The UK’s electric car revolution is becoming a bloody affair. From initially resisting the new technology on cost grounds including writing off established investments in petrol and diesel engine technology and having to develop hybrid or pure electric powertrains, along with making tens of thousands of workers redundant, manufacturers have struggled to convince buyers into showrooms or on-line … [Read more...]
Garage Guide
If you are looking for a garage which will treat you fairly and charge you reasonably, you can search the data base of businesses which have signed up for the Motor Industry Code of Practice.
It covers new cars, service and repair as well as warranty provision and operation.
There is a free post-code based search of garages near you, a telephone help line, and you can complain if you feel you have not been treated as you would expect from one of the businesses which has subscribed to the Code of Practice.
Tips for buying a used car this September
We’ve seen a lot of changes over the past few months and one that stands out is the increase in motorists opting for a used car rather than fork out on an expensive newer model. With the Government continuing to discourage commuters using public transport as a result of the Coronavirus, car repair and service comparison site www.Autoadvisor.co.uk looked at how more people are purchasing – and … [Read more...]
Overcharging fear makes drivers steer away from servicing
Motorists fear being overcharged by garages and avoided much needed servicing as a result, says the new Motor Ombudsman. The new Motor Ombudsman has launched with a warning that nearly half of the nation’s drivers (43%) put their safety at risk along with the safety of other road users by avoiding taking their car to a garage despite suspecting a fault. 1,000 drivers said the major barriers … [Read more...]
September rush is underway for buying a new car
September is the second highest month for new car sales. Ahead of the forthcoming introduction of the “66” vehicle registration next month, Motor Codes, the leading provider of Codes of Practice and Alternative Dispute Resolution for the automotive industry, has the following advice for consumers during the purchase process. Protect your rights Buying a vehicle face-to-face or online … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Audi A4 AllRoad
Audi’s ‘model explosion’ continues with the arrival of the A4 Allroad quattro, a more rugged model than the A4 Avant quattro estate on which it is based. Having just added two new variants to the large SUV market, the SQ7 and Q7 e tron, Audi is now introducing their on/off road Allroad quattro five door estates priced from £36,010 to £42,595 with deliveries starting in September. Audi, who … [Read more...]
Makers and dealers main source of complaints to CAB
Faulty vehicles and poor dealer servicing are the biggest problem people have says Citizens Advice. Over the last year it has dealt with just over 60,800 complaints about faulty used cars and servicing, three times the complaints about mobile phone services. In the same time the level of problems with parking enforcement on private land has gone up 25%, mainly over the hefty charges they … [Read more...]
Dispute resolution service moves to ease complaints
Motor Codes, the consumer arm of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, has been appointed one of the automotive sector’s first Alternative Dispute Resolution providers. Under new legislation, the organisation will work with automotive companies to help improve consumer confidence by resolving any disputes swiftly and reducing the number of complaints that go to court. ADR … [Read more...]
Welsh garage charges amongst lowest in UK
Average hourly labour rates for car repairs vary by as much as 220 per cent across Britain. Using data supplied by used car warranty provider Warrantywise, leading weekly car magazine Auto Express has revealed average rates reach a peak of £141 per hour in Twickenham, south-west London, compared to the cheapest average rate of £44 per hour in Kirkwall, Orkney. This results in a massive … [Read more...]
Car dealers’ failures fuel lack of trust among buyers
More than a third of motorists who have bought a used-car would under no circumstances use the same dealer again. A study into the car-buying habits of 1,500 motorists carried out by the RAC also found 40% of people said they have had a problem with a vehicle bought from a used car dealer and almost a third (29%) said the dealer did not do at all well in putting the problem right. And, … [Read more...]
UK’s top garages to be crowned in June
Owners who’ve enjoyed top-class service from their local garage are being urged to go online to enter them for a national competition that celebrates the country’s best garages. Top performing garages from across each UK regions will be shortlisted for the nationwide Garage of the Year competition which will be awarded in June to the UK’s best car service and repair workshop. The Garage of … [Read more...]
