Buying a new car can be exciting but you may worry about how it drives and if it is going to suit your driving style. All makes and models of car can drive different, so it is important to try and have a test drive in the vehicle before you commit to buying it. With new cars you will not be able to test drive the car you will actually own when you place the order but you can usually test drive a demo car which should be more or less identical. When buying a second hand car either from a garage or a private individual you should ask if you are able to drive it. Most garages have an insurance policy that will cover you to test drive a...

As a car owner, it is your responsibility to ensure you have a valid insurance policy to cover you (and any other drivers that drive the car). If you do not have this you may have your car taken off you, have to go to court, have your license revolked or points on you license as well as have to pay a hefty fine. Car insurance can be the biggest annual cost for any car owner. Prices can range from a few hundred pounds, in to the thousands especially for the inexperienced driver, young drive or one that have endorsements on their license. There are many things that are taken in to account when applying for car insurance that can affect the price you are quoted. Below are some of...

When it comes to maintaining a car, the costs can keep coming making it very difficult to keep on top of. So many people own cars and yet still do not realise the importance of regular services or oil changes as a minimum. If the car is new then you are probably more likely to keep up with a service schedule but as the car gets older and the miles start to clock up, many push maintenance back as more urgent problems need to be rectified.  You may have the view that an older car is not worth spending the money on but you then run the risk of running into more problems which can make the car unreliable and cost more in the long run. The oil is usually...

If you often have to drive on your own, especially early in the morning or late at night then there are some extra precautions that you need to take in order to ensure that you are safe. Busy built up towns and cities can often be hot spots for carjacking and thefts but rural areas also see their fair share of criminal activity. The first thing you need to do is ensure that you lock all the car doors. Some cars have a system that automatically does this as you set off. This is especially important when you are in stand still traffic or at traffic lights as you are a prime target for criminals. Try to keep all valuables out of sight. A handbag on a passenger seat is...

With the costs of running a car often adding up, many people are not wanting to fork out tens of thousands of pounds to buy one. With a newer car you do tend to not have to spend as much on repairs and often they are more economical than older vehicles but not all of us have thousands lying around that we can buy one out right. Buying a car on finance can often be costly and overtime you may end up spending a lot more than you had thought. After the finance is paid off you may be left with a vehicle that is not even worth half of what you have paid for it. For this reason, many people are turning to car leasing as an option. A...