gices

Member since	: 18 Apr 2008
Last login	: 22 May 2012 17:12
Level	: 2
Points	: 778

G+ :- Gices Abraham

finance for car in my aunts name but i will be main driver, who will be registered keeper?
It makes sense that the finance company does not want the owner to be changed because until the loan is cleared, they need to be able to repossess the car.

Being a registered keeper does not give you rights to sell the car though; it only means you are responsible for the day to day maintenance of the car (parking tickets, speeding etc). Therefore if your aunts makes you the registered keeper, you will both benefit.

kylestucon | 17 May 2012 15:10

finance for car in my aunts name but i will be main driver, who will be registered keeper?
That's a lot of confusion!

Can't you get your aunt to make you the registered keeper? It's just a matter of filling in the registration certificate and the changes will be completed within a couple of days. This way you get to be the registered keeper and main driver for insurance purposes. Your aunt will stay the owner of the car though.

kylestucon | 17 May 2012 12:50

Hi, I'm 18 and i want a short term insurance policy, about 2-3 months. Is this possible? and which company should i use?
Have you tried eCarInsurance? They offer a pay as you go insurance scheme which is renewable on a monthly basis and they will provide cover to you even if you're 18 as long as you have a full driving licence.

Rob_Andrews | 11 May 2012 19:57

i am having problems applying enough pressure to the handbrake to hold it on hills because of problems with hands
The handbrake might be too tight. If it's difficult to pull it up before it engages, then this is a sign that it needs loosening.

Otherwise it may need replacing probably because it's started to wear out and cannot cope with the pressure when it's on a hill. When was the last time you change your parking brake?

roycraven | 26 Apr 2012 10:01

My Son ended a 6 month ban for speeding in March 2012 and is finding it difficult to get Insurance.
If he was done for speeding, then a smaller car could work in his favour but if he was banned for drink driving, then it wouldn't make any difference. But then again that depends from insurer to insurer as they have different ways of underwriting a car insurance application.

So the problem he is facing is that he cannot get insurance, right? And not that the quotes are too expensive because of his conviction?

What insurers did he approach? Mainstream insurers like those found on GoCompare/Confused are looking for no-troubles applicant, so if you haven't got a clean licence, then things may not look bright with them. He'll need to contact specialist insurers who deal in speeding offences to get coverage. Now before I suggest some insurers, it will be good to know if he's been in touch with any convicted drivers insurers first?

Margaret1 | 23 Apr 2012 18:14

Can you be the registered keeper on 2 cars????
You can be the registered keeper on as many cars as you like. And the same goes for being the main driver.

However you can only use your no claims discount on one car only. So it is better if you use it on the car that's more expensive to insure. This will allow you to make the most savings.

kath-han | 13 Apr 2012 13:50

Not the registered keeper of the car but can I sell it
The registered keeper is not always the legal owner.

jals1962 | 13 Apr 2012 13:48

Not the registered keeper of the car but can I sell it
If the loan is in her name, then you wouldn't be able to sell it without her signature. Do you have any proof that you are making the repayments for the loan? You see, a registered keeper does not necessarily own the car; it's similar to company cars where the person who drives the car is put down as the registered keeper but he cannot sell it as the car belongs to the company he is working for.

In your case, you need to have proof that you bought the car or you're making the payments for the loan. The problem that you will encounter is that he finance has been taken in your ex-partner's name and that in itself means she most likely owns the car, no matter who is settling the debt. But if you can show that the payments are being taken from your bank account, then you may have evidence to dispute and can get ownership of the car.

jals1962 | 13 Apr 2012 13:47

i am having problems applying enough pressure to the handbrake to hold it on hills because of problems with hands
I did not quite get your question. Is there a problem with your handbrake as in it needs tightening or do you have problems with your hands?

roycraven | 12 Apr 2012 18:18

Even with Pass Plus my quotes are high, which insurance will give me cheaper quotes?
You should have checked what the quotes would be like with the Pass Plus course before actually doing the course if you wanted to achieve savings on your car insurance quotes. Nevertheless, the pass plus will make you a better driver because you get to learn important driving skills, like how to drive safely on the motorway.

I suppose you've already checked car insurance comparison websites, right? If not, please do so. The more quotes you get, the better.

You see the problem is not with you but all new drivers face the same problem. The only thing that you can do is find another car which falls in the low car insurance group and see if that reduces your quote :

http://www.fancyacar.co.uk/car-insurance...

Remember to use a comparison website so that you don't have to enter your details over and over again.

kamal | 08 Apr 2012 17:25

I would like to know if the pills that I have been on for yrs will affect my liver & stop me getting my licence back, im on Codydromol.
It's difficult to tell because co-dydromol can cause liver damage when taken in high quantities and since you've been on those pills for years now, they could have indeed have an effect on your liver.

However your GP would know that you've been prescribed those medicines for health reasons and when doing the DVLA medical (which is what I think you're question is all about), this would be taken into consideration so that you have a fair diagnosis.

If you think your results was unfair or biased, you can always appeal. When is your medical test due?

Alison_Gibson | 28 Mar 2012 18:32

I have fully comprehensive car insce, but have recently scrapped my car. Am I still able to drive other cars, 3rd party, under this policy?
Your car insurance policy is linked to the car that you have insured and if that car no longer exists, then the policy does not hold anymore. Therefore you will have to add another car to the policy for it to be active and then if you have the drive other cars' facility on the insurance, you'll be able to use it. Otherwise, you'll be driving without insurance.

thatmanfriday | 19 Mar 2012 05:59

Is it possible to get the disqualification for a dr10 removed from a license.
DR10 can only be removed from the licence after 11 years from the date of conviction. There's no workaround unfortunately.

You can always argue that you've held a clean licence for 9 years now and even car insurance companies look for convictions within the last 5 years and you've got nearly double that amount.

dddriver | 14 Mar 2012 17:49

i was banned from driving 2 years ago for 1 year after 23 years of driving can i become a driving instructor
To become a driving instructor, you shouldn't have any convictions within the last 4 years. This is because you'll be working with people and your personal and professional attitude needs to be assessed before giving you the go ahead.

nigemaggs | 02 Mar 2012 12:37

Can I insure my 2006 Ford Ka for laid up Insurance
You should be able to reduce coverage of your policy to just Third Party, Fire & Theft (TPFT) or Fire and Theft only. The latter is what we call laid up car insurance. So try contacting Swinton again to see if they are willing to downgrade your policy.

When you declare SORN, insurers will not want to offer comprehensive cover because you could be claiming for just about anything when you're not really using the car. That's why they asked you to find another policy that better matches your circumstances now.

I'll second peach suggestion for Directline. Have you tried them? What was the outcome?

LauraWagstaff36 | 02 Mar 2012 12:34

How long after a driving ban can I apply for a HGV licence
There's no specific length of time after which you can apply for the HGV licence following a driving ban. However you will need to declare all convictions within the last 4 years. This includes motoring convictions as well as breaches of drivers' hours, overloading of your vehicle and road-worthiness of your vehicle.

The DVLA is quite strict when it comes to issuing HGV licences so you will need to be a candidate of really high standard to get the licence.

Please fill in the D2 form to request provisional HGV entitlement and complete a D4 form as well. Category C is for over 7.5 tonnes. Send both forms and your photocard and counterpart to DVLA.

nigemaggs | 25 Feb 2012 17:26

Am I supposed to be liable for my second driver’s accident claim?
Unfortunately that's the risk you're taking when naming additional drivers on your car insurance policy. Your no claims bonus will be reduced if they have an accident where they are at fault. The same thing happened to me and yes it is not fair but that's how the insurance industry works.

You will definitely see a huge increase in premiums if your NCB has been reset to zero but remember that the accident remains on your son's name and not yours. As far as you are concerned, you still have a perfect driving record, that is, no accidents/no claims on your behalf, the only difference now is that you don't have any NCB to bring your quotes down.

RAI | 17 Feb 2012 12:42

My son's ex took out a loan for his car (registered in his name).She asked him to sign the car over to her for sale.Who pays excess owed?
If the loan was taken out in the ex's name, then she's the one liable for repayments. It looks like the car actually belongs to the ex from what you said because your son is only the registered keeper and not the actual owner. He does not have rights of sale on the car and if he takes over the payments for the car and settles the finance, he won't become the legal owner.

You son doesn't have any proof that he purchased the car right? It's the ex who has it, in terms of the finance for the car being in her name, right?

roruna | 13 Feb 2012 19:42

Hi, I was supervising my son driving and he got caught speeding on a speed camera. I was just wondering if I would get a fine or any points?
No you won't :)

It's the driver who is responsible for abiding by the highway codes whether it's a learner driver or an experienced one.

purplelurple | 09 Feb 2012 11:20

Hi, I was supervising my son driving and he got caught speeding on a speed camera. I was just wondering if I would get a fine or any points?
Good. Do not delay to fill out the form and send it back as you have 14 days to inform DVLA otherwise the fine may be increased.

Your son is likely to receive 3 penalty points on his licence and get a £60 fine.

Car insurance for new drivers are expensive as it is, so your son needs to be very careful as young drivers without a clean licence face extortionate quotes and it would be a shame to pass his driving test and not able to drive because he cannot afford to insure his car.

purplelurple | 09 Feb 2012 07:17

Driving examiner strike on 10th of May 2012 can cause disruption to practical tests
For those learner drivers who've booked their driving tests on Thursday 10th of May 2012, there's no guarantee that they will be able to go through with the test because many driving examiners may be going on strike on that particular day.

DSA nevertheless advises people to turn up for the test as things could eventually change. If the strike goes through, you will still be able to do the following:

1. Rebook a driving test (free)
2. Claim your out of pocket expenses

If however you want to cancel or postpone your test, you need to do that before 4th May 2012, otherwise you might lose the fee that you've paid.

gices | 03 May 2012 12:27

New theory test book available for learner drivers
Back in November 2010, DSA announced that they will no longer be using questions that have been published in their driving theory test as from January 2012 and now they have revised the theory test book to help learners better prepare for their test.

The problem with the current system is that most people tend to memorise the questions & answers rather than really understand what's going on. So it defeats the purpose and to address the problem, new questions will be introduced as well a rewording will be performed.

What are your thoughts about this change to the theory test?

gices | 21 Sep 2011 20:49

Adding an immobiliser, alarm or tracker will not necessarily reduce your car insurance
Thank you for your comment. What surprised me the most is that these devices are supposed to increase the security of your car but insurers are looking at it as a modification and this becomes their excuse for increasing your premiums. Such a shame!

gices | 13 Apr 2012 13:41

Laid up motorcycle insurance
Have you tried insuring your bike under your home insurance?

gices | 14 Jul 2011 21:10

How to jump start a car
Pat,
The jump start leads should pull the required amount of amps it needs. However if your battery is completely dead, it is better to get a new one as this will save you from breaking down when you least expect it.

gices | 05 Feb 2008 05:43

Car clutch
Tony,
It's quite normal to feel this way especially if you've been driving on a used clutch for a long time. New clutches tend to bite quickly, so don't worry about it and slowly you'll get used to it.

gices | 05 Feb 2008 05:33

Cheap car insurance for young new drivers
Nadine,
Please check the article on getting car insurance for learner drivers to know which companies will take you on.

gices | 05 Feb 2008 05:22

Driving ban
Andrew,

The driving rehabilitation course only allows you to reduce your driving ban to a shorter term and will not facilitate the process of getting car insurance under these circumstances. Insurance companies will still take into account your driving offence I'm afraid.

gices | 31 Jan 2008 04:59

Training to be a driving instructor
bernie and hussain,

Please refer to the Transport Office UK for more information regarding your suitability to become a driving instructor. You will find links to apply as an instructor on there as well.

gices | 29 Jan 2008 09:38

Cheapest cars to insure

Garry,
I had the same problem when i first passed my test; was quoted £2900! I managed to get the quote down to £1100 though. Check out:

Direct Line Car Insurance

It will allow you to build up your no claims bonus even as a second driver and will bring down your quote if you add any of your parents as the main driver (provided they are experienced drivers).

gices | 17 Jan 2008 07:43

Minor driving faults
You will not fail for stalling the car once but if you do this repeatedly, then it will be considered as a serious fault and you will fail. Remember that if you collect more than 3 minors within the same category (The Driving Test Report is divided into categories, eg Control category which tests your ability to use the clutch, gear, accelerator, footbrake, parking brake etc), you will not pass your test. If you want more information on this subject, please click on the following link and go to page 39:

How the Driving Test is assessed by DSA examiners

gices | 16 Jan 2008 04:25

Driving Theory Test
I am assuming you are refering to the multiple choice part of the driving theory test. You will fail the exam because you need 86% (43 out of 50 questions right) on the overall score to pass the test.

gices | 15 Jan 2008 09:00

Minor driving faults
The kerb is the edge between a sidewalk and a roadway. Usually when we are walking on the pavement, we need to step off the kerb (raised surface) to get on the street.

gices | 15 Jan 2008 08:51

How to resolve handbrake problems
Replacing the handbrake should take about an hour and the labour costs will be in the region of £30 + the cost of the new handbrake cable. However labour costs vary from one garage to another.

gices | 15 Jan 2008 08:33

Cheap car insurance for young new drivers
David,

I'd suggest you go for a Fiat Punto but you can also check out the article on cheapest car to insure for young drivers for other models which may interest you.

gices | 15 Jan 2008 06:54

Foreign drivers can get temporary car insurance now
For a long time, people coming to visit the UK were unable to find car insurance because they held driving licences from countries not in the EU. Citizens of South Africa, Australia, USA, New Zealand and Canada were gutted that they could not drive their family or friend’s car whilst on holiday in England and were either forced to hire a car or not drive at all but this has all changed now. It is undoubtedly cheaper to explore the UK by car and more convenient as well. You only have to pay fo...

gices | 04 May 2012 12:23

Top 5 reasons why automatic cars are better than manual ones
I’ve always been biased towards manual cars because I learnt driving in one and over the years I’ve gotten used to it. Most people do not like change because the unknown worries us as we don’t feel secure and this happened to me as well when I decided to get an automatic car. If it was not because I didn’t have any choice, I wouldn’t do it but now that I have, I do not regret it a single bit. So here’s how my Nissan Tiida automatic car has helped me: No need to change gears anymore When d...

gices | 26 Apr 2012 09:13

Carkoon, the most advanced car seat protection or just a marketing ploy?
We all want what's best for our children and like we all know, rear facing car seats are the safest for young children. Currently car seats can vary in price starting from as little as £50 to £250. When I had to buy one for my first child, I went for the best one that was available at that time (MaxiCosy) together with the base for £120 and it was highly rated by Which magazine which gave me more confidence. It made life so much easier but if I didn’t have a budget then there was also one for ov...

