Car ownership

EV charging points: how easy is getting one installed at home?

ev charging points
This is probably the home charging dream for most people. (Picture iStock/sl-f)

New electric car sales in the UK are currently booming and the number of charging points can’t keep up.

For the first 10 months of 2021, there has been an 88 per cent increase in electric vehicles (EVs) sold compared to the previous year. Now, one in 10 new cars sold is battery powered. In October this year, 16,155 new EVs left the showroom.

Throughout the UK, according to Zap-Map, over that same period there were around 900 new charging points. That’s one charging point for every 18 cars. It’s hardly surprising that many EV drivers are looking at having a charging point installed at home. But how easy is it?

Can’t you charge with a normal plug?

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James Foxall 10 Comments

More than half of car tyres are underinflated. Check yours today

underinflated tyre
Underinflated tyres can be dangerous and costly (Picture iStock/PattyC)

With winter approaching, tyres will play a critical role in how cars handle in colder conditions. New research by transport charity TyreSafe has found that 57 per cent of vehicles on UK roads have underinflated tyres.

Tyres determine how well a vehicle stops and steers. In slippery winter conditions, all the safety technology a modern car is fitted with will be pointless if it’s driving on underinflated tyres.

Here we look at why it’s so important for your tyres to have the correct amount of air in them.

Underinflated tyres wear more quickly

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James Foxall 4 Comments

Expert advice: what is a cabin filter and how easy is it to change one?

cabin filter
Replacing the cabin air filter is often an easy job (Picture iStock/MihajloMaricic)

If you get a funny smell whenever you turn the ventilation on in your car, you might need to replace the cabin filter. Here I’m going to look at what the cabin filter is and how it might be easier than you think to replace yourself.

What is a cabin filter?

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Mike Shaw Leave a comment

Licence to quiz: how much do you know about your permit to drive?

driving licence
Most of us have one but take our quiz to find out more about the UK driving licence (Picture iStock/Stocknshares

The driving licence is an unsung part of many of our lives but it’s going to change soon. The government has revealed it wants all driving licences to be digital from 2024. It is developing a smartphone app that everyone will have their driving licence on.

To celebrate the impending demise of the driving licence, take our cunning quiz to see how much you know about it.

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James Foxall 15 Comments

Motoring offences that could see you hit with four-figure fines

motoring offences
Splash someone intentionally by driving through a puddle and it could cost you a lot of money (Picture iStock/Helivideo)

Owning and driving a car is already an expensive business. But there are various motoring offences that could make it even pricier if you commit them. We’ve hunted down a selection of the four-figure fines that you could be hit with for driving, car and admin infringements.

You might be surprised to read that some fines for what might seem like fairly petty offences are actually quite hefty.

Dodgy tyres could get you the biggest fine

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James Foxall 28 Comments

Expert advice: what to do if you lose your car keys

lose your car keys
You know you put it somewhere. But where? (Picture iStock/Atkinc)

There are few things as frustrating, stressful and potentially expensive as if you lose your car keys. We know because it’s something that we get thousands of calls about from drivers every year. The question is: what do you do about it?

Is the key really lost?

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Mike Shaw 4 Comments

Car ownership to rise, motoring costs to fall, new report says

motoring costs
This could become a more familiar sight on our roads (Picture iStock/Rajurahman85)

If you thought the roads were crowded at the moment you haven’t seen anything. That’s according to a leading think thank which has investigated the future of transport in the UK. The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) forecasts that by 2050, there will be millions more cars on UK roads but less space to accommodate them. The good news is there could be a fall in motoring costs. Read on to see what changes we can look forward to.

How many cars will there be?

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James Foxall 3 Comments

A new petrol is on sale. Will E10 petrol be a problem for your car?

e10 petrol
E10 petrol is here, but what does it mean for your vehicle? (Picture iStock/Dutchphotography)

A new fuel, called E10, is now the standard petrol available in the UK. However, this new petrol may not be suitable for all vehicles. Read on to find out if you’re going to be affected.

What is the new petrol?

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James Foxall 17 Comments

Expert advice: what to do if your electric car battery goes flat

electric car battery
It’s worth charging an electric car before the battery goes completely flat (Picture iStock/Ziga Plahutar)

They call it range anxiety when you’re worried that your electric car won’t have sufficient charge in its battery to complete your journey. But what happens if you do then run out of charge? And is there any way you can stop it happening?

Reasons not to run out of charge

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Mike Shaw Leave a comment

Test yourself on the MOT

mot
Find out how much you know about the MOT test with our quiz (Picture iStock/Mrdoomits)

Chances are you take your car to the garage every year to have its MOT test. It is after all a legal requirement for most motors. But how much do you know about the annual test? We’ve devised this tricky MOT test quiz to put your motoring knowledge through its paces.

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James Foxall 12 Comments

Number plates are the most popular illegal car modification

modification
Illegal number plates can be used to dodge number plate recognition cameras (Picture iStock/yevtony)

You’ve given your car a good clean but it still doesn’t quite say enough about you. What about a modification?

