This section is full of useful tips and inside information about the car industry. Every month we add new features on what’s hot and what’s not in the world of cars. As well as offering tips on new legislation laws and things you should know about as a car buying consumer.
Don’t forget if there is anything you would like to know about, which you don’t see here don’t hesitate to ring or e-mail us. We will then add it to the website, which we want to make as helpful and interesting as possible.
Toyota Recalls
BBC reports have confirmed the recall of Toyota vehicles in the US, Europe and China over concerns about accelerator pedals getting stuck on floor mats.
Volkswagen Golf is officially the safest car says EuroNCAP
Europe's best selling car, the Volkswagen Golf is officially its safest car too - according to the latest round-up of results from EuroNCAP, the new car crash testing organisation.
Increase of drivers talking on mobiles
Driving while talking on mobile up 27 per cent
Oil prices reach a six week high
On 23rd February 2010 the price of oil has risen to a six-week high
New website launched for car buyers
Impartial advice on buying a car from a dealership or supermarket now online at www.FinancingYourCar.org.uk
Seat belt fines double
New on-the-spot penalties for motorists and passengers caught not wearing a safety belt
Parking tax announced in Nottingham
UK's first tax on parking spaces announced for Nottingham
Brits are more dependent on their cars than ever
The number of cars on Britain's roads has grown seven times faster than the population
Mum And Dad Taxi Service Costing £2,000* Per Year
Parents are losing their freedom, time and money in providing the 'Mum and Dad taxi service'
Speed Limit to be cut to save 1000 lives
The speed limit on many A-roads will be reduced to 50mph under plans aimed at cutting the number of road deaths
VOSA announces new MOT test fees
On 6 April 2009 The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) increased MOT the maximum charge for test fees
Car theft increase
The first sharp bite of winter has seen the first cars taken away by thieves who are on the look-out for vehicles being warmed through with the engine running.
Swindon bans speed cameras
The Wiltshire borough's Tory-run council has become the first in Britain to abolish the cameras after it refused to pay the £320,000-a-year cost of maintaining them.
Whiplash claims on the rise
Research published today by the Association of British Insurers shows that claims for whiplash injuries have been rising steeply in recent years.
Essex highest insurance claimers
Motorists in East Sussex are revealed as the most likely in the UK to claim on their motor insurance for theft from their vehicle, or worse still for their vehicle being stolen, according to data from moneysupermarket.com.
Fuel prices to rise as motorist hit with 2p duty increase
The pre-budget report has announced a permanent 2p duty increase in fuel tax.
Fat cat Ministers £7 million car bill
Now is the right time to buy a car if you want a great deal. Prices have been slashed on hundreds of our nearly new and used cars.
Emissions cuts law on track
An EU-wide agreement on lowering average CO2 emissions by 18 per cent between 2012 and 2015 has moved a step closer as Italy has dropped its objections to the plan.
Whiplash test results released by Euro NCAP
Euro NCAP has released the first test results for its new whiplash test which will be included as part of the adult occupant protection part of the assessment from February 2009.
Reducing car use could have unforeseen consequences
Car use reduction polices could have unforeseen economic and social consequences.
Top ten money saving tips when buying or running a used car
There is a lot you can do to save money- here are the top ten money saving tips when buying or running a used car
The top ten used car selection
Now is the right time to buy a car if you want a great deal. Prices have been slashed on hundreds of our nearly new and used cars.
Daytime lights by 2011
The Scandinavian practice of driving a car with the lights on during the day should be common in Britain within three years.
Councils should switch off their lights rather than street lights
Rather than switching off streetlights the AA feels that some local authorities should be switching off their own office lights at night.
Teenage Drivers More At Risk
Teenage drivers are three times as likely to have a fatal crash if they are travelling with a group of friends as when driving alone, a study has found.
Careful drivers attract tailgaters
Drivers who stick to the speed limit are nearly twice as likely to be followed too closely as those who flout the Highway Code, according to a study seen by The Times.
Should teenage drink driving be cut to zero?
The drink-driving limit for teenage motorists should be cut to zero, according to the Government’s chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson said a total cut in alcohol would reduce injuries and deaths among accident-prone 17 to 20-year-olds.
Congestion charge zone launched in Manchester
Plans to introduce Britain’s biggest congestion charge zone in Manchester began this week.
