People looking to buy a new car have been urged to avoid showroom finance deals, as important interest rate details are often not clearly explained by dealers. Research by Which? Car magazine revealed that essential information about car finance agreements were not adequately flagged up to car buyers in showrooms. Dealers were found to “take customers for a ride” by not telling them in clear terms how much interest they would need to pay on their motor. An undercover operation involving visits to 15 showrooms highlighted that not even one of them clearly demonstrated the total cost of the interest on a finance deal. Two-thirds did not mention the APR (annual percentage rate) and a third even failed to add it to their written quote. More
(AD Thoughts ~ As with anything its always wise to read the small print. For loans, its best to look around, competitive deals are easily found on the internet by search engines.)
More than 80 per cent of UK motor insurance policyholders admitted that they have their car cleaned regularly but only 30 per cent have checked their spare tyre in the last three months, a new survey has found. Almost 20 per cent of motorists admit that they have never actually checked their spare at all, according to a new survey by fast.MAP conducted on behalf of mytyres.co.uk. The good news is that nearly half of UK car insurance customers have checked the tread depth of their tyres in the last month, which is important because worn tyres can lead to accidents that will impact upon drivers’ car insurance premiums. Spare tyres are often the most neglected part of a car and they have the potential to put motor insurance customers in an inconvenient and possibly dangerous situation if a puncture were to occur. More
(AD Thoughts ~ An often neglected part of the car, we must always remember to have the spare tyre in good order, as you may need it at any time.)
Drivers aged 70 and above are among the safest on the road, according to the RAC Foundation. And the motoring charity says that licensing of the oldest drivers should focus on self-regulation, rather than on re-testing or licence restrictions. The organisation made the comments as it published a report; Maintaining safe mobility for the ageing population. It argues that most “senior car owners” self-regulate their driving, and do not drive in circumstances that make them feel uncomfortable. It added that the 3.7 million drivers born before the Second World War have a better safety record than many young drivers, and that only those aged 80 or above or driving a very limited mileage present a higher accident risk. The foundation’s report closely echoes the findings of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, which three months ago published its own report finding the oldest drivers to be among the safest. Under current laws, drivers must re-apply for a licence when they reach the age of 70 and every three years thereafter, self-certifying their fitness to stay on the roads. More
(AD Thoughts ~ There is no substitute for experience in any field, especially driving.)
The cost of running a car has risen by 8.6% in just five months, new estimates suggest. And the figures, calculated by Sainsbury’s Finance, suggest that motorists are paying around a fifth (20%) more now than they were in September 2007. According to the bank, the average cost of running a car for a year now stands at approximately £2,539, compared to an estimated £2,338 five months ago. In 2007, the annual cost stood at around £2,100. Costs have been driven up by rising fuel prices – up 10% in the past five months – and an increase (11%) in the cost of car insurance. The bank added that vehicle taxation has risen by 26% over the past two and a half years. More
(AD Thoughts ~ Owning a car these days is an expensive business. With the ever increasing fuel and insurance costs, coupled with the recent hike in road tax, we will surely see another dramatic increase over the next 6 months as well!)
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, announced in 2008 a series of measures to reform vehicle tax. Some of these reforms took effect from 1 May 2009. More information, bands, and costs
(AD Thoughts ~ More hefty hikes accross the board for the motorist. One of our vehicles that enjoyed low charge last year has seen an increase of 250%.)
Avon and Somerset Police have unveiled their new weapon against drink driving – a simulator which shows what effect alcohol has on your driving skill. Over Christmas, the police caught more than 200 people who had been drinking. Now they’re stepping up their efforts to target young people in particular. More
(AD Suggests ~ More education is required to help solve this problem, something like this will surely make a benefit.)