Perhaps a fancy new number plate that spells out your name. Or some tinted windows to make it look a bit more ‘gangsta’. Or even some tasty lights that illuminate the road beneath as you drive along.

Of course we’re not against freedom of expression. But there are laws that must be abided by when it comes to car modifications, even if those changes are just cosmetic. New research by Comparethemarket has revealed the most popular modifications that have landed drivers in hot water.

Number plates the most common illegal mod

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James Foxall 12 Comments

Get road trip ready: nine things to do before you hit the road this summer

Ready for some summer fun? Well, you’re not alone. With restrictions being eased completely and the weather heating up, 52% of us are planning to hit the road for a summer road trip.*

Whether you’re heading on a blissful beach escape or an idyllic cabin adventure, here are nine things you should do before you set off.

1. Wake up those tired tyres.

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Jack Stoker Leave a comment

Parent and child parking bays at supermarkets – the rules

parent and child parking bays
Use a parent and child parking bay wrongly and you could face an unexpected fine (Picture iStock/Daniel Heighton)

Who hasn’t been tempted to leave their motor in one of those handy parent and child parking bays at the supermarket? After all, they’re extra wide and usually conveniently positioned right next to the main doors. And they’re often empty. What harm could it do?

But slipping into one, even for a few minutes, could land you a hefty fine if you don’t comply with the supermarket’s terms and conditions.

Parent and child parking bays – the law?

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James Foxall 1 Comment

Highways England’s handy advice before you hit the road this summer

Summer is well and truly here, and we’re all excited to get in our (air-con filled) cars and hit the road for a holiday or day trip.

But, a lot of vehicles haven’t been on the road much over recent months. This can have a pretty damaging impact on their batteries, tyres and more.

That’s why Highways England has put together some simple advice to help all drivers give their motors some TLC.

(Oh, and if you have a Green Flag policy, make sure you read through to the end for something very helpful and totally free…)

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Jack Stoker Leave a comment

5 smart summer tips for trouble-free car trips

summer tips
Follow our tips and this could be you enjoying your family car trip (Picture iStock/petrenkod)

With restrictions in the UK lifting and school holidays approaching, increasing numbers of us will be hitting the road. And that means our cars will be getting a serious work out.

Our five summer tips are designed to ensure they – and you – cope with the miles you cover comfortably, reliably and above all safely.

Get your air con re-gassed

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James Foxall 10 Comments

Expert advice: all about converting a car to run on electric power

converting a car
There are companies that specialise in converting classic cars to electric (Picture RBW Classic Electric Cars)

From 2030, every new car sold in the UK will have to be electric. That’s great for the environment. And it’ll probably mean daily motoring will cost less for drivers because certainly at the moment, electricity is cheaper than petrol or diesel.

The downside is electric cars are expensive to buy. So what about converting your petrol or diesel car to battery power? Is it possible? And if so, how much would it cost?

Can you convert a car to electric?

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Mike Shaw 2 Comments

Quiz: How much do you know about self-driving cars?

self-driving cars
One day you might be able to have snooze while the car does all the work. (Picture iStock/Metamorworks)

We’re frequently told the future of motoring will be self-driving or autonomous cars. But how much do you actually know about them? Other than they have yet to make an appearance in a car dealer near you.

Take our cunning quiz to find out. It’s packed with interesting facts so even if you get the answer wrong, you’ll learn something.

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James Foxall 5 Comments

Expert advice: Are tyre inflation kits really the future for drivers?

tyre inflation kits
Tyre inflation kits use a compressor (above) to fill the tyre with sealant (Picture iStock)

You might have noticed your car doesn’t have a full-size spare wheel and tyre. On more modern motors you might not find any kind of spare wheel at all. Instead, many cars come with tyre inflation kits, sometimes sometimes known as mobility kits.

We’re called out to an awful lot of punctures so how effective are these mobility kits?

What is a mobility kit?

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Mike Shaw 11 Comments

Can new cars really spy on you and record personal information?

record personal information
Modern cars are constantly recording data and can be transmitting it too (Picture iStock/Oonal)

You know the make and model of your car. You probably know how much fuel it uses and maybe even what it’s worth. But how much does your car know about you? Read on to find out if new cars really can spy on drivers and record personal information.

Does your car record information?

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James Foxall 2 Comments

What are low traffic neighbourhoods and what do they mean for drivers?

low traffic neighbourhoods
Low traffic neighbourhoods turn roads into areas prioritising cyclists and pedestrians (Picture iStock/Michael Puche)

Car drivers, particularly in cities, are having to deal with a new feature: the low traffic neighbourhood. Brought in during first pandemic lockdown in mid-2020, they’ve split neighbourhoods. Some people are very pro; others seriously anti. Read on to find out all about LTNs as they’re often known.

What are low traffic neighbourhoods?

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