Sometimes, understanding the very basis needs of your car, and following simple instruction to maintain it can prevent you from being caught up in serious incidents. Usually, most modern cars are almost maintenance free, but they do require regular check-ups and proper servicing from experienced car professionals to keep them going and going… (more…)

While most car owners complain that their car saps up a lot of money, what they don’t realise it that a little bit of care and regular maintenance will not just save them money but also increase the longevity of their car.

After a house, I reckon, the car is perhaps the second most expensive investment any one makes. In this series of five blogs, we’ll discuss one basic tip each on how a bit of TLC for your car can keep it happy forever!

Tip # 1: Don’t waste money on a new car

If you have recently bought a new car, then remember that it may be under a 3-year warranty period. If you feel that, there is some problem with the car, drive-in to the dealer immediately. Ask them to inspect it and have them fix the problem. The warranty period is applicable to both new and used cars so do not worry even if you’re the second owner. You can extend your 3-year warranty period to a couple of years more at a reasonable rate and enjoy some peace of mind!

Another important thing to do is look around for various offers on breakdown cover. Do your homework before you take the plunge, remember by comparing the level of cover you are getting, you will be able to save yourself from unnecessary expenses. Remember, most policies cover the person as well as the car, so even if you are riding in your friend’s car when it breaks down, you are still covered.
Written by guest blogger Karma Kontent

The other day I came across an article in a magazine, which said that more than 20% students in UK own a car and that all of them need car insurance! It’s quite a revealing statistic as car insurance just doesn’t protect you, and your car but also others. Mostly due to the high risks involved, students just like young drivers have to pay out more for their car insurance premiums.

Car Insurance for students has three primary coverage options

Third Party Only — the cheapest car insurance policy in town! It is also the minimum coverage allowed by law. Covers accidents which involve collision, injury or death. Doesn’t cover you or your car. If your care gets damaged, stolen, or destroyed you will have to bear all expenses. Doesn’t cover any incapacitating injury even if it ruins your life. Read the fine print carefully. (more…)

Can you drive a car without tyres? It’s impossible. And that’s exactly why you must never neglect to ensure that your car tyres are well-cared. Despite breakdown cover, you need to spend sometime to make sure your tyres are well-maintained as your life’s safety depends on them. Here what and how you can check your car tyres.

What to check with tyres?

Remember this five point check –

1. Check the condition of each tyres ( especially the inner and outer sidewalls)
2. Check the tread depth of your tyre
3. Check pressure in all the tyres
4. Check for any signs of irregular wear, look under the wheel arch for this
5. Don’t forget to check and examine the spare tyre (more…)

Motor sport evokes vivid images of 30 second pit stops, 10-15 people in similar colour overalls rushing to greet the race driver, and getting down to checking the mechanism of the car while some others get down to changing tyres. Do you know who these people are? These guys at the pits and paddock and trackside are known as marshals. They are the real scene stealers during every F1 race. No marshals, no motor sport. Yes, it’s true. (more…)

As a marshal, you can volunteer your services directly to the clubs you are associated with or then through the British Motorsport Marshals Club (BMMC). (more…)

Car insurance is one of the types of insurance that covers drivers for cars, motorbikes, vans, and other vehicles. Driving a car usually means taking risks for yourself and others as well. Motor insurance is compulsory in the UK.

Mostly three types of insurance covers are offered by car insurance companies. These are:

Third Party Only—it covers you against accidental damage to a 3rd party vehicle, injury and liability to passengers in the policy holder’s car.

Third Party, Fire and Theft—include all benefits of 3rd party with additional benefits of cover for fire, lightening, explosion, theft etc.

Fully Comprehensive—covers against accidental damage and injury to third parties and liability to passengers in the policy holder’s car. (more…)

Some more information about Car Breakdown Insurance While Travelling in Europe…

What’s my Choice for Car Breakdown Insurance?
The insurance policies available cover various types of trips such as single or annual. Annual insurance is perhaps most cost-effective for those of us who travel to Europe for frequent weekend trips by car.

