Industry news

Find below a selection of industry articles.

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DSA cracks down on impersonators

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has reiterated that it will not tolerate driving test impersonators following the prosecution of an offender in Ipswich.

Petrol prices coming down, says expert

Aside from the cost of car insurance and road tax, motorists have had to contend with rising fuel costs in recent months.

New legal service launched for drivers

A new online service has been launched to help motorists avoid getting points on their licence and having to pay more expensive car insurance premiums.

Sending texts 'poses a risk'

Taking their eyes off the wheel to send a text message can impair a motorist's driving skills more than alcohol or drugs, it has been claimed.

Police 'worried' about number of traffic offences

Even though they can lead to higher car insurance premiums, motoring offences do not seem to be being taken "seriously enough" by motorists, it has been claimed.

Cities are worst for uninsured drivers, expert claims

The UK's cities are the worst areas for the number of people without insurance, it has been claimed by the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB)

Police 'making progress on insurance dodgers'

The police have had a "great deal of success" in tackling the number of drivers taking to the UK's roads without car insurance, it has been claimed.

Consumers urged not to cut insurance

As many households are feeling the strain of the rising cost of living and current economic conditions, some may be tempted to cut back on their financial outgoings.

Van "targeted" by thieves

The owners of a Volkswagen camper van believe their vehicle was "specifically targeted" by thieves after its windscreen was stolen, van insurance customers may be interested to know.

Best and worst roads revealed

Best and worst roads revealed

Travel Insurance Web

Find out about buying travel insurance online

Motorists 'heed speed warning'

Car insurance customers may be interested to learn that a growing number of motorists in one region of the UK are keeping their speed in check.

Council pledges to remove illegal road signs

Car insurance customers confused by the multitude of road signs on a stretch of road in England may welcome the news that the local council is planning to crack down on those who put them up.

Bold Modern Car Designs

Car manufacturers are constantly pushing the boundaries of design and here is a list of 10 cars (in no particular order) that revolutionised the industry.

Best Driving Holiday Destinations in Europe

By driving to and through Europe in your own car you not only have more control of your holiday, but it can save you money as well.

Satellite Navigation systems - All you need to know

As more cars are no equipped with satellite navigation (sat nav) systems, it has become a vital part of society.

Best Driving Holiday Destinations in UK

The UK isn't exactly known around the world for its scenic drives, but there are some beautiful routes to take around our country, here are some of the best ones we found.

The Most Affordable and Environmentally Friendly Cars

New regulations have set a system in place that if you should purchase a car in 2010 and it emits more than 130g of CO2 per kilometre you travel you will have to pay the "first year rate" charge.

Raising parking charges 'a welcome move'

Local government minister John Healey's suggestion that councils should charge more for parking has been welcomed by the Environmental Transport Association.

Van registrations fall in July

According to the society, there was a 16.7 per cent fall in van registrations last month, although this represented a 0.2 per cent increase on the number recorded for the rolling year, van insurance customers may be interested to learn.

Yamaha bikes 'proving popular'

Motorbike insurance customers have been able to get their hands on the manufacturer's YZFR125 bike since May and it has been proving popular.

Learning to drive is 'testing time' for families

In a study by Mercedes-Benz, a third of UK motorists said they learned to drive with their family and friends.

Drivers 'happy to resit test at 70'

In an online poll by car supermarket Motorpoint it was found that the majority of motorists would like the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) to make it compulsory for people over 70-years-old to resit their test.

'Check home insurance before making bio diesel'

With the cost of fuel rising, many car owners are thinking of making their own bio diesel from cooking oil and potentially saving themselves money.

Used car values drop as credit crunch bites

EurotaxGlass's, publisher of Glass's Guide to Car Values, has said that used car values will fall by at least 12 per cent between now and Christmas, which may interest those car insurance customers thinking about buying a second-hand vehicle.

Car demand falls 'due to low consumer confidence'

Data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has shown that the new car market in July was down by 13 per cent compared to the previous month and sales had fallen by three per cent in the year to date.

Prices 'under pressure' in van market

In the latest Pulse data, it has been shown that the values of vans fell again during June, which may interest van insurance customers.

Car appearance 'could be key to good love life'

In a survey by Kwik-Fit, it was found that 14 million UK drivers and car insurance customers said they could tell a lot about a prospective partner from the state of their vehicle.