gices | 17 Apr 2012 12:30

16 year olds would be allowed to drive legally on UK roads
Many teenagers will be delighted to know that in January 2013, a new law will come into effect whereby a 16 year old will be able to drive a micro car. In some European countries, this is already the norm and in France, you are able to drive at the age of 14. The term micro-car refers to a vehicle smaller than city cars and to comply with the British law, it needs to weigh no more than 350Kg and travel at a maximum speed limit of 28mph. For those who will be turning sixteen in January 2013, i...

gices | 14 Apr 2012 09:37

Drivers of uninsured and untaxed cars will not be allowed to refuel
The high number of uninsured motorists has become a huge problem in the UK as innocent drivers see significant increase in premiums year after year because insurers have to pay out claims but are not getting their money back. Drastic measures have already been put in place where cars without valid insurance are crashed and those without tax are towed away but that does not seem to be enough to deter the outlaws. So new plans are being proposed to stop drivers from filling up at petrol stations ...

gices | 02 Apr 2012 13:33

Driving habits will change with the introduction of Telematics when getting car insurance
As you may have heard the ‘little black box’ sat-nav tracker is set to become the new policy for car insurance in the near future. A year or two ago, it was being offered by Norwich Union (now Aviva) until they dropped it but now other insurance providers are set to implement trackers as standard going forward. Young Marmalade has been implementing the little black box for some new and young drivers a few years now and this has been proved popular too. Many new drivers are willing to adopt th...

gices | 27 Mar 2012 10:11

Flying cars to be available to everyone soon
We’ve seen them in many movies and we wondered whether flying cars would eventually become a reality. The idea of being able to use airspace and avoid traffic seems very appealing to many people and the long wait will soon be over. Terrafugia, a USA based company, has been developing and refining the Transition Roadable Aircraft (TRA) since 2006 and they are now ready to offer this fururistic vehicle to those who are interested in acquiring one of them. Terrafugia which means “Escape the eart...

gices | 18 Mar 2012 09:14

Is it worth getting car contents insurance for your valuable possessions?
Most people nowadays have a few cool gadgets for their cars – a satellite navigation system enables the driver to go from A to B without any difficulty or prior knowledge of the route whilst an MP3 player/iPod makes the journey more enjoyable. Very often, these devices are left in the car sometimes unhidden and they usually become a target for thieves who are always looking for an easy opportunity to steal your things. Fortunately some car insurance policies come with car contents cover which gi...

gices | 09 Mar 2012 08:45

Driver Awareness Courses
Sometimes people are too much in a rush and find themselves jumping a red light or breaking the speed limit without any real thoughts to the consequences these could lead to. Now unless you’ve been given an NIP (Notice of Intended Prosecution), you wouldn’t worry too much about the motoring laws you’ve broken and will carry on with your life. Although safety should be a top priority for everyone, many drivers find themselves in breach of the Highway Code. For some, they unknowingly go through...

gices | 02 Mar 2012 11:26

Telematics may soon become compulsory when getting car insurance
For decades it has been a well known fact that women are generally safer drivers than men, therefore having an additional driver who is female on your insurance policy will mean lower insurance premiums. Last year Belgian campaigners managed to persuade the court that it is gender discrimination by offering women lower insurance premiums than men although it is a well known fact that men are responsible for 98% of dangerous driving convictions but now insurers will have to disregard that. Women ...

gices | 24 Feb 2012 13:21

How to sell your car fast without losing money
Usually when someone is thinking about selling their car fast, it means they are having finance problems and need cash really quick. For me, the circumstances were different as I was moving to another country and I had to get rid of my car before flying out. Get a valuation of your car The actual value of your car depends on many things like the make/model, how old it is, the state of the car, the mileage etc. I found that the used car valuation service from Parkers gives you a rough indicatio...

gices | 17 Feb 2012 15:04

Adding an immobiliser, alarm or tracker will not necessarily reduce your car insurance
It is a known fact that installing security devices like an immobiliser, a car alarm system or a tracker device will bring your car insurance quote down but that’s not necessary true. I wanted to know how much I could save on my car insurance premiums if I had one or more of these security devices however this information was not readily available on the Internet. I thought somewhere on a blog or forum I would be able to see what difference it really makes to your premiums but unfortunately I ha...

gices | 02 Feb 2012 11:47

Cancelling your car insurance when you no longer need it
When it comes to car insurance, I usually pay the premiums in full because it saves me money on interest. However 7 months into the year, I no longer needed the insurance cover because I was moving abroad. So I knew I had to contact the insurance company to get any refunds that I was due but little did I know how difficult that would prove to be. First of all, let’s have a look at some facts when it comes to car insurance cancellation. You are usually given a 14 day cooling period when you st...

gices | 21 Nov 2011 17:38

Thieves posing as potential buyers to steal your car and ship to other countries
Car thefts have been occurring since they were first made in 1894 but as technology advances and car manufacturers continue looking for new ways to prevent thefts, are our cars really safe? Many cars nowadays, especially top of the range ones, have a GPS tracking system so if they are stolen they can be easily tracked down. Other security measures are cars that need pin numbers in order for the driver to operate it and also the good old fashioned alarm system. Thieves nowadays are getting mo...

gices | 13 Oct 2011 23:10

Jewish community gets help with traffic signal for safe crossing during Sabbath period
The UK is known for being diverse with many people of all religions and cultures setting up home here. One community that we do not hear from much is the Jewish community who are very private; there are many parts of the UK that have large Jewish communities with most of them in London itself. Friday’s are particularly sacred for Jews as it is Sabbath and as result of this Jews are forbidden to use electricity or operate machinery. In their homes they can adapt and get by without having to break...

gices | 06 Oct 2011 13:07

Having things hanging in your car can be a danger when driving
The AA has recently done a survey about 'ornamental clutter' that compromises road safety. We all learnt about the blind spot when we took driving lessons but now drivers are inadvertently causing dangerous blind spots by hanging things up in their car. Hanging air fresheners are nothing new and have been around for a long time and are getting out of hand. Nowadays drivers are putting up all sorts of things by hanging them under their rear-view mirror thinking it looks nice but they are causing ...

gices | 06 Oct 2011 12:53

Drink drive limit to stay the same in the UK
Since the UK joined the EU, it has been under enormous pressure to change their laws so that they are in line with the other European states. The latest law to be questioned was the drink driving limit, currently you are allowed to drive if you have 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. But in much of the continent and all of Europe the limit is 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. How much can I drink and still drive legally? This has been debatable for some time as there are other factors to ...

gices | 10 Sep 2011 13:10

MyKey from Ford - An ingenious way to set restrictions on your car when others are driving it
There is always news features telling us how expensive insurance for teenagers and newly qualified drivers are, the statistics show that the majority of drivers under 21 will have to pay in excess of £1,500 for car insurance. Many report that they have been quoted as much as £3,000 for third party insurance on a car worth just £1,000, fortunately for their parents they do not have this problem as experience counts and most adults who have held their licence for at least a few years will find tha...

gices | 10 Sep 2011 13:03

How to overcome your fear of driving
Many people suffer from a common problem, a phobia, which is a fear of driving. It can take many forms like intense sweating, incapacity to move, palpitations and even panic attacks. These may result when people find themselves in certain situations where they are no longer at ease such as the thick strand of traffic on the highway, crossing bridges, getting out of traffic jams etc. if not tackled properly and at an early stage, this phobia can take some of the forms of entertainment like simple...

gices | 10 Sep 2011 12:23

How distractions while driving can be deadly
Driving is an activity that requires total concentration and focus, being able to make sharp and quick decisions and being always alert. The slightest distraction can be fatal and very often one distraction can lead to another. These distractions are mainly in the form of getting your hands off the wheel, having your eyes roaming everywhere except on the road and being unable to think clearly. Driving safely is not important only for the driver’s safety but for other road users as well. Distract...

gices | 10 Sep 2011 12:22

Driving with kids - how not to get distracted by your children
Driving requires a lot of concentration but when driving with kids, concentrating fully on the road can become quite a challenge. Besides having to watch out for the traffic around you and other road users, you have to make sure that your kids are all right which is not always possible when kids are crying or fighting. Still, your major goal is the safety of your children and so you have to prepare yourself before getting in the car with your children and realise that, as chauffeur, you have to ...

gices | 10 Sep 2011 12:22

Driving with dementia
Dementia is a state where a person loses the ability to think and act as he/she used to and it affects the important cognitive parts of the body and decreases the capacity to think, talk, hear or even understand clearly. Driving on the other hand requires full concentration and demands that the person can act and react as the road demands and so it is crucial for the driver to be alert all the time and to be able to make good judgment on the road not only for his own safety but for other road us...

gices | 10 Sep 2011 12:20

What to look for when test driving a car?
When people buy a car it doesn’t matter if it’s your first, second, third or fourth, you should always take the car for a test drive. Most people see a car they like and just go for it but just because it looks nice, is in your budget and has great recommendations and reviews, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is suitable for you. The best place to take a car for a test drive is directly from the car dealership, and just because you're going directly to them doesn’t mean you have to buy a bran...

gices | 25 Aug 2011 16:12

Swindon council to try red lights barrier for speeding offenders
Councils and the Government are always looking for new ways to curb the nations speeding habits as they have an effect on everyone including pedestrians and other drivers. After successful trials in Europe, approval has gone ahead to test a new system in Swindon starting this autumn. A pilot scheme will be introduced in a few months to help stop speeding by turning the traffic lights red when a car is speeding. Sensors will be installed in the road to monitor vehicle speed; if a motorist deci...

gices | 24 Aug 2011 14:52

Private driving instructors
The advice that many people will give to you is to learn to drive with a qualified driving instructor rather than with friends or family because then you do not adopt their bad driving habits. Either you go with a reputable driving school or a recommended private driving instructor; the choice is yours! Although it makes sense to have someone close to teach you, like a parent or close friend, the problem is that these drivers may not necessarily teach you the right way to do things and over t...

gices | 04 Aug 2011 10:24

Vintage car insurance
A vintage car is one which has been built between 1919 and 1930 based on the British cut off point; however the proper time period differs from country to country like in America it's taken to be up to 1925. Though a vintage (classic) car has no real definite definition, it is usually a car more than 20 years old and more than £15,000. Vintage cars are those vehicles that you no longer see on the roads but just the one that you have been dreaming of driving as a kid. While some forget their chil...

gices | 27 Jun 2011 20:53

Motorcycle insurance
Insuring your motorcycle is not just about getting you protected in case something nasty happens to you or your bike but it is in fact against the law to ride a vehicle with no insurance. While the age limit to ride a bike is 16, the person must be 17 or above to ride a bike with an engine capacity greater than 50cc. People with a provisional driving licence must have a compulsory basic training certificate (CBT) to ride a bike. Motorcycles can be broadly categorised into scooter, quad, moped, n...

gices | 27 Jun 2011 20:52

Campervan insurance
A campervan is a vehicle that acts as means of transport and also provides everyday facilities like sleeping accommodation, kitchen with stoves (fuelled by gas/battery/electricity) and refrigerator, portable toilets (some even have showers), air conditioning, heater and a roof that pops out or that is fixed. Makes vary from country to country as do the names (Recreational Vehicle in the United States, Kombi in Australia). A campervan is your ideal choice for holidays where you can drive around e...

gices | 27 Jun 2011 20:51

Driving licence renewal
A new driving licence format is now available throughout the European Union namely in the form of a photocard. The DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) is replacing all ancient paper licences with the new photocard that bears the signature and photograph of the driver. The advantages of the photocard are: the card is more secure thus reducing misinterpretation chances qualifies the holder of a provisional driving licence, taking the test and obtaining the licence as one co...

gices | 27 Jun 2011 20:40

New car seat recommendation for babies
It is a legal requirement that all children and babies travelling in a vehicle be securely strapped in via a car seat or booster seat. Currently a rear facing car seat is recommended for babies until the age of one; after this age a car seat that is forward facing is then legal to use or unless the child outgrows the car seat before the recommended time. In many European countries parents use rear facing car seats until the child is much older and after much research by the American Academy o...

gices | 29 Mar 2011 14:21

New traffic lights system to be trialled
In parts of Europe, traffic lights are left on amber in the late hours of the evening or early morning. Drivers are then able to decide whether to stop or not; it works well in most places as it has been in force for many years. Here in the UK, Portsmouth City Council have also decided to do a trial - they will need to apply for permission from the Department of Transport first but if they get approval it will be the first in this country. Traffic light rules when amber In the UK when the li...

gices | 28 Mar 2011 13:55

Bump starting a car
There will come a time during your car's lifetime where you will need to change the battery. Depending on how much you use it and how old it is, you may be lucky to not have to worry about it for 7 years. As all cars are different, some people may find that they need a new car battery as early as 3 years. It's perfectly normal but an inconvenience when you go to use it and it won't start up. The first thing most people will do is panic, especially if they are a new driver that has never experien...

gices | 22 Mar 2011 14:55

Headlight converters - Making your headlamp beam conform to European standards
Did you know that there are specific legal requirements for headlight beams whilst driving in most European countries? As most people in the EU drive on the right hand side, there is a high chance that cars used to be driven in the left lane can dazzle oncoming vehicles due to the beam pattern. Headlamp beam converter kit These are only necessary if you are driving to a European country where your headlamps do not conform to the current European motoring law. Headlamp adaptors are available ...

gices | 21 Mar 2011 11:23

Foreign drivers pushing up car insurance in the UK
We all try to save money when we insure our cars but for the last few years the cost of insurance has risen and there is no sign that it’s likely to stabilise anytime soon. Years ago if you were a loyal customer with a year or more of no claims then you would be rewarded with a cheaper annual car insurance quote; now you’re lucky to even save £10. Drivers who have years if not decades of driving experience are also being told that car insurance renewal quotes are going up by at...

gices | 08 Mar 2011 13:12

Fuel thefts and drive offs
As nation waits to see if the cost of petrol will continue to rise, there have been reports of drivers filling up with petrol then driving off without paying for it. Since the price of petrol started to increase in 2010 motorists who fill up and drive off without paying has increased by over 50%. The average price for a litre of petrol stands at £1.30 if you’re lucky, otherwise you could be the unlucky few that have no choice but to pay up to £1.40 a litre. What are ‘dri...

gices | 07 Mar 2011 12:20

Taxi licence renewal after new car purchase can be a problem
As the government and local councils continue to crack down on bogus taxi’s that tout for clients, Manchester council decided that one of the ways that this could be achieved was to have a strict colour code for their licensed taxis. A few years ago the council brought out a new colour policy for private hire vehicles; this was to ensure passenger safety and for members of the local community to recognise licensed private hire vehicles. Just recently a taxi driver traded in his old car ...

gices | 02 Mar 2011 11:45

Cheaper car insurance for women will cease to exist
One of the plus sides of being a female driver is the cheaper car insurance quotes they get compared to male drivers but a new ruling by the European Court of Justice has agreed that this is discrimination and should be banned. As of December 21st next year, it will be illegal to do a risk assessment based on gender, it also applies to pensions and health insurance. As the UK is part of the EU, it will be forced to follow the same practices that are in place in the other European countries su...

