Tag: driving

Cost of car insurance on the rise

The cost of car insurance in Scotland has increased by £25 in three months

New data shows car insurance prices are increasing, with drivers in Scotland now paying £419, on average

● Despite prices rising across all areas of Scotland, the average premium is still £22 (5%) cheaper than 12 months ago

● Drivers in Central Scotland pay more than the national average, with motorists in the region paying £465, on average, following the steepest quarterly increase (8%) of all UK regions

● Meanwhile, drivers in other regions of Scotland pay as little as £342, on average, in comparison

● Experts at Confused.com remind drivers that recent FCA changes do not guarantee their renewal price will be their best price available

● Further research shows insurers increased renewal premiums last quarter by £45, on average

The average cost of car insurance in Scotland has increased by £25 in just three months, new data reveals.

This brings the average price of car insurance in Scotland to £419, a 6% increase compared to three months ago. That’s according to the latest car insurance price index (Q4) by Confused.com, powered by WTW. Based on more than six million quotes in a quarter, it’s the most comprehensive car insurance price index in the UK.

While the cost of car insurance in Scotland appears to be increasing, prices are still cheaper than this time last year, having dropped by £22 (5%) in 12 months, with prices across the Scottish regions still significantly cheaper than two years ago.

While the average premium in Scotland stands at £419, the price paid by drivers will vary depending on where they live. In fact, motorists in Central Scotland are paying more than the national average, having seen the steepest increase in premiums in the past three months of all UK regions. An 8% (£33) increase in the region means motorists are now paying £465, on average. Although, this is still £17 (4%) cheaper than prices 12 months ago.

Meanwhile, drivers in other Scottish regions are paying out between £342 and £378, on average, with prices now as much as £18 (5%) more expensive than last quarter:

RegionAverage premiumQuarterly changeAnnual change
Central Scotland£4658% / £33-4% / -£17
East & North East Scotland£3785% / £16-6% / -£26
Highlands & Islands£3775% / £18-6% / -£25
Scottish Borders£3424% / £15-9% / -£32

This increase in prices over the past quarter is reflected across the rest of the UK, where prices have risen by £25 (5%) in three months. This brings the average cost of car insurance in the UK to £539 – a £36 (6%) drop compared to 12 months ago.

While these price increases may come as bad news to drivers, Confused.com experts have been predicting this U-turn for some time. A significant drop in the number of cars on the road throughout the coronavirus pandemic, and a subsequent fall in the number of claims being made led to a sharp drop in premiums with prices reaching a six-year low just last quarter.

However, prior to this, prices were steadily starting to increase as claims pay outs were becoming more and more expensive for insurers, as the pandemic and ongoing delays caused by Brexit meant that repairs and replacements were not only more expensive but taking longer to complete. And this was reflected in the prices being offered to customers.

Now, as drivers spend more time on the road, and the number and overall cost of claims being made are increasing, as predicted, the cost of car insurance is increasing to reflect this and could soon return to pre-pandemic levels.

In fact, if the average price for the UK continues on the current trajectory, increasing by around 5% each quarter, the average cost of insurance in three months could be more expensive than it was 12 months ago. Based on this trend, UK drivers could be paying as much as £566 next quarter, compared to £538 in Q1 2021, on average.

In light of the recent insurance pricing changes enforced by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Louise O’Shea, CEO at Confused.com, reminds drivers that these increases could mean that they may receive a more expensive renewal price in the coming months, despite many incorrectly believing that the changes guarantee a cheaper or flat premium.

Under the new regulations, insurers must offer drivers the same price they would receive as a new customer buying in the same way, banning what was previously known as a new customer discount.

Previously renewing customers may have seen their renewal price rise to offset the cost of new customer discounts. However, the new rules don’t guarantee that drivers will never see their renewal price increase again.

For example, if car insurance costs in the UK are typically 5% more expensive year-on-year, this increase could also be reflected in renewal premiums. In fact, further research by Confused.com found that two in five (42%) drivers who received their renewal last quarter saw their price increase by £45, on average, suggesting insurers could already be increasing renewal premiums in line with the current trend.

This is why it is important for drivers to still take the time to shop around, as the research also shows that almost half (46%) of those who had a higher premium at their last renewal were able to save £64, on average, by switching to another insurer using a price comparison site.

Although, it isn’t just those who are seeing more expensive premiums that are able to make savings, as almost a fifth (18%) of those who had a cheaper renewal went on to shop around and switch, saving £46 on average. However, with Confused.com’s Beat Your Renewal guarantee, these savings could be seen by millions of other customers.

However, there is some good news for drivers, as prices of new policies are still cheaper year-on-year, on average, which means those shopping around and switching insurers could still save money. And under the new FCA rules, insurers must make it easier for customers to cancel the automatic renewal of their policies, something which one in five (20%) consider to be stressful.

Despite being able to save when shopping around, some drivers are still paying more than others, and typically it’s male motorists who are forking out the most when it comes to their car insurance.

Given the fact that drivers in Central Scotland are paying significantly more than those in other Scottish regions, it’s no surprise that both male and female drivers have the highest car insurance costs.

