News
Are car vending machines the future?
Buying a car is soon to become “as easy as buying a can of Coke.” Chinese ecommerce company Alibaba is due to launch its first car vending machine next year. This new development will allow potential customers to browse available cars on their smartphones. Pressing ‘buy now’ will release the car that they’re interested in. more »
Top five roof racks
Whether you’ve chosen to have a staycation, or are taking your car with you for a late summer holiday in Europe, a roof rack can really come in handy for transporting your luggage, especially if there are going to be several passengers in the vehicle, or if the journey is going to be particularly long. more »
£640 fine: watch your speed (and more) when driving in the EU!
August is traditionally the busiest time of year for Brits heading off on their holidays. Hopping across the Channel to explore the continent by car remains a popular holiday choice. However, many of us aren’t aware of some of the more obscure laws that many European countries have. This vast lack of knowledge has been more »
Banned! The new ’67’ number plates the DVLA won’t let you buy
The new September ’67’ plate is here and with it, some outstanding opportunities to source a unique plate that is both lewd and crude. Well, there would be if it wasn’t for those hawk-eyed folk at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). As ever, they’ve been culling the worst offenders to ensure that the more »
The hidden costs of driving
All drivers know roughly how much they spend on insurance, tax, and fuel, but what about those other driving costs that you might not consider? Additional driving expenses can quickly add up, creating a ‘hidden’ cost to motoring that we don’t always consider. Service station snacks The hidden costs of motoring were brought into stark more »
Top five air pressure readers and compressors
Ensuring that you keep your car tyres inflated to the correct level is an important part of maintaining your vehicle. Having the correct tyre pressures will help to keep you safe on the roads, especially if you’re making a long journey. Underinflated tyres heat up quickly, making them susceptible to failure. This is very dangerous, more »
Is reducing air pollution putting our safety at risk?
The Royal Colleges of Physicians and of Paediatrics and Child Health warn that air pollution may be responsible for as many as 40,000 early deaths every year in the UK alone. Such findings have prompted the EU to set air pollution standards and to hold member countries accountable for meeting them. The UK has, after more »
Damning of diesel continues – but is there light at the end of the tunnel?
New car sales in July continued to drop, with petrol cars down 9.3%. Diesel cars crashed even further, with a drop of 20.1%, according to the latest sales data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). While new petrol car sales are down this month, they’re actually up by 4.3% for the year to more »
Review of UK fuel prices in July 2017: steady summer decline continues
While earlier indications signalled that a rise in fuel prices might be on the cards for July 2017, prices actually dropped for a fifth consecutive month. The latest data has revealed the top ten cheapest and most expensive locations in the UK for purchasing fuel. UK fuel prices continued their decline in July, with unleaded more »
Are you up to date with the dangers of Britain’s roads?
Motorists in Derby are claiming that a new roundabout has caused ten accidents in 48 hours. They are blaming a lack of lighting and signage for the cluster of fender benders. But are such road issues just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Britain’s road network? Are you up to speed with more »
Parking ticket numbers soar as government stands up to private parking companies
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) sold more than 1.7 million drivers’ details to private parking firms between April and June. This compares to 1.06 million over the same period in 2016. The vast increase has sparked concerns that, if this trend continues, there will be a 64% increase in fines annually. That would more »
British motorists face cost increases for both car repairs and insurance
A recent report from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has revealed that the cost of car services, repair bills and replacement parts could all end up costing British motorists 10% more if the UK leaves the European Union without a beneficial trade deal in place. If Theresa May decides that no deal more »
Petition for compulsory driving test at the age of 70 gathers momentum
A petition to introduce compulsory, age-related driving tests is gathering momentum. Benjamin Brooks-Dutton started the petition to the Department for Transport and Secretary of State for Transport after his wife Desreen was killed by an 85-year-old driver who mistook his car’s accelerator for the brake. The vehicle was travelling at 54 miles per hour in more »
Check now: is your street a car theft hotspot?
As we revealed last week, car crime is on the up ,with a 20% spike in vehicles stolen in 2016/17. The rise means that, more than ever, motorists need all the help they can get in protecting their vehicles from thieves. Enter your postcode into the Co-op Insurance’s new interactive map, which reveals the level more »
How to dodge the jams this summer
With the summer holidays in full swing, many people are heading off on their summer break. Whether you’re driving to the airport or using the UK road network for a domestic getaway, traffic can wreak havoc with your plans. From the increased number of road users to scheduled maintenance work during ‘quieter’ times, many factors more »