gices | 01 Mar 2011 12:09

Driving test scam
Learning to drive isn’t so hard but you may need a few extra lessons before you are confident in sitting the practical driving test. The theory test is easier to pass as it consists of multiple choice questions and combined with some driving experience, the answers are simple enough as you understand the questions better. Driving test fraud has been rife for some years now but in the last year alone it has increased by a whopping 400%; impersonators are paid up to £2,000 to sit a ...

gices | 28 Feb 2011 12:54

Finance and repossessed car crime
With more and more people unable to keep up with the costs of running a car, they are forced to sell it on and use other modes of transport or sell it to buy a cheaper car to run. Along with soaring fuel prices, annual increases on car insurance and even road tax increments, it’s easy to see how so many people have to abandon their beloved cars. Outstanding finance on a car may result in repossession Car crimes that are related to finance and repossessed cars are usually people who hav...

gices | 24 Feb 2011 15:03

Parent and child parking bays
There seems to be much confusion on parent and child parking spaces, like are there any laws, rules and can fines be issued? Here are some of the most frequently asked questions surrounding parent and child parking. Are there any laws on parent and child parking spaces? At the moment there are none as such, parent and child parking rules vary depending on where they are. For example on private land owned by a supermarket, they will have their own rules and may fine those who abuse the spaces...

gices | 16 Feb 2011 12:35

Rising costs of fuel causing drivers to drive on empty tanks
Over the last three months, the cost of fuel has risen to the highest it has ever been putting even more financial strain on families who are unable to cope with the high cost of living. As a result of this, breakdown service Green Flag have reported a 40% increase in the volume of calls related to cars breaking down due to no fuel. Many people have seen the cost of fuel increase by as much as £30 when filling up the tank completely but on average the cost of filling up has increased by...

gices | 15 Feb 2011 11:50

Driving in the dark
Scientists have conducted tests that show that driving for just a few hours at night has the same effect as driving when drunk. Most motorists cannot avoid driving in the evening or when dark because when daylight savings time comes, almost everyone experiences less light in driving conditions. Most accidents that occur at night are due to tiredness and sleepiness with as many as one in three admitting to nodding off whilst driving at night. This is a serious matter so the experts who have carr...

gices | 08 Feb 2011 11:11

Speed camera axing leads to fewer deaths
Since the launch of speed cameras over 20 years ago, there has been much controversy over whether or not lives have been saved as a result of them. Most argue that with the introduction of speed cameras, the environment has gotten more polluted as motorists brake harshly before a camera and then spill out exhaust gas as they speed away. As the government continues to find ways to save money in this long winding recession, speed cameras are one of the ways where money can be saved. Although th...

gices | 07 Feb 2011 12:09

Laid up motorcycle insurance
As the weather in the UK is always unsettled and unpredictable, many motorcycle owners find that during the Autumn/Winter months it’s too cold and wet to drive safely. On average the UK has only 6 months of good weather that permits motorcyclists to drive. Accidents are more likely to happen during dusk and dawn when there is less visibility due to limited daylight and motorcyclists also have to contend with drivers who don’t indicate or check their mirrors properly when they switch ...

gices | 19 Jan 2011 16:30

Laid up car insurance
If you have a vehicle you are no longer driving, whether it is short term or permanent, then the car must be declared to the DVLA as SORN. A car registered as Statutory Off Road Notification is not allowed to be driven on public roads legally and insurance is not also required by law and many people tend to leave it as such. Although that's perfectly fine and will save you some money, there are more serious problems if anything should happen to the car whilst in a garage or private driveway. Tha...

gices | 18 Jan 2011 13:38

Uninsured cars to be crushed under new laws
Nearly 5 years ago in 2006, Labour tried to enforce a law that would enable The Department of Transport (DfT) to seize all uninsured vehicles and have them crushed even though they are not being driven. The proposal never went through and the Road Safety Act remained the same - the new coalition government aim to change this and hope to save current motorists around £30 in annual insurance premiums. DfT estimate that around 160 people are killed every year from uninsured drivers and furthe...

gices | 10 Jan 2011 14:40

Cost of speed awareness courses to increase to fund speed cameras
As the government continues to find ways to increase revenue, one of the ways that this can be done is to penalise bad drivers for speeding and accidents. Currently if caught speeding, you face three penalty points on your licence and also a fine of £60. New measures will be brought in to encourage motorists who speed to go on speed awareness courses instead as this will generate more income to keep speed cameras on as funding cuts mean that there will be many that will be switched off. ...

gices | 03 Jan 2011 13:21

Snow fines to be issued to careless drivers
When you leave for work in the morning, do you make sure that the car is free of snow? Most people only clear the front windscreen so they can see the road ahead but not the rear, lights or the roof of the car. Yes it does take a long time to shift it all and many will argue that they just do not have the time to spare in the mornings without the risk of running late. Some people mostly women cannot even reach the roof of the car so they just leave it but in the last year alone, many people have...

gices | 08 Dec 2010 13:46

Digital radio switch over for cars
It has been announced that by 2015 the analogue FM and MW signal will be turned off and Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) will be introduced instead. Currently the analogue signal for television services is currently being switched off in stages all around the country and by 2015 everything will be digital, so it was only a matter of time that this would be introduced to cars. The digital switch over for television started in 2008 and will be complete by 2012 but when they introduced this service...

gices | 22 Nov 2010 11:44

Cash for crash car fraud driving up insurance quotes
Earlier this year it was estimated that insurance quotes would rise by as much as 13%; though most of us were sceptical the majority of drivers found that this was in fact very true. Drivers of all ages saw their premium go up even if they hadn’t made a claim in the last five years. The average price hike on renewal quotes at the beginning of this year was as much as £50. The beginning of 2011 will also see car insurance renewal quotes rise again and this will be the third year that ...

gices | 08 Nov 2010 12:03

Car slamming
We know that there are many insurance frauds circulating with some new ones starting up all the time. Police and the car insurance companies see a trend and the investigation starts but in the mean time all these car frauds that are happening on a daily basis is costing each motorist and increase of £44 a year as car insurance companies start incurring heavy losses due to falsified claims. Slam ons Car slamming has been around for some time but recently the demand for them has increased ...

gices | 04 Nov 2010 15:56

New 3D cameras to check car speed, insurance tax and seatbelt
We know that the government are constantly looking for new ways to improve and catch out bad motorists. New schemes and ideas are discussed on a regular basis but like everything else, research and planning costs money and unless an idea is sure to work, the government will not provide funding. A new speed camera has been unveiled and although it is still at the testing stages, it's set to change the way drivers are caught here and abroad. As you have probably seen in the news thousands of sp...

gices | 03 Nov 2010 11:48

Patrol trucks to clamp down on lorry drivers who don't obey the law
When it comes to driving and flouting the law, lorry drivers are the worst offenders. Since the vehicles they drive are very high, standard patrol cars cannot be certain or see what is going on in the cab. This is how so many lorry and truck drivers get away with eating, drinking, using a mobile and reading a newspaper whilst driving. A pilot scheme has been carried out in the West Midlands to see whether introducing marked patrol trucks would help in catching truckers who break the law. Aft...

gices | 02 Nov 2010 13:37

Buying a car that has been written off
As accidents involving cars are at an all time high, the number of vehicles that are being written off is increasing every year. There are four categories that written off cars fall into. A and B category write offs mean that the car is damaged beyond repair and must be crushed. C and D category write offs mean that the car can be driven again if it is extensively repaired to a high standard. Most people who have had cars written off will not have the car repaired, instead they will opt for the ...

gices | 29 Oct 2010 14:28

Undercover traffic wardens
One of the most hated people in Britain has to be the traffic wardens; not only have they built up a bad reputation of fining innocent motorists unnecessarily but they also have sneaky tactics under their sleeves to make some commission on each parking fine they issue. Being a traffic warden has to be one of the worst jobs in the world and also a very dangerous one as you get verbally and physically abused daily and in some cases resulting in a trip to accident and emergency. Traffic wardens ...

gices | 28 Oct 2010 11:36

Airport parking - How secure is your car?
In recent years, airport parking has become a popular choice for holiday makers instead of booking a taxi for airport transfers in the UK. After a well deserved break abroad, you want nothing more than to be in the comfort of your own home. Some people who choose airport parking will opt for this as it is cheaper than getting a taxi to and from the airport. In general the further away you live from an airport, the more the taxi fare, so the best solution would be to drive there yourself and pay ...

gices | 25 Oct 2010 14:50

Choosing the right car seat for your car
When it comes to starting a family, most people have paid off debts such as their car loan. So it would make sense to stick with the car that they have for a while before having the burden of buying a new car just because of difficulties regarding a car seat. There is no way of really knowing which car seat is best for your car as what might work for one family may not be suitable for yours. Budget and practicality will also play a part in what type of car seat is most suitable for your car. ...

gices | 22 Oct 2010 15:31

Preparing your car for winter
As much of the North of Britain prepare for the first snowfall this winter, it’s a good time for those who live a little further south to start preparing their car for the winter months. Before it gets too cold, all drivers should perform checks and stock up on potentially life-saving items. This winter is predicted to be very cold with snowfall expected for most of the UK by Christmas. As we have already had snow at the beginning of the year, we can take benefit by heading the warnings th...

gices | 21 Oct 2010 15:41

EU certificate of conformity
As there are many opportunities to work in the EU, many people often move here on a temporary basis before deciding if they would like to make it a more permanent move. One way to make your move easier is to import your car to make your life a little easier. One of the reasons why people go to great lengths to import their car and get the EU certificate of conformity is because it makes insurance slightly cheaper. How to get an EU certificate of conformity? The best place to go is directly t...

gices | 18 Oct 2010 11:54

Driving lessons affected by potholes
When we have extreme weather conditions such as freezing temperatures and snow, the road surfaces seem to get worse and crumble. As a result of this, drivers have to take extra precaution when driving; they will most probably slow down or try and avoid driving directly into a pothole. Potholes are small craters that are formed due to freezing temperatures causing the tarmac to crumble. If you were to drive over these potholes at a high speed, it could cause your tyres to burst or even cause your...

gices | 14 Oct 2010 14:43

DSA info pack for new driving instructors
As a newly qualified instructor, the prospect of setting up your own independent driving school may seem like a far-fetched idea without any proper guidance and information. This is why many new driving instructors work for well established driving schools before gaining the experience and knowledge to venture out on their own. Many new instructors find that once they have qualified and are legally allowed to teach and charge learner drivers for lessons they are left on their own to find their w...

gices | 13 Oct 2010 15:10

Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB) - Insurers not updating your details
We all know the importance of having car insurance, so every year we are faced with the boring and time consuming task of finding the cheapest car insurance quote. If you drive without insurance for even a day, there is a chance that you will be found out by the police or cameras that have licence plate recognition. As all motorways have speed cameras, one of the checks carried out other than speed is making sure that all details are up to date such as insurance, MOT and tax disc. Police also do...

gices | 11 Oct 2010 13:59

Driving lessons for people with disabilities
There are no rules to say that people with disabilities are not allowed to drive. If you receive the higher rate of the mobility component Disability Living Allowance, then you can at the age of 16 (which is a year younger than the legal age of driving currently at the age of 17) start the learning process. Learners between the ages of 16-24 may be able to get help from motability to financially aid them with the cost of learning to drive. Firstly, like all other learners you will need to ap...

gices | 07 Oct 2010 15:25

Bogus driving instructors - How to find the fake ones?
All new learner drivers will need to take driving lessons if they wish to pass successfully. This does not necessarily mean they all have to be trained by a professional teacher. It is beneficial to have as many lessons as possible before taking the practical driving test but as the cost of lessons increase, you can also have some private lessons by a family member or friend. As long as the person teaching you is over 21 with a clean licence and has held it for three years, it is legal to do so....

gices | 05 Oct 2010 14:45

Test routes to stop being published
Did you know that driving test centres across the UK publish their test routes online so that learner drivers can familiarise themselves before taking the practical driving test. This has proven to be a very good idea as many students who cannot book at their local test centre of choice are then given the option of booking at another test centre instead. This could be near their college, university or place of work, and by being able to familiarise themselves with the driving test routes, the ch...

gices | 30 Sep 2010 14:15

Independent driving and dyslexia
In the UK the DSA (driving standards agency) and DVLA work closely with charities to ensure that all would-be learners are not discriminated against regardless of disabilities, age, sex etc. The UK prides itself on helping people with disabilities or conditions that may prevent them from driving to find an alternative. For example if you have lost a limb or have no use your legs, you can get a specially adapted car that allows you to control it using your hands or other body parts. All learner d...

gices | 29 Sep 2010 14:09

Deer warning for drivers
Did you know that the deer population has risen to over 1.5 million and still rapidly increasing? There are 27 million cars in the UK so you would think that the likelihood of hitting a deer would be very small. There are around 74,000 deer collisions every year and since January 2009 there have been 2,000 reported incidents. As daylight savings time will change in the next few weeks, the Highways Agency are trying to make people more aware of deer related incidents. Accidents involving deer ...

gices | 28 Sep 2010 14:23

Learner Driver Pack
When you receive your provisional licence, it will be accompanied by a Driver’s Record, which details the 24 skills tested in the practical driving test. There are spaces for your instructor to fill in as you progress through the levels 1 to 4. When you reach level 5, the instructor provides full details of your abilities and you and the instructor can see at a glance which areas you need to improve. Your instructor will also help with the theory part of the test, but you may want to do so...

gices | 03 Sep 2010 13:38

Driving in Europe
To begin with, remember that they drive on the right in Europe, so if you are thinking of taking your own right hand drive car, you may have some problems. It could be worth your while to check out the cost of hiring a car when you get to your destination on the European mainland. Of course, you may be intent on driving through Europe to get to your final destination; in which case, apart from driving on the opposite side of the road, there are other things to take into consideration. First o...

gices | 03 Sep 2010 13:29

Independent driving for practical test
As you may well know as from the 4th October 2010, a new part of the practical driving test will be mandatory. The driving test will be extended so that this new assessment referred to as independent driving can take place. If you are fortunate enough to sit the test before this date and pass, you will be the lucky few who will escape this new change to passing the practical driving test. Independent driving is a new test that is added on to the practical driving test and it should last aroun...

gices | 02 Sep 2010 14:13

Using own car for driving test
When you are a learner driver, you do not necessarily have to take lessons in an instructor's car. If you are lucky enough to have a car before you pass or will be car sharing with a parent or sibling, you can choose to learn in your own private car. The same applies to taking the practical driving test; you can choose to use your own car for the driving test also. If you plan on using your own car for your driving test, then you must make sure that it is taxed, has passed MOT and you have th...