Broken down, male drivers in Central Scotland are now paying £486, on average, following a £33 (7%) increase in the past three months, while female drivers are paying £429, which is £31 (8%) more than three months ago.

East and North East Scotland follows as the second most expensive region for male drivers, with the average premium here now £400. This is £59 more than the prices that female drivers in the region are paying (£341).

Similarly, much like the rest of the UK, younger drivers across all four regions are forking out the most for their car insurance, with 17-to-20-year-old male drivers in Central Scotland paying an eye-watering £1,343, on average. Female drivers of the same age and location pay just £1,041 in comparison.

However, it’s male drivers in their early 20s in both the Scottish Highlands and Islands and Central Scotland who have been stung by the steepest increases this quarter, as the average premium rises by 13% and 12%, respectively.

This equates to increases of £102 and £106, putting the average price paid at £874 and £995, respectively. These drivers are also among the few that have seen their premium increase over the past year, as prices increase by £30 (4%) for 21-to-25 year old male drivers in the Highlands and Islands, and by £13 (1%) for those in Central Scotland.

Looking to the towns and cities in Scotland, the price paid varies depending on where a driver lives. Of all postcode areas in Scotland, Glasgow is revealed to be the most expensive, with motorists forking out £525, on average – a significant amount more than the regional average. This is a £47 (10%) increase compared to three months ago, making the average premium just £4 (     1%) cheaper than last year’s price.

In the Scottish Highlands and Islands, it’s motorists in Shetland that are paying out the most, with average prices in the area now £490, while drivers in Dundee face the highest premiums in the East and North East, paying out £386, on average. In the Scottish Borders, it’s drivers in Dumfries that have the highest car insurance costs, standing at £344, on average. 

This shift in car insurance prices was to be expected, as drivers resume their normal habits. Given the current cost of fuel and the uncertainty surrounding the energy market, these increases will no doubt hit drivers’ wallets hard. However, this doesn’t mean that drivers can’t save money on their car insurance, as shopping around can still save potentially hundreds of pounds.

Louise O’Shea, CEO at Confused.com, comments: “Car insurance prices rising is not the happy news we wanted to start the year with, however it’s also not completely unexpected, as people resume their normal driving habits, and the cost of vehicle repair and replacement continues to increase.

“Although, customers who are shopping around are still receiving prices that are cheaper than 12 months ago, which is especially good news at the moment, as some customers are still seeing their renewal price increase year-on-year. This just goes to prove that there are still plenty of better deals out there.

“As claims costs continue to increase, we expect to see car insurance prices rise too, regardless of the change in pricing regulations by the FCA. And this will be particularly noticeable when we receive our renewal price after 18 months or so of considerably cheap premiums.

“It’s really important that we remember the new rules set out by the FCA do not mean our renewal price will be the best price we can get. If anything, these changes have made the market even more competitive, so there will likely be an insurer out there that could be cheaper or offer a better deal for the cover you need.

“Please don’t settle for your renewal quote from your insurer. We know that there will always be a saving to be made. We’re so sure of this that we’re offering to beat your renewal quote or give you the difference, plus £20.”

Electric Kia EV6 crowned What Car? Car of the Year

  • Brilliant EV6 voted best car for 2022, offering 328 miles of range, super-fast charging capability, space, refinement and class-leading warranty
  • Victory marks breakthrough Korean manufacturer’s second overall win at the Awards, known as the UK’s motoring Oscars, in past four years
  • What Car? Car of the Year Awards 2022 in association with MotorEasy held at Grosvenor House hotel in London’s Mayfair
  • BMW takes the most class wins with five victories; Ford wins awards for best small SUV and best performance SUV; Tesla Model 3 is best large electric car
  • To find out more, visit: www.whatcar.com/awards

The Kia EV6 electric car has been crowned What Car? Car of the Year 2022. Its victory was announced at a glittering ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, with the awards held in association with MotorEasy.

It is the second time Kia has won the overall What Car? Car of the Year Award – and the second time it has won with a new electric car, having taken its maiden victory in 2019 with the Kia e-Niro.

Underlining the breakthrough progress enjoyed by Kia in the electric era, it is only the third non-European manufacturer to win the top prize at the What Car? Awards, which began in 1978.

The Kia EV6 stood out for setting new benchmarks for electric cars, offering an official range of 328 miles, and managing 224 miles on a charge when What Car?’s testers ran it in near worst-case low temperature conditions. It is also capable of super-fast, 800V charging, with its battery capable of going from 10-80% in as little as 18 minutes.

In addition, the EV6 earned praise from the judges for being hugely spacious, very refined even by electric car standards and for being sold with the reassurance of a standard-setting seven-year warranty.

What Car? editor Steve Huntingford said: “Once again, Kia has set a new benchmark for an electric vehicle. The EV6 is a terrific all-rounder that answers electric car buyers’ questions around range and charging times brilliantly, and which offers terrific space, refinement and value for money.

“Kia’s progress has long been impressive, but it is the way that it has seized the opportunity offered by the transition to electric cars that has made it a leader in the market. Coming hot on the heels of its victory with the e-Niro in 2019, this Car of the Year win cements its position alongside Tesla as one of the most exciting electric car makers on the planet.”

