Sep 27, 2016
An in car DVD or TV system may feel like a luxurious purchase, but such systems are actually surprisingly affordable.
Furthermore, if you often travel with children or grandchildren (or restless adults!) these items can make long journeys far less stressful than they might be otherwise!
It’s worth noting that live in car TV isn’t really a realistic prospect in a moving vehicle. If you’ve ever had to set up a TV ariel (or perhaps even a coathanger!) you’ll know that maintaining a TV signal in something that moves isn’t feasible. That said, watching DVDs and media files stored on memory cards is very easy. If you have some form of in-car Wifi you may be able to stream TV and film content too.
The in car DVD / TV systems recommended below offer a surprising number of options and features. If you want to make your next family road trip the most stress-free ever, take a look at what’s on offer.
Before we start we must emphasise that these systems are not intended for drivers to watch while in command of a vehicle – something very foolish than we would never recommend not condone.
1. The Ultimate HD In Car DVD Option
If you like products with all the requisite “bells and whistles,” then this is the in-car DVD for you.
For starters it has an HD screen, though this isn’t the “full HD” you’ll see on a traditional TV. The product includes a region-free DVD player, but that’s just one option for watching content.
You can also make use of the SD card slot and USB port to play video files from a range of supported formats. There’s even a game disk, in case your passengers get bored with their video entertainment, and a remote control for those who find leaning forward in their seat too much effort!
Positives:
- Great quality picture.
- Lots of playback options.
- Positive online reviews.
Negatives:
2. The Actual TV Option
This is a very different beast to the last option. It’s a full blown Freeview TV in portable form, and it’s possible to power it with a rechargeable battery, or from a car cigarette lighter.
As we explained at the start, it’s not feasible to watch live TV with an ariel while you’re moving along, but it will work just fine when stationary – making it ideal for caravans and motorhomes as well.
While you are moving, you can instead watch media files and listen to music using a connected USB stick or MicroSD card. You can also use this to record live TV when you have a signal – for viewing later. Please note however that this option does NOT include a DVD player.
Positives:
- A genuine portable television.
- Runs on battery, mains, or 12V power.
Negatives:
- No headrest mount included.
- No HD.
3. A Simple Option for Families
This twin-screen system from Bush ss perfect for families, as your back-seat passengers can not only have a screen each, but each watch something different. This is a perfect way to keep everyone happy.
This system doesn’t offer that many added extras, but comes with everything you need. There’s a remote control, 12V and AC adaptors, and earphones all in the box.
While it should be possible for both passengers to watch the same DVD, some reviewers have had issues with this feature – so you may wish to check before buying.
Positives:
- A low-cost twin-screen system.
- Allows two passengers to watch different DVDs.
Negatives:
- No USB or SD card input option.
- Fairly low resolution.
4. A Flexible Alternative
This one’s a great option for people who want to take their in car DVD player elsewhere, as it’s designed as a completely stand-alone portable DVD system. Despite this, it comes with the necessary headrest mountings for in-car use.
This makes it perfect for people who want to use it in the car, then chuck it in hand luggage to watch on a plane, for example.
The DVD player has a USB input and an SD card slot, so playback options aren’t restricted to DVD alone. The battery life is notably good as well – quoted at up to five hours when away from power.
Positives:
- Truly portable.
- Lots of playback options.
- Can be linked with a second screen if you buy two!
Negatives:
- Speaker volume isn’t especially loud.
5. The Feature-Packed Twin Pack
This Voyager-branded in car DVD system costs a little more than the Bush twin-pack above, but justifies the extra cost with some additional features.
The screens are slimline LEDs, and the headrest mounts are sophisticated, making for easy removal when parked.
The screens also come with USB and SD card inputs, something notably absent on the cheaper Bush system. Teenagers with their own electronic media files are sure to appreciate this feature.
Positives:
- Great headrest mountings.
- Option to add wireless headphones.
Negatives:
- Some reviews raise reliability concerns.
Sep 27, 2016
A recent PetrolPrices.com survey has revealed that over 71% of drivers have had their cars damaged whilst parked. In the vast majority of cases, these were “hit and run” incidents, with the perpetrators driving away instead of confessing to their mistake.
Our survey was answered by over 8000 motorists, with 71.4% saying that their vehicle had been “damaged whilst parked/stationary.” This amounts to nearly 6000 damaged cars from our research sample alone.
