Consumer news
Forecourt fuel theft surges by 77 per cent, latest figures suggest
Forecourt fuel theft surges by 77 per cent, latest figures suggest
The DVLA reveals a massive spike in requests for vehicle keeper data, as filling stations battle ‘bilking’
ULEZ expansion raises £23.6m in a month as 57,000 pay the charge
ULEZ expansion raises £23.6m in a month as 57,000 pay the charge
London’s ULEZ expansion has been in force since the end of August and new data gives us an early indication of its effect on motorists
Luxury car ‘re-steal’ scams on the rise
Luxury car ‘re-steal’ scams on the rise
Unsuspecting buyers are being sold cloned cars, which are then being targeted by thieves again
Driving test failures: the most common mistakes made by learner drivers
Driving test failures: the most common mistakes made by learner drivers
New drivers most likely to fail their test because of poor observation, according to DVSA statistics
The M6 toll: prices, alternatives and how to pay
The M6 toll: prices, alternatives and how to pay
The M6 toll can save you valuable time but how much does it cost and how do you pay?
Falling rapid charger prices put EVs in the clear vs petrol in the car running costs race
Falling rapid charger prices put EVs in the clear vs petrol in the car running costs race
It’s now more expensive to drive petrol than electric, even when using ultra-rapid chargers at peak time
Electric cars made in Europe face £3,400 UK price hike from January
Electric cars made in Europe face £3,400 UK price hike from January
Failure to renegotiate EU-UK Brexit trade deal will mean tariffs make Europe’s electric cars uncompetitive in the UK market, industry body warns
Police issue charges in less than 7% of UK car crime cases
Police issue charges in less than 7% of UK car crime cases
The poor police response to spiralling UK car crime has been highlighted in newly released FOI figures
Nissan Qashqai and Ford Puma battle for new car sales supremacy in September
Nissan Qashqai and Ford Puma battle for new car sales supremacy in September
The new UK car registration figures are out. The overall market shows good growth including for BEV sales
Petrol and diesel prices soar as oil price nudges $100 a barrel
Petrol and diesel prices soar as oil price nudges $100 a barrel
Filling station profit margins in the spotlight again, as OPEC production cuts force the price of fuel up in September
Will mis-sold car finance become a “multi-billion pound scandal larger than PPI”?
Will mis-sold car finance become a “multi-billion pound scandal larger than PPI”?
A UK legal firm predicts PCPs will top the list of Financial Ombudsman complaints by 2024, and eyes huge compensation bills
New ‘plan for drivers’: Government’s 30-point bid for the motorist vote
New ‘plan for drivers’: Government’s 30-point bid for the motorist vote
Action plan announced around multiple issues that aggravate drivers, from potholes to lane-hogging and ‘anti-car’ councils.
Council 20mph speed limit powers to be curbed by PM in ‘pro-motorist’ package
Council 20mph speed limit powers to be curbed by PM in ‘pro-motorist’ package
Rishi Sunak is reported to be readying a package of ‘pro-motorist’ policies to be announced at the Conservative Party conference this weekend
Road deaths rise 10 per cent in 2022 to pre-Covid levels
Road deaths rise 10 per cent in 2022 to pre-Covid levels
Casualty stats spark calls for greater police presence to tackle seat belt and drug offences
Car makers warn of post-Brexit EV tariffs causing UK price rises
Car makers warn of post-Brexit EV tariffs causing UK price rises
Manufacturers fear price rises will hit exports of cars to the UK, but Euro politicians are reluctant to modify Brexit arrangements
Electric car sales targets to remain despite delay to petrol and diesel sales ban
Electric car sales targets to remain despite delay to petrol and diesel sales ban
The government commits to the ZEV mandate from 2024, as the auto industry renews calls for taxpayer incentives for private EV sales
National 20mph speed limit for built-up areas introduced in Wales
National 20mph speed limit for built-up areas introduced in Wales
Dropping the speed limit from 30 is unpopular, polls show, but the Welsh Government claims 10 lives per year will be saved
Self-driving car tech could add to congestion and bring new dangers, say MPs
Self-driving car tech could add to congestion and bring new dangers, say MPs
The UK Transport Select Committee has call for clearer thinking and rapid legislation from government to protect the public from future threats around…
EU investigation to probe ‘flood’ of cheaper Chinese cars