Treasury 'could do more' to help those hit by car tax rise

In a report released this week, the Committee has concluded that although there is nothing "intrinsically unfair" about the new vehicle excise duty rates, it recommends a scheme where drivers of cars with high emissions should be able to trade in their vehicles for more efficient models.

Car insurance 'is top priority when driving abroad'/a>

With millions of Brits taking their cars and abroad this summer, a national newspaper has compiled a list of must-haves for motorists, with good car insurance coming out on top.

Low-mileage vehicle owners 'risking tyre problems'

Many motorists of low-mileage vehicles are risking tyre problems in the coming months by not regularly checking the condition of their wheels, it has been claimed.

RoSPA to host road safety conference

A major conference of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is being held in a bid to assess which approaches to road safety from the past can be used to further reduce road deaths.

New figures show 11% traffic increase since 1997

New figures have revealed that car traffic has increased by 11 per cent in the past 11 years.

Younger drivers sent road safety messages via text

Younger drivers are being targeted with a road safety alert via their mobile phones, it has been reported.

Motorbike association calls for deferment of new test

The Motorcycle Rider Training Association (MRTA) has called on the government to postpone the implementation of a new motorcycle test.

Check car insurance before driving abroad, says expert

Motorists should check their car insurance policy before driving abroad, an industry expert has warned.

Car insurance price is 'most important' for drivers

Drivers hunting for car insurance have claimed that the price of a policy is the most important factor when choosing which company to go with, according to recent research.

Government announces strategy to protect bikers

The government has announced a new strategy aimed at reducing the number of bikers who are injured on UK roads.

House improvements 'could affect home insurance'

Homeowners who are upgrading or extending their houses have been warned that any changes could affect home insurance policies and could leave them under-insured.

Three quarters of motorists 'don't know correct oil light meaning'

Around three quarters of UK drivers don't know what the oil light means when it goes on in their vehicle, recent research has shown.

Electric van 'could offer cheaper motoring'

An electric van could offer cheaper motoring to drivers of vans and commercial vehicles as the running costs are the same as the increase in the price of driving a diesel van, an expert has claimed.

What Car? launches first Green Awards

What Car? has announced it hold the first ever Green Awards at the British International Motor Show this year.

Cheap car insurance

UK drivers say that getting the cheapest price for car insurance is the most important factor when they are shopping for cover, according to research by FairInvestment.co.uk.

'Virtual' motorbike could improve road safety

A motorbike simulator has been created by British scientists in a bid to improve road safety.

Home insurance 'most popular type of cover'

Home insurance is the most popular type of policy and is taken out by nine out of every ten people, a new report has shown.

Fuel effeciency measurements are 'misleading'

Motorists could judge their vehicle's fuel economy more effectively by using gallons per mile rather than miles per gallon, according to researchers.

Van makers to publish CO2 emissions figures

Van manufacturing firms have promised to make the CO2 emissions for the vehicles they produce available to buyers so that they know how environmentally friendly their potential purchase is.

Greenpeace calls for more tax on worst-polluting cars

Environmental organisation Greenpeace has urged the government to further increase road tax for the most polluting cars on the roads.

Mini Cooper owners 'sociable online'

Mini Cooper drivers - potentially including those with car insurance cover - may be among the most sociable drivers on the net.

Drivers may 'cut car insurance cover'

A fifth of UK motorists have said that they plan to reduce the car insurance cover they have in a bid to reduce spending during the credit crunch.

Slowdown for used van market

The demand for used vans has continued to fall for the second month in a row and values are now at their lowest this year, according to the latest data from British Car Auctions (BCA).

Motorbike boss: "DVLA lost my licence"

The boss of Donington Park racetrack has revealed that the DVLA lost all his motorcycle records and he was forced into a last minute test in order to compete in a race.

MCIA welcomes apology to bikers

The Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCIA) has welcomed the apology made to motorcyclists for incorrect figures that claimed nearly 40 per cent of UK bikers did not pay road tax.

ABI acts to 'widen access' to home insurance

The ABI organised an event for council housing providers and housing associations in order to work on improving access to home insurance for low-income families in the north-east of England.

Homeowners urged to check for subsidence

Homeowners have been advised to check their properties for subsidence and to call their home insurance provider immediately if they think there may be a problem.

New road sign to prevent satnav blunders

Government ministers are planning to introduce a new road sign to tell drivers in lorries and vans that their satnav system has sent them down an unsuitable road.

Government expected to back Manchester congestion charge

The government is expected to announce its support for a congestion charge to be implemented in Greater Manchester.

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