Archive
There was a time when we’d buy our cars on hire purchase or with a loan, over a series of years, and once it was paid for we would probably start the process all over again. But nowadays, thanks to the rise of the Personal Contract Plan (PCP), we don’t even wait until we’ve paid … Continued
Cars are incredibly complicated things made up of thousands of parts that all rely on each other. It takes just one of those components to be poorly designed or manufactured and everything can be thrown out of kilter. Yet somehow, most cars roll out of the factory and give years of use without the need … Continued
New cars come with more personalisation options than ever; no longer is an extensive options list the preserve of the luxury car buyer. Buy a city car or supermini and you can still easily spend thousand of pounds on extra equipment – the question is, how far should you go? It would be easy to … Continued
Your car’s registration document, or V5C, is a summary of its details and history along with its owners. It’s a print-out of what information is held on your car at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The V5C is one of the most important documents when buying or selling a car, but it logs … Continued
Working in partnership with the SMMT to protect consumers against buying a car with a manufacturing fault or defect www.hpicheck.com/recall-check Vehicle history check expert, HPI, is helping used car buyers to make even safer purchase decisions with the launch of the HPI Recall Check. Now consumers can find out if a vehicle they are looking … Continued
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), as of January 2016 the average household debt stood at £11,800. This figure includes student loans but excludes mortgages, and it means a lot of us are in the red instead of the black. Despite so many of us owing so much money (the ONS also reckons … Continued
When you’re buying a used car there are all sorts of things that you need to take into account. Has it been crashed then poorly repaired? Is the suspension dangerously worn? Is the catalytic converter on its last legs? How much life is left in the battery? Even someone who has been buying and selling … Continued
Every year anywhere between six and eight million used cars change hands. At any one time there are hundreds of thousands of used cars for sale, so how do you make yours stand out from the rest? The key is to come up with an advert that lifts your car above all the others out … Continued
It’s a simple truth; drive a car without insurance and you’re breaking the law. Despite this, it’s reckoned there are more than 1 million uninsured drivers on our roads. They cost law-abiding motorists £400 million each year but only 150,000 or so are prosecuted annually. If you’re caught driving without insurance your car will be … Continued
Car buyers urged to take the property buyers approach to clinching a deal Despite a buyer’s best intentions, if a dream used car becomes available that ticks all the right boxes – except for the price tag – the budget can all too often get quickly forgotten. To stop the heart ruling the car buyer’s … Continued
There are all sorts of ways you can raise the funds to pay for a car, with some better than others. Here we’ll help you through the maze, but there’s one thing to remember above all else: it’s the final cost that matters. This will depend on: How much you borrow The monthly payments and … Continued
HPI warn drivers that money isn’t everything when buying a used car www.hpicarbuyersguide.co.uk Many used car buyers are tempted to buy from the place they feel is giving them the best financial deal, but the initial saving may end up costing a whole lot more down the line. HPI, provider of the HPI Check® is … Continued
Your car may have sentimental value and you probably love it even if you’re not especially attached to it. After all, your car gives you the freedom to go where you want, when you want. But to your insurance company it’s just another commodity; something to be disposed of at the stroke of a pen. … Continued
Sometimes when buying a used car it’s easy to be taken in by a seller who seems honest – or to glance at the shiny paint along with the immaculate interior and assume that the rest of the car must be just as good. But failing to take a test drive before buying a used … Continued
And warns motorists of the wear and tear dangers of buying a ‘clocked’ car www.hpicheck.com Long standing campaigner against so-called ‘mileage correction firms’, HPI, is applauding today’s news that Business Minister, Anna Soubry, has pledged a law change to close the loophole that enables fraudsters to wind back the miles on a vehicle’s odemeter. As many … Continued
If you’re thinking about buying your first car, you’re completely overwhelmed at all the choices you can make. You might be torn between new or used, petrol or diesel, manual or auto, what bodystyle to go for – along with exactly which make and model to go for. Your budget will probably dictate what you … Continued
The DVLA recently introduced an electronic system for car log book documentation when buying or selling a used car in the UK. The electronic changeover began with driving license paper counterparts, quickly followed by the elimination of road tax discs. Now the V5C log book has gone the same way. In particular, the electronic system … Continued
It took a long time for diesel cars to become popular in the UK, sales increases coming about largely because of tax incentives for fleet drivers. Until recently the rise of diesel seemed unstoppable, then Volkswagen was caught being dishonest and suddenly petrol-engined cars are back in favour once more. If you’re confused as to … Continued