Toughest crackdown yet on Blue Badge abuse
A radical overhaul of the Blue Badge scheme was announced today by Transport Minister Paul Clark. Up to £55 million will be dedicated to ensuring that the disabled parking scheme meets the needs of the 21st century.
Driving helps wellbeing in old age
Car use is an important contributor to wellbeing in old age which should be recognised and planned for
Eco is number one factor for car buyers
With concern about personal finances now at the top of everyone's agenda, it may seem odd to say that British drivers have become eco-warriors – except that 'eco' now refers to 'economy' not 'ecology'.
Ford reap the benefits of low co2 emissions car models
Ford has seen sales of its sub 120gkm vehicles rise by 38% year-on-year and it expects to end the year on around 40,000 cars, 15% of its UK total.
Citreon launches new funky robot ad!
The latest commercial to feature Citroen's cult C4 robot, sees the talented android with rhythm transported to the streets of Manhattan
Government Needs To Come Clean On "Mean Not Green" Taxes
The Government must come clean on "green taxes" and stop reneging on past promises on car tax
Updated legislation targets drivers talking on mobiles
On 27 February 2007 a new law came into effect which increases the penalty for using a hand-held phone whilst driving.
Do your bit for the environment and be aware of CO2 emissions
As a motorist it is important to recognise that you can do your bit for the environment by reducing the impact of your vehicle by knowing your cars CO2 emissions.
Passed your test since November 2005? You could be owed money!
The Driving Standards Agency is writing to learner driver candidates to offer a refund for overpayment of fees.
Council motoring fines 'illegal'
Fines are said to have been levied despite incorrect road markings and on parking bays which are too small.
Financial Services Authority launches new website
The FSA (Financial Services Authority) have recently launched a new financial capability web site.
Heavy fines for disruptive diggers
Contractors who don't give proper warning that they are going to dig up a road will face financial penalties under new laws announced by the Government.
Price comparison websites criticised
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has ordered insurance price comparison websites to overhaul their systems after describing some of the information they provide as 'misleading'.
Tesco: Car choice determined by geography
Customer's choice of cars is determined by the area they live in, according to a new survey by Tesco.
Government misses congestion targets
Motorists are wasting more time sitting in queues on 100 key routes because the Government has failed to meet targets for reducing congestion.
Motor Trader Car-buying trends
Upper-medium cars could make a comeback in the UK as customers are driven away from SUVs by tax hikes and pressure from the environmental lobby.
Over 1m cars scrapped illegally every year
More than a million cars are being illegally scrapped every year, according to environmental website Clean Green Cars.
Driver Testing and Training to be overhauled
New proposals to reform the way people learn to drive and how they are tested have today been announced by Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly.
WHY BUY NEW? Buy a nearly new car and save thousands
Buying a nearly new car is a clever thing to do as it means better value for money without any compromise on style or quality.
Fast lane for the fat cats!
Drivers are to be given the option of paying to drive faster in extra lanes on up to 500 miles of Britain's most congested motorways.
Rush for diesel as drivers avoid tax and pollution
Once dismissed as too noisy and slow, the diesel engines' greater efficiency is now attracting a record number of motorists.
Dirty drivers! Cars cleaned rarely
Over 4 million UK cars are only cleaned once a year!
Choose low emissions and save pounds!
New tax breaks came into force on the 8th April that could save UK employers millions if they switched to greener cars.
Learning to drive a car?
New website launched which is dedicated to selling learner drivers everything they need on-line.
Car buyers waste £1.9bn on car insurance
It is reported by the BBC Car buyers waste £1.9bn a year on annual car insurance costs because they fail to shop around online for a better deal.
Cost for L-drivers to rise by 500 pounds; new tests for pupil & instructor
The cost of learning to drive will rise by up to £500 under government plans to introduce more rigorous training and testing for both learner-drivers and instructors.
AA Questions Government on “Missing” Transport Funds
The AA questions whether Gordon Brown's “real terms” fuel duty increase fund exists and where the money is being spent.
Eco-Driving could save every motorist up to £100 each year says RAC
Green driving could not only help the environment but also save drivers up to £100 each year in wasted fuel.
British marques are a motorists dream
Three-quarters of drivers want luxury UK marques. The vast majority of UK motorists would buy British car brand if money were no object.
Speed humps bump up CO2 emissions!
Speed humps damage cars and give drivers a nasty jolt, but now speed bumps have been found guilty of an even worse crime — they are bumping up C02 emissions as well.