While this in itself is a worrying statistic, what’s far worse is that in 85% of cases, nobody stopped and took responsibility for the damage, making the lion’s share of these incidents low-level “hit and run” incidents.
Dents are the most commonly caused damage, accounting for about 54% of the incidents. Scratches are next at 40%. In nearly 7% of cases, however, the damage is seemingly far more malicious, involving a “part of (the) car physically removed.”
The sad reality of these incidents is that they’re often extremely costly for car owners. Even superficial dents can prove very expensive to fix. Furthermore, drivers can be hit with a triple-whammy of expenses: fixing the damage, taking a hit on the car’s resale value, and possibly even seeing an increase in future insurance costs. The latter is compounded by recent reports that insurance costs can rise after superficial incidents even if the insured person opts to repair the damage themselves instead of claiming. Have a read of this recent news article to find out more on that.
Hitting back against hit and run
So what can you do, as a driver, to protect yourself against your fellow drivers? Based on our statistics, they seem a rather dishonest bunch!
Ultimately all you can do is catch them out. Thankfully the technology exists to do so. Your first option is a fixed security camera outside your property – if this is feasible and likely to catch out the perpetrators. It’s worth taking a look at the products available from Y-cam, which fit the bill perfectly.
Another option is a dashcam, which records what happens around your vehicle. Some of the latest models from companies like Nextbase have a “parked mode” which uses motion-sensing technology to capture evidence. This has the added benefit of keeping an eye on your car in car parks and elsewhere when you’re away from home. This Nextbase 312GW has a parked mode and is an economical choice. Alternatively, if you really want the “gold standard,” and the best chance of catching the crooks, the DUO HD model has twin rotating cameras.
It’s undoubtedly pleasing to be able to go after people who think they’ve damaged your car and got away with it.
These gadgets don’t cost very much in the grand scheme of things, and even buying both could cost significantly less than replacing a door panel!
Sep 21, 2016
In this article, we run through the best car wax options currently available in the UK. These can all help you keep your car in a spotless, showroom condition.
Let’s be honest: Waxing the car can feel like quite a chore sometimes. This is definitely the case for those people for whom a car is just a car, and not their pride and joy! However, it’s a worthwhile task to keep a vehicle’s bodywork in tip-top condition. Furthermore, choosing the best car wax and taking the time to give your car some TLC can actually keep the car looking cleaner for longer.
In compiling this list of the best car wax, we’ve taken into account the fact that some people have neither the time nor inclination to spend much of their life buffing their car to a shine. With this in mind, you’ll see some of the options are relatively low effort compared to traditional car wax.
1. Best Car Wax: The “All-Rounder”
If you want a quick and easy, all-in-one best car wax, you can’t go far wrong with this Auto Glym kit.
It comes complete with two microfibre cloths, and the wax can be used on a dry vehicle or while the car is still wet – straight after washing.
Unusually, this wax is designed to work on “all exterior surfaces.” This is quite rare, as plenty of waxes are best avoided around windows and plastic panels.
We’re not alone in assessing this as the best car wax out there – Auto Express also gave the product a “best buy” award.
Positives:
- Works on dry and wet vehicles.
- Lots of good user reviews.
- Works on all surfaces.
Negatives:
- May not last as long as a more traditional wax.
2. A More Traditional Car Wax
This wax is more of a traditional option for those who want to make a bit of an effort!
This effort will pay off, however, as rain will just run off your car after application, keeping your vehicle shiny for weeks on end.
It’s worth emphasising that this is a traditional wax, intended for applying when your bodywork is dry.
Positives:
- Lasts for ages.
- Provides lots of paintwork protection.
Negatives:
- Not the easiest wax to apply.
- Not ideal for use on windows.
3. Best Car Wax: An All-in-One Solution
This is something a little different; It’s a complete car cleaning solution, including wax, that doesn’t require any water. This is ideal if you want to clean your car when you’re away from home, or anywhere without a convenient water source.
The idea is that you use the “waterless wash” first, and then buff the car up with the separate wax.
The product claims to work “without streaks, smears, scratches or water spots.” Almost all the online reviewers agree this is a valid claim, and rave about the product.
Positives:
- A complete solution.
- Allows you to clean your car without water!
- Saves a lot of time.
Negatives:
- A few reviewers not convinced by the quality of the finish.
- Not particularly economical.
4. The Household Name in Car Wax!
Arguably the best-known household name in car wax. This “hard shell shine” Turtle Wax is found in thousands of UK garages, and really does the job.
