The RAC and the Road Surface Treatments Association have written to the Minister for the Future of Roads Lilian Greenwood calling for the Government to introduce mandatory training for councils who carry out little or no maintenance to prevent potholes forming. At the start of Pothole Prevention Week (8-14 September), the two organisations have joined … [Read more...]
DIY dangers highlighted
A growing number of viral TikTok videos is raising serious concerns amongst automotive professionals. The videos show car owners using seemingly simple DIY ‘hacks’ for removing car dents, often involving hot water, plungers and even bare hands, While these trends may appear to offer quick and cheap fixes, experts caution that attempting such repairs can … [Read more...]
£16 M hit for businesses in van crime
As temperatures rise across the nation, van owners are being encouraged to be hyper-aware of leaving vehicles unattended with windows and roofs down. This comes as over 12,414 tool thefts were reported from a vehicle in 2024, which stands at almost half (49%) of overall tool theft in the UK. Mike Thompson, COO at Leasing Options has shared insight around … [Read more...]
Bodies join to offer employees better tax deal
A new salary sacrifice course for fleets is being offered to members of the Association of Fleet Professionals in partnership with the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association. The move is part of a general strategy by the two professional bodies to work more closely together to the benefit of their members, with further joint training initiatives … [Read more...]
Complaints rise as motor trade fails more customers
The Motor Ombudsman has reported the highest ever volume of service and repair cases brought by consumers to its dispute resolution service during the third quarter of the year. Between 1 July and 30 September, the Ombudsman for the automotive sector received a total of 1,586 new submissions from motorists, up 18% from 1,348 in Q3 2023. This was slightly … [Read more...]
Premiums catching up with repair costs
The recent surge of 21% in annual car insurance premiums does not come as a shock, said the National Body Repair Association. Wayne Mason-Drust (below) NBRA board member, explained this development, “For almost a decade, the cost of repairing a car following an accident has increased far below inflation. "Car insurers have tightly controlled repair costs … [Read more...]
Pothole problems are spreading say RAC
RAC patrols attended nearly a quarter (23%) more breakdowns where potholes were likely to blame in the last three months of 2022 compared to the previous three months, show new RAC figures released to mark today’s National Pothole Day. The motoring services company’s roadside staff went out to an average of 20 breakdowns a day between October and the end of … [Read more...]
Motorists are in the PITs, says Kwik Fit
The annual PIT Report or Pothole Impact Tracker for Kwik Fit, shows that over the last twelve months the total cost of pothole damage to British drivers has risen to a staggering £1.7 billion. This figure is a 35% increase on the previous year of £1.2bn, a rise which could be partly explained by the higher traffic volumes in the last twelve months … [Read more...]
Motorhomes sales are booming
Demand for motorhome cover surges as Brits prepare for UK’ations GoCompare has seen a 26% increase in quotes from motorhome insurance compared with last year, as restrictions on holidaying in self-catering accommodation ease across the UK. And it seems that the VW camper is still king when it comes to motorhomes in the UK, whether it’s a classic splitty, … [Read more...]
High fleet returns pose problems for businesses
With the volume of lease extensions coming to an end, voluntary terminations and repossessions expected to substantially increase as lockdown eases. Now MJB Automotive is warning fleet and remarketing decision-makers to prepare for the reality that completing vehicle repairs before resale may not be achievable. According to MJB Automotive if the support … [Read more...]
