Don’t turn on the ignition or start the engine If you’ve put the wrong fuel in your car, don’t turn on the ignition or start the engine as this will circulate the contaminated fuel and increase the risk of expensive damage. If you have just accidentally put the wrong fuel in your car you’re not[…..]
Read moreIn the UK, every model of car has an Insurance Group Rating that helps insurance companies to calculate premiums. The groups are set by the Group Rating Panel, (made up of members from the Association of British Insurers and Lloyds Market Association) which meets every month. However, their ratings are purely advisory – insurance[…..]
Read moreThird Party The minimum level of cover you need to legally be able to drive on the roads is called ‘Third Party’. It used to be the cheapest type of insurance but now bizarrely fully comprehensive policies can often be cheaper. Never assume one costs less than the other; quote both. Third Party covers you[…..]
Read moreCar insurance prices are on the rise, with the AA reporting that the average driver is now paying £892 per year for a policy. This is an increase of 40% over the previous 12 months. These average prices mainly reflect the disproportionately high premiums offered to young and inexperienced motorists who are deemed to[…..]
Read moreThe most important thing you can do to reduce the risk of breakdown is to get your car serviced to the manufacturer’s schedule and specification. Beyond regular servicing, the following simple checks will help you to enjoy safe, worry-free motoring. Tyres Know the correct tyre pressures for your car and check them at least[…..]
Read moreIt’s one of the most nerve-wracking exams you’ll ever do. So it’s no wonder people worry so much about the driving test. The huge costs involved, the time, pressure from friends, it all adds up and places a huge burden of expectation. Then there’s the knowledge one small slip up could ruin the whole[…..]
Read moreExams are nerve-wracking at the best of times, and driving tests can feel particularly harrowing. After all, with written exams if you get something wrong you can always go back and cross it out, whereas if you reverse into a bollard on your practical test then your fate is sealed. Knowing that someone is watching[…..]
Read moreSo, they say that you should have 47 hours of professional training and 20 hours driving with parents or guardians (remember you’ll need learner driver insurance for this). Based on average of £24 on average for a driving lesson, this means it will cost a whopping £1,128 to pass, excluding all the driving test fees[…..]
Read more1. Avoiding Certain Shoes Your brand new pair of Jimmy Choos or Gucci loafers might look fantastic but certain footwear is just not suitable for driving in. Even something as simple as changing gears could cause a serious accident in the wrong type of shoes. The sole of the foot can become trapped underneath the[…..]
Read moreIt became compulsory for motorists to wear a seat belt at all times when on the road in 1973. Designed to prevent the occupants from coming out of their seats and suffering secondary impacts, seatbelts marked a significant improvement in driver safety levels. This represented the start of the safety crusade, with other regulations[…..]
Read more1. Avoid fiddling with radio or CD controls. If you don’t know your car’s stereo system well, sit down in the parked car and spend a half hour getting to learn it. Use your eyes at first, then practice changing the stations etc. with your hands while not looking. Practice until you can do this[…..]
Read moreHere’s a few general tips when buying car insurance. 1. Don’t lie Don’t even be economical with the truth. It might result in a cheaper insurance quote now, but if you ever need to make a claim and they discover that your 1.6 litre car actually has a 2.0 litre engine, your insurance will be[…..]
Read moreFor many motorcyclists, winter signals the end of the riding season. Some send their beloved bikes into hibernation, having thoroughly coated them in grease, tarpaulin and the bitter sweet tears of farewell, whilst others just leave them to rust on the roadside like sorry heaps of hopelessness. As we’re all aware, motorcyclists are already[…..]
Read moreCars make us irrational. We call them our babies and lovingly wash them every Saturday — or we turn up the radio to drown out the sound of a dragging muffler. Either mindset will cost you money, sometimes a lot of it. Walking the line between obsession and neglect means you never spend a penny[…..]
Read moreThe first thing you need to ask yourself when you set out to replace / buy your first car is whether you actually need to buy a new one. • Depreciation is the single biggest cost in running a car. Even if you only buy a one-year-old model, you’ll be missing out on some seriously[…..]
Read moreIt is natural – and potentially even helpful – to experience a certain amount of nerves as you approach the test. The examiner is expecting this and will make some allowance for it, although it will not excuse dangerous or serious mistakes. The best way to beat nerves is to be confident in your own[…..]
Read moreLearning to drive is not an easy task. It takes years of experience to master the art and be able to anticipate the likely actions of fellow motorists. This is something which many learner drivers simply don’t appreciate, and watching experienced drivers travelling around with apparent ease can therefore prove to be quite demoralising. Some[…..]
Read moreApparently, it is scientifically proven that when speaking to someone in your car or in some cases on the mobile phone, the driver gets what is called ‘inattention blindness’. This basically means that even though your eyes are wide open, your brain is no longer receiving visual signals from your eyes and will simply[…..]
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