately.
Sponsored content does not replace editorial coverage of the same brand. If the same week we run a sponsored article from Brand X and our review of Brand X's newest model, the review is written without coordination with the marketing team.
3. Press fleet cars and manufacturer loaners
Manufacturers occasionally lend us cars for review purposes. This is standard industry practice; it is the only way most outlets get hands-on time before a car reaches dealerships. When a review is written using a press loaner:
- The review explicitly states that the car was loaned by the manufacturer.
- We return the car in the agreed condition and do not buy it at a discount afterward unless that is independently negotiated and disclosed.
- The manufacturer does not see the review before it's published.
- If the manufacturer pulls future press access because of an unflattering review, we say so in writing the next time we cover that brand.
4. Launch events, junkets, and travel
Manufacturers sometimes invite media to vehicle launch events. We will disclose, in any article that comes out of such an event, whether the manufacturer covered our travel, accommodation, or meals. We aim to pay our own way where it's practical; where it isn't, we accept the manufacturer's standard provisions on the same terms as every other outlet attending and we say so in the article.
5. Free products and merchandise
Brands occasionally send products for review (driving gear, accessories, books, models). Items we keep are valued at less than CAD $500 per item and we disclose receipt in any review. Items above that threshold are returned, donated, or paid for at fair value.
6. What we never accept
- Money to publish a review of a specific verdict.
- Edits or final-approval rights from a manufacturer, PR firm, or sponsor.
- Embedded talking points or pre-written copy presented as our work.
- Affiliate or commission relationships that are kept secret from readers.
- Trades of coverage for advertising spend.
7. Why we do it this way
The car-media industry has spent fifteen years quietly eroding the line between editorial and advertising. We don't think that's good for readers, and we don't think it's good for the writers either. Disclosure is the floor, not the ceiling — if you spot something on Revline Drive that feels off, tell us via the contact form.
8. Changes to this disclosure
We'll update this page as our practice changes. The “Effective” date above shows when. New affiliate programs or sponsored-content categories will be added to the relevant section before the first article using them goes live.
9. Contact
Questions about commercial relationships on the Site: use the contact form and select “General enquiry.”
This disclosure reflects current practice. It is not legal advice. If you're a manufacturer, PR firm, or sponsor and want to discuss how a campaign would be disclosed here, see Section 9.