Archive
With most things in life, the more you put in, the more you get out. That’s certainly the case when it comes to buying a used car, because the more effort you put into the purchasing process, the bigger the savings you can make – but unfortunately the stress levels can be that much … Continued
We all dread it; the annual roadworthiness test that might just land us with a big bill, because some vital component on the car has worn out and needs to be replaced. Once your car has reached its third birthday it must be put through an annual MoT, to ensure everything is working as it … Continued
Automotive experts, HPI has revealed the Top 13 list of eerily named vehicles following a poll amongst its team of motoring editors. Tim Bearder at HPI said: “With Halloween just around the corner we thought it would be fun to look at some of the scary names car manufacturers give to their models. Getting the … Continued
Trading Standards has to deal with more complaints about used cars than any other product. With more than seven million sold in the UK every year, perhaps that should come as no surprise – cars are complex things and can suffer from a wide array of problems. But what are your rights when it comes … Continued
You’ve got to have your wits about you when buying a used car, because it’s so easy to get your fingers burned. But it’s a lot easier than you might think to weed out the dross, by making a few straightforward checks. If you want to make sure you buy a peach rather than a … Continued
For some people, their car is like a family member. It’s been doted on and has given reliable service for years, which is why parting can be such a wrench. So what happens when that car is written off through crash damage, which may be only minor? The problem that owners have when a car … Continued
If there are two things that seem to cause more confusion among car buyers and owners than anything else, it’s how car insurance works along with how and why insurance companies write off cars. So when you combine the two, head scratching galore is guaranteed. First off, a quick refresher. To drive legally on public … Continued
This week the newspapers have been giving plenty of coverage to the fact that next year, it’s likely that the penalty for using a mobile phone while driving will be doubled. Instead of notching up three points on your licence along with a £100 fine, you’ll instead get six points and your wallet will be … Continued
We all hate having to pay insurance, whether it’s on our homes, pets or cars. The thing is, while it’s optional on most things, you get no choice when it comes to your car. And what’s worse, car insurance is never cheap – but why does it have to be quite so expensive? The simple … Continued
Running a car costs money and you can only minimise that cost, not eliminate it altogether. So far so obvious, but it’s amazing how many people spend far more on their transport than is necessary; indeed, overspending is the norm. One of the easiest ways of slashing your motoring costs is to pick the right … Continued
As record numbers of students are offered university places for 2016, vehicle history check expert, HPI, is urging students who might be getting their first car to be thorough when doing their homework. Philip Nothard, consumer and retail specialist at HPI said: “For students who are embarking on an exciting new life in a new … Continued
If we all bought our cars on a rational basis we’d end up driving a mid-sized family hatchback with a small engine. But for most of us the car we buy is dictated by our heart as much as our head – for many it’s more of an emotional purchase than it is a sensible … Continued
The chances are that ever since you bought your first used car, you’ve read that you should invest in a pre-purchase HPI Check. And so you should. We might be a bit biased when it comes to offering such advice, but there are sound reasons why we have faith in our product; we can give … Continued
Motorways are our safest roads. Despite the number of vehicles they carry and the high speeds usually involved, there are fewer crashes and casualties on motorways than on any other type of road. However, those high speeds and the fact that many drivers leave no room for error mean that you’re generally only safe when … Continued
HPI Safety Recall Check offers consumer peace of mind against buying faulty cars. Vehicle history check provider, HPI, is urging car buyers to be aware of their rights and remember to check if the vehicle they want to buy is subject to a manufacturer recall. The warning comes as figures reveal that over six million … Continued
The holiday season is upon us and the chances are you’ve not checked your car’s tyre pressures or fluid levels since, well, ever. Let’s face it, you’ve always got something better to do than crawl around your car making sure it’s not about to expire in a cloud of steam. But neglect your car and … Continued
In 2014/15, local councils made £693m profit from parking fines across the UK. That’s not the turnover – it’s what was left after the costs had been paid of issuing the estimated 10 million or so tickets issued. Top of the league table was Westminster, which made over £46m profit on its own. With one … Continued
According to Auto Rental News, there are around 2.2 million cars available for hire in the US right now. That’s around the same number of new cars that are sold in the UK each year. The value of those rentals is $26 billion annually – and that’s just the US. Figures aren’t available for the … Continued