Kia UK President and CEO Paul Philpott added: “It’s a great honour for Kia to win Car of the Year at this year’s What Car? Awards, particularly given the high regard with which they are held by customers across the UK.

“The EV6 is a truly exceptional car and it’s just the beginning of things to come from Kia on our rapid journey to electrification. This is tangible recognition that Kia is fast becoming a true leader in electric vehicles having also won this award with e-Niro in 2019.”

Other big winners on the night included BMW, which recorded an amazing five category victories. It won the prizes for the best Luxury SUV (with the BMW X5),  Executive car (BMW 3 Series), Luxury car (BMW 5 Series), Coupé (BMW 4 Series) and Convertible (BMW 4 Series Convertible).

Ford was the next most successful manufacturer, with three category wins: Small SUV, sponsored by Solera cap hpi, (Ford Puma), Sports SUV (Ford Puma ST) and Pick-up (Ford Ranger). Tesla was also a notable winner after recording a record-breaking year for sales, taking the Large Electric Car category, sponsored by Ohme, with its Model 3.

What Car Car of the Year Awards 2022 in association with MotorEasy

OVERALL WINNER
Car of the Year: Kia EV6 RWD GT-Line

CATEGORY WINNERS
Small car: Honda Jazz SR
Family car: Seat Leon 1.5 TSI 130 Evo FR
Small SUV, sponsored by Solera cap hpi: Ford Puma 1.0 Ecoboost Hybrid (mHEV)
Family SUV, sponsored by MotorEasy: Volvo XC40 Recharge T4 Plus (Dark Theme)
Electric SUV: Kia EV6 RWD GT-Line
Large SUV, sponsored by Quotezone: Hyundai Santa Fe 4WD Premium
Luxury SUV: BMW X5 xDrive45e M Sport
Sports SUV: Ford Puma ST 1.5 Ecoboost 200 Performance Pack
Hybrid (plug-in): Lexus NX 450h+ F Sport Premium Plus Pack
Small electric car, sponsored by Ohme: Cupra Born 58kWh V2
Large electric car, sponsored by Ohme: Tesla Model 3 Long Range
Executive car: BMW 3 Series 330e M Sport (M Sport Pro Package)
Luxury car: BMW 5 Series 530e M Sport (M Sport Pro Package)
Estate: Skoda Superb Estate 2.0 TDI 150 SEL
MPV: Volkswagen Touran 1.5 TSI 150 SE
Pick-up: Ford Ranger 2.0L EcoBlue 213PS Wildtrack auto
Hot hatch: Mercedes-AMG A45 S Plus
Performance car: Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo 4S
Coupé: BMW 4 Series 420i M Sport (M Sport Pro Package) 
Convertible: BMW 4 Series Convertible 420i (M Sport Pro Package)
Sports car: Porsche Cayman GTS 

SPECIAL AWARDS
Reliability Award, in association with MotorEasy: Lexus
True MPG Award: Toyota Yaris Cross 1.5 petrol hybrid
Innovation Award, in association with Thatcham Research: Gridserve
Safety Award, in association with Thatcham Research: Nissan Qashqai
Tow Car Award, in association with the Camping and Caravanning Club: Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi 3 DCT
Reader Award: Range Rover

Expert says ‘tyreing’ times ahead with prices driven uphill

Have you put new tyres on your car recently and noticed that the cost has dramatically grown? A price analysis by PriceRunner of almost fifty thousand car tyres shows that prices increased by 20 percent between July 2021 and January 2022.  

Do you feel like owning a car is getting more and more expensive? You aren’t imagining it. During the past six months, the average price on car tyres has increased by a fifth, according to new research from PriceRunner.

“These results shows that car tyres have become absurdly expensive! I would imagine this is driven largely by increasingly expensive raw materials such as rubber, as well as higher transportation costs and global supply chain and delivery issues”  said Christine Gouldthorp, Consumer Expert at PriceRunner.

The analysis looked at tyre prices week by week between May 2021 and January 2022, clearly showing a growing trend in the UK during the second half of the year:

*PriceRunners website had 47,132 different tyres listed on 11th of January.

Which tyres are wheely expensive right now?

Looking at individual tyre brands, there are a few that stand out in terms of price increases over the past six months.

Comparing the price developments of 138 different tyres on PriceRunner’s website, the tyres with the biggest price increases were predominantly from larger brands such as Michelin, Pirelli and Goodyear:

Taking a look at prices aggregated per month, the tyres with the biggest price increase went up by 45 per cent between May 2021 and January 2022.

The Goodyear Ultragrip 8 195/55 R16 87H topped the list and increased in price as shown in the price graph on PriceRunner’s website (with daily minimum prices shown) or below:

The Hankook Winter i*cept evo 3 (W330 275/35 R19 100V XL 4PR) was also one of the tyres that increased the most in price during the period, by 44percent with prices aggregated per month instead of week, as shown in the graph below:

Prices vary tyrelessly even on the same day

When looking at specific tyre prices on the 11th of January, the minimum price for one of the tyres in the analysis cost almost 60 percent more when comparing the best priced retailer to the most expensive one. 