EU investigation to probe ‘flood’ of cheaper Chinese cars
An anti-subsidy investigation launched by the EU carries the threat of tariffs to make Chinese imports more expensive
Nearly half of consumers don’t understand car finance
Nearly half of consumers don’t understand car finance
Car buyers struggle when it comes to number-crunching, but interest in finance - and alternative ownership models - is rising
Councils refusing to pay-up for pothole damage to cars
Councils refusing to pay-up for pothole damage to cars
27 per cent of drivers suffered pothole damage costing £7.5bn in repairs last year according to a survey, but councils paid out less than £1m compensa…
Zero tolerance for speeding and stiffer sentences for dangerous drivers called for in new report
Zero tolerance for speeding and stiffer sentences for dangerous drivers called for in new report
The all-party parliamentary cycling group calls for tougher sanctions against drivers in latest ‘road justice’ report
‘Chop shop’ police raids double as UK stolen car parts trade booms
‘Chop shop’ police raids double as UK stolen car parts trade booms
New data highlights a surge in criminal activity as thieves widen their stolen car parts net from Range Rovers to Fiestas
eFuels boost as Stellantis confirms they work in current engines without modifications
eFuels boost as Stellantis confirms they work in current engines without modifications
Global car giant Stellantis has teamed up with Aramco to prove that existing car fleets could save 400 million tons of carbon using eFuels
New car sales 2023: slow private EV uptake builds demand for government incentives
New car sales 2023: slow private EV uptake builds demand for government incentives
Latest figures for August 2023 show the fleet electric purchases are surging in the UK while private buyers are reluctant to make the switch
More British traffic collisions are caused by right turns than any other manoeuvre, data shows
More British traffic collisions are caused by right turns than any other manoeuvre, data shows
Slowing and stopping, or being held up while waiting to go are second and third riskiest
ULEZ exemption: classic car drivers find loophole to avoid paying emissions fees
ULEZ exemption: classic car drivers find loophole to avoid paying emissions fees
Drivers look to older classic and 'historic' cars as a way to comply with emissions rules
UK motorists are overtaxed, says Tory MP Greg Smith
UK motorists are overtaxed, says Tory MP Greg Smith
Car fan Greg Smith MP sticks up for UK drivers in an exclusive chat with Auto Express
Recycled car parts: sourcing, quality and how much you could save
Recycled car parts: sourcing, quality and how much you could save
We visit the vehicle recycling centre that’s changing the face of scrap dealers and promoting component recycling in the process
EV charging: two thirds of drivers would pay more to reserve a public chargepoint
EV charging: two thirds of drivers would pay more to reserve a public chargepoint
27 per cent of electric car drivers would cough up £10 to reserve a charge point, as network limitations cause frustration
Vauxhall plans to boost on-street EV charging as councils ignore demand
Vauxhall plans to boost on-street EV charging as councils ignore demand
‘Electric Streets’ website targets 70 per cent of councils with no on-street charging plan for residential streets
Pothole repairs should be funded by fuel duty, say local authorities
Pothole repairs should be funded by fuel duty, say local authorities
Austerity spending has left UK roads in disrepair and drivers unhappy, says Local Government Association
UK car insurance costs hit new record as labour and repair fees rise
UK car insurance costs hit new record as labour and repair fees rise
Motor insurance costs continue to soar in the second quarter of 2023, with the average cost of a premium for ‘fully comp��� cover reaching £511
Parliament to scrutinise barriers to EV take-up by drivers
Parliament to scrutinise barriers to EV take-up by drivers
Lords committee focuses on government’s 2030 and 2035 petrol and diesel ban targets, and how to meet them…
Company cars are falling out of favour
Company cars are falling out of favour
Research suggests 90 per cent of professionals don’t see the point of company cars as home-working increases
London ULEZ expansion: £2,000 scrappage scheme grant offered to non-compliant car owners
London ULEZ expansion: £2,000 scrappage scheme grant offered to non-compliant car owners
London Mayor Sadiq Kahn confirms grants for all non-ULEZ complaint cars, but it is only being offered to Londoners