Motors tips — Martin Lewis’ advice to cut car insurance plus Wheeler Dealers host’s sneak peek at new series

Cost of attacks on Sadiq Khan’s hated Ulez cameras revealed

Figures show the Met Police recorded 1,760 incidents of criminal damage or theft from April to February.

There are more than 3,400 cameras in London, charging drivers of polluting vehicles £12.50 a time to enter the city.

But Mayor Sadiq Khan’s un­popular scheme has led to 40 to 60 attacks a week, say insiders.

Each camera is believed to be worth £10,000 so the total cost to replace damaged ones would be £17.6million.

How do speed cameras work?

Speed cameras record a vehicle’s speed by either radar technology or markings on the road.

If a car is deemed to be going above the speed limit, an image will be snapped of the vehicle’s registration number, as well as its colour and type.

These images can sometimes include the driver’s face, as well as any passengers in the front seat.

Contrary to popular belief, not all speed cameras flash when they take an image of a car.

Could premium petrol be making your car run poorly?

A mechanic has claimed premium petrol could actually be making your car run poorly, despite costing £6 more than the standard product.

Scotty Kilmer, who has fixed cars for over 50 years, told his YouTube viewers the premium product is a “waste of money.”

He said: “It’s a waste of money putting premium fuel in a normal modern car.

“With modern engines having better design, lower compression and computer controls they will all run perfectly fine on regular fuel.

“If you have a car that’s made for normal fuel and you put it in, it could actually run worse because it’s set up for normal fuel at a lower compression.”

Bright and bold cars lose value faster than other colours

While it may seem like a trivial choice, picking the perfect paint job for your car impacts the resale value and general maintenance.

Lime greens, burnt oranges and sunshine yellows might speak to your personal tastes, but they are notoriously difficult to sell on the used car market.

That’s because, as a more niche choice, it’s tricky to find willing buyers, forcing you to lower the asking price or wait longer for a suitable offer.

What is the drink driving limit?

While the drink-drive limit is the same for everyone, how it influences you behind the wheel changes.

• There’s no foolproof system where you can safely have one pint or one large glass of wine and definitely be under the limit.
• As a general guide it takes around two hours for a pint to leave your system although stronger beers and ciders will take longer.
• A large glass of wine (250ml) is still in the blood for four hours and a single measure of a spirit takes just one hour.
• Plus you’ll need to add on an hour for the alcohol to be absorbed into the system. So, if you have four pints and stop drinking at midnight, you’re not safe to drive until at least 9am – a bottle of wine and you have to wait until 1pm the next day.
• These numbers vary from driver to driver, too, depending on a number of factors including weight, age, sex and metabolism. When and how much you’ve eaten and stress levels at the time are all part of the equation, too.
• The easiest way to avoid being caught out and to ensure you’re safe behind the wheel is not to drink at all if you’re planning on driving and give yourself plenty of time the next day before setting off.

The easiest way to avoid being caught out and to ensure you’re safe behind the wheel is not to drink at all if you’re planning on driving and give yourself plenty of time the next day before setting off.

Britain’s most iconic cars revealed

The Mini Cooper is Britain’s most iconic car, a new survey has revealed.

The research found that a third of Brits (27%) feel affection towards the small motor, placing it ahead of the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost (23%), James Bond’s Aston Martin DB-5 (22%) and even the Jaguar E-Type (22%).

1. Mini Cooper – 27%
2. Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost – 23%
3. Aston Martin DB5 – 22%
4. Jaguar E-Type – 22%
5. Morris Minor – 15%
6. Aston Martin DB11 – 15%
7. Land Rover Defender – 13%
8. Ford Escort MK1 – 13%
9. Ford Cortina MK1 – 13%
10. Aston Martin Vanquish – 13%

What is the punishment for driving without insurance?

Driving on public roads without insurance is illegal and can lead to some serious punishments.

As per RAC, the police can:

• Hand out a fixed penalty fine of £300.
• Dock 6 points off the driver's license.
• Seize the vehicle.
• Destroy the vehicle.

A court can then issue:

• An unlimited fine.
• Disqualification from driving.

Is it always illegal to drive without insurance?

Yes, driving without insurance on a public road is against the law.

However, if the land you are diving on isn't accessible by the public you do not need insurance.

The minimum cover you need to drive on public roads is called "third-party insurance."

This covers you if you're deemed responsible for a road accident that causes damages to another person or their property.

Why do young people pay more in car insurance?

It's a frustration for young drivers everywhere, you work hard to get your license, save up for a car, only to find your insurance payments are through the roof.

But why do young people pay higher premiums on car insurance?

According to road safety charity Brake, drivers aged 17-19 make up just 1.5% of UK license holders. However, they also make up 9% of fatal and serious crashes.

This disparity sees insurers up the rates young drivers must pay.

Your postcode can impact car insurance prices

Perhaps unfairly, your postcode can actually impact the price of your car insurance.