“With colder temperatures you may really need new tyres. If so, just remember that it almost always pays to compare before you buy, as prices vary greatly even on the same day. Our analysis showed that you could save more than a hundred pounds on some tyres just by comparing the price that day!” said Christine Gouldthorp, Consumer Expert at PriceRunner. 

The tyres with the biggest price differences between retailers on the 11th of January varied greatly as shown below:

Table Description automatically generated

What could be driving this price hike?

Around the globe, car manufacturers have been struggling for several months with pandemic-related issues such as plant shutdowns, staff shortages because of illnesses or isolation requirements, a global chip shortage and enormous transportation problems of goods.

Even though the demand for cars has bounced back since the start of the pandemic, the industry is having a hard time keeping up with orders with the massive delays and backlogs created over the past months.

Another issue is the limited supply of rubber, not helped by the demand for rubber gloves around the globe during the pandemic. Because of the many cargo ships stuck in large ports around the world hindering raw materials from reaching producers, as well as larger economies stockpiling what they can get their hands on, the increased price on rubber and therefore a price hike on tyres might not come as a huge surprise.

Whatever the reason for this price hike may be, or any other price hikes for that matter, always remember to compare the price before you buy. That way you could potentially save hundreds of pounds on the essential items you need.

Winter is here: seasonal driving hacks to save motorists money

A leading insurance comparison firm is revealing the top winter driving hacks that could help motorists avoid higher premiums and retain those all-important No Claims Bonuses.

Quotezone.co.uk says many motorists overlook the winter conditions and can make unnecessary mistakes that will hit them hard in the pocket.

The firm, one of the UK’s leading car insurance comparison websites, says even minor adjustments in behaviour could save hundreds of pounds. Here they lay out some of the pitfalls motorists can find themselves in this winter: 

Defrosting – It is tempting to leave the engine running while the windscreen unfreezes, and the car warms up. However, if an opportunistic thief takes the vehicle, many insurance companies will not cover the loss. 

Leaving engines running is also an offence under section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. Doing this is known as ‘idling’,and is bad for the environment as it increases the amount of dangerous gases emitted into the air from the car’s exhaust.

Don’t use boiling water on windscreens – Glass can crack when it experiences a sudden change in temperature, and windscreen damage isn’t always covered by a standard car insurance policy.

Simply using a frost guard, a defogger or even homemade de-icer – lukewarm water mixed with rubbing alcohol.

Clear your windscreen before you set-off – Windscreens with inhibited views can land owners with a £1,000 fine and three points on a driving licence. So any leaves, snow, ice, mud or even condensation, needs to be fully cleared before setting out.

Check tyres – Motorists can be fined an eye-watering £2,500 for each faulty tyre and receive three points on their driving licence. If the police see another tyre falling short, it doubles to £5,000 and six points. Four faulty tyres could even see the maximum 12 points – resulting in the loss of a driving licence. 

Commercial vehicle drivers, where the car or van is owned by their employer – could land firms with penalties of up to £20,000.

Numberplate – Excess mud and grit on the roads this time of year can make your car dirty very quickly, and if the numberplate isn’t clearly visible, drivers could face a fine of £1,000.

Floods – Some car insurance policies include clauses advising policyholders not to drive through flooded roads, and may specifically exclude cover for any water damage to the car if the motorist goes against this advice.

Avoid puddles – Soaking pedestrians by deliberately driving through large puddles can results in a £100 fine and three penalty points.

Greg Wilson, Founder of car insurance comparison site Quotezone.co.uk said: “As winter approaches, it’s not just the fines that motorists should worry about, points on a driving licence are noted by insurers as a sign of how safe a driver is and what the risk of a claim might be when calculating premiums.

“Three points on a licence can add 5% to premiums every year until the points are spent after four years. Six points pushes premiums up by as much as 25%, and let’s not forget No Claims Bonuses and what they might be worth if they’ve been built up over time and now have to be accrued again from scratch.

“Careful, considerate and patient drivers who plan for the winter weather and adjust their behaviour to meet the conditions give themselves the best chance of avoiding points and keeping their premiums low.” 

Quotezone.co.uk helps around 3 million users every year, with over 400 insurance brands across 60 different products including car insurance, convicted drivers and breakdown cover. 

Quotezone.co.uk is recommended by 97% of reviewers on Reviews.co.uk

Any use of hand-held mobile phone while driving to become illegal

Prosecution regulations tightened on the use of hand-held mobile phones at the wheel

  • government strengthening existing laws making it illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving under virtually any circumstance
  • follows public consultation which found that 81% of people supported such a move
  • highway code will change making it clear that hand-held phone use at traffic lights or in traffic jams is illegal

Police will soon be able to more easily prosecute drivers using a hand-held mobile phone at the wheel after the government strengthens existing laws to further improve road safety.

It is already illegal to text or make a phone call (other than in an emergency) using a hand-held device while driving. Next year, laws will go further to ban drivers from using their phones to take photos or videos, scroll through playlists or play games.