gices | 31 Aug 2010 14:33

Top 10 reasons people fail their driving test
Driving students will need at least 45 hours of professional driving lessons and the lucky few will also have 22 hours of private driving lessons to be fully equipped. On average 43% of learner drivers will pass but fewer first time learners will pass first time. This means the failure rate is higher that the pass rate and each year the percentage of new drivers failing increases. If you are lucky enough to have extra driving practice with a family member or friend, then you are most likely to p...

gices | 31 Aug 2010 14:02

Someone bumped into my car but won’t accept fault, what do I do?
You can be a really safe and cautious driver but at the end of the day there are things which are not in your control. On an unfortunate day, someone might just bump into your car no matter how careful you are. However, not everyone will accept their mistake and you could have a hard time proving that the other person was at fault. If you’re wondering why you need to bother proving your innocence, it’s because first you are not to blame and second and most importantly, you don&rsquo...

gices | 28 Aug 2010 18:08

NHS car leasing
As an employee who as part of their job description needs to travel regularly, your employer may offer you the option of leasing a car instead of using your own personal car. Having a leased car is usually offered if it is financially viable to do so. If you spend the majority of your time travelling between locations and spend over 60% of your time doing this, then you could save a lot of money by having a lease car instead. If you are an NHS employee, then the savings and benefits are even gre...

gices | 26 Aug 2010 07:37

Seat belt extender
At the moment seat belts are made to fit people who have a 47.2 inch hip circumference and a 42 ½ inch waist circumference. While these dimensions will fit the majority of passengers and drivers, there are some people who may not be able to sit comfortably with a standard seat belt in place. It is against the law to drive without a seatbelt and this applies for passengers in a car as well. Under no circumstances are people allowed to remove their seatbelts as it is for their safety as ...

gices | 25 Aug 2010 09:44

Car shipping to Spain
As more and more people move abroad to start a new life, almost all families will also ship the car they have purchased in the UK as well as other personal belongings and furniture. The warm weather, beautiful beaches and appealing sea are a few of the reasons why many people decide to live in Spain rather than in England. However a car is a much needed commodity if you want to take full advantage of what the country has to offer and make things easier on you. Popular destinations where Britons ...

gices | 25 Aug 2010 08:34

Car clamping and towing to be outlawed
For years British motorists have been bearing the wrath and unfair clamping and towing fines that incur when parking on private land. As there are no current rules to how much a clamper can charge, rates are from £50 - £400 and another few hundred if your car is towed away. For the time being, you need a licence to be able to clamp cars but as most people know clampers rarely show you their badge number and some are rogue clampers that do it to con innocent victims out of hard earned...

gices | 17 Aug 2010 08:30

Driving With Dogs
Often you will see people driving with dogs and sometimes you may wonder whether the dogs which are taking a ride in the car find it fun and feel happy or they take it as nothing other than a nerve-wrecking experience. Dogs can have their own reasons to classify the journey as a pleasant or a horrible experience, which mainly depends on the actions of the dog and car owner. To understand this, let's assume that you use your car to take your dog to a vet more often than you use it to take your d...

gices | 24 Jul 2010 13:59

Minicab Insurance
Before understanding why it is important to have minicab insurance, one needs to know what exactly a mini cab is. There are basically two types of taxies, private and public, where each of them requires their own type of insurance. A private taxi is essentially a mini cab, which can't pick up any passenger from roadside like a public taxi does. Private taxi insurance is the mini cab insurance that is required to provide insurance coverage to the driver as well as to the passengers. For each and...

gices | 10 Jul 2010 10:47

Expired endorsements
If ever your licence is endorsed with points for a driving conviction, you are still able to drive unless they disqualify you or you exceed the current total of 12 penalty points. Each conviction will have a time period of when it will expire. You can apply to have the expired endorsements removed from your licence afterwards. Do I really need to have expired endorsements removed from my licence? You don’t have to have them removed but if you get pulled over for anything it may be used a...

gices | 08 Jun 2010 05:23

Expired driving licence
Since the introduction of the new photo card licence, the driving licence itself doesn’t expire until your 70th birthday. The photo on the licence does expire every 10 years from the date of first issue. The DVLA will sometimes send out reminder letters informing you that your licence is about to expire but it is each driving licence holder’s responsibility to check this. Expired driving licence renewal If you are caught with an expired licence or the DVLA do a random check, you ca...

gices | 02 Jun 2010 08:09

DVLA complaints and problems
A year ago there was a feature on BBC1’s Watchdog featuring DVLA and the many problems that they have failed to resolve. You would think that having just one organisation that does everything would save time, money and hassle but in fact having the DVLA deal with the responsibility of handling thousands of licences and entitlements is in fact a joke. Every aspect of driving has to be declared to the DVLA such as applying for a provisional licence, getting a full driver's licence, declaring...

gices | 31 May 2010 10:12

Learner Driver Insurance
First of all it, is very important for you as a learner to hold a valid provisional driving licence before you start to drive. Failure to have one is an offence according to UK laws. You can apply for your provisional licence online from government site (DirectGov) or by using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's (DVLA) one or even from any Post Office branch. Once your provisional driver licence is at hand, you need to start searching for an insurance company to provide adequate cover for ...

gices | 27 May 2010 06:56

Wedding car insurance
With so many things to organise before the big day, having proper insurance for the wedding may seem unimportant but we take a look at why it could save the day. Every bride’s nightmare is that the car will break down, not turn up or crash on the big day. By having wedding car insurance in place you can be sure that you will be covered for pretty much all major catastrophes that may happen relating to the car. Whereas most people choose to hire a car or fleet of cars for the bride, groom ...

gices | 17 May 2010 07:51

Surrendering your driving licence
There may come a point in your life where you or your doctor will deem you unfit to drive a vehicle. It may be for a short period of time or it might be for longer. If this is the case, you will need to contact the DVLA to inform them of change of circumstances relating to your health. If you want, you can voluntarily give back your driving licence. You may also have to surrender your licence due to a driving conviction or ban; in this case you will need to send back your licence for the period ...

gices | 13 Apr 2010 05:30

Can learner drivers drive at night?
As a learner driver, you will have lessons in all sorts of weather conditions providing it is safe to do so. You will also experience different types of driving such as urban driving, dual carriageway driving and driving at night. As long as you are always supervised by someone who's held a full UK driving licence for at least 3 years and is over the age of 21, you are fine to drive as long as you stay off the motorway. It is also safe to drive with a family member or friend provided the mention...

gices | 12 Apr 2010 06:04

Driving licence when over 70
As long as you are a fit and you're a healthy individual with no medical conditions that may pose a threat to other drivers, then there is no reason why you can’t drive even after the age of 70. When a driving licence is issued in the UK, it is valid until you reach the age of 70; after that time you will not be able to drive legally unless you renew your licence. How to drive when you are passed 70? When you are approaching your 70th birthday, you will need to remember that your driver&...

gices | 08 Apr 2010 12:36

Lost licence on medical grounds
Having a medical condition or illness does not always result in a denied application for a provisional licence. If you have the backing of your GP and the DVLA have asked you to attend a medical, then you are able to go on to having a full driving licence. The DVLA will stay in contact and may also check with your doctor from time to time to ensure you are still in good health to drive. If your condition worsens, then you must inform the DVLA who will then decide if they should revoke the licenc...

gices | 08 Apr 2010 07:43

DSA part 2 check test insurance
If you are a PDI (Potential Driving Instructor), you know that there are three parts to the test to enable you to become an ADI (Approved Driving Instructor). The second part of the test is a practical driving test. The practical driving test is very similar to the one you take when you are a learner driver, only know the test is much harder and is aimed at making sure you can drive as safely as you teach. Although very difficult to fail there are some who need to take the test a few times be...

gices | 06 Apr 2010 09:07

VAT increase on cars - How can you save money?
Since January 4th 2011, VAT increased by 2.5% bringing it to 20% and many people shopped frantically before this date to save some money. Most people put off spending until after the New Year as shopping over Christmas can be expensive though. For those who didn’t manage to buy a car last year and was waiting for this current year, they will be disappointed to find that buying a new car in 2011 will mean that it costs on average around £350 more than it did in 2010. Unfortunately ...

gices | 06 Apr 2010 08:51

New driving test changes October 2010
As we all know every year there is the same discussion and threat that the practical driving test is set to get harder. So every year younger and older drivers want to get it over and done with as soon as possible while it's still relatively easy to maximise their chances of getting their driving licence. How much has the driving test changed in recent years? 20 years ago learners got off easy; all they had to do when they took a practical driving test was to show that they were competent in d...

gices | 02 Apr 2010 07:14

Short period driving licence
When you get your full driving licence, it's usually valid for many years to come. However many people forget that there is an expiry date which needs to be checked to make sure it’s still valid. If you have special circumstances, you can get a driving licence for a shorter period of time and this is known as a short period driving licence. When would you need a driving licence for a short period only? There are a few reasons when a short period driving licence may be issued instead of a...

gices | 02 Apr 2010 06:49

Medical conditions and driving
When you decide to start taking driving lessons, you will need to apply for a provisional licence that will allow you to take driving lessons before qualifying for a full UK driving licence. When you complete the form you will find a section where you will need to provide information about your health and any disabilities you may have. Having a pre-existing medical condition doesn’t always mean you will never be able to drive but there may be other ways to help. For example if you don&rsq...

gices | 01 Apr 2010 08:32

Driving vehicle without permission
There may a time when you need to borrow a friend or family members’ car for an errand or to pop into the nearby shops. If you do not inform the owner of the vehicle that you are borrowing the vehicle, it unfortunately counts as theft. There are hundreds cars a year that are reported as stolen but have been borrowed by a family member or friend; you'll be surprised how common this is. If you so have to drive someone else’s car, then make sure you ask their permission first. If you h...

gices | 01 Apr 2010 07:46

Car Forums
Most of the time when we have problems with our car, we turn to the Internet to find answers. Sometimes an online search can pretty much lead you to a website which answers your question or give you enough hints to clear your doubts. However there are times when there’s not enough information on what you’re searching for or maybe people have not yet posted questions on the problem you're having. The solution then is to join a car forum in the hope that someone will eventually reply w...

gices | 31 Mar 2010 11:19

Car insurance for foreign licence holders
In most cases when you start driving in the UK on a foreign licence, it is usually because you have come here for work or study and plan on becoming a resident. If you are, then car insurance is much easily obtained whereas if you are here temporarily, on a holiday for example or if you intend on driving on another foreign licence, then insurance is harder to get and can be extremely expensive. Car insurance for an EU licence holder Many insurance companies will accept your EU licence until yo...

gices | 31 Mar 2010 06:15

Driving in the UK on a foreign licence
If you have a licence from Europe and want to drive in England, you must comply with the local motoring laws and be over the age of 17 for cars and 21 for lorries and as long as the vehicle you want to drive is on your european licence, then it will pose no problems when you come to the UK. Some countries in the EU however tend to drive on the right side of the road, so when you come to the UK you may find it harder to adapt to. If you rent a car in Britain, you can also get a satellite navigato...

gices | 31 Mar 2010 05:56

Trainee driving instructor insurance
If you have received your pink trainee instructor driving badge, you only have 6 months to put it to good use before it expires and will have to continue the last part to become an ADI (Approved Driving Instructor). If you choose to teach students how to drive to gain some experience before becoming fully qualified, you are able to do so by applying for your pink badge. This must be displayed at all times on the vehicle that you are driving though. At the moment there is no law to say that you ...

gices | 29 Mar 2010 08:02

Speed awareness course
If you are caught speeding, the consequences are usually a £60 fine and 3 penalty points issued on your licence. As a result of this conviction, you will need to let your insurance provider know so they can update their records. This means that the insurance provider can refuse to insure you or increase the insurance premiums to be able to provide coverage for you. This is not illegal and in most cases this is what is likely to happen. Having been caught speeding can also affect job applic...

gices | 29 Mar 2010 06:13

Driving instructor books
Committing yourself to becoming a driving instructor is financially and emotionally demanding as many to start to train do not have the courage to continue. To avoid failure, the best thing to do is to have a lot of reading material and teaching aids that will encourage you and help you pass first time round. As driving test pass rates are increasing, many people are opting for a career in teaching learners to drive but the minimum £3,000 start up fee just to train is undoubtedly difficul...

gices | 26 Mar 2010 06:39

Driveaway insurance
There seems to be an insurance policy for all aspects of driving, so is driveaway insurance really necessary? Many people do not even think about it when they are getting a new car from a dealer and are more focused on getting the car back home than thinking about the consequences that this little overlooking car have. When would you ever need to have driveaway insurance? As you well know even if you are picking up a new car and driving it home, you still need to have proper insurance in place...

gices | 22 Mar 2010 11:04

Short term van insurance
There may be a time in your life where you will need to insure a van either for personal use or business use. If you only plan to use it for a short period of time, then it's worth taking out a short term van insurance policy to cover you only when you use it. Why would I need temporary van insurance? You may be hiring a small van for removal purposes or delivering large items which you no longer need. If you go with the van hire company, the insurance they will quote you can be very hefty and...

gices | 18 Mar 2010 09:31

Driving instructor supplies
One of the first things that you will need to so after qualifying as an ADI (approved driving instructor) is to get all the professional materials, signage and advertising. The good thing is that since there are so many driving schools and independent driving instructors, there are also many specialist companies that can provide driving instructor supplies. Where can I buy the things I need as a driving instructor? Depending on what exactly it is that you need, you can buy everything off the i...

gices | 12 Mar 2010 09:21

Trick banned drivers use to drive again
Have you ever wondered how a banned driver is able to get back behind the wheel again? It has been found that there are a few ways that you can cheat the system to get your driving licence back again. I know that everyone deserves a second chance as most drivers learn to drive too young and end up getting disqualified and you would think waiting a few years to mature would make a difference afterwards. In some cases, this holds true as it comes down to patience and vulnerability but some would a...

gices | 12 Mar 2010 07:44

Repossessed cars scam
There have been reports of a new scam circulating involving repossessed cars being reported as stolen. It is not yet clear if insurance companies have caught on to this or even if all of them are aware of it. During these last few years, drivers and car owners have been left feeling the pinch after inflation soared and the country entered into the worst recession ever in history. The majority of people getting to work or even doing weekly grocery shopping rely on their cars for transport. When ...

gices | 09 Mar 2010 08:54

Mini cab licence
Being a licensed mini cab driver can be very profitable with the average salary ranging from £2,000 to £2,500 a month. There are many things to take into consideration before pursuing this career though and the most important thing is the financial cost and time of getting the licence. Once this is covered, then you can worry about minicab insurance and how much money you can really make with this type of job. How to get a mini cab licence in London? You will need to contact the Pu...

gices | 09 Mar 2010 04:15

Car insurance premium rise for 2010
There’s another blow in store for car drivers this year in 2010 as insurance premiums are set to rise for the second year in a row. Last year, unknown to most drivers, insurance premiums rose by 10% and this year insurance is set to rise by 13% making the average quote £500 or an increase of £50 on policies taken out this year. Who is to blame for car insurance rise? Due to high costs of running a car along with the obligation to purchase car insurance, many people choose not...