Some effort is required, however to get the best out of it. This wax is really only at its best when the car is really thoroughly cleaned prior to application.
Positives:
- An unrivalled finish.
- A trusted household name.
- Protects your car from the elements.
Negatives:
- Not the easiest wax to apply.
- No applicator provided.
5. The Easiest Option
This wax could fairly be described as a “lazy option!” However, nobody would be any the wiser. It still creates a great finish.
The clue to how this works is in the name; You apply this wax while the car is wet, making for a far quicker car wash routine.
This product doesn’t even need an awful lot of buffing after use, so it really is a quick solution. Unsurprisingly, however, it’s unlikely to last quite as long as “the real thing.”
Still, this is well worth a go if you’re pushed for time, and almost all reviews are very positive.
Positives:
- Very little effort involved.
- Produces a good finish.
Negatives:
- Rumours the product may be being discontinued – grab it now!
- Doesn’t protect against the elements as well as traditional wax.
Sep 20, 2016
Fuel economy figures provided by car manufacturers have traditionally been taken with a grain of salt by many. Often, car owners never manage to come close to the “miles per gallon” promised by marketing materials.
This is the purpose of “Real MPG,” which is a system HonestJohn.co.uk use to compile real life fuel economy figures from car owners. These realistic figures make it possible to compare real-life fuel economy with what’s promised by the manufacturers.
In a moment we’ll run through the vehicles that have recently performed best in Real MPG terms. First, however, it’s worth pointing out the surprising fact that several cars actually outperform the figures promised by the car makers. This is a true case of “under promise and over deliver,” which is very pleasing to see.
So, without further ado, here’s a run-down of the ten best vehicles for Real MPG; five diesels and five petrol models. All of these surpass the promises made by their manufacturers – some by more than 20%.
The Best Diesels for Real MPG
1) Land Rover Defender 110 SW (1984 – 2015) – 114.0% of official average MPG
The trusty Land Rover Defender has topped Real MPG tables for years. Owing to its age, the Defender precedes the EC laboratory tests that so many modern cars are designed to excel in. As a result the Land Rover exceeds its official claims by 14 per cent. On average it is the 110 SW that provides the best economy, with a Real MPG score of 29.2mpg, which is almost 5mpg more than Land Rover originally advertised.
2) Mitsubishi Lancer 2.0 DI-D (2008 – 2014) – 111.5% of official average
The Mitsubishi Lancer was a car that struggled against the superior Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra. Both were better to drive and more comfortable. That said, the Lancer diesel trumps both when it comes to real world fuel economy, with Real MPG drivers averaging an impressive 49.2mpg.
3) Volkswagen T5 Caravelle 2.5 TDI (2003 – 2015) – 107.2% of official average
We’re big fans of the big and comfortable Caravelle. Not only was it one of the few Volkswagens to emerge from the emissions scandal unscathed, but Real MPG figures show it to be one of the best MPVs for real world economy. On average, the T5 Caravelle will return 33.8mpg, but some Real MPG drivers have reported as much as 41.5mpg, which makes the large people carrier ideal for large families and taxi drivers alike.
4) Suzuki SX4 S-Cross 1.6 DDiS (2013 – ) – 100.6% of official average
The Suzuki SX4 S-Cross is great value and cheap to run, with the 1.6 DDiS providing 60mpg+. Real MPG drivers back up Suzuki’s fuel economy claims, with the SX4 S-Cross scoring a commendable 100.6 per cent of its official average.
5) Skoda Octavia 1.9 TDI (2004 – 2013) – 103.7% of official average
It might be the old model, but the 2004 – 2014 Skoda Octavia continues to impress Real MPG drivers with an average of 54.7mpg. The Octavia’s low fuel costs are made all the more attractive when you consider how large and comfortable it is inside, while its keen handling characteristics make it surprisingly capable on a demanding B road.
Real MPG: The Best Petrol Vehicles
1) Jaguar XF 3.0 V6 (2008-2015) – 120.0% of official average MPG
Admittedly, most XFs on the road are diesel powered, but in the hands of Real MPG drivers the 3.0-litre V6 petrol manages to better its official fuel economy by an impressive rate. According to Jaguar the V6 should average at 26.8mpg, but the true figure is closer to 32mpg.