This will mean anyone caught using their hand-held device while driving will face a £200 fixed penalty notice and 6 points on their licence.

Drivers will still be able to continue using a device ‘hands-free’ while driving, such as a sat-nav, if it’s secured in a cradle. They must, however, always take responsibility for their driving and can be charged with an offence if the police find them not to be in proper control of their vehicle.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Too many deaths and injuries occur while mobile phones are being held.

“By making it easier to prosecute people illegally using their phone at the wheel, we are ensuring the law is brought into the 21st century while further protecting all road users.

“While our roads remain among the safest in the world, we will continue working tirelessly to make them safer, including through our award-winning THINK! campaign, which challenges social norms among high-risk drivers.”

This follows a public consultation that found 81% of respondents supported proposals to strengthen the law and make it easier for culprits to be prosecuted.

Following the public consultation, the government will revise The Highway Code to explain the new measures. It will also be more precise about the fact that being stationary in traffic counts as driving, making it clear that hand-held mobile phone use at traffic lights or in motorway jams is illegal except in very limited circumstances.

There will be an exemption to the new law for drivers making a contactless payment using their mobile phone while stationary to ensure the law keeps pace with technology.

This exemption will cover, for example, places like a drive-through restaurant or a road toll, and will only apply when payment is being made with a card reader. It will not allow motorists to make general online payments while driving.

Mary Williams OBE, Chief Executive of Brake – the road safety charity, said: “Driver distraction can be deadly and using a hand-held phone at the wheel is never worth the risk. This important road safety decision by government, coinciding with Road Safety Week, is very welcomed.

“This news is particularly welcomed by families suffering bereavement and catastrophic injury due to drivers being distracted by phones. The theme for Road Safety Week is road safety heroes – we can all be road safety heroes by giving driving our full attention.”

The Department for Transport has also today published a study by Ipsos Mori about drivers who use mobile phones while driving.

Among other findings, the research reveals younger motorists are more likely to have used a handheld device at the wheel, supporting the focus of the government’s award-winning THINK! campaign, which works to boost road safety by targeting higher-risk, younger motorists and road-users.

Petrol price rises by a record 7.5p in October to hit new all-time high

  • Both petrol and diesel now 30p a litre more expensive than a year ago, adding £16.50 to a fill-up
  • Diesel rose by nearly 8p in October to reach a new record price – its second highest monthly rise in 21 years

The average prices of both petrol and diesel hit new record highs in October after rising by nearly 7.5p and 8p respectively – with the price of unleaded rising faster than in any month since 2000, RAC Fuel Watch data* shows.

On Sunday 24 October petrol exceeded the 142.48p a litre all-time peak set on 16 April 2012 by reaching 142.94p. Since then the price has continued to rise, finishing the month at 144.35p and up from 136.92p at the start. Diesel also surpassed its record price of 12 April 2012 (147.93p) on the last day of the month with a new high of 147.94p, up from 139.78p on 1 October.

The October hike in the price of unleaded is the largest since 2000 at 7.43p while diesel’s 8.16p increase is second only to the 8.43p jump seen in May 2008. This has added a huge £4 to the cost of filling up a 55-litre family petrol car (£79.39) and £4.50 for a diesel (£81.37) compared to the start of October. The previous biggest petrol price rise in a single month was in May 2018 when a litre went up 6p to 129.41p.

Both petrol and diesel are now 30p a litre – 26% – more expensive than a year (petrol –114.46p on 29 October 2020 to 144.35p now; and diesel – 117.82p to 147.94p now). This means it costs £16.50 more to fill up a family car with either fuel than it did at the end of October 2020.

Oil rose by nearly $5 a barrel (6%) from $78.62 to $83.47 last month, although on 25 October it peaked at $86.16. This caused the wholesale price of a litre of unleaded to go up by 5p and diesel by 4.5p which is in stark contrast to the 7.5p and 8p forecourt rises.

The RAC Fuel Watch data shows the enormous retail price jumps appear to have been driven by the big four supermarkets which upped the price of unleaded by more than 9p a litre and diesel by more than 10p to averages of 142.18p and 145.28p respectively.

Asda had the cheapest petrol at 140.98p, only slightly lower than Sainsbury’s at 141.68p. Sainsbury’s, however, offered the lowest price diesel at 144.37p, just slightly less than Asda which charged 144.57p at the end of October.

The average price of motorway petrol was 158.43p on 31 October, with a record price set the day before at 158.56p. Diesel closed October at a new all-time high of 163.08p.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “October 2021 set records for all the wrong reasons and was a horrible month for drivers with both petrol and diesel prices hitting new heights. The increases of almost 7.5p being added to a litre of unleaded and more than 8p going on to diesel are some of the highest we’ve seen in the 21 years we’ve been tracking fuel prices.

“Sadly, since passing the old record from 2012 the price of petrol has continued to climb and closed October at an eye-watering average of 144.35p. With a fill-up costing £16.50 more than a year ago, the impact is definitely being felt in homes up and down the country. It’s also bound to have a negative effect on the economy.

