Production of the current Beetle will end next year with special final editions being built. Sales have been declining but the company has not ruled out reintroducing the name on a future model, possibly with an electric or hybrid powertrain. Drivers are concerned about possible changes to motoring abroad after Brexit, said RAC Europe spokesperson Rod Dennis. While the majority would … [Read more...]
Best pass or fail driving-test rates in Wales
Mid-Wales is the best place to try your driving test. But Wrexham is the worst, according to a breakdown of DVSA pass rates studied by Confused.com. What the statistics say about the quality of the driving instructors in the towns is not explained but to anyone taking a practical driving test it's one of the most nerve-wracking things a learner driver could experience. However, those taking … [Read more...]
North Wales worst for drunken drivers
More than 1,000 drink-drivers were caught in Wales in 2017, nearly all in North Wales. North Wales Police recorded the most offences in Wales with 882 drink-drivers caught and than half (51%) of drivers in Wales admit to driving after having an alcoholic drink – more than half (53%) of which did so during the summer. In total, more than 41,000 UK motorists were caught drink-driving in 2017 and … [Read more...]
Motorists’ deep unhappiness with dealer finance services
A mystery shop of car dealerships has revealed there is nation-wide consumer confusion about car finance, stemming from a lack of transparency and inconsistent sales practices. The research by Confused.com comes ahead of the results of a review by the Financial Conduct Authority into the growing motor finance sector, which will review potential for consumer harm, due in September … [Read more...]
Welsh police sniffing out more drug-drivers
Over-the-counter anti-hay fever medicines are thought to have fuelled a rise in positive drug-driving tests by Welsh police forces. Drug-driving offences in Wales have increased 62% in just two years, according to new research by Confused.com through Freedom of Information requests to three police forces in the region which revealed 501 drivers were charged with driving under the influence of … [Read more...]
More women buying and using vans
The changing face of UK business and economy is shown by analysis of who is buying vans and for what purposes. Women are increasingly jumping on the "vanwagon" as new research suggests more and more females are driving vans. That is according to Wales-based insurer Confused.com which has seen a 52% surge in the number of female drivers taking out cover for vans. In total, 26,166 quoted for … [Read more...]
Welsh premiums dip for first time in three years
Drivers in South Wales are celebrating an unexpected U-turn in car insurance costs as prices in the region drop for the first time in three years. Car insurance now costs drivers in the region £712, on average, and is -£35 (-5%) cheaper than it was just three months ago – a small win for drivers in the region after facing a raft of price rises in recent years. Prices in South Wales are also down … [Read more...]
Dashcam discounts rare view from insurers
Britain’s major car insurers are failing to offer discounts to policyholders who fit dashcams to record third party incidents, says smartdriverclub. Cardiff-based Confused.com is the only comparison site which asked about a dashcam (shown fitted in Citroen C3) when compiling data and before giving quotes while fellow Welsh insurance business Admiral allowed a 3% premium discount for a … [Read more...]
Higher diesel tax next month confuses motorists
Confusion about new taxes on diesel fuel is widespread among drivers in Wales and is leading to sales declining across the UK. Almost nine in 10 (88%) motorists in the region do not know the new law in relation to new diesel vehicles, which comes into force in early April. New diesel vehicles will be subject up to £500 more in tax if they fail to meet the latest pollution standards. The law … [Read more...]
Cars dumped in Wales jump 347%, reports Confused.com
Wales has become a scrapyard for abandoned cars as the numbers dumped on the roadside has tripled (347%) in four years and Rhondda tops the pile. Dumping data obtained by Confused.com through Freedom of Information requests to the region’s councils, reveals a total of 12,456 cars were reported as abandoned throughout 2016 and 2017. To visualise the epidemic, the driver savings site has … [Read more...]