gices | 05 Mar 2010 08:49

Insurance for disqualified drivers
People can get driving bans for a number of different reasons - these include drink driving, totting up points, speeding, dangerous driving and driving under the influence of drugs. If you are disqualified from driving, you may face a ban of upto 10 years and be required to retake your test. Under those circumstances, finding a cheap car insurance quote can be very hard if not impossible. Insurers may reject your quote or quote you a very high premium as a result of the disqualification. If you...

gices | 03 Mar 2010 10:23

Bicycle for two - Tandem bikes
Tandem bicycles are cycles that have two seats and are also known as bicycle for two. They date back to the late 1800’s but are less common nowadays to 10 years ago. It’s said that the tandem bicycle is still very popular in the US where most couples are seen out and about on them regularly. A standard bike for two can cost from £300 so it’s not surprising to see why not many people here in the UK own one. Bicycle for two As well as couples many parents and child have b...

gices | 03 Mar 2010 09:43

Hit and run accidents & laws
Hit and run is classed when you hit a person or personal property including a vehicle and failing to notify the owner afterwards. Depending on how serious the collision and damage was caused, you could face a fine, get a driving ban or even spend some time in prison. As most hit and run drivers are rarely caught, the means to catch them are slim. Unless there is a witness or some form of security i.e. CCTV cameras, victims are left suffering with no justice. There are several hit and run ...

gices | 02 Mar 2010 03:59

Driving without tax
As a vehicle owner, we are all obliged to display a road tax disc to show that we have paid road tax for the vehicle being driven. If you do not display a road tax disc, you can get pulled over by a police officer and fined. Also many people fail to realise that when you drive around town or through road cameras, they can pick up your licence plate number and scan it through DVLA’s database to see if you are up to date with car insurance, road tax and MOT. Sometimes you might forget that y...

gices | 02 Mar 2010 03:58

Top ten least reliable 4x4
With all the recent bad weather, many people are asking whether or not it is a good idea to switch to a 4x4 for their next vehicle purchase. The recent findings released by Warranty Direct looked at the most common faults and breakdowns for over 150,000 cars between the age of 3 -8 and the results can be found below. Top ten least reliable 4x4's In tenth place is the Toyota Landcruiser with the average repair bill costing £525.01, it’s still a tough SUV and favourite for many...

gices | 01 Mar 2010 08:45

Eating while driving
Research has been carried about the effects of eating whilst behind the wheel and like other distractions such as putting in a new CD, this can cause accidents and also hinder judgement. If you eat while driving, there is high risk that you will not spot potential hazards such as people crossing the road or pulling out in front of you. As more and more people have caused accidents whilst eating and driving, there are now consequences for those who get caught. I’m sure when you are on the c...

gices | 26 Feb 2010 09:48

Bus lane penalty and usage
As a learner driver, one of the first things you are told is to always use the bus lane if the notices say you can. For example some bus lanes are only operational during certain times, usually 8-10 am and 4-7 pm whilst others are in use all day apart from weekends. You can find out if you can use a bus lane whilst approaching it as there should be a sign up telling you the times the bus lane is in use. Bus lane convenience Using a bus lane is sometimes quicker than using the ‘normal&rsq...

gices | 24 Feb 2010 09:15

Speed Bump - The Facts
Most places in the UK now have speed bumps in place as a speed breaker and in most places they are very effective such as near schools and quiet residential roads. There are many drivers who cannot do more than 20mph in some places due to speed bumps as low cars such as sports cars are the vehicles most likely to be damaged. Many areas that have speed bumps still have the national speed limit of 30mph but just because it says 30mph, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s always safe to do ...

gices | 22 Feb 2010 04:10

Driving Without MOT
A lot of people only remember that they need to do an MOT when their tax disc needs to be renewed. So when this time approaches, off they go to a certified garage or mechanic to get their car checked and hopefully return with an MOT pass certificate. There are some people who don’t realise that their MOT is due well before that time though and that driving without an MOT can have some serious consequences. Consequences of driving without valid MOT Being caught driving a vehicle without a...

gices | 16 Feb 2010 05:56

Totting Up Procedure & Ban
The totting up system was introduced as another way to punish drivers besides the original fine and driving ban. It is also an additional method of monitoring drivers who keep re-offending. The courts have the right to endorse a driver’s licence with the amount of points they felt were appropriate to the offence. If a motorist was found to keep offending even after receiving penalty points, then they could have their licence taken away from them, sometimes indefinitely. By accumulating eno...

gices | 15 Feb 2010 06:41

Banned Driver Insurance
A significant number of motorists find themselves in situations where they face huge car insurance premiums because they have been previously banned from driving. The disqualification itself may have arisen from dangerous driving, speeding, totting up points, drink driving or any other breach of the Highway Code. This makes banned driver insurance a hard thing to find and expensive as well. Many times when you are banned from driving, you are also required to retake your driving test and since ...

gices | 15 Feb 2010 05:13

Under 21 Car rental
The soonest you can get your driving licence here in the UK is 17 and that’s if you’re lucky enough to have passed the theory and practical test just after your seventeenth birthday. Not everyone can afford to buy a car and sometimes it makes more sense to just rent a car but how easy is it for young drivers to hire a vehicle? To be honest, if you're under 21 and looking to rent a car, then chances are that you won't find anything because of your age. How to rent a car when you're u...

gices | 11 Feb 2010 09:58

Extended Driving Test
Extended driving tests are given by a court as a result of careless driving or an offence that causes the court to hand out this requirement before being let back onto the road. The court will order that you return to a learner driver until you can show that you can safely drive on the road by taking this extended test. If this happens, you will need to go back to the beginning and apply for a provisional licence, pass the theory test and then pass the extended driving test. A standard driving ...

gices | 10 Feb 2010 10:51

Disabled Car Insurance
As we all know, even disabled drivers are allowed to have driving lessons in specially adapted cars for their disability. Although we don't see advertisements showing car insurance for the disabled, it is nevertheless a growing industry as more people with special needs decide to take on driving in an attempt to become less dependent. Disabled drivers are a lower risk category when it comes to insuring so insurers are most likely to accept if you are a blue badge holder. Having a specially adapt...

gices | 09 Feb 2010 05:00

Can you really get learner insurance from £3 a day?
Many learners are looking for the opportunity to be able to drive their own car (or their parents) for more driving practice to help them pass their test. Knowing that car insurance is a must, not only for legal reasons but also because of the chances of them doing something wrong and them being liable for loss or damages, they are looking for ways to get insured at reasonable rates. Of course, everyone is really inclined to go for the cheapest quotes they can find but when it comes to learner ...

gices | 08 Feb 2010 06:59

Top 10 most stolen cars
With over 40% of the population admitting to being a victim of car theft, you wouldn’t have thought that car crime is still as rife today as it was 10 years ago. In 2008 alone there were 150,000 cars reported stolen and £32.5m have been recovered in assets and 200 criminals have been arrested but there’s still more to be done if we want to stop car crime. Below if a list of the top 10 most stolen cars Vauxhall Vectra Ford Mondeo Ford Focus Ford Es...

gices | 01 Feb 2010 04:22

Under 17 driving
In the UK, the youngest age to legally hold a driver licence is when you are 17 years old. You are then allowed to apply for your provisional license, sit your theory test including hazard perception and book the practical driving test as well. Although you are allowed to apply for a provisional driving licence 2 months before you are seventeen (16 years and 10 months old), you are not allowed to drive on the roads until your 17th birthday though. However for under 17s, driving lessons can be ta...

gices | 27 Jan 2010 09:25

Driving Whilst Disqualified
Many people still drive after receiving a driving ban even though the court has revoked their licence. Temptations to take the car to the shop just down the road are very common and sometimes people think they know their areas too well and can get away with driving while disqualified. Unfortunately, this is not the case most of the time because police cars are now patrolling more frequently and they are equipped with ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) technology which enables them to sca...

gices | 26 Jan 2010 11:17

Driving Test Routes
In order to maximise your chances of passing the driving test, it is crucial to familiarise yourself with the driving test routes that the examiner will take you on when you decide to sit the test. The test routes vary from one test centre to another but you can get to know the actual routes if you take driving lessons with an experienced local instructor. You can get it from the DSA website as well and I’ll show you where in a minute because there’s something important that I want y...

gices | 26 Jan 2010 07:02

How to pass your driving test?
Before you are able to sit the practical driving test, you are expected to have completed the theory test with hazard perception to ensure that you are familiar with the Highway Code and can notice driving dangers well ahead for the safety of everyone including you. With all the knowledge you have gathered and the driving skills you have acquired through hours of practice, you are finally ready to give the driving test a go with the hope to pass first time round. To maximise your chances of pas...

gices | 25 Jan 2010 10:30

Girly car accessories
In today’s modern times, there is nothing that you cannot purchase to make your car more personalised. As men like to be seen macho, you won’t see them kitting out their car to make it more unique; it is usually younger women and girls that accessories are more appealing to. What girly car accessories are there to buy? Everything you can imagine and more! If you cannot see something you would like to buy, you can get items custom made for your car but usually there's a hefty premi...

gices | 25 Jan 2010 09:27

Car Shipping to Mauritius
If you already have a car here in the UK and you’re planning to move to Mauritius for good, then it might be worth considering shipping your car there. Sometimes you get really attached to your car and don’t want to leave it behind (well actually it’s more selling it on) or it could be more beneficial to just take the car with you instead of having to go there and not having your own transport. Of course, you can move to this beautiful island and then search for another car to...

gices | 21 Jan 2010 14:09

Category C Write Off
Cat C Write Off is a vehicle that is repairable but the cost of the work to be carried out would exceed the value of the vehicle; it is by no means unsafe to buy or sell. As long as the DVLA has been informed and a VOSA check has been done as well as MOT and all repairs undertaken on the vehicle, then there is no reason why you shouldn’t buy the car. Not all dealers will declare the previous history of a vehicle so it’s up to you to do necessary checks before purchasing. Can I ...

gices | 15 Jan 2010 09:23

Car ringing - How to avoid it?
This is the term used for stolen cars that have had their identification numbers swapped with another vehicle. Usually these car identities have been replaced by a written off vehicle thus giving them a new identity. All cars have their VIN number under the bonnet, stamped in the floor of the car and even in the pillar of the door, boot of the car and at the base of windscreen. It’s worth finding out where the VIN is located on the particular make and model of the car you intend to purchas...

gices | 14 Jan 2010 11:01

Car Loan With Balloon Payment
There are many ways to buy a car – you can pay the full amount if you have the money, get a personal car loan from the bank or purchase it on finance from the dealer. Not many people have that sort of money in hand though and for most of us getting a loan is the most common way of purchasing a car. If you want to keep repayments to a minimum initially though, you should consider getting a car loan with balloon payment. You might have come across a new car and fell in love with it or badly...

gices | 13 Jan 2010 12:37

Advantages and disadvantages of alloy wheels
With a growing number of people still wanting to customise their cars, one of the ways to stand out is getting alloy wheels. If you are purchasing a new car you can usually request alloy wheels at an extra cost but most people choose to wait and purchase them after as they can be bought cheaper elsewhere. Alloy wheels are sometimes made of magnesium or metal alloy making it lighter and aid better performance compared to the classic steel wheels. If you decide to remove your alloy wheels for wha...

gices | 13 Jan 2010 11:53

Joyriding
Joyriding is illegal in most places around the world and the UK is no exception. Driving a car without the owner’s permission is illegal and if caught you could face a fine, a prison sentence and even a driving ban. Proper insurance is needed when driving someone else’s car and a valid licence is needed too. Most joy riders are between the age of 17-25 but could have started joyriding from as young as 13. A quarter of cars that have been involved in joyriding have never been recovere...

gices | 10 Jan 2010 09:28

Category B insurance write off
If your car has been classed as a Category B Insurance Write Off, then this will mean that the car must not be driven again but roadworthy parts and components may be sold. Structurally the vehicle cannot have parts removed for the use in other cars as this can be deemed a safety issue. There are many private sellers that still try to sell Category B cars so it is advisable to always have a vehicle data check as it could save you thousands. Recently there was the case of a buyer who had put dow...

gices | 09 Jan 2010 09:21

Category A insurance write off
If a car has been given a Category A Write Off, then the car can only be sold to the scrap yard only. The same goes for the parts of the vehicle. In most cases the damage is too severe and so even after selling it to the scrap yard, the cost of recovery and delivery to the scrap yard is not always recovered. Examples of Cat A Write Offs Cars that are beyond repair usually fall under Cat Insurance A Write Off; this means the car has been completely demolished. This usually happens when the vehi...

gices | 08 Jan 2010 09:36

Second Driver Insurance
There are times when becoming a 2nd driver on an insurance policy makes more sense than being the principal driver. This can sometimes lead to reduced premiums especially if the additional driver is female. Getting second driver insurance is an option which you can choose if you want to save money whilst still being able to drive legally. If there’s just one car in the household and that’s going to be shared among family members who can drive, then only a single car insurance policy...

gices | 05 Jan 2010 06:06

Cut and shut vehicles
There are an estimated 30,000 cut and shut vehicles on the road with most of them belonging to unsuspecting motorists. With the country in a recession, many buyers are looking for cheap cars rather than buying a nearly new car from a showroom or dealer. The majority of the younger buyers also want to save money on their first car as everyone knows that insurance and running costs are high for them. What are cut and shut vehicles? Cut and shut vehicles are two separate vehicles that have been w...

gices | 04 Jan 2010 09:57

Short period driving disqualification
There are many people who receive a short period driving disqualification because of a whole range of reasons - the most common being drink driving or driving recklessly. If you fall into this category, you may be given the chance to redeem yourself and get your driving licence back sooner for good behaviour or taking a course. Some drivers who get disqualified may be able to take a drink driving awareness course to help them get back on the road sooner. If this wasn’t offered to you as an...

gices | 23 Dec 2009 07:50

Renewing your car insurance during Christmas & New Year
December is the month where everyone is in a festive mood. Sometimes the preparation for Christmas and New Year can even start during the early days of November depending on how much needs to be done. If you have a large family and a lot of friends, then you will find it easier to begin the hunt for presents weeks before the last week of December so that you don’t miss anyone on your list. And Christmas disasters can be avoided if you take the time to get things ready well ahead. The only ...

gices | 20 Dec 2009 14:37

Car frosting
Frosting is the term used when you are de-frosting and de-icing the car on a cold winter morning with the car keys in the ignition. Most people do this to warm up the car inside whilst they clear ice and snow off the windows. There are opportunistic thieves who jump at the chance to steal the car to either joy ride or use the car in a theft. With the cold winter months now in full swing, de-icing the car in the morning is a must and most people like to leave the car on to warm up the engine to b...