“There is, however, a glimmer of hope that the oil price may have peaked for the time being, but much will of course depend on whether more supply is released when oil producer group OPEC+ next meets on Thursday.

“Regardless of this, the profit margin retailers are taking on each litre of petrol is greater now than it used to be prior to the pandemic, which is artificially making forecourt prices higher, particularly as VAT is charged on top. We urge the biggest retailers, in particular, to play fair with drivers and ease the burden at the pumps by lowering their margins on petrol from around 8p a litre to more normal levels.

“This month’s RAC Fuel Watch data also reveals the extent of the fuel price ‘postcode lottery’, with petrol prices in Northern Ireland being nearly 3p a litre cheaper than the South East of England where prices are higher than anywhere else.

“While Northern Ireland has the cheapest petrol and diesel in the UK, drivers there still saw an 8p a litre leap in the price of unleaded. A litre of diesel in Northern Ireland is 144.36p – the same as the average price of petrol across the UK. In the North East diesel rocketed by a frightening 9p a litre to 147.22p.”

Regional pump prices compared

Unleaded01/10/202131/10/2021Change
UK average136.92144.357.43
East137.19144.877.68
East Midlands136.65144.387.73
London137.53144.516.98
North East135.66143.047.38
North West137.14143.876.73
Northern Ireland133.74142.108.36
Scotland136.30143.977.67
South East137.91144.927.01
South West137.52144.456.93
Wales136.38144.117.73
West Midlands136.82144.297.47
Yorkshire And The Humber136.48143.597.11
Diesel01/10/202131/10/2021Change
UK average139.78147.948.16
East139.96148.198.23
East Midlands138.89147.798.90
London140.20147.937.73
North East138.15147.229.07
North West139.43147.708.27
Northern Ireland135.53144.368.83
Scotland139.20147.898.69
South East140.67148.557.88
South West139.86148.248.38
Wales139.30147.928.62
West Midlands139.71147.858.14
Yorkshire And The Humber139.22147.848.62

Find out more about UK petrol and diesel prices on the RAC website.

Young drivers thrown a silver lining at last as premiums fall

Car insurance premiums for young drivers aged 17 to 29  are falling, according to new figures from Quotezone.co.uk. 

The car insurance comparison website recorded the largest decrease for the 17-21 age group with a drop of 14% in average premiums from 2020 to 2021 – from an average of £1,173 to £1,008 this year. 

Quotezone.co.uk found that drivers aged 22-25 were now paying an average of 6% less for their cover – falling from £833 in 2020 to £783 this year.

The firm says its research, based on a sample of over 50,000 car insurance policies, shows that 17 to 21 year olds still pay an average of 38% more than other young drivers, and that new drivers across the 17 to 29 age group pay on average 53% more than experienced motorists.

Quotezone.co.uk’s research reveals that newly qualified motorists can expect to see their car insurance premiums drop by an average of 29% after they’ve been driving for two years with no insurance claims.

The insurance specialists say that there was a 12.6% fall in new younger drivers in 2020, and for motorists aged from 17-21 the drop was 42%. 

Quotezone.co.uk’s Founder Greg Wilson comments: “Young drivers, particularly those aged 17 to 21, have had a tough year with driving lessons and testing on hold, and now delayed. 

“We expect the volume of young drivers to surge, once the queue for testing settles down, as people have had more time at home practicing their driving skills with friends and family.

“In terms of car insurance costs, it’s welcome news that premiums for this age range have fallen – it can often be expensive given their inexperience.  Average premiums start to fall by nearly a third as drivers gain more time behind the wheel – especially if they have two years driving safely with no claims made. 

“There are things brand new drivers can do to help them find the most competitive quotes though, such as choosing a car with a smaller engine, avoiding modifications, parking in a garage or on a private driveway, and opting for a telematics product which allows them to showcase their safe driving right from the get-go. 

“Drivers can compare all these options on our comparison site, so they can see which providers are offering the best extras and the lowest cost.”

Quotezone.co.uk offers specialist cover for learner drivers, temporary learner insurance and for young driver insurance.

It helps around 3 million users every year find better deals on their insurance, with over 400 insurance brands across 60 different products and is recommended by 97% of reviewers on Reviews.co.uk. 

Faulty tyres could land drivers £10k fine … and 12 points

October is Tyre Safety Month, the annual reminder to make sure vehicles’ wheels are roadworthy. 

Motorists using illegal, defective or under-inflated tyres can lead to serious outcomes and in 2019 contributed to 5 fatal collisions and 136 serious collisions according to figures from the Department for Transport.

Motoring charity TyreSafe, the driving force behind the initiative, highlighted the extent of the issue in 2016, commissioning research that revealed over 27% of the 340,000 tyres analysed were illegal due to inadequate tread.

Many police forces across the country support Tyre Safety Month and will be eagle-eyed when it comes to tyre inspections on routine checks.    

Car insurance comparison experts Quotezone.co.uk are warning motorists could face another issue – both large fines and hikes to their insurance premiums if they drive with defective tyres. 