2) Nissan X-Trail 2.0 (2007-2014) – 119.5% of official average MPG
With an official economy figure of 32.5mpg and a Real MPG average of 38.8mpg, the petrol-powered X-Trail is a surprisingly strong performer. In fact, all variants of the previous X-Trail do well in Real MPG, coming close to or bettering their official figures in real world driving. If you want a practical and well-built family car, the X-Trail is a sensible used buy.
3) Maserati Coupe 4.2 V8 (2001-2007) – 117.8% of official average MPG
Don’t read into this one too much – this exotic Italian car is only officially capable of 15.2mpg, so the fact it beats its official figures by 18 per cent means very little. You can’t really call 17.9mpg a good figure, although if you’re buying a Maserati of this vintage, fuel economy is unlikely to be top of your priority list.
4) Vauxhall Monaro 5.7 V8 (2004-2007) – 117.2% official average MPG
The average Real MPG figure for the slightly bonkers V8-powered Monaro is 21.7mpg so it’s not an economical car – but Vauxhall officially claimed it was capable of just 18.5mpg, meaning owners typically beat the official figures. Based on a Holden, the Monaro is not a car for the shy or retiring type, but you get plenty of power for your money.
5) Honda Legend 3.5 i-VTEC (2006-2009) – 116.9% of official average MPG
Luxurious, plush and packed with technology, the 2006 Honda Legend was ahead of its time in many ways – but its official economy figure of just over 20mpg felt distinctly twentieth century. In the real world it manages nearer 30mpg, but even so it’s hardly wallet-friendly at the pumps.
Clearly, some of these cars are more practical choices than others! However, these Real MPG figures offer a fascinating insight into how realistic (or otherwise) some manufacturer’s figures can prove. We thank HonestJohn.co.uk for sharing this with us and our readers.
This post was created in association with motoring website HonestJohn.co.uk who provide “Real MPG” figures that truly allow motorists to choose vehicles based on a realistic fuel economy prediction.
IMAGE CREDIT: Flickr
Aug 17, 2016
Are you one of those people who puts your foot down as you approach the traffic lights in an attempt to screech through just before amber turns to red? Or are you one of the cautious ones who begins to slow down in anticipation of “go” turning to “stop?”
Audi drivers in the USA will soon have some extra information to draw on. A news report has emerged revealing that Audi is working on some new car tech that will allow vehicles to directly communicate with traffic lights.
If this all sounds rather “sci-fi,” it’s worth remembering that self-driving cars are already being trialled. Therefore, this is actually a relatively simple thing to implement in technical terms.
The technology involved is known as “V to I” (Vehicle to Infrastructure). According to the report, the technology could soon work hand in hand with the “V to V” (Vehicle to Vehicle) communication that will one day allow self-driving cars to communicate with one another.
How will cars talk to traffic lights?
So what exactly will this technology do? There are two key functions, both based on a count-down display on the car’s dashboard. One will show a countdown to the light going green, disappearing just before to allow the driver to refocus on the road. The second countdown will appear on approaching a light, notifying a driver how long it will be until the light changes to red.
Obviously, the idea is that this latter countdown will warn drivers when there’s not enough time to get through the light before it changes. However, there’s no accounting for human nature. As such, one has to wonder how many drivers will simply try to “beat the countdown!”
It seems this has occurred to Audi too. The manufacturer has made clear that this feature is for “comfort and convenience” and not for safety.
Audi A4s and Q7s are expected to appear next year with this feature on board. To begin with, it will only function in a handful of (as yet unrevealed) US cities. There’s not yet any indication of any UK roll-out.
What do you think of this new piece of car tech? Pointless? Useful? Dangerous? Let us know in the comments!
Aug 10, 2016
If we’d talked about car WiFi a decade ago, it would have sounded like the stuff of science fiction. However, it helps to keep in mind the fact that ten years ago nobody had yet laid eyes on an iPhone or iPad!
The world is very different now; These devices are ubiquitous. For many, they’ve changed road travel in all kinds of ways. Consider the following:
- Many people now use their smartphone as their key satellite navigation device.
- Many individuals also store music on their phones, or use Internet streaming services such as Apple Music or Spotify as their main source of music. The “iPod input” of 2006 is now more than likely to be used as an input for a smartphone.
- Families often use Internet-connected devices to provide entertainment during long journeys. An iPad with access to streaming movies or a Kindle book can make such road trips far less stressful, as many parents will surely attest.