gices | 19 Dec 2009 10:58

Accidents driving in snow
In the UK, when it snows everything grinds to a halt; the local authorities just don’t know how to cope. Every year they promise that the following year they will plan better to aid motorists and passengers who need to use public transport but they never do. This year we have had snow twice - first in February and again in December. Local authorities are still short of grit for the roads and salt for the pavements. What does snow mean for motorists? When you listen to the radio and watch...

gices | 18 Dec 2009 10:55

How to modify your car to boost performance?
There are many people who spend a lot of money on their car to either make it look good or to boost the performance of the car. There are many ways to do this and some of the ways to boost your car are not as expensive as you may think. Here are a few most common and cheapest ways to boost car performance without breaking the bank. There are many things you can do yourself to modify your car with the help of the internet but there are some things that require the help of an experienced and qual...

gices | 17 Dec 2009 10:25

Common accidents during driving lessons
Many teenagers in the UK apply for a provisional driving licence at the age of 17 which then entitles them to take driving lessons by a licensed and qualified driving school or self employed instructor. As the prospect of being a licence holder is both exciting and daunting, many do not realise that accidents can still occur whilst learning to drive. As a learner driver, accidents are rare as the driving instructor has duel controls to help control the vehicle if needed but sometimes accidents ...

gices | 16 Dec 2009 08:53

Are 4x4s safer?
Recent studies have found that 4x4s are not as safe as you may think because motorcyclists are more likely to crash into a 4x4 than any other vehicle. As 4x4s have larger engines, they are more capable of reaching top speeds in no time, so drivers tend not to be aware of how fast they are actually going and intimidate the driver in front of them. If a 4x4 was involved in a car crash, the driver and the passengers of the other vehicle would sustain life threatening or critical injuries. Smaller c...

gices | 02 Dec 2009 15:50

Extended Car Warranty - Do you need it?
There are some makes and models which are more prone to problems such as breakdown, power steering and braking. Before buying a car, most people do a little bit of research but if you are one of the unlucky few who haven’t done their homework properly, then extended car warranty could save you thousands. Modern cars come with many features as standard these days such as DVD entertainment, heated seats, air conditioning and navigation system - the more features you have the more expensive i...

gices | 02 Dec 2009 10:36

Alternative Fuel Cars
With the ever increasing petrol/diesel prices and the falling economy, many people are looking for ways to efficiently run their cars in an attempt to save some money. In many situations, a vast majority of people are choosing to use their car as the primary mode of transport and therefore if savings can be made on fueling, then this topic needs to be explored further. Choosing an alternative fuel car not only saves you money on fuel but you can also be exempted from paying road tax if the vehic...

gices | 01 Dec 2009 14:57

Road Tax Exemption Vehicles
As we approach 2010, many car drivers are worried about any rise to road tax. As you probably already know, road tax increases every year and those who have larger engines are penalised because they have to pay a lot more. Road tax charges range from £35 to £405 and you cannot avoid these charges but there are ways where you can legally be exempted from paying vehicle tax or pay the smallest fee applicable. Nowadays many people are taking the amount they need to pay for road tax into...

gices | 29 Nov 2009 11:07

Vehicle Data Check
When buying a new car, the process is more straightforward if you have the finances but for a used car, the same cannot be said unfortunately. A used car can have one or many previous owners and it is important to find the vehicle's history before committing to buy the car. There are some factors that could have long term implications when not knowing about a car's previous history. Cars which have retained their original colour will have more value than one which has had its colour changed. If ...

gices | 28 Nov 2009 10:05

Driving in windy conditions
Most people know what to do when driving in rainy conditions or snow but many people don’t realise the dangers of driving in windy conditions. Apart from the danger of being pushed into adjacent lanes, driving in strong winds also have other hidden dangers. Why is driving in strong winds dangerous? Strong winds can uproot trees onto roads and houses Flying debris can be thrown against the windscreen Overtaking in windy conditions is harder for larger and taller vehicles ...

gices | 26 Nov 2009 09:41

Best Commuter Car
With so many people still opting to drive to work and their local towns, it makes sense to buy not only a fuel efficient car but a good commuter car. Not only do you want an economical car but also one you know you will have no problem parking. Many people who have 4x4’s, estate cars or SUV’s will have to park in a multi storey car park due to off road parking not having big enough spaces for parallel parking. What to look for in a commuter car? Fuel efficiency Comfortab...

gices | 23 Nov 2009 13:42

Protected No Claims Discount
Car insurance is such a delicate thing – it takes a very long time to earn the trust of insurance companies and just when you think you’ve finally made it to the VIP club who pay cheap premiums, all that is taken away from you in the blink of an eye. You can scream as much as you want at how life is unfair but the reality wouldn’t change and that is why it’s probably better if you have protected no claims discount to save you the regret afterwards. Unfortunately, not eve...

gices | 22 Nov 2009 14:46

Repossessed car
So you’ve taken the decision to buy a car but not sure where to look first? Have you considered a repossessed car? You could potentially save yourself hundreds of pounds! The best place to buy repo cars are at car auctions; they are held all over the country. What are repossessed cars? Repo cars are vehicles which were used as collateral or more often cars that were purchased on finance. If the person who took out the loan couldn’t repay it, then the company has a legal right to ha...

gices | 21 Nov 2009 14:17

Driving In Snow
In the UK, we don’t get a lot of snow - maybe a week at the most (here in London) but the further North you go like down in Scotland, you can get a few weeks of snow fall a year. Most people love snow as it’s a rarity for some of us but for those of us who have cars and rely heavily on them, the thought of snow is horrible. When snow has freshly fallen, it’s easy to walk on but as many people have sloshed around in it, it turns to water which will then turn to ice. Advice and ...

gices | 19 Nov 2009 10:13

Car damage by potholes
When out driving, the last thing you think about is whether or not you have to swerve to avoid damaging your car in a pothole. Sometimes potholes are easily seen but other times, you just drive into them and only realise afterwards when you feel your car shake. How are potholes formed? When there’s bad weather such as rain, the water gets into the cracks of the asphalt of the road surface. In time, the asphalt will crack and on top of that it will cave in as well causing a crater. This i...

gices | 17 Nov 2009 13:19

Car insurance and natural disasters
When purchasing car insurance, how many people actually take the time to sit down and read all the terms and conditions properly? A minority perhaps! Although we all know the different levels of car insurance cover, do we really know exactly what is covered under each policy? Would your insurer pay out for a claim that's been caused by earthquake, flood, lightning, storm or any other natural calamity? Not sure? Find out what is really covered under your policy: Types of car insurance cover at a...

gices | 15 Nov 2009 15:11

Using mobile phone while driving
The law was changed in 2003 to penalise all drivers who use a handheld mobile phone whilst driving. Before this law was introduced, drivers could only be prosecuted if using a mobile phone while driving caused them to lose control of their car. Since February 2007, the fine has risen to £60 and if you are taken to court, you may have to pay up to £1000. You will also have 3 penalty points endorsed on your licence should you be caught. While it is illegal to use a handheld mobile phon...

gices | 14 Nov 2009 14:23

Not switching on headlights when dark
One of the first things we do when entering a vehicle is to put on the seatbelt and check our mirrors. What a few of us fail to do is to switch on the headlights when it's dark. By not doing so, you not only cause dangerous driving conditions for those around you but also for yourself. If oncoming drivers can’t see you or cars approaching from behind don’t know that you are there, they may not slow down and crash either into the rear, front or side of your car. Although the reason f...

gices | 13 Nov 2009 11:01

Change Address on Driving Licence - Why Should You Do It?
Circumstances often change in life and there are times when we need to move from one place to another, usually if we are going to live in a better home. Moving homes can be quite stressful because of the many things that you need to sort out to ensure the move is as smooth as possible. One thing that many people forget to do after moving houses though is to change the address on their driving licence. Of course, even after moving into a new house, you still have plenty to do like unpacking boxe...

gices | 12 Nov 2009 13:53

How long do points stay on your licence?
When people are caught speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, jumping traffic lights etc, their licence are endorsed with penalty points. What many people know is that after 2 years of driving and accumulating 12 points, they will be disqualified from driving. If you get 6 points within the first two years of passing your driving test, then you will be banned from driving as well. The real question though is how long will these points stay on your licence for? There are many differen...

gices | 10 Nov 2009 08:35

Car Park Accident
When we put our car in a car park, side road or designated parking space, we assume that it's safe but we may return to find that our parked car was hit whilst we've been away. There isn’t much we can do if the driver of the other vehicle involved didn’t leave their details but there are steps that we can take to prevent another car park accident from happening again. Reduce the risk of a parked car being hit Make sure you are in the white box if you are parking in a designat...

gices | 09 Nov 2009 07:26

Driving At Night
One of the scariest things about driving for some people is the thought of having to drive at night or when it is very dark. Driving at night can be very dangerous as you have to be extra careful of the hazards that you look for during the day as they are harder to see at night. There are also other hazards that you will encounter when it's dark such as animals like rabbits or foxes on the road as they come out to find food. As it is not always possible to know the route you will take beforehand...

gices | 08 Nov 2009 13:51

Seatbelt law - Fine for not wearing seatbelt
There is a small minority of people who still refuse to wear a seatbelt whilst driving but if they are caught, do they really know what the outcome will be? What the law says about seatbelts? The driver of the vehicle is responsible for all children under the age of 14 to wear a seatbelt. As a driver you are also responsible for wearing a seatbelt but all adults in the car are responsible for wearing their own seatbelts. If you are caught travelling in a car without a seatbelt, you can face a ...

gices | 02 Nov 2009 10:11

Carvertising - Get paid to display adverts on your car
Advertising plays an important part in our daily life as it introduces us to new products/services and the latest offers that we can grab. This is a really huge business and it is found almost everywhere from radio to television, newspaper to internet and posters to leaflets. Marketers are always trying to find new ways to find exposure for their products and services and recently they have come up with advertisements on cars (carvertising in short). If you think about it for a minute, you&rsquo...

gices | 02 Nov 2009 09:58

Driving under the speed limit
There are so many different signs that display the speed limit but I’ve noticed that sometimes they are displayed several hundred yards down the road. One of the most annoying things that you come across when driving are people who drive under the speed limit. You sometimes find that people will drive up to 5mph under the speed limit. On the motorway there are usually three lanes. The first lane (left hand side) is usually used by lorries and cars that do a maximum of 60mph. The middle la...

gices | 01 Nov 2009 05:12

MOT Reminder
With the busy lifestyle that everyone has, it is almost impossible to remember all the things that you need to do. Birthdays, doctor appointments, paying bills, meetings are examples of things that we need to constantly remember doing. If you own a car now, you cannot forget to renew your insurance and tax because you are reminded of them by letters a few weeks before they expire. However for MOT, it is a different story. There’s no MOT reminder service from the Vehicle and Operator Servic...

gices | 26 Oct 2009 14:58

Car Bumper Repair
Everything does not go smoothly when you’re driving on the roads. You might be a really good driver but that doesn’t mean you will never be involved in an accident. Contrary to this, you may find yourself in a situation where damage has been done to your vehicle but you were not at fault like what happened to me when my car front bumper got dented and scuffed because of the stupidity of another driver. Without going in too much detail about the accident itself, I found that my car h...

gices | 26 Oct 2009 09:09

Pelican and puffin crossing
As a child I was never taught about the different types of crossings there are when you have to cross the road. All we were taught was to wait if the man was red and go if the man was green. As an adult learning to drive, it is very important to learn about the different types of crossings you may come across when driving. Some crossings require you to stop while others do not (depending on the circumstances). Most people get confused with a pelican and puffin crossing so let's find out the diff...

gices | 18 Oct 2009 07:56

Heathrow Airport Car Rental
Heathrow airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. It has five terminals, long and short term car parks as well as a busy taxi stand. Tourists coming to London will find a range of transport facilities to get them to their hotels or any other place they will be staying at. If no one is coming to pick you up from Heathrow, then you can try travelling by taxi, public transport (bus, underground tube and overground train) or rent your own car. Some people prefer to book in advance but if...

gices | 18 Oct 2009 07:54

Drug Driving Car Insurance
Driving under the influence of drugs is dangerous and everybody knows that. If you’ve been lucky enough not to have been in a life-threatening accident but unfortunate enough to have been caught by the police, then another unpleasant surprise awaits you in the form of higher car insurance because of drug driving. Taking illegal drugs is quite common among young people as it sets them in a party mood so that they can have more fun (or so they believe). It is good to have fun, look cool and...

gices | 07 Oct 2009 11:18

Hazard Perception Test
23 years ago, when my mother took her driving test, it was very easy to pass as there were no theory tests involved and obtaining a driving licence was mainly associated with a learner's ability to drive safe and sound. Hazard perception test was only introduced in the UK on 14th November 2002. You have to take your hazard test at the same time as the theory test and you need to pass both to be able to take the practical driving exam. Statistics have found that new drivers are most at risk of b...

gices | 03 Oct 2009 14:33

Insurance Write Off
When a car has been damaged extensively to the point where it cannot be repaired or the costs of repairs would exceed its current market value, it is then called an insurance write off. Every year hundreds of thousands of cars are involved in car accidents, thefts and fires. Insurance companies will classify some of these cars as write offs so that they do not spend more money on repairing the car than what's it's worth. So if you have reported an accident and your insurer believes your car is a...

gices | 30 Sep 2009 15:09

How to avoid speeding fines
Whilst travelling in a 40mph zone, do you find that you're the only one obeying the speed limit? In most cases, you will find that the careless drivers always get away with speeding while those of us who usually play by the rules are most likely to get caught for the one time that we accidently go over the speed limit. How much over the speed limit to get a ticket or be prosecuted Usually if you're driving at 1 or 2 miles above the speed limit, you won't receive a speeding ticket but if you're...

gices | 14 Sep 2009 14:45

Car journey checklist before going on a long drive
When heading out on a long journey, there are a few things that you may need to check before hitting the road. Put it this way, you don't want to be halfway away from home and realise you have forgotten your mobile phone or notice that your engine oil needs topping up. So by ticking a few boxes, you will ensure that your trip is as enjoyable as possible. Windscreen wiper fluid Most people may not think this is important but when driving on the motorway, your windscreen is likely to get very di...

gices | 14 Sep 2009 14:39

Named Driver Insurance
A car insurance policy can have multiple drivers - the main driver who is called the policyholder and additional drivers (as many as you want) who become named drivers on the policy. However named driver insurance can have implications and you'll find out what they are in a moment. Most people will consider becoming a named driver on an insurance policy if they are young or are new drivers. This is because car insurance premiums for this specific group are very high because of the lack of drivi...

gices | 14 Sep 2009 13:57

Keeping your baby safe with a car seat
One of the very important things that new parents need to think of after buying nursery furniture, clothes and toys are child seats. There are many different types available nowadays like child car seat for use as a newborn to 3 years of age and booster seats as your baby starts to outgrow their child's seat. For cyclists, there are bicycle child seats. As your baby becomes bigger, you may also consider the use of a child table seat to enable your toddler to eat with you during family meal times...