Motorists can be fined up to £2,500 for each faulty tyre and receive three points on their driving licence. If the police see another tyre falling short of the law, it doubles to £5,000 and 6 points. Four faulty tyres could even see the maximum 12 points – resulting in the loss of a driving licence.

Commercial vehicle drivers, where the car or van is owned by their employer – could land firms with penalties of up to £20,000.

The legal minimum tread depth for cars in the UK is 1.6mm. These grooves help to remove water from the contact patch between your tyres and the road surface meaning the car can brake, steer and accelerate properly.

Greg Wilson, Founder of car  insurance comparison website Quotezone.co.uk, comments: “While the complexity of insurance premium calculations makes it impossible to put a pounds-and-pence figure on it, on average three penalty points could result in a 5% jump in a driver’s car insurance premium, while six penalty points could see the cost of their insurance rise by a painful 25%.

“Also bear in mind that most driving convictions must be declared to insurance providers for five years – even if the penalty points are removed from your licence after four, so motorists with points on their licence could be hit year after year until they’re spent.

“With many cars being parked at home over the past year due to various lockdowns and people working from home, it’s possible tyres might be in better condition than normal, with fewer miles potentially resulting in less wear and tear. However, it is still crucial that drivers do proper checks before travelling – long periods without driving can cause its own problems such as issues with the battery.”

Quotezone.co.uk has created a Winter Driving Checklist, to help motorists prepare for travelling in the darker and colder weather:

  • Check that windscreen washers are working and topped up with water – the bottle may need emptied out if the car hasn’t been used, to unclog blockages from debris
  • Check the battery by going for a short trip close to home first
  • Check tyre pressure and that each tyre has more than 1.6mm of tread i.e. can hold a 20p in place
  • Check tyres for lumps, bumps or cuts and remove any stones and debris
  • Check oil levels
  • Check you have a breakdown kit – jump leads, safety triangle, torch with extra batteries, empty fuel can
  • Check you have a winter emergency kit – blanket, bottle of water, phone charger, first aid kit, de-icer
  • Check if your car insurance policy includes breakdown assistance and home start, and consider signing up for standalone breakdown cover if it isn’t included
  • If the car is electric, make sure you have a full charge before setting off – winter roads can lead to unexpected deters and delays. Ideally, keep a portable battery booster in the boot in case you need an emergency recharge somewhere unexpected.

Quotezone.co.uk is a pioneer of comparison technology and one of the leading car insurance comparison sites in the UK, with over 110 car insurance providers to choose from, helping 3 million people find better deals on their insurance each year.

Op Tutelege: National policing initiative encourages thousands of Scots to drive insured

  • Op Tutelage – a national policing initiative where drivers who appear to have no motor insurance are sent advisory letters – has encouraged over 150,000 motorists across the UK to drive insured since being introduced in January 2020.
  • In Scotland nearly 6,600 advisory letters have been issued. Police Scotland comments.
  • The initiative uses a nudge approach to positively influence decision making. Around 3 in 4 recipients have been successfully encouraged to make sure their vehicle becomes insured.
  • Op Tutelage helps roads policing focus resources on the remaining dangerous drivers who intentionally drive without insurance – making roads safer and fairer for all. 

Op Tutelage – a national policing initiative where police forces issue advisory letters to drivers that appear to have no motor insurance – has encouraged over 150,000 motorists across the UK to drive insured.

The initiative which is led by the NPCC’s National Roads Policing Operations, Intelligence and Investigation (NRPOII) and supported by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), was introduced in January 2020 to help reduce uninsured driving levels across the UK.

By using MIB’s Motor Insurance Database (MID) – a central record of all active motor insurance policies in the UK – police forces can quickly identify any vehicle that appears not to have insurance and send the registered keeper an advisory letter.

Results have been highly successful with 151,464 drivers correcting their insurance status to date following over 215,000 advisory letters issued thus far, which equates to around 3 in 4 people.

In Scotland alone 6,594 advisory letters have been issued so far.

Op Tutelage’s advisory letters were developed alongside Dr Helen Wells, a criminologist and roads policing expert from Keele University and Director of the Roads Policing Academic Network. By drawing on research into the use of nudges, behaviour change approaches and the concept of procedural justice, the letters encourage motorists to take corrective action and drive insured.

There are a range of reasons why someone’s vehicle might show as uninsured on the MID. Causes stem from the unintentional such as drivers not realising their policy has expired or admin errors, all the way through to those willing to break the law by intentionally driving without insurance.

By sending out advisory letters, police forces want to give a chance to those who may have not realised their vehicle was uninsured to correct this before heading out on the road. Roads policing officers are then more likely to stop motorists who intentionally drive without insurance, who are linked to a higher rate of collisions and additional road traffic offences.

With all the UK’s 45 police forces having now signed up to Op Tutelage, the results have continued to grow per month. August alone saw more than 10,000 drivers nationally go from uninsured to insured.

Chief Superintendent Louise Blakelock, Head of Road Policing at Police Scotland, said: “Op Tutelage is an effective way of reducing the number of uninsured vehicles on our roads. There are a number of reasons why a vehicle may show on the Motor Insurance Database as holding no insurance and Op Tutelage provides an opportunity for registered keepers to take action as necessary.