With all this in mind, it actually makes complete sense to have WiFi in the car when traveling. While a smartphone with data connectivity is useful to a point, it’s not much use to a family, who may all want their own connectivity for different devices. Furthermore, unlimited WiFi on smartphone tariffs is increasingly rare, and will soon add up if multiple people are all using data at once.
How to get Car WiFi
New cars are starting to appear with onboard Internet hotspots, but it’s just as easy to add one to an existing vehicle.
Essentially, all you need is a router for mobile broadband. These connect to the Internet using the same cellular network as your mobile phone, but also create a mobile hotspot that multiple passengers can connect to. For example, your passenger can stream music to the car stereo while your kids watch YouTube videos on their tablets in the back.
While any 4G router will serve the purpose to a point, devices have started to appear that are specifically designed for car WiFi use. One example is the Buzzard 2 device from EE (pictured). As you can see, this is designed to plug directly into a cigarette lighter socket in order to stay powered. Passengers just connect to it like any other WiFi hotspot.
Taking Things Further
Something like the Buzzard device is great for UK travel, but can get rather expensive if you travel further afield. Some of the tariffs available at the time of writing include some EU roaming data, but only 100MB’s worth.
This may sound like a lot but it’s really not – it actually amounts to about 10 mins of YouTube playback! It’s therefore not an awful lot of use if you’re planning a road trip through Europe (or elsewhere) unless you’re prepared to pay a lot of extra charges.
Another option is to take a look at a company called MIOWIFI. This firm does things rather differently, offering a service they describe as “portable WiFi for travellers.”
Essentially, MIOWIFI uses mobile broadband routers just like traditional providers. This is basically the same technology we’ve already talked about above. However, they’ve geared their service specifically to travellers to over 110 countries, who wish to avoid those roaming charges everyone dreads. The other most significant difference is that MIOWIFI rent out their devices as well as selling them.
The idea of this is that you can borrow a device for the duration of a holiday or business trip. When you arrive you switch on, connect to a local cellular provider, and have unlimited data to share with up to ten people.
This means you can, for example, hire a device, fly to the USA, and switch it on in your hire car to give yourself and your family unlimited car WiFi abroad. Prices range from £4 to £8 per day. When you’re done you post the device back to them.
Taking the Internet with you
It’s worth noting the MIOWIFI device isn’t only intended for car WiFi. You can use it wherever you want. So, you can use it (in the UK or abroad) in the car, in hotels, in rental properties and anywhere else. If you consider what it can sometimes cost to hook up to WiFi whilst travelling (and how pitifully slow this can sometimes be), the prices are really rather low when you consider that up to ten people can connect at once.
If you think about it, MIOWIFI is actually worth consideration for a UK holiday too. The reason being that traditional mobile Internet plans often have data caps and long contracts. If you only go on one or two long road trips each year, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to pay when you’re not using the device – and pay as you go options are never unlimited.
As you can see, there are plenty of options for car WiFi, but MIOWIFI does provide an interesting and slightly different proposition, especially if you want an absolute guarantee you won’t get hit by roaming charges abroad. Parents who rely on Kindles and tablets to make long journeys tolerable could find renting one of these devices makes the road trip part of the summer holidays more enjoyable than they thought possible!
Jul 15, 2016
The VW diesel emissions scandal may not be hitting the headlines so much nowadays, but it still rumbles on, with the aftermath costing Volkswagen something in the region of £12 Billion. For those unaware of what happened, it emerged in September 2015 that VW had used “defeat software” to cheat tests and provide unrealistic data on fuel economy and emissions data, resulting in a huge scandal and a queue of millions of VW owners expecting recompense.
On the other side of the Atlantic, American owners of affected VW diesel cars are each being financially compensated, to the tune up to $10,000 (£7,400 at current exchange rates). US owners also have the option of having their vehicle repaired or having it “bought back” by VW.
Now, according to a BBC report, it’s emerged that British VW diesel owners aren’t in line for anything like the same deal. The 200,000 affected people are merely being offered a free repair job – something the report suggests around a quarter of the owners have taken VW up on so far.
Blame for this inferior deal, which MPs have described as “deeply unfair,” is being placed on government inaction. The Transport Committee feel that the government has “lacked the will to hold VW accountable for its actions.”
Will the scandal spread beyond VW diesel cars?
A question that’s arisen frequently since the scandal broke is whether it would emerge that other manufacturers were implicated in similar tactics to cheat emissions tests. This possibility is also explored in the BBC article referred to above.