Are There Any Limitations?
Sure, there are limitations to the mechanical breakdown insurance policy, but that’s the case with any insurance policy. Important to read the FINE PRINT. That’s where these insurers make a fool of us folks. Some clauses you should check are, ‘prior to departure’ breakdown insurance, what happens if you purchase a policy 7 days before departure but your car breaks down 2 days before you are about to leave, will you have coverage? What are the maximum days your policy will provide coverage? Are there limitations on the duration of the trips etc? (more…)

Most of us living in the UK agree that the best way to see Europe is to tour the continent by car. Not only does driving give us the freedom to go wherever we want, but we can do it whenever we want as well. But very few of us anticipate a breakdown situation, especially in the ‘middle of nowhere’ and in an unknown city, country and where people don’t speak English!

Oh God! My Car Has Broken Down

Some of the more important questions that we need to answer before embarking on the journey are – What will happen if my car breaks down just before the trip? What if it breaks down while on the trip? How will I get my car checked and repaired? Where will I stay while my car is being repaired? How can I plan for this added expense? And the most important – What will happen if my car can’t be repaired? How will I get my family and myself home and how can I pay for it? (more…)

A couple of days back, I decided to check the new rates for breakdown cover, as mine is about to expire soon. To my surprise, the search term breakdown cover came up with 100’s of names offering coverage in UK. But what actually had me interested was the number of websites offering a ‘comparison’ service. I was intrigued and decided to pursue this further. After browsing many of them, I now realise that they are good, but they left me very confused!

The comparison websites list all the major breakdown service providers, different levels or types of covers provided by them, and, of course, the cost for the type of car breakdown cover you are specifically looking for.

And your choice, based on the company and type of cover, will be the deciding factors regarding the quality of breakdown service you receive. (more…)

I was at GP Live in Donnington Park last Sunday and made a few observations.

The first was that it was nowhere as busy as I thought it would be.

Second, there was less going on than i thought there would be and

Third, the Formula One cars of the Eighties (more…)

Well they turned out in their thousands, approx, 160,000, jamming the roads around Barcelona, not to see Hamilton but to wave their national hero on Alsonso. But it was not to be and in fact probably an embarrassment, as the young 22 year old got his fourth podium in a row in second place and the world champion was only able to muster third. To wipe salt into the wounds, Lewis Hamilton is leading the F1 world championship, something unheard of as a rookie. (more…)

Well you have guest it, part 3 of of guest blogger was in the wrong order!!!

We thought we had published it, but we had just saved it, so it did not appear until after the final piece.

Well we’re sorry, but if you are reading this, you have all the parts.

This is Part III of this series on 20 ways to cheaper car insurance.

5. Boost Your Voluntary Excess—

Excess is the amount you pay if you make a claim on your car insurance. If you work on increasing this excess, you insurance company will most likely reduce your premium amount. (more…)

This is Part IV of this series on 20 ways to cheaper car insurance. Continuing from last time…

8. Ready, Steady and Go For An Advanced Driving Test—

Are you game for some fun? Apply for an advanced driving test and show your insurance company that you are a skilled driver and not a maniac let loose on the road…! (more…)

This is Part II of this series on 20 ways to cheaper car insurance. We discussed online shopping in Part I now let’s look at the others…

2 Look, Look And Keep Looking—

Just the other day; I was speaking to my friend who mentioned that he had struck gold! I asked how. He said he spend over a month shopping around for cheap but a good car insurance company. And his search helped him find big savings on his insurance premium. Morale of the story – Since all insurance companies use different formulas to calculate your premium based on facts about you and your car, if you look around you will find at least one company that provides you cheaper premium rates! (more…)

The world is a complex place and car insurance is no different!