“Police Scotland is committed to keeping the roads safe and this operation allows our officers to take action against those who deliberately break the law and put other road users in danger.”

Ben Fletcher, Chief Customer Officer at MIB, said: “Op Tutelage is delivering outstanding results. By utilising MID data and behavioural change approaches, we can encourage most drivers who are not correctly insured to positively act.

“This means roads policing can focus more of their resources on the minority of motorists who deliberately break the law and put road users at greater risk.

“With traffic returning to pre-pandemic levels the last thing anyone needs is to be impacted by uninsured motorists. I’m very pleased to say that Op Tutelage is helping to make roads safer and fairer for everyone. I look forward to seeing the great results of MIB’s partnership with NRPOII as we continue to drive down uninsured driving levels.”

Dr Helen Wells, Criminologist at Keele University and Director of the Roads Policing Academic Network, said: “Some people who drive without insurance do so by mistake, but others do it on purpose, and Op Tutelage helps the police focus their resources on those drivers that really need taking off the road.

Feedback shows that the public think this is a fair and legitimate way to police the roads and that the police value the extra intelligence it gives them.”

Alongside Op Tutelage, MIB works with police on a range of initiatives to tackle uninsured driving.

Roads police can access the MID to check if a vehicle appears to be uninsured. If disputed by the driver, the officer can contact MIB’s Police Helpline whose Agents liaise with insurers in real-time to confirm if valid insurance exists.

Driving without insurance can result in a £300 fixed penalty notice, six licence points and the driver’s vehicle can be seized and crushed. In addition, uninsured drivers can face court where they could receive an unlimited fine and a driving ban.

Over 148,000 vehicles were seized for no insurance across the UK in 2020, at a rate of one every four minutes.

MIB is encouraging motorists to check that their vehicle is showing as insured on the MID which can be done for free at www.askMID.co.uk

Consumers divided over electric vehicle revolution, Which? reveals

Older consumers, those on low incomes and rural households will need more support to switch to electric vehicles due to concerns about affordability, range and the UK’s charging infrastructure, new Which? research has found.

Electric car ownership has soared in the last few years and, with the government’s ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol vehicles looming, motorists are being encouraged to consider switching. However, Which? found there are stark contrasts between different groups of consumers and how they view the transition to electric vehicles.

The mass adoption of electric vehicles is a critical aspect of the government’s net-zero strategy and will benefit consumers who want to lead more sustainable lives, while also potentially reducing their motoring costs.

A new Which? survey found that while two in five people (44%) are comfortable switching to electric vehicles, almost half (49%) are not. The consumer champion found seven in 10 (71%) 18-24-year-olds are comfortable switching to electric vehicles and around half (56%) of those aged between 18 and 39 said they intended to buy one in the future.

However, only a quarter of those aged 65 and above are comfortable switching (26%) or intend to buy an electric vehicle (23%). More than half (52%) of respondents aged 65 and above do not intend to buy an electric vehicle in the future.

Urban dwellers are also more comfortable transitioning to electric vehicles than rural residents, with almost half (47%) of those living in urban areas open to switching and two-fifths (42%) planning to buy one. However, only a third of those living in rural areas felt comfortable switching (34%) or intend to buy an electric vehicle (36%).

Electric cars are currently more expensive to buy compared to petrol or diesel vehicles – a possible contributing factor to lower enthusiasm levels for switching among lower-income households.

The consumer champion found just a third of households (32%) on lower incomes (£21,000 and below) intend to make their next car an electric vehicle and two-fifths (41%) said they have no intention of buying one. This compares to more than half (57%) in more affluent households (more than £48,000) saying they would buy an electric car in the future and only a fifth (21%) saying they had no intention of buying one.

While the upfront cost of an electric car is one reason many people are reluctant to switch, the most common is related to perceptions about inferior performance. Two in five (44%) said concerns about battery range put them off switching to an electric vehicle, while a third (34%) cited the upfront cost.

The UK’s charging infrastructure is also a concern for motorists, with a third (33%) stating they are put off buying an electric car as they are worried about accessing charge points away from home or on long journeys.

In a market study published earlier this year, the Competition and Markets Authority suggested there needs to be a tenfold increase in the number of charge points across the UK by 2030 and that more needs to be done to address the “postcode lottery” of finding a charge point.

The UK government and Ofgem, the energy regulator, have pledged to invest millions of pounds to expand Britain’s public charging network. While Which? supports this move, it also believes the current infrastructure is difficult to navigate, disjointed and must be overhauled to ensure motorists have easy and convenient access to the charge points they need, wherever they live in the UK.

Sue Davies, Which? Head of Consumer Rights and Food Policy, said: “The mass adoption of electric vehicles is a key element of the government’s net-zero strategy, but while some consumers are ready to switch, our research shows older consumers and those from lower-income or rural households are less inclined to embrace the electric car revolution.

“It is vital that action is taken to address significant barriers including concerns about battery range, cost and the UK’s charging infrastructure that could deter motorists from switching to electric vehicles. Consumers also need more support to ensure they can make the decision to buy an electric car.”