RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run on Sunday 2 November will celebrate motoring’s past and embrace its future, with a revolutionary new sustainable fuel blend widely available for the very first time in the event’s long and storied history. While some of the 400+ pioneering pre-1905 horseless carriages are powered by steam and electric motors, … [Read more...]
Unexpected repairs hitting older cars
With the average age of UK cars now at an all-time high of nearly 10 years old, new research from the RAC has found four-in-10 drivers (39%) have had their main vehicle off the road for a day or more due to unplanned repairs in the last 12 months. While a third of these drivers (32%) were without their cars for no more than a day, this meant most (68%) had … [Read more...]
Motorists holding onto older cars
More than half of motorists (52%) say that they are now driving an older car than five years ago. June’s Startline Used Car Tracker shows 24% haven’t been able to afford to buy a newer car and 18% that it feels as though used cars have become more expensive. Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said, “The average age of a car on UK roads is now … [Read more...]
Out of warranty and into trouble with company vehicles
The increasing number of older vehicles being operated by fleets means manufacturers are increasingly refusing longer-term out-of-warranty claims, reports the Association of Fleet Professionals. The organisation says that with vans especially now being operated into six, seven and eight years, a range of claims issues are emerging that are creating … [Read more...]
We’re keeping our cars for longer
A survey finds that almost half of drivers (45%) are holding onto their cars for longer than usual because they are unsure whether to buy a petrol, diesel or electric car, rising to 56% of under 34s, compared to 36% of over 65s. The survey of 2,000 drivers carried out by Opinium on behalf of InsuretheGap.com also finds that just over two fifths of drivers … [Read more...]
Servicing boost follows ageing cars and vans
ATS Euromaster has seen a significant increase in the volume of SMR work it is now completing, with work on brake changes up 27%, commercial vehicle servicing up 41% and the number of MOTs completed increasing by 8%. The tyre and maintenance provider believes a combination of factors is behind the increased SMR workload and is seeking about 100 employees on … [Read more...]
Myths of the misty months
With colder weather starting to creep in, and the clocks going back this month, many motorists may be starting to think about how they plan to adjust to the often conditions that accompany the Autumn and Winter months. Often, knowledge of cars and automotive processes are passed on from friends and family members, but how can you be sure of the accuracy of … [Read more...]
Safety and higher emissions issues from older vehicles
A time-bomb in safety and environmental issues is on our roads. With a shortage of new cars and cost of switching to electric vehicles holding back sales, the average age of the UK car park has risen to 8.7 years. That's a rise of 12 months in the last decade and with the brakes on new business and models coming through it is believed the average age might … [Read more...]
Premiums fall for older cars
The average cost of insurance for older cars fell by £87 in 2020 as more drivers kept their existing cars rather than upgrading to a new model according to research from comparethemarket.com. Cars normally become more expensive to insure as they get older, however, the pandemic has caused a decline in premiums which has offset the usual increase. In 2020, … [Read more...]
Warranties surge as sales stagger
Warrantywise is one of Britain's largest car warranty companies and had a record year in sales growth. They are celebrating an outstanding 55% growth in sales year on year. Lawrence Whittaker, CEO of Warrantywise, attributes this to a number of reasons, "We've had a fantastic year for sales, and worked really hard on setting goals to … [Read more...]
