The RAC has developed and launched new industry-leading equipment that effectively brings flatbed recovery capability to its breakdown patrol vans, potentially saving hundreds of thousands of drivers time and stress every year.
(more…)PSA Group
RAC wins five-year roadside assistance supply deal with PSA Group
The RAC has signed a new five-year contract to provide roadside assistance services to Groupe PSA, the second largest car manufacturer in Europe.
Motoring
A rough month for drivers: petrol prices rise again
The average price of petrol rose for the second month in row with a litre going up by 2p in March to 122.58p, data from RAC Fuel Watch shows.
(more…)Blog Post
One in four drivers still using ‘red X’ lanes
Nearly a quarter of drivers have ignored a red X sign on a smart motorway, according to new research.
Blog Post
Fuel price rise in February ends three months of cuts.
Three consecutive months of price reductions on the forecourts came to a crashing halt in February as both petrol and diesel went up.
Blog Post
Buyers beware! Half of used vehicles checked turn out to have a hidden history
Drivers looking to buy a used car in 2019 need to be on their guard as figures from the RAC suggest more than half (52%) have a hidden history that could lead to problems for new owners.
A sample of RAC Vehicle History Checks covering more than 32,000 separate used cars for sale flagged up a multitude of possible issues that should make prospective buyers very wary before handing over their cash.
The most common issue was a change of number plate, with more than one-in-four (27.5%) vehicles analysed having recorded such a change. While this may simply be a switch to or from a personalised number plate, it could also be a sign that an unscrupulous former owner has tried to hide the vehicle’s true identity.
Next was the remarkable finding that nearly one-in-five (17.6%) vehicles were still in the process of being ‘paid off’ by previous owners despite being advertised for sale. This is something that should be a huge red flag for any buyer – it is likely to mean the car is still being leased or is legally still owned by a finance company under a hire purchase (HP) or personal contract purchase (PCP) arrangement, and cannot be sold on.
A surprising 14.2% of vehicles checked were deemed insurance write-offs – not the sort of vehicle most buyers would want to be parting with their money for – while 1.9% were either imports or exports, vehicles that warrant closer inspection as they must always be sold with particular documentation. A slightly smaller proportion (1.4%) of vehicles had had their colour changed at some point in their histories.
But perhaps most worryingly of all, a very small number for sale were either listed as stolen (0.2%) or technically scrapped (0.1%).
With used car values buoyant, the RAC is reminding drivers they need to be on their guard more than ever to ensure the money they are putting towards a car is cash well spent.
RAC Motoring Services spokesperson Francesca Mann said: “Drivers might be alarmed to see just how many vehicles for sale have hidden histories that could end up costing them dear should they decide to go ahead, but this is precisely why we make these checks in the first place – to give them the information they need to make the right choice.
“Forewarned is forearmed, and drivers that do their homework on vehicles put themselves in a much stronger position to negotiate on price, or simply walk away from the sale if they feel they are taking too great a risk. This is particularly relevant this time of year, as the arrival of 19-plate vehicles sees a rise in drivers seeking a good deal on used cars.
“We recommend every buyer insists on a comprehensive history check for any car they are looking to buy – they should ask to see one if buying through a dealer, or get their own if trawling used car advertisements. Any concerns should be raised directly with the seller before parting with any money.
“Of course, it is important to remember that red flags around things like a number plate change don’t necessarily signal bad news. Having this information to hand allows buyers to have an honest conversation with seller so that they can satisfy themselves nothing is awry. However, when it comes to things like discovering if a vehicle could still belong to a finance company despite being advertised for sale by a private seller – it is clear a history check could make the difference between a really good buy or a really bad one.
“And drivers looking for extra peace of mind before purchasing should consider the benefits of having the car professionally inspected by the RAC.”
Blog Post
Ten million drivers have now done retraining courses
The number of road users who have completed a driver retraining course since their introduction in 2010 has topped ten million.
Nine million of these have attended a speed aware course, 1.19 million of them in 2018 alone.
Last year 1.45 million people accepted a place on one of the eight courses sometimes offered by police as an alternative to a fine and points for more minor offences.
- The other courses include:
- The national motorway awareness course
- What’s driving us?
- Your belt – your life (online course)
Almost all the courses are run by private companies and the price of the courses can vary by type, location and provider. In 2017, NDORS (the organisation that administers the scheme) said fees ranged from £75 to £99.
Forty-five pounds out of each fee is returned to the police force which referred the offender.
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said “This data suggests that, astonishingly, as many as one in four drivers has now been sent back to the classroom for breaking road traffic law – hopefully to emerge as ambassadors for better, more responsible motoring behaviors.
“While the logic of sending drivers who commit minor transgressions back to the classroom is clear, it begs the question of what should be done in a similar vein to tutor those found guilty of more serious breaches of the rules of the roads before they injure or kill themselves or others?”
Blog Post
Government figures show reduction in drivers using phones
Use of mobile phones while driving could be falling, according to government statistics released this week.
(more…)Blog Post
Fuel prices fell for the third consecutive month
Fuel prices fell for the third consecutive month in January, with both petrol and diesel dropping more than a penny a litre.
(more…)Blog Post
Councils taking days to repair severe potholes
Pothole repair times vary across Great Britain with some local authorities responding in minutes and others in days, according to new research.
Blog Post
Petrol prices are 8p ‘too high’, says RAC
The average litre of petrol is still around 8p per litre too expensive, despite fuel prices falling in December.
Blog Post
More than half a million potholes reported to councils last year
More than half a million potholes were reported by members of the public to local authorities for repair last year, according to new research.
(more…)Blog Post
November fuel cuts were largest in four years
November saw the UK’s sharpest fuel price drops in four years, according to the RAC, but the organisation says retailers should have cut prices even further.
(more…)Blog Post
Daytime running lights causing confusing for drivers
A new study reveals daytime running lights (DRLs), which have been required to be fitted to all new cars since 2011, may be causing confusion for drivers.
(more…)Blog Post
Fuel costs finally fall, but retailers aren’t ‘playing fair’
Fuel prices are finally falling after a long period of overpriced fuel, according to data from the RAC.
(more…)Blog Post
Calls for new safety guidance after roadside mechanic deaths
Breakdown companies are calling for new guidance to protect roadside patrols after three mechanics were killed in 12 months.
Blog Post
Pothole plague causes twice as many breakdowns as 12 years ago
Potholes continue to plague motorists, as the RAC’s breakdown statistics suggest that the scarred streets are causing twice as many mechanical failures than they did 12 years ago.
(more…)