A million drivers exploit road tax payments
According to reports by The Times, more than a million drivers a year are exploiting a loophole in the enforcement of vehicle licensing law that allows them to pay less road tax.
25th anniversary of car seatbelts - 60,000 lives saved
Twenty five years of seatbelt wearing laws have helped save 60,000 lives, Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick revealed today.
Twenty-first century makeover for Disabled Parking scheme
The Transport Minister has published proposals to increase the reach of the Disabled Parking (Blue Badge) scheme to more people who need it.
Call for reduced fuel tax
The head of the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) is defending his industry by denying that retailers are to blame for the current high cost of petrol and diesel.
Potholes cost motorists millions!
Potholes are being ignored by many local Council’s across the country and yet cause £320 million of damage to cars in the UK every year, according to research by the AA.
Uninsured drivers could have cars seized
Recent reports from the BBC claim that Government ministers are drawing up plans to enable authorities to seize cars from uninsured motorists.
BBC reports alcohol locks could be fitted to cars
Alcohol locks that prevent cars starting if the driver is over the limit are being considered for Europe's largest car market.
Green tax could hit family cars
Drivers of big, high emission cars including family saloons could be penalised by a £1,000 hike in their motoring costs, it has been reported.
Uninsured motoring exceeds half a billion
The MIB estimates that the total cost of uninsured motoring in the UK exceeds half a billion pounds each year.
Smoking in cars: the debate continues
According to car magazine ‘WHATCAR?’ new research has re-ignited the smoking in cars debate.
Get set for more road cameras
Government to introduce 20mph speeds in residential areas
Motorists ignore speed cameras
Reckless driving continues despite road safety measures. Three quarters of UK drivers admit to speeding, despite an increase in speed camera numbers.
Heavier penalties for speeders
Drivers who fail to identify who was behind the wheel when a speeding offence is committed face a heavier penalty under new law changes that came into force on 24th September 2007.
Top Gear Survey ‘lifts the lid’ on motoring habits!
The famous Top Gear Magazine has recently compiled a study with more than 9000 UK motorists to ask personal questions about how their car affects their attitude on the road, and the findings make fascinating reading!
AA appeals to motorists to take effective breaks on long car journeys
New research by the AA reveals that nearly two-thirds of British motorists (63%) are not taking effective breaks when travelling long distances, which could lead to fatal accidents caused by tiredness.
Your company vehicle should be smoke free
The new smoking ban could actually include your company vehicle as well
You can check cheap petrol prices in your area
Make sure you are getting the best deal on petrol in your area
You can check your MOT record on-line
VOSA the vehicle and operator services agency has set up a facility which allows you to check a MOT record on-line.
Motorists too busy to replace tyres
According to a recent survey nearly a quarter of British motorists have knowingly driven on tyres that were at the legal minimum limit of 1.6mm because they were ‘too busy’ to have them replaced.
‘Treat Customers Fairly’ introduced by the FSA
Treating customers fairly (TCF) is one the FSA's biggest priorities for motor retailers and here at AvailableCar, we have been proud to follow their laws every step of the way since opening.
New driving licence launched by DVLA
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is issuing a new driving licence.
Changes in consumer credit laws
The Department of Trade & Industry has completed the first major review of the consumer credit laws (Consumer Credit Act (CCA) in over 30 years.
FLA launches motor finance website for consumers
The Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) which represents the asset, consumer and motor finance sector in the UK has launched an impartial, web-based guide to motor finance for both new and used cars.
Servicing ties removed from new car warranties
All major makes of new cars in the UK will in future (as of 14 May 2004) be sold without servicing ties as part of their warranties, following action by the OFT. Consumers will now be able to choose freely where they have their new car serviced.
Know your rights when buying a car from a dealer
Be aware of your rights when purchasing a car from a dealer.
Legal Minimum Put to the Test on Tyres!
Your car tyres play an important role in safe driving. With proper care your tyres will carry you safely for thousands of miles.
Cars over three years old must have an MOT test every year
You must have an MOT done every year once your car is over three years old- don't let it lapse!
New laws in place for the use of child car seats
Make sure you are in compliance with the new regulations for child car seats effective 18 September 2006.
Notify the DVLA once you sell your vehicle
For your own protection it is important to notify the DVLA when you sell your vehicle.
Used car warranties: Protection for your used car
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) protects consumers who are sold general insurance products within the retail sector, including within the motor trade.