Inflation and the cost-of-living crisis are worryingly causing young drivers not to maintain their cars properly, risking their safety and that of other road users, says the RAC, and its particularly bad in Wales. A quarter of young drivers aged 17-24 (26%) say they have put off necessary repairs to their cars to save money while nearly three-in-10 (28%) are not servicing their vehicles as … [Read more...]
Hidden MoT test centres you can use
To help motorists save the pennies when it comes to MOT test fees, the driving experts at Scrap Car Comparison have shared a hidden hack, which involves booking cheap MOTs at some of the nation’s hidden council test centres. David Kottuan, Operations Manager at Scrap Car Comparison said, “Not many people know that lots of councils have their own MOT testing stations for their own vehicles, buses … [Read more...]
Service bookings taking longer
Lead times for fleet service, maintenance and repair have risen by more than 57% since the start of the pandemic, according to new data from epyx. In January 2020, the average time between when a company car or van booking was created to when the vehicle went in for work was 8.11 days - but today stands at 12.76 days. This data is taken from epyx’s 1link Service Network platform, which is used … [Read more...]
EVs tyres are wearing sooner
Tyres on electric cars are wearing out sooner than on other models, say service analysts. Tyres fitted to electric vehicles are lasting, on average, 6,350 fewer miles than those fitted to petrol or diesel cars, new fleet data from epyx suggests. The first tyre change for electric cars is taking place at an average of 17,985 miles and 551 days old, compared to 24,641 miles and 585 days for … [Read more...]
Newslines 21 August
A family of dodgy car dealers has been fined after admitting selling a ‘dangerous and unroadworthy’ vehicle and refusing to honour its warranty. David, Susan and James Bonner-Evans all pleaded guilty to breaching consumer protection regulations in relation to NRJ Motor Company, Bynea, Llanelli and were ordered to pay fines, costs and compensation of almost £13,000 after selling a Fiat Punto to a … [Read more...]
More on-line services from the DVLA
Motorists can now opt for digital vehicle tax reminders rather than having to wait for a paper reminder to drop through their letter box. The change comes as part of DVLA’s new Driver and vehicles account service, which allows motorists to easily access their driver and vehicle information in one place and has been launched as a public beta so the DVLA is asking motorists to provide feedback to … [Read more...]
Holts advice to save money on your tyres
Tyres cost a lot of money and you could be wasting hundreds of pounds because of neglect. Holts have tips on how to increase tyre lifespan with five simple rules. Car tyres may be tough, but they still need replacing more regularly than almost any other component on your vehicle. There are, however, plenty of ways to extend the lifespan of your car’s rubber including… Check tyre air … [Read more...]
Security tightens with independent garages
Independent garages will have to meet tough new data security measures. The Independent Garage Association has safeguarded the future of the UK independent garage sector by working with key stakeholders - UK government, Vehicle Manufacturers and Aftermarket Associations - to ensure that appropriately audited garage operators and their authorised employees will have access to Security-related … [Read more...]
Used spare parts essential for today’s garages
Like most businesses, motor trade companies are currently facing challenges due to the current economic climate and the cost of living crisis. Today many motorists either can't find the car they want to buy due to limited supplies or can't afford to replace their vehicles due to the cost of living crisis placing pressure on personal finances. Therefore, many people keep cars for longer and … [Read more...]
Certified Recycled parts see booming demand
Motorists in the UK saved £99 million in 2022 by opting for used parts and accessories instead of brand-new replacements, according to research by eBay. The online marketplace revealed the impact of second-hand parts as it relaunched its Certified Recycled programme, which sells recycled vehicle parts from 81 certified sellers. Certified Recycled parts can be up to 70% cheaper compared to OEM … [Read more...]