Welcome to Her Garage. If you're reading this, you've found your way into the living room — and we're so glad you're here.
Every community needs a few ground rules. Not because we're strict, but because the best spaces are the ones where everyone knows they're safe, respected, and among friends. Think of these less as "rules" and more as "the vibe we're building together."
So here they are. Short, sweet, and written the way we actually talk.
1. This is a women-only space. Period.
Her Garage was built by women, for women. We keep the door locked so we can speak freely inside. If you identify as a woman, you belong here. If you don't, this isn't your space — and that's okay. There are plenty of other car communities out there. This one is ours.
We verify membership through an invite code or social account cross-check. If you're here, someone vouched for you, or you found us and we confirmed you're in the right place. Trust that system. It's what keeps this room safe.
2. No gatekeeping. No "well, actually." No explaining things nobody asked you to explain.
You know the tone. The one that starts with "actually" and ends with you feeling small. The one that assumes you don't know what a CVT is. The one that questions whether you're a "real car person" because you care about cupholders more than horsepower.
That tone doesn't live here.
If someone asks a question, answer it kindly or scroll past. If someone shares an opinion you disagree with, disagree respectfully or scroll past. If you feel the urge to type "well, actually," close the tab, take a walk, and come back when you've remembered that this is a community of equals.
We celebrate real experiences here. A comfort insight is a valid review. A detail about how your nails interact with a touchscreen is a valid review. You don't need to prove you're a "car person." If you drive a car, ride in a car, or have ever had an opinion about a car, you're a car person. Welcome.
3. One strike on harassment, misogyny, or hate. Permanent ban. No appeals.
We're not going to write a long paragraph about this because it doesn't need one.
If you come here to harass women, belittle women, or make women feel unsafe — in posts, comments, or private messages — you're gone. Immediately. Permanently. We don't do warnings. We don't do second chances. We don't do "but I was just joking."
This extends to racism, transphobia, homophobia, ableism, and any other form of hate. Her Garage is a living room, not a debating society. Bigots don't get a seat on the couch.
If you see something, report it. We'll handle it fast. Moderation here is invisible in good times and swift in bad ones. Think of us as a bouncer at the door and a host inside — the bouncer checks IDs, the host pours the tea.
4. Share what you're comfortable sharing. Protect your privacy.
This is the internet. Even in a private, invite-only community, you should think carefully before posting personal information.
Don't share your exact address. Don't post your license plate in photos if you're not comfortable with it being seen. Be mindful about sharing your real name, your workplace, your kid's school, or anything else that could identify you offline.
If we organize local meetups through the City Crews boards, we'll handle specific logistics — time, location, exact address — through private group messages, not public posts. Safety first, always.
5. Photos are encouraged. Consent is mandatory.
We love seeing your cars. We love seeing your road trip photos, your parking lot triumphs, your "look at all this stuff I fit in my trunk" flat lays. Visuals make this community richer.
But if your photo includes another person, make sure they're okay with being in it. If your photo includes another person's license plate, blur it out or crop it. If you're posting a screenshot from somewhere else, respect the original poster's privacy.
The same goes for meetups. Not everyone wants their photo taken. Ask first. It takes two seconds.
6. No selling, no spam, no self-promotion without asking.
Her Garage is not a marketplace. If you want to sell your car, post it in The Garage Sale board — that's what it's for. If you want to promote your business, your YouTube channel, your Instagram, or anything else, message the moderators first.
Unsolicited promotions will be removed. Repeated spamming will get you banned. We're here to build community, not customer lists.
The exception: if someone explicitly asks for a recommendation — "does anyone know a good mechanic in Denver?" — you're absolutely welcome to share yours. That's not self-promotion. That's sisterhood.
7. Disagreements happen. Handle them like adults.
You're not going to agree with everyone here. Someone will love a car you hate. Someone will hate a feature you can't live without. That's fine. That's healthy. Communities where everyone thinks the same thing are boring.
When you disagree, disagree with the idea, not the person. "I had a different experience with that car" lands differently than "you don't know what you're talking about." Assume good intentions. Lead with curiosity. Ask questions instead of making accusations.
And if a conversation gets heated, step away. The thread will still be there tomorrow. You don't have to have the last word. Very few things on a car forum actually need to be "won."
8. This is a living document. These rules will evolve, and you're part of that.
We wrote these rules at the start, but we don't pretend they're perfect. As this community grows, we'll discover new things we need to address. New situations will come up. The rules will change.
And when they do, we'll talk about it. Here. Openly. This is your space too. If there's something you think we missed, something that should be clarified, something that doesn't feel right — tell us. Drop it in the comments below. Message a moderator. This community was built by women who wanted something different, and it'll keep being built by the women who show up here.
A Few Things You Should Know About How We Operate
Moderators are volunteers. We're members of this community just like you. We have jobs and families and cars that occasionally break down. We do our best to respond quickly to reports and questions, but sometimes we're just offline. Be patient with us.
You can always reach us through the "report" button on any post or comment. That's the fastest way to get our attention. If something is urgent — harassment, safety concerns, anything that can't wait — email us directly and put "URGENT" in the subject line.
We read every report. Every single one. Even if we don't respond individually, we're paying attention.
Now It's Your Turn
Those are the rules. Short, sweet, and hopefully feeling more like a conversation than a contract.
But this is your space too. So I want to hear from you:
Is there anything you'd add?
Something we missed? Something that should be clearer? Something you've seen in other communities that worked well — or failed spectacularly — that you think we should learn from?
What makes you feel safe in an online community?
Not just "no harassment" — the specific things. The tone. The moderation style. The way people talk to each other. What are the ingredients that make a space feel like a living room instead of a comment section?
What do you want this community to be?
In six months. In a year. What does Her Garage look like when it's thriving? What kind of conversations are we having? What kind of friendships are forming? What would make you proud to say "I was there when this started"?
Drop your thoughts in the comments. This is a living document. Help us write it.
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