MotorTrend Magazine — Complete Guide to Customer Service

Overview of MotorTrend’s customer service ecosystem

MotorTrend is an established automotive brand that began publication in 1949 and today operates across print, digital and streaming platforms. Customer service for the brand covers three distinct product lines: the print magazine (monthly issues and single-copy sales), the digital magazine and website access (motortrend.com), and MotorTrend+, the video/streaming service layered on top of editorial content. Each product line uses overlapping but different support paths, so identifying which product you bought is the single most important first step when seeking help.

Official support channels are typically: an online self-service portal and contact form on MotorTrend’s website, email support for subscription and account issues, in-app support and platform-specific billing (Apple/Google store receipts), and telephone support for urgent billing or delivery questions. Social accounts (X/Twitter: @MotorTrend, Facebook and Instagram) are useful for quick status checks or public notices, but you should always move private account or payment discussions to secure channels.

How to manage subscriptions, billing, renewals and refunds

Before contacting customer service about billing, gather the key subscription details: your order or subscription number, the email used to register, the billing ZIP code, the last four digits of the payment card used, and the date of purchase. If you subscribed through a mobile app (iOS/Android) the purchase will usually be handled by Apple or Google and you will need to check your App Store or Google Play receipt—MotorTrend can assist with account linking but cannot issue refunds for App Store charges directly.

Common outcomes and timelines: account updates and address changes are usually applied immediately or within one business day; replacement single-print-issue or back-issue deliveries are typically processed within 7–21 business days depending on stock and distribution; refunds and billing credits are normally completed within 7–14 business days after approval, though the exact time depends on your card issuer. If you are on a promotional introductory price, check the renewal terms—many promotional offers convert to the standard renewal rate (often disclosed in the offer fine print) unless canceled before the renewal date.

Information to have ready when contacting support

• Subscription or order number (found in confirmation email or account dashboard).
• Email address used to set up the account and the billing ZIP/postal code.
• Payment details (last four digits of card) and purchase date; if purchased in-app, supply the App Store/Google Play receipt ID.
• Description of the issue (missing issue number and month, screenshot of billing charge, error message from the app), plus a photo if reporting damaged print copy.

Practical step-by-step for the most common issues

Change of address or delivery problems: log into your MotorTrend account at motortrend.com (or the account section inside the MotorTrend app), navigate to “My Subscription” or “Account Settings,” update the delivery address and then confirm with customer service if you need back-issue forwarding. If the subscription was purchased via a third-party vendor (newsstand, Amazon, a bundle), include that vendor’s order ID when you contact support.

Missing or damaged issues and back-issue requests: submit a missing-issue claim through the support portal or email with the issue number/month, subscriber mailing address and a photo if the copy arrived damaged. If you require a replacement spine-stapled print edition and MotorTrend has stock, they will typically ship a replacement; if the issue is out of print they will advise on back-issue availability or archival PDF access if offered.

• Canceling a subscription: request cancellation via your account dashboard or customer service; note the effective date (end of paid term vs immediate) and verify whether a prorated refund is available based on the purchase terms. Keep the confirmation number for cancellation.
• Digital access problems: use “forgot password” on motortrend.com first; if that fails, supply account email and proof of purchase to support. For MotorTrend+ playback issues, list device make/model and app version and try reinstalling the app and clearing device cache before escalating.

MotorTrend+ streaming and digital-app troubleshooting

MotorTrend+ is the video/streaming complement to the MotorTrend editorial brand; subscribers receive on-demand car shows, original series and event coverage. Access issues commonly break down into account authentication (wrong credentials), device compatibility (older Smart TV models), or billing source conflicts (subscription purchased via Apple/Google vs via MotorTrend’s site). For purchases through Apple’s App Store or Google Play, Apple/Google manage the recurring payment—MotorTrend support can help link that payment to your MotorTrend account but cannot directly refund those charges.

Troubleshooting steps that resolve 80–90% of app problems: confirm that you can log in at motortrend.com with the same credentials; check the app store to ensure the app is the latest version; sign out and sign back in across all devices; if playback stalls, test on an alternate network (cellular vs home Wi‑Fi) to determine if the issue is bandwidth-related. Keep a note of app version, device OS version and approximate time of the error for faster escalation.

Escalation, business contacts and best practices

If standard support channels do not resolve your issue, ask for escalation to a supervisor or “billing specialist” and request a case/ticket number. For advertising, business partnerships, or editorial queries use the official MotorTrend corporate pages on motortrend.com or MotorTrend Group contact links to reach commercial teams; these are separate from consumer subscription support and follow different SLAs.

Document everything: timestamps of calls, names of agents, case numbers and copies of emails. If a financial dispute is unresolved after escalation, you can contact your card issuer to dispute a charge, but use that as a last resort and keep records of your interactions. For timely, authoritative information and official contact methods always refer to motortrend.com and the account sections within their apps; these are the canonical sources for policy, pricing and current customer service phone hours.