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Scrapping the tax disc has cost £94m in unpaid road tax
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More than 13,000 drivers convicted of mobile phone use every year
More than13,000 drivers have been caught and received over £2m in fines for using a mobile phone illegally, according to new research.
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Half of driver’s wait more than two months to fix faults
More than half of drivers wait more than two months before getting faults with their car fixed, a new survey has revealed.
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Vauxhall drivers among the worst for vehicle tax dodging
Around 180,000 people were caught without tax last year, according to the DVLA, a 4% increase on the previous year, which equates to around 7,000 drivers.
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Half of drivers think an MOT guarantees their car is safe for a whole year
Almost half of drivers believe an MOT is a guarantee their car will be safe to drive for the next 12 months.
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Drivers risking accidents and fines because they can’t afford repairs
Drivers are risking their safety by putting off essential work on their car, with some resorting to DIY fixes to keep themselves on the road.
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Study Says Rock Music Makes You Drive Faster
A Chinese study has apparently found that listening to fast paced music like rock makes you drive faster.
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Insurance pricing quirks could leave motorists out of pocket, Which? warns
Drivers could risk paying hundreds of pounds more than they need to for car insurance due to “quirks” in how insurers and comparison websites collect data, according to Which?
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Drivers avoid using open hard shoulder on smart motorways
Drivers are avoiding using the open hard shoulder on all lane running smart motorways, new research has revealed.
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Councils receive a pothole complaint every 46 seconds
Councils are being bombarded with pothole complaints, with new figures revealing that local authorities receive one every 46 seconds.
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August is the cheapest time to insure a car
A Study by insurance firm MoneySupermarket suggests that wallet-savvy motorists should renew their insurance policies in August for the best rates.
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Attention deficit—millions of drivers causing road collisions when using mobile phones
New research reveals that over 2.7 million drivers have had a collision or veered off the road in the last two years because they were distracted by their mobile phone.
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Half of drivers think it should be illegal for insurers to overcharge loyal customers
A study by GoCompare found 61% of motorist feel insurers reserve the best prices for new customers at the expense of loyal policyholders.
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Young drivers’ lack of maintenance knowledge could cost
Young drivers’ lack of basic car maintenance knowledge is exposing them to the risk of fines and costly repair bills, according to new research.
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70% of Drivers knowingly Speed
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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.
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Over half of drivers still uses phone while driving
Around 60% of drivers still uses their mobile phone while driving, despite the introduction of tougher penalties more than two years ago.
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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.”