Yes, it’s true. Why else would there be so many insurance providers providing many different insurance plans and adding to the confusion? It’s also hard to figure out why some people are paying lower premiums than others. If they are doing something right, then are you doing something wrong? (more…)

A little bit of prevention maintenance of your car can minimise the risk of having to call out for a car mechanic.

According to most motoring organisations, the maximum call outs happen on Monday morning during winters, Friday afternoons, and during school holidays. (more…)

Green Flag started out in 1971 as a National Breakdown but has now evolved into Green Flag and is owned by the Royal Bank Of Scotland that also owns Direct line, Churchill and Privilege insurance.

It is ironic that when you serch for Churchill breakdown Cover or even Direct line Breakdown Cover you are actually buying a Green Flag policy.

Direct Line are diffent in that they will give you £10 back if they do not arrive within the hour and for some reason do not promote their policy prices heavily on their homepage. in fact you need to fill in a form to get your quote. (more…)

Ok, I mentioned this a few posts ago about how the Top Gear Magazine seems to conflict with the TV show.

My next moan is aimed at Jeremy who I clearly remeber stating that his loaned Toyota Prius hybrid did not deliver any better MPG tha a normal deisel car and when you took everything into considertaion, like extra materials to build the car, the extra energy in production and the extra plastic and products with the car that needed to be disposed of at the end of the cars life, that this hybrid, hurt the enviroment more than a normal car.

Am I right or have I got this mixed up with another make or model? (more…)

I saw the Focus CC adverts on TV about 3 months ago and the decision was made, I want one!!

But since then futher reviews have changed my mind especialy when one was put against other makes of teh same class. one of teh main let downs is the roof, as it comes in 2 pieces and not 3 like most of its competitors, meaning it takes up more roof space. (more…)

As an owner of a MGB Roadster (even if it is in bits) and of course a Brit wondering why we just give car brands away to other countries, I have had some ineterest in Rover’s or MG’s move to China afetr the buyout or should I say give away when Rover collapsed. (more…)

It was reported in the Mail on Sunday yesterday that the RBS insurance arm is being offerd for sale for around £8bn. The RBS or Royal Bank Of Scotland owns Direct Line insurance, Privilege, NIG and Green Flag Breakdown Cover.

It was reported that some suggest that RBS needs £7bn in the bank in reserves to meet solvency requirements. It was also quoted tha Direct line is not for sale, which would also suggest that Green Flag breakdown is also staying put.

RBS insurance is the second largest general insurer in the UK and the largest motor insurer and has other operations around Europe with an income of £5.7bn last year.

Amost on a weekly basis there seems to be insurance organisations changing hands as if to stay ahead of the rest.

To you and me it will mean no change and “Who cares?” , but clearly someone is making money out of these changes otherwise why bother. As long as the cars keep getting fixed by the roadside and the waiting times drop, that is all that matters to you and me.

Expert’s Opinion

According to Nigel Charlesworth, spokesperson for Green Flag, “In the UK costs can be up to £100 for the call-out charge alone. Recovery to your home or destination will then be charged per mile. So if it costs £1 per mile and you live 200 miles away, you can see how the costs mount up.” Nigel further explains, ‘If your car broke down anywhere abroad, say for example in France, then that would cost close to £1,500 to repatriate you and your vehicle. And compare this with breakdown cover costing from as little as £37 a year and it doesn’t seem a bad investment’ he says.

The Insurance Story

Most insurance companies offer car breakdown cover in three different packages – bronze, silver or gold cover. And as evident, bronze membership provides you basic cover, which typically includes quick assistance if you are more than a quarter of a mile from your home, and towing your car to the nearest garage. The bronze cover works well if you have a reliable car that stays in shape even when not used or used only for local journeys. (more…)

Monday Morning Blues

Winter! When the mornings are bleak and cold and the nights are no better. It’s the first day of the week, and after a weekend of R&R (recreation and relaxation) you are rearing to go. But your car has a different plan. It’s decided it will not start for you or anyone. (more…)