A detailed report last month suggested that diesels from a host of manufacturers could be significantly more polluting in colder weather conditions, due to software configurations that allow more emissions in inclement weather. Due to “loopholes” in EU laws, it’s thought that manufacturers have found ways to get around this without breaking any rules. However, it means – just as before – that these cars are throwing out far more pollution that they were ever supposed to on paper.
Between 2017 and 2021, European regulations are going to get much tougher on emissions. The unfortunate problem here is that significant environmental damage has been (and is being) done in the interim period.
Jun 28, 2016
Now we all know that the nation has voted to leave the EU, our thoughts turn to what the implications could be for “Brexit motoring.”
As per our last news item, petrol and diesel prices are widely expected to rise, at least in the short term – something people are already beginning to see (although not yet to the level some people predicted). However, there’s far more to motoring than the cost of fuel.
Many media outlets and national newspapers have begun to discuss other implications for UK drivers, so we thought it would make sense to give some space to some of the theories and suppositions. It’s very important to remember that when it comes to Brexit motoring, even the most informed opinion can only really be described as speculation at this stage.
No formal “Brexit” negotiations have yet taken place, so our exact relationship with most of mainland Europe is yet to be determined. However, it is possible to consider some of the EU’s current impacts on motorists and get a good idea of what could change.
Brexit Motoring: Insurance
Car insurance is arguably the thing that will be most affected by our planned withdrawal from the European Union, for a couple of reasons. One headline theory is that it could actually get cheaper – at least according to some pundits.
Why IS this? Well at the moment, it’s mandatory for UK car insurance policies to provide for a minimum level of legal cover when cars are driven in EU countries. If we’re no longer part of the EU, it’s possible that insurance companies could pass on the savings in not having to provide this cover, in the form of lower premiums.
However, this will mean that those who do wish to drive on the continent will have to pay separately (as many drivers already do to ensure a comprehensive level of cover) – and if we’re not part of the EU, these extra insurance costs could be high. So, reading between the lines we have a speculative advantage for drivers who never drive outside Britain, and a potential extra cost for those who do.
There’s more: As explained in a This is Money report, a law changed back in 2012 following an EU ruling, preventing insurance companies from offering cheaper policies to drivers based on their gender. This saw the end of a trend that was allowing (statistically safer) female drivers to pay less for car insurance than men. If an independent UK decides not to maintain this legal provision, we could see cheaper insurance for women once again, but probably more expensive insurance for men.
Driving in Europe Post Brexit
As (contrary to the understanding of many) the UK has never been part of the borderless Schengen zone, there have always been passport controls between the UK and mainland Europe (the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland being an exception).
As such, this part of driving in and out of Europe will remain unchanged, whatever is eventually decided regarding freedom of movement. However, once we leave the EU, we will no longer be able to fill our cars with cases of wine and cheap tobacco. It will likely be possible to buy small amounts at even lower prices, but within the same strict limits that apply to true “duty-free” purchases in places like Australia and the USA.
Ensuring these limits are adhered to is likely to make crossing out of Europe rather more arduous and time-consuming than it is now, but this change could be offset by fewer people crossing these borders once the “booze cruise” days are over.
Unless other European countries leave the EU, road laws will remain consistent. However once Britain is no longer part of the EU, the country may well choose to amend some motoring laws on this side of the Channel.
Brexit and the Car Industry
The impact Brexit may have on car manufacturing, and the car industry in general, is where things become really speculative. As you will know if you watched any of the pre-Brexit debates, the car industry was used repeatedly by both campaigns as a political tool to influence voters.
It’s too early to speculate on what might happen regarding manufacturing (even though plenty of newspapers are attempting to!) Until Brexit negotiations are well underway, it’s almost impossible to accurately predict whether manufacturers might move factories or whether the EU may impose trade tariffs.
However, we can still have a think about what could happen to car prices in the short to medium term. According to the same report referred to above, The RAC believe there’s “little evidence” that buying a car will become any more pricey. This is referring to the interim period while negotiations get underway.
After Brexit is complete, things could change; If we don’t negotiate a good trade deal, car prices could go up, resulting in cars here costing more than in mainland Europe. Toyota is one manufacturer who’s been open about this.
Also, while there’s not yet been any sign that interest rates will rise (and, in fact, speculation that they could fall yet further), if they do go up it could mean that car finance deals get a little more expensive.
