Maggie Peyton, the first Peyton to graduate from college receives a graduation present from her dad and as she's about to get a 250Z, she instead receives a Volkswagon Bug (Herbie) and Herbie takes her for a ride. Herbie takes her to "Kevins Custom Car Shop" run by her best friend Kevin where they take Herbie for a test drive and end up at a car show where Herbie beats all-time racer Trip Murphy in an impromptu street race. Trip demands a rematch and attempts to discover the secret behind Herbie. But Magwheels's biggest challenge isn't the up and coming Daytona 500, It's proving to her dad that she's good enough to be the next great Peyton.

Most of the scenes shot at California Speedway were during the pace laps of the Target House 300, a NASCAR Busch Series race; and the Pop Secret 500, an NASCAR Nextel Cup race.

Maggie Peyton:
[reading the note in Herbie's glove box] "Please take care of Herbie. Whatever your problems, he will help you solve them." Great, a fortune cookie on wheels.

Continuity: When Herbie is in the demolition derby, Crash (Jimmi Simpson) sprays red circles (a bullseye) on Herbie. He sprays the front hood only, but in the next shot there is another red circle on the driver's door, which hasn't been sprayed. On the DVD there's an extended demolition derby scene which shows Crash spraying the driver's door (but this extended scene isn't part of the finished film, so this is still a goof).

Performed by Lindsay Lohan
Written by Kara DioGuardi and John Shanks
Produced by John Shanks and Kara DioGuardi
Courtesy of Casablanca Records under license from Universal Music Enterprises