Many of us will be feeling the effects of the colder weather over the next few weeks as ice and snow has started to creep across the UK. Driving in these types of conditions are by far not idea but often have to be done in order to get to work, take children to school etc. You need to allow a little more time in the morning to get your car defrosted and ready to drive on the roads. Although it may be tempting it is not advisable to pour hot or warm water over your window screen in order to defrost it quickly. The sudden change in temperature can cause the screen to crack or shatter, especially if there is already chips in it. The best way to defrost...

Unfortunately, we have all encountered the people on the road who seem to be oblivious to how their driving affects others. It may be that you are following someone that is driving far too slow, too fast, tailgating or overtaking in silly places. Over the past few years that has been a massive increase in the number of people doing “crash for cash” scams where they slam their brakes on causing you to go into the back of them then claim off your insurance company for personal injury plus the damage to the vehicle. Sometimes these people work in pairs so it can be very hard to avoid such accidents. A dash cam might be the best purchase you make when it comes to accessories in your car. They are...

Renting vehicles can seem a daunting experience at the best of times, particularly as for many people their first experience will be overseas, where they will be nervously contemplating driving on the opposite side. Most people are too caught up in that to consider that there are other aspects of the rental that you need to consider. First off – driving licence protocol. You’d be surprised how many people don’t realise that they may need to show their driving licence, or increasingly, to obtain an online code to allow the hire company to electronically check your licence. Make sure you check this out before! Next – check the car over thoroughly, inside and out – ensure any damage is accurately recorded on the delivery note, and take date-stamped photos of...

We’ve all seen plenty of advice on driving more safely, but there’s one aspect of driving not a lot of people think about – parking. In fact, an increasingly significant number of insurance claims are related to damage incurred by an often unknown third party in a car park, leaving you out of pocket and sometimes losing your no claims bonus. Many people think it’s just ‘one of those things’, but there are some simple steps to reduce your risk, so here’s some advice! Here we’re going to look specifically at parking in supermarket car parks – one of the most common places where cars get damaged. The key point is to think about the space that you choose. First of all, avoid the spaces closest to the entrance. This...

You may have recently bought a second-hand car and been given a warranty with it from the garage or a third party. This warranty is often for 3, 6 or 12 months often depending on the age, mileage and price of the vehicle. During this time you may have peace of mind that if anything major goes wrong with the vehicle you will be covered to have it fixed. When the warranty is due to come to an end often the company that provided it will contact you to see if you wish to extend it. Prices vary massively depending on the age, mileage, make and model of the vehicle and also what is covered under the warranty. Some warranties will only cover major components such as turbos etc. If...