Whether you have a car, or what kind of car, is "financial information". Federal law does not prohibit asking about it, but it does prohibit using that information for discrimination. You can use that type of information only if it helps the employer to accurately identify responsible and reliable employees, and does not significantly disadvantage people of protected classes. It doesn't have to BE a protected class.

That might sound like a grey area, which is why I said "not really legal". For your reference https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/practices/...nformation.cfm