gices | 11 Sep 2009 10:18

Be creative and get your personalised number plate at a fraction of the cost
Are you looking for a way to customise your car but not sure how? Well how about personalised licence plates? Many people have the misconception that only the rich can afford to customise their registration number but this is not true. Depending on what you want spelt out, it can be relatively affordable. To celebrate an achievement, you can give your loved ones their own licence plate. For example, after graduating from University or after getting a big promotion in your job, a personalised gif...

gices | 11 Sep 2009 10:03

Your rights as a pedestrian and how to stay safe when walking
All people think that walking is safer than driving but there are a small minority of accidents involving pedestrians occurring every year. Although I would like to assure you that these accidents are rare, let's just take a look at some of the accidents that have taken place in the last year. Are you really safe walking on the pavement or the zebra crossing? In the past year there have been reports of cars and buses mounting pavements and injuring pedestrians which have sometimes proved to be...

gices | 11 Sep 2009 09:56

Are instructors offering cheap driving lessons conning learners?
All learner drivers will need to have driving lessons at some point or another. Driving is not something that you can just learn through books, online materials or through mere discussions with other drivers. You need to practice your driving as well and this is what is going to make you a real driver. With the help of a professional, you will eventually not only learn the skills of driving but also become a safe and independent driver. The question nevertheless is whether you will be able to ge...

gices | 05 Sep 2009 12:50

Have you been injured in a car accident?
When you leave your house to go to some other place, you usually don't think that you may be involved in any sort of accident. People usually don't think about such things and if they did, then it would be really hard to step outside out the doorway for fear something bad would happen to them. Life itself is unpredictable and there's always a chance (however tiny or big it is) that you may end up injuring yourself in an accident whilst you're away from home. There are many different ways in whi...

gices | 31 Aug 2009 11:03

Dangers of the scooter and importance of moped insurance
With sales of cars declining, many people are looking into alternative transportation. Although motorcycles are common, scooters have become increasingly popular because they are cheaper and very convenient to get from one place to another especially for commuting in busy cities. How scooters can be dangerous There are many risks associated with owning a scooter, these include: Safety while driving - just like motorcycles, car drivers are less likely to see a scooter so accidents are mo...

gices | 26 Aug 2009 11:59

Driving Instructor Insurance
Teaching absolute beginners how to drive is a very risky business as learners have yet to master clutch control and emergency stops among many other things to make them safer drivers. This is why driving instructor insurance is a must for people working in this industry to ensure adequate cover is available in the event of misfortune. Many private driving instructors have dual controlled cars as this offers a safe way to intercept the mistakes of the learner who is primarily driving the car. Th...

gices | 13 Aug 2009 09:20

Convicted Driver Insurance
In today's world, it is becoming extremely rare to find a person with a clean licence. If you have convictions on your licence because you have committed a motoring offence, it doesn't necessary mean that you are a bad person and you shouldn't be able to find a decent car insurance quote. After all, you wouldn't even bother looking at insurance cover at all if you were the 'bad guy' now, would you? You would drive without any insurance at all! Common driving convictions Below is a list of moto...

gices | 08 Aug 2009 12:02

Driving Without Insurance
Third Party insurance cover is the minimum legal requirement for driving in the UK. If you're driving without insurance, then you could face tough penalties as this is regarded as a serious criminal offence. If you think you can get away with it, then think again because there are now advanced technologies which quickly scan your vehicle and check whether you have valid insurance in place. Even when driving in a quiet area, you are still at risk and you may get caught when you least expect it. ...

gices | 29 Jul 2009 07:48

Insuring your taxi at a reasonable cost
Premiums for a taxi are much higher than that for a normal car because it presents a higher degree of insurance liability and therefore cheap taxi insurance is hard to find. However, if you don't just stick with your taxi renewal quote and spend some time shopping around, you will eventually find the right cover at a more affordable rate. It is a legal requirement to have sufficient cover for all liabilities that you may face including claims from the passengers you are carrying and any damages...

gices | 22 Jul 2009 06:08

List of temporary car insurance companies
Getting insurance cover for a short period has become increasingly popular because of the flexibility that it offers. So whether you're looking to get insured on a car you've borrowed for the day, looking for driveaway insurance or just want to get cover for a couple of days rather than committing to a long term contract, temporary car insurance is the way to go. Insurers that do short term car insurance InsureDaily.co.uk (21-75) Swinton (provided through providentinsurance.co.uk / ...

gices | 21 Jul 2009 09:10

How students can reduce their car insurance
Whether you're still studying at college or leaving home for University, getting car insurance for a student like you is not an easy task. At this point in your life, you are either working part-time in McDonalds and earning only a little bit of money or not working at all and relying on EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance). So you should be looking for the cheapest insurance deals to afford having your own transport, shouldn't you? Well, in the real life, students pay the most to get their car...

gices | 20 Jul 2009 10:14

How female drivers can get cheaper car insurance
Being a woman can sometimes have great benefits like getting cheap car insurance deals just because of your gender. In fact, insurers have realised that female drivers are more careful on the roads and seem to have fewer accidents than men in general. Statistics gathered over the years have shown that more than 80% of speeding convictions and careless driving offences were committed by men. Since insurers want to provide cover for drivers who are less likely to claim (otherwise they will make a...

gices | 17 Jul 2009 05:17

Pass Plus Driving Course
For most of us, it is a long journey from being a learner driver to having our full driving licence. It takes a lot of lessons, a lot of mistakes and a lot of learning to get there but it's all worth it at the end because finally upgrading from the green to the pink licence is proof that you can now drive on the roads without any supervision. However car insurance can be quite high and doing the pass plus course can help reduce your premiums by as much as 35%. Not many newly qualified drivers r...

gices | 04 Mar 2009 07:08

Applying for your first provisional driving licence
You come to a point in your life where you want to learn how to drive because you're either fed up with public transport and want your own mode of travelling or you're ready to embrace the joy of being an adult. Or simply you just want to drive! Well for starters, you will need to get hold of a provisional licence so that you are legally entitled to learn to drive the vehicle of your choice. Failure to obtain a valid licence is an infringement to the British law (LC20 - Driving otherwise than i...

gices | 04 Mar 2009 06:00

Driving Without Licence
It is against the law to drive without a valid licence. This law is in place for the safety of road users in the first place. People who want to drive must first learn how to drive and pass both a theory test (with hazard perception) and a practical test to obtain a full driving licence. You can be prosecuted for driving without a licence under these circumstances: a) Not having a valid licence but still driving b) Driving with just a provisional licence and not being accompanied by someone...

gices | 03 Mar 2009 11:02

Jumping Traffic Lights
As everyday users of the road, we drivers sometimes forget that the Highway Code is there for a reason and the most important reason of all is security. Newly passed drivers tend to obey the Highway Code more than experienced drivers because everything they learnt is still fresh in their minds and they are more afraid of going against the law now that they've just got their full licence. However experienced drivers are more comfortable on the roads and sometimes in a state of hurry to get somew...

gices | 03 Mar 2009 09:37

Car Insurance Groups
You've heard it before - cars in a lower insurance group are cheaper to insure. But why? Well first you need to know that there are 50 insurance groups (Group 1 -20) at the moment and cars falling into Group 1 attract the cheapest insurance premiums. Note that before there used to be only Groups 1-20 but this has now been changed. The panel which decides which insurance group a car should be classified under use research data from Thatcham, the Motor Insurance Repair Centre. With this informati...

gices | 18 Feb 2009 08:31

Accidents with uninsured drivers can be claimed through the MIB
It is against the law to drive without insurance on UK roads. However there are still many people out there who drive uninsured. Most of us do not realise the problem these drivers causes until we find ourselves in a situation where we are involved in an accident with a driver who does not have any insurance cover. Many insurers will have exceptions specified on their policy to exclude claims relating to uninsured drivers. This is because they will not be able to get the money back from the thi...

gices | 17 Feb 2009 09:42

Policy holder, registered keeper and legal owner of vehicle
If you're shopping around for car insurance, you are more likely to come across questions asking whether you are the registered keeper of the car you want to insure and whether you are going to be the policy holder as well. Therefore before you can fill out the insurance application form as accurately as possible, you will need to understand properly the terminology that is used first. Who is the policy holder? The policy holder is the main driver of the vehicle and is the person who will be u...

gices | 04 Feb 2009 06:52

Pros and Cons of Hybrid Cars
Hybrid cars have been introduced to help combat pollution. They are more energy efficient and more environmentally-friendly than conventional cars. What is a hybrid car? A hybrid vehicle contains an electric motor and a gasoline motor to rotate the wheels. At low speeds, the electric motor is used and when travelling at high speeds the gasoline motor kicks in. With this mechanism, fuel is used efficiently as petrol is only burnt when it is needed and when the electric motor cannot cope with th...

gices | 28 Jan 2009 12:58

How early can I get my licence back after driving ban?
Many people wonder when they will be able to get their driving licence back after a ban and whether they could get it well before the ban expires. The good news is that these people could get their licence earlier but it depends on their individual circumstances. There are two main factors which govern this possibility - first is the length of the driving ban imposed by the court and second is the conduct of the individual following the driving ban, that is, whether more driving offences were co...

gices | 05 Jan 2009 07:01

Drink driving solicitors
If you have been charged with a drink driving offence and you're likely to be prosecuted, you may avoid the driving ban by appointing a drink driving solicitor to defend your case. There are many ways a solicitor can win your case but you need to contact one as soon as possible rather than wait till the last minute so that a solid case can be prepared for you. This will maximise your chances of being proven non-guilty for the driving offence. A minimum driving ban of 12 months can be applied to...

gices | 14 Nov 2008 05:33

Get an interest free car loan when joining the NHS
In an attempt to attract potential jobseekers from applying (and to recruit better qualified staff), some companies are giving away incentives like interest free car finance which would enable the person who lands the job to get a car on loan and not pay any interest for a set time. This can actually work out very well because having your private mode of commute is always better than travelling by public transport. One company which currently offers this type of scheme is the NHS in the UK. The ...

gices | 27 Oct 2008 10:11

Interest free car loans
When you are struggling with finances but want to buy a used or a new car, you can get what is called an interest free car loan. Under this scheme, you do not necessarily have to pay any cash upfront and this will give you enough time to save for the car and pay for it afterwards. Therefore you can get the car that you want now and not incur any interest on the money borrowed. You will find that some manufacturers or car dealers will offer 0% interest rate when you buy a car with them. This is ...

gices | 23 Oct 2008 11:12

Downsizing your car to stay within budget
Times are tough these days as the financial crisis is kicking in slowly and most people are already feeling the pinch. Some people have stopped using their cars because of high petrol and maintenance costs while others are struggling to make ends meet in that respect. If after planning your bills, you find that you are only left with little money to spare on insuring and running your vehicle, then it is worth looking into downsizing your car so that you stay within your budget. What you need to...

gices | 21 Oct 2008 08:20

Get insured on the car you're learning to drive with a short term policy
The scarcity of information available to learners is the main cause for confusion and misconception that they need to get an annual car insurance policy for them to be able to practice driving. Contrary to that, there exists a short term policy from Collingwood which allows them to drive their parents' car (or anybody's car with their consent) where they are covered by a learner driver insurance policy. Poor knowledge has therefore led many learners onto the route where they struggle to find a ...

gices | 15 Oct 2008 09:59

Being a young driver does not mean you will not be able to afford car insurance
The pride about having your own car and being able to drive can be attributed to the fact that it shows a certain level of independence. This is why most young people tend to learn how to drive at the age of 17, which is the minimum age requirement by law. After much determination, they manage to pass their driving test hoping they've overcome the only obstacle between them and driving. This is when they find out that young drivers' car insurance is rather expensive and it is yet another hurdle ...

gices | 06 Oct 2008 09:50

How to get free car insurance offers
If you want to get a free car insurance offer, then it is most likely that you will need to buy a new car to be eligible for it. These types of offers are made throughout the year amongst manufacturers and dealers in order to attract more customers to buy newer car models or to get rid of old stock so that they can make room for the new ones. It is more common in the July/August time because dealers are preparing for the new registration number plate around that time of the year. Have you consi...

gices | 28 Sep 2008 11:12

Provisional insurance
You've just received your green provisional licence through the post and you're now excited to get behind the wheels for some driving lessons. The first thing you will need to do is find yourself someone to teach you how to drive. Okay, here are your options: contact the local driving schools in your area, go with a private driving instructor who has been recommended by somebody you know or learn with a family member or friend. But whichever option you choose, you will need to have provisional c...

gices | 05 Sep 2008 14:18

Halal car insurance
There's been some good news in the car insurance industry for the Islamic community as Salaam Insurance introduces the UK first Halal Car Insurance product which is in line with the faith of Muslims as it is Shariah compliant. Before its introduction, Muslims had no choice other than to take any other car insurance cover to abide by UK motoring laws but now it seems that those days are finally over. This specific type of car insurance does not contradict the religious faith of Muslims and will e...

gices | 02 Sep 2008 14:01

A guide to car insurance policies
Selecting and paying for car insurance is hardly the most exiting or interesting part of being a driver but the law requires you to deal with it, so it is an unavoidable part of being a motorist. There are several thousands of insurance companies operating in the UK, all of them use similar terms to describe what they do, and the types of car insurance that they provide. If you don't understand the basics of what these different terms mean, you could select a type of car insurance that is not s...

gices | 26 Aug 2008 13:59

1 month car insurance
Most insurers will give you a yearly quote for car insurance when you start shopping around and people will need to fork out at least £600 on average to get their car insured. Some may be able to pay this amount in one go and others who are struggling to make ends meet will have difficulty in finding this sum to settle all at once. However some insurance companies give you the option to pay your car insurance in monthly instalments rather than having to pay everything in one go. Although this i...

gices | 19 Aug 2008 06:10

Protect against depreciation with gap car insurance
You have probably never heard of gap insurance as it is not required under the law to enable you to drive a car on UK roads, and you may have never considered how it might help you if your car is for example written off in an accident. Why would you need more insurance anyway, you paid a good amount of money for a third party fire and theft (TPFT) or a fully comprehensive car insurance policy that covers you for just about any eventuality. It is true that a fully comp policy will protect you if...

gices | 18 Aug 2008 20:11

Does car colour affect insurance quotes?
When you go out looking for a shiny new motor, you have lots of things to think about - fuel economy, practicality, equipment, added extras and of course price. One thing that usually only gets a slight consideration is colour. According to TheAA only 3% of women and just about 1% of men think that colour is an important factor when buying a car. Even if you are the type of person who would spend time considering the exterior colour, it is purely a matter of taste. Which is you favourite car co...