Brexit Motoring Conclusion
You’ll notice we’ve been very cautious to only summarise some of the most common theories relating to Brexit motoring. It’s well worth emphasising that a huge number of factors remain up in the air at the time of writing, so informed speculation is the best we (or indeed anyone else) can offer. Whatever happens, nothing’s going to change particularly quickly at this point.
Jun 24, 2016
Whether you stayed up all night to watch the results come in, or you saw the news this morning, you’ll no doubt know by now that Brexit is happening. The referendum resulted in a narrow but clear victory for the “Leave” campaign, and as a result Britain is now taking its first steps towards leaving the EU.
Back in April / May we conducted a poll of our members, which included questions on Brexit voting intentions. If you are one of our members, you may have participated. Thanks to a fantastic response, it turned out to be the biggest poll conducted during the whole referendum campaign, and the first to correctly predict a “Leave” outcome, as reported at the time by The Sun.
We now know it was also extremely representative of the real life outcome, predicting the leave / remain split correctly across all four UK nations to within a couple of percentage points. For example, our poll pointed to England voting 55% in favour of Leave, with the real-life result being 53.4% in favour of Leave.
What does Brexit mean for petrol prices?
There’s no way to sugar-coat the fact that it’s almost inevitable that petrol prices WILL rise in the coming weeks in the aftermath of the referendum result.
The key reason for this is the enormous fall in the value of Sterling – the biggest drop seen since the mid-80s. As oil is purchased in Dollars, it’s immediately become considerably more expensive for Britain to buy. As a result, both The AA and the Petrol Retailers Association are predicting increases of up to three pence per litre, taking effect as soon as next week.
Beyond these almost certain increases, it’s hard to predict what will happen next – because we really do find ourselves in uncharted political and financial territory. Two factors that could restrict further increases are a bounce-back in the value of Sterling, or a fall in the oil price. Crude oil has actually fallen in price today in the wake of the Brexit announcement, but it’s possible this could just turn out to be a temporary market shock.
Obviously we will keep you informed as things develop. In the meantime, one thing that’s certain is that disparities in fuel prices will widen as the increases set in, making it all the more important to shop around. You can find the cheapest fuel wherever you are by using our free service, or by downloading our new apps for Android and iOS:
Find the PetrolPrices.com iOS app here.
Find the PetrolPrices.com Android app here.
Jun 23, 2016
Over the years, I’ve had various frustrating episodes involving car hire insurance charges. However, a real low point was on a trip to Florida a few years ago.
We’d booked a deal involving a flight, accommodation, and car hire. As committed “independent” travellers, my wife and I usually book all these things separately. However, this deal was particularly good, and we didn’t really imagine that much could go wrong.
Having been stung for car hire insurance before, we were prepared for a couple of unexpected bolt on charges. But our experience at the car hire desk in Orlando took things to a whole new level. As we stood, tired and jetlagged under the spotlights, the representative explained our various insurance options – all costing a significant number of dollars per day on top of what we’d already paid.
The really shocking thing was how financially liable we would still be in the event of an accident if we chose anything other than the most expensive insurance package. The background thought that a superficial accident could end up costing us thousands of dollars was never going to make for a very relaxing holiday. So, like many people we reluctantly and angrily handed over our credit card – for insurance charges in the region of $500 on top of what we’d already paid for car hire.
Car Hire Insurance
This wasn’t the first time this had happened to us, but it was the most extreme incident. The fact that a pile of cash that had been destined for Florida’s outlet malls had disappeared before we’d even left the airport made us determined not to land ourselves in that position again.
The irony is, it’s actually really easy to protect yourself from the car hire excess racket, by buying a third-party car hire excess waiver policy from a company like ReduceMyExcess.co.uk. These policies can reduce the charges you need to pay to avoid a huge excess by 80% or more, and can be purchased for individual trips, or on an annual basis. If the worst does happen, you can claim from the excess waiver company.
As always, even if you have one of these policies it’s important to truly understand what you are and are not covered for. While there is no doubt that add-on policies are quite a profitable racket for the car hire firms, the fact remains that car insurance itself is quite a complex topic – so never be afraid to ask questions until you completely understand your liability.
That said, having your own excess protection policy is always going to work out cheaper that paying the “captive audience” car hire insurance price when you get to the desk. There’s something wonderfully satisfying about turning down all the costly added extras because you can confidently say that you already have a policy that protects you from a huge bill in the event of an accident. Next time my wife and I are fortunate enough to visit Florida, we’ll definitely make sure we hang onto those 500 bucks for the shopping malls!