Aviva has produced a new guide for parents to help them safely guide their sons and daughters through the process of learning to drive. The guide, ‘The Road to success’, has been produced on the back of work carried out in 2009 by Aviva to understand the very poor crash and casualty statistics for newly qualified drivers. The insurer also looked in more depth at choice of first car and found that 50% of first cars were being bought for less than £500. Aviva’s Nigel Bartram said: “Our work highlights a need for better pre-driver education in secondary schools, including peer group classroom based sessions as part of the learning to drive programme, discussing all the aspects of safety and where things go wrong. “It is also clear that parents have a role to play, both in terms of building experience and choice of first car – but they need to complement rather than conflict with professional tuition. More
(AD Comments ~ Some good advice about learning to drive, find out more and download the guide)
With -20°C forecast in some parts of the UK, the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) is warning drivers of diesel cars to remember that their fuel can wax over in extremely low temperatures, which could damage the fuel filter and cause a breakdown. Neil Greig, IAM Head of Policy and Research, said: “Waxing is the formation of crystals in the diesel which block the filter. If you drive a diesel vehicle, it pays to try and park in a garage or sheltered area, and try to not to leave your vehicle standing unused for too long,” “If you can’t park in a garage, do ensure that the engine bay of the car is parked downwind, so that the wind hits the back of the vehicle first. After starting the engine, let it idle for 10 minutes before driving off, as this will let the heat from the engine warm the filter and pipes.” More
(AD Comments ~ Hopefully not many of us will experience those lows, but still good advice)
DRIVERS are being warned to beware of the dangers associated with this year’s must-have Christmas motoring accessory as sat-nav systems top the Yuletide wish-list. Retailers say that record numbers of satellite navigation systems are currently being snapped as Christmas presents but whilst they can be a useful driving aid there are also inherent dangers. Drivers who leave the systems on display within their vehicles are tempting opportunist thieves and the consequences can be far more serious than merely a smashed window and stolen sat-nav. The sat-navs will almost always have been used to guide drivers back to their home, with the address stored in the system as a further opportunity for the thieves. In many cases by the driver returns to the vehicle to find the sat-nav system gone their home has been burgled too. The Institute of Advanced Motorists warns that such systems must be removed from view every time the vehicle is left unattended and – equally important – all traces of the fixings must also be removed otherwise thieves will know that the sat-nav is hidden within the vehicle. More
(AD Suggests ~ As always remember to use technology wisely, also to remember that you would not leave your mobile or laptop in view of a potential thief, so why leave the sat nav worth possibly more in full view)
Motoring organisations have reported that most drivers believe that their new style licence is for life and that is has not been publicised that the licence actually expires after a set period and has to be renewed. The first batch of ten year photo licences was issued in July 1998 and the confusion has only just come to light as they start to expire. The DVLA figures reveal that 16,136 licences expired last year and only 11,566 drivers have renewed, 300 000 more photocard licences are due to expire by the end of this year. The new style photocard licences are not very clear showing the expiry date, the small print below the drivers name is a numbered series of dates and details. Number 4b features a date but the significance is explained only if the card is turned over where the key on the back states that 4b relates to ‘licence valid to’. More
(AD Suggests ~ Always keep a check on the dates on your licence. To save hastle why don`t the DVLA send a reminder pack/letter prompting the licence holder to renew)
The new sign, which has one arrow pointing north and another pointing south, only confirms the popular idea of the service station being an unofficial dividing point between Britain’s north and south. RoadChef, which operates the services, said the firm has erected the sign as a tourist attraction next to which people could pose for photos. A spokeswoman said: “Because of the anniversary, we’re looking at what Watford Gap means to everyone.” The company is working towards getting “Watford Gap” included in the Oxford English Dictionary as a recognised term expressing the division between north and south. More
- How times change! Click picture for more images.
Motorists’ failure to adapt to changing driving conditions will lead to a 15 per cent rise in accidents this month. Greasy road conditions caused by falling leaves, darker evenings and the first heavy rain of the autumn traditionally send accident rates up in October, according to vehicle management company Accident Exchange. More
(AD Notes ~ Driving habits always need to be adjusted this time of year, when we come from the summer fine weather, to the more variable winter weather. We all just need to take more take and allow more time for journeys)
THERE is a “significant risk” that global oil production could begin to decline in the next decade, researchers have warned. A report by the UK Energy Research Council (UKERC) said worldwide production of conventional oil could “peak” and go into terminal decline before 2020 – but the Government was not facing up to the risk. Falls in production will lead to higher and more volatile prices and could encourage investment in even more polluting fossil fuels such as tar sands which “need to stay in the ground” to avoid dangerous climate change as a result of carbon emissions, the researchers said. A new report on peak oil by UKERC said there was too much geological, political and economic uncertainty to predict an exact date for a peak – which would not lead to a sudden decline but a “bumpy plateau” with a downward trend in extraction. More
(AD Notes ~ Just as well the electic car production seems to be moving forward!)
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