gices | 13 Aug 2008 14:31

Car insurance for imported vehicles
There are a number of reasons why you would want to import a car. Firstly you will be saving a substantial amount of money by importing. For example, if you import a car from Japan to the UK, then you would be paying a fraction of the price even after the import costs. Secondly, you might have relocated and want to drive in a foreign country. Thirdly you are more likely to get a wider choice of car models than what is available in your home country. There are other reasons as well but what you n...

gices | 08 Aug 2008 08:22

Test drive car insurance
A car is an important asset for anybody and it makes our rather difficult life somehow easier - no need to carry heavy bags of shopping from the supermarket; you enjoy travelling more because it is your private vehicle and you don't have to put up with inconsiderable, arrogant and disgusting people that you see on public transport. Although it is a great thing to possess a car, it is an even greater thing to buy the right car, one which you will enjoy whenever you will be driving. This is where...

gices | 29 Jul 2008 05:36

Drink driving car insurance
Insurance companies don't just randomly decide the amount you pay to insure your car and yourself as a driver. Highly paid specialists called actuaries make complicated statistical calculations based on many variables such as where you live, how old you are, the type of car you have and so on. That way they can make an educated and fairly accurate guess at the odds of you having an accident where you're at fault and making a claim. When you are caught drink driving you eliminate a huge amount of...

gices | 23 Jul 2008 14:01

Temporary Car Insurance
Over the last few years, temporary car insurance has become extremely popular because drivers have recognised that they now are more at risk on the roads with the ever increasing number of vehicles and careless drivers, so driving without appropriate cover is a big NO-NO. Consequently the number of companies offering this type of insurance cover has increased and this has made getting cheaper quotes easier than ever. With a larger pool of insurers providing car insurance for temporary needs, th...

gices | 10 Apr 2008 06:01

Car insurance for first time drivers
You've probably heard the saying, there's a first time for everything in life, well the same applies for car insurance. At some point in your life, you will need to buy your first car insurance policy ever and it might sound like a daunting task initially but if you do your research well, you will be fine. First time car insurance will be sought by people who've just passed their driving test and looking to get ready to hit the roads. Although some people might have held their license for a lon...

gices | 21 Mar 2008 06:17

Short term car insurance
Ever wondered whether you could get a temporary car insurance cover for that estate car you need to borrow from your friend to help you move houses? Well you will be glad to know that such a short term car insurance policy exists! So instead of driving without car insurance hoping nothing bad will happen, put your mind at peace and get protected against all the odds. Circumstances when you may need this short term insurance policy Driving your friend’s car for the weekend Borrowing your fri...

gices | 16 Mar 2008 10:11

18 year old car insurance
The day you turn 18 is a memorable day for you because you've now reached a milestone in your life. You are legally an adult and can from this day onwards make your own decisions and do not require anyone to sign on your behalf. However not everything is good news and when it comes to car insurance, it certainly isn't. Many young adults get the shock of their lives when they obtain a quote to insure a second hand car that they've just purchased. They might have bought an old banger for £1000 bu...

gices | 15 Feb 2008 05:36

Car insurance for 17 year olds
The legal age to start driving in the UK is seventeen. Most young adults who would be celebrating their 17th birthday in the coming months would have already applied for their provisional licence as this can be done when you're 16 but soon going onto 17. After hours of learning to drive with a qualified instructor, they would have passed their driving test and looking forward to driving a car of their own. Unfortunately life is not always simple and when it comes to 17 year old car insurance, it...

gices | 11 Feb 2008 07:13

Case Study - Cheapest car insurance company for young drivers in 2008
So what are the best car insurance deals for young or new drivers at the moment? Well I've done a case study to see which company is offering the most competitive quotes among all the so-called cheap car insurance providers. Case Study (Updated 29 January 2008): John Smith is an 18 year old male student (date of birth 11 Jan 1990) who lives with his parent and has just got his full UK driving license. He passed his practical test first time round and to congratulate him, his parents bought him...

gices | 29 Jan 2008 08:42

Car insurance fronting
I sometimes ask myself whether it is worth doing something morally right or financially wise in this society of ever increasing prices. Take for example this 17 year old male who has just passed his driving test and is eager to get behind the wheels. He has spent roughly £900 on the 40 hours driving lessons which the DSA recommends, bought his first car for £3500 and is now looking for a cheap car insurance deal to get him going. What happens next? He receives insurance quotes no cheaper than £2...

gices | 22 Jan 2008 10:55

Earn no claims bonus as a named driver
A named driver is a person who is legally allowed to drive the same vehicle as the main driver and whose name has been registered on the car insurance policy for that particular vehicle. The main driver of the car is the one who will be using the car the most and will therefore become the policyholder. You can add other drivers on the insurance policy and they will become the second, third, fourth driver etc. The additional drivers are referred to as the named drivers on the policy. For instanc...

gices | 08 Jan 2008 09:08

Cheapest cars to insure
Car insurance can be really expensive, especially for new drivers who have just passed their driving test. So whether you are a young driver or an older driver who've just got their driving license, you will probably struggle with high insurance premiums for the first few years until you build your no claims bonus. Until then, what you can do is to ‘be sensible’ and buy a car which is cheap to insure? Top 5 cars which are cheap to insure For the lowest car insurance premiums, choose from the f...

gices | 08 Jan 2008 09:00

Weekend car insurance
There are times when you need to borrow somebody's else car just for the weekend and it is very tempting not to get weekend insurance cover because you think it is going to be just for a little while and chances are that nothing will happen during that short period of time and you'll probably get away with it. Well unless you've got a crystal ball through which you can see the future, it is not advisable to do this. Even the luckiest person on earth may have the worst luck without expecting it. ...

gices | 31 Dec 2007 07:03

Factors affecting car insurance
There are many factors which affect the quote you will receive for car insurance and if you want to get the best quote, you need to know what these factors are. You will be able to get cheaper car insurance if you understand how insurance companies work out quotes based on the information you provide them and the criteria that contribute to the final cost of car insurance premium.So here’s a list of the factors which influence car insurance: Will you park your car in a garage, driveway or on th...

gices | 22 Dec 2007 11:42

How to jump start a car
When you’ve not driven your car for a long time or you’ve left your headlights on by mistake, you might find that your car won’t start because of car battery problems. Quite often all you need is a jump start to get you going again. Follow these easy DIY (Do It Yourself) steps and you’ll soon be back driving. What you will need: jump start leads (one red and one black), gloves and a small brush for cleaning. First of all make sure both cars (the one with the flat battery and the car being us...

gices | 21 Dec 2007 07:45

10 tips on driving
Sometimes people are not aware of things that can make their life easier. So here are some advice that will help you when driving: As a new driver you might wonder how do you know when your petrol tank is full? When filling up your tank at a petrol station, it’s impossible to overfill because the pump will cut off the petrol supply automatically when your tank is full and will not allow you to go over the maximum limit. When de-icing car windows, many people find it more convenient to throw ...

gices | 09 Dec 2007 09:04

What to do if you have a car accident
If you have a car accident, the first thing you need to do is not to panic. An unfortunate event can happen to anyone and you should concentrate on what needs to be done next. If someone has been injured or the vehicles involved are causing an obstruction on the road, you need to call the police on 999 immediately so that they can request an ambulance and come quickly to warn oncoming traffic. Under the Road Traffic Act, you need to stop no matter how minor the road accident is and you are requ...

gices | 09 Dec 2007 08:58

Driving Instructor Complaint
During your driving lessons, it is important that you feel safe in the car as you need all of your concentration on what is going on around you to make sound judgement and if your mind is pre-occupied with other things, then you will not be able to react quickly to dangers. However there are times when disgraceful driving instructors will try to hit on you. In most cases it is a male driving instructor trying to flirt with a female learner. Women instructors tend to be more professional towards ...

gices | 27 Oct 2007 12:07

Driving ban
Being banned from driving can sometimes feel like your leg has been amputated. A trip to your local shop can seem to be taking forever when you're walking and all those little journeys that you're used to and took for granted now becomes a big burden. So think well before you have to pay the price of having your licence taken away from you. There are many reasons why the court may order that your licence is suspended and we'll look at the circumstances where a ban is certain: Drink driving o...

gices | 24 Oct 2007 15:12

How to replace windshield wiper blades
When driving during bad weather conditions such as rain or snow, windshield wipers are a necessity because they allow you to see clearly where you are heading. It is therefore a good idea to make sure that your car wipers are working properly when you need them most to ensure a safe drive. When to change windshield wipers? You should probably consider changing your wipers every 6 months. Having said that, if you feel the wipers are perfectly fine after inspecting them, then you can wait a bit ...

gices | 09 Sep 2007 16:05

How to resolve handbrake problems
The handbrake is an important part of a vehicle as it secures it when you have parked. Sometimes because of normal wear and tear, you can have problems with it and it is recommended that you get it fixed as soon as possible. How is handbrake adjustment done? If you want to adjust the handbrake cable, you will need to disconnect the handbrake cable, unbolt the caliper from its guide pins and firmly force the piston back to remove any play (put slight hand pressure on the caliper lever and you'l...

gices | 17 May 2007 10:29

Cheap car insurance for young new drivers
So you've just got your full driving license and you are excited knowing that you'd now be able to drive the car which you've barely managed to buy. Well don't get your hopes up too soon because the moment you start looking for young drivers' car insurance, you'll start pulling all the hairs on your head off. Why? Because as you've probably found out, premiums for new drivers are ridiculously high! You are looking at £3000 on average to insure your car! Don't worry though as there are ways to re...

gices | 29 Apr 2007 16:47

Should you choose a private instructor or a driving school
So you've decided to learn driving a car. Probably the first question you will be asking yourself is whether you should go with a private instructor or a driving school. Private driving instructors Private instructors will usually charge you less than driving schools because they need an incentive for people to actually book driving lessons with them. Nowadays they charge £18 or more while driving schools charge about £24 on average. So when you think about it, private instructors are more a...

gices | 25 Apr 2007 17:15

Driving Theory Test
Before you can sit for your practical driving test, you will need to have passed your theory test. If you're wondering the reason behind this, it is just because you need to be familiar with the different road signs and have prompt road awareness to become a good driver. The theory test is devised in such a way to give you all you need to start driving safely. What is involved in the theory test The theory test is divided into 2 parts - a multiple choice and a hazard perception section. Multi...

gices | 25 Apr 2007 16:50

Training to be a driving instructor
You will need to undergo driving instructor training if you want to become an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) and teach other people the skills to drive. If you are not a registered ADI, it is illegal to charge money for driving lessons. So if you want a job as a driving instructor to either be self-employed or work for a driving school, it is in your best interest to join a specialist training centre, which runs the driving instructor course, and follow their programme. You will need to enqui...

gices | 15 Mar 2007 18:41

Show me tell me questions for the driving test
Before you start your practical driving test, your driving examiner will ask you two questions to test your knowledge of the car that you are about to drive. These questions are called the “show-me tell-me” questions and each wrong answer will result in a minor driving fault. There are 19 questions for you to know and it is recommended that you familiarise yourself well with them to give a good first impression. Below is the complete list of the questions from which your driving examiner will c...

gices | 03 Mar 2007 16:21

MOT Test
MOT stands for Ministry Of Transport and an MOT test is required to determine whether your vehicle meets the minimum road safety and environmental standards, so in other words whether it is roadworthy or not. However you should be aware that the MOT does not guarantee that your vehicle does not have any other problems because only basics checks are done and you are therefore encouraged to have a proper servicing done if you have any worries at all. When are you required to have an MOT test done...

gices | 03 Mar 2007 12:54

Practical Driving Test
The practical driving test lasts for about 40 minutes. Before you even start the driving test, your examiner will ask you to read a car number plate from about 15 metres to make sure your eyesight meets the driving standards. If you have read it incorrectly, you will instantly fail the driving test as you will be considered a danger to other road users because you cannot see properly. However if you have managed the first question, then your driving examiner will ask you two more questions but t...

gices | 02 Mar 2007 19:56

Car clutch
The car clutch is something that you use extensively while driving. So you need to make sure that it is in good working condition. Although the clutch normally lasts for an average of 5 years, the actual lifetime of your car’s clutch really depends on the way you drive and the journeys you make. Using your clutch to move the car from a stationary position wears it out more. Therefore driving in the city where you will have to stop like a hundred times because of traffic will wear out the clutch ...

gices | 15 Feb 2007 17:27

Graduate and student car loan
Whether you are a fresh graduate or a college student, chances are that you will have to apply for a car loan if you’re looking to buy your own car. You don’t need to get a very expensive car but what you need is a car which is going to be reliable and not break down when you need it most. With a few thousand pounds, you will be able to afford a used car which is a couple of years old or even a new one, if you spend the time to do a thorough research. Is there any student/graduate car loan prod...

gices | 14 Feb 2007 16:32

Top 5 Car MP3 players
As more and more music in the form of MP3 is being downloaded off the Internet, many people have started to look for a car mp3 player so that they can listen to their favourite tunes whilst driving. Some people have attempted to create their own mp3 player to play music in their car but there's no need to do that now as you can find a good MP3 player with a lot of functions for less than £10! The top five In-Car MP3 players TeckNet FM29A USB Flash Memory MP3 Modulator/Player Features: Com...

gices | 09 Feb 2007 20:27

How to check engine oil
It is important to check the engine oil in your vehicle frequently to monitor its level. This will prevent the engine from being damaged as the oil acts as a lubricant which also cleans and cools the engine. Doing this little exercise is a good way to maintain your car and will make the engine lasts longer and run smoothly and save you from having to pay the expensive fees of repairing or buying a new engine. How to check the engine oil level? You can easily check the oil level in your car’s...

gices | 28 Jan 2007 16:56

Pay as you go car insurance
Pay As You Drive car insurance works the same way as 'pay as you go' mobile phones, that is, you only pay when you use your car. Brilliant, don't you think? If you're using your car only during weekends, you shouldn't be charged car insurance from Monday to Friday, right? Well that's why a few insurers have started this scheme to make them stand out in the insurance market where competition is really fierce. This model was originally designed mainly for young drivers who pay too much in car ins...

gices | 20 Jan 2007 18:12

Car donation
There are a number of reasons why you would consider car donation. For example, you might be paying registration or parking fees for a car you are not using and you are looking for a way to dispose your car without any hassles. Or perhaps your car broke down and the cost to get it fixed is more than you are willing to spend. So what are the benefits of donating your car? You might be thinking why you would give away your car to charity when you can sell it and get some cash for it. Well unless...

gices | 15 Jan 2007 10:42

Minor driving faults
As a learner, you are allowed upto 15 minor driving faults. If you make 16 or more minor faults during your practical driving test, then you will fail. Sometimes minor driving faults can turn into serious driving faults if other road users are affected but that depends on the prevailing conditions at the time of the test. On the other hand, dangerous driving faults will only be marked down if either the driving examiner or other road users have been forced to take evasive action to avoid danger...

gices | 14 Jan 2007 13:48

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