Maggie Peyton is the new owner of Number 53--the free wheelin'' Volkswagen bug with a mind of its own; she puts the car through its paces on the road to becoming a NASCAR competitor. As a third generation member of a NASCAR family racing is in Maggie Peyton''s blood but she is forbidden from pursuing her dream by her overprotective father Ray Peyton Sr. When Ray Sr. offers Maggie a car as a college graduation present he takes her to a junkyard to choose one from an assortment of very used cars. Maggie has her eye on an old Nissan but a certain rusty banged up ''63 VW Bug seems to be clamoring for her attention. To her surprise Maggie leaves the lot with Herbie. As she prepares to leave town for a position with ESPN News Maggie discovers that Herbie has a mind of his own--and an alternate route for her future.