Living in busy, built-up areas will usually increase costs due to the higher probability of an accident.

Postcodes aren't the only strange factor considered when insurers decide the price of your cover.

They may also factor in the weather, living near a river may see them consider the cost of water damage.

Are you exempt from VED?

Payment of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), often known as road tax, is a legal requirement to drive in the UK.

However, some vehicles that meet specific conditions are exempt from the payment.

The following vehicle types are exempt from paying VED:

1. Low and no-emission vehicles – those emitting less than 100g/km of carbon dioxide registered before 2017
2. Historic vehicles – those which are more than 40 years old on a rolling basis
3. Vehicles used by disabled people – if you qualify for the higher rate of major disability benefits including Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment or Child Disability Payment
4. Vehicles used for agriculture, horticulture and forestry – including tractors
5. Vehicles registered Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN)

What is the fine for not wearing a seatbelt?

You can incur a fine of up to £500 if you do not wear a seatbelt when you’re supposed to.

It is the passenger’s responsibility to belt up when in a car, whereas it is the driver’s responsibility when dealing with children under the age of 14 and pets.

Those over 14 are responsible for their own actions – so if you’re caught not wearing a belt as a passenger, you could be hit with a £100 fine.

Does my credit score affect car insurance?

Insurers will often do a soft search of your credit report to confirm who you are and your address.

This won’t show up on your report as it’s not a full search.

However, if you choose to pay monthly, insurers will most likely do a credit check.

This is because you are entering into a financial agreement with the company.

Having a low credit score could impact this.

Elon Musk claims EVs will ‘dominate the market’

Elon Musk has predicted electric vehicles will take over the car market in the coming years, slamming manufacturers who are focusing their efforts elsewhere.

He said: “A lot of other auto manufacturers are pulling back on EVs and pursuing plug-in hybrids instead.

“We believe this is not the right strategy, and electric vehicles will ultimately dominate the market.”

£6 gadget that can save you £1,000s on repairs

The revolutionary tyre puncture repair kit requires no tools or jack – so no motorist is left stranded on the roadside.

And they won’t have to fork out £1,000s repeatedly buying new tyres at a garage.

It costs less than a tenner, marked up at just £6.39 on the shelves.

Holts Tyreweld Puncture Repair claims to cause “no damage” and uses a “safe non-toxic-formula” which washes off easily.

It is currently available on the Tool Station website and has been hailed with glowing five-star reviews from buyers.

Modifying your car could shorten its lifespan

Drivers should avoid making modifications to their cars, according to advice from RAC.

Making extensive changes to a vehicle, such as tuning the engine for more power, can put strain on other components.

Meanwhile, adding stiffer suspension can cause damage to the chassis, subframes and bushes.

Perhaps most importantly, making changes to your car will often lower its value, making it tougher to sell.

Tesla unveils new ‘quicker, more powerful‘ Model 3

Elon Musk’s Tesla has unveiled a new version of the company’s popular Model 3 Performance.

The new EV has gone on sale for £59,990 and is promised to be an upgrade to the favourite.

First released in 2017, the Model 3 was Britain’s second-best-selling car in 2021.

Tesla said in a press release they had made: “what we consider to be a perfect, high-performance daily driver.”

Why do young people pay more in car insurance?

It’s a frustration for young drivers everywhere, you work hard to get your license, save up for a car, only to find your insurance payments are through the roof.

But why do young people pay higher premiums on car insurance?

According to road safety charity Brake, drivers aged 17-19 make up just 1.5% of UK license holders. However, they also make up 9% of fatal and serious crashes.

This disparity sees insurers up the rates young drivers must pay.

When can you drive without wearing a seatbelt?

There are rare scenarios when wearing a seatbelt isn’t a legal requirement.

According to gov.uk, you don’t need to wear a seat belt if you’re:

• a driver who is reversing, or supervising a learner driver who is reversing
• in a vehicle being used for police, fire and rescue services
• a passenger in a trade vehicle and you’re investigating a fault
• driving a goods vehicle on deliveries that is travelling no more than 50 metres between stops
• a licensed taxi driver who is “plying for hire” or carrying passengers

Bentley to reveal new car in days

Bentley are set to unveil the most powerful car of their 105-year history in less than two weeks.

The British manufacturer is all set to reveal the third model from their reinvigorated Mulliner coach-building division on May 7.

However, wealthy enthusiasts will have move quickly, as only 16 examples will be built.

The new motor is expected to receive Bentley's "most potent" W12 engine to date, according to Autocar.

The luxury brand added that this will be one of the last appearances of the W12, which has been featured in their motors since 2003.

Couple wake up to discover half their car missing

A couple who were due to drop off a car they had just sold were left reeling when thieves stripped the vehicle overnight.

Brazen thieves set upon Rory Tymon and wife Natalia's Volkswagen T-Roc - which was parked close to their property in Winton, Salford.

The thugs removed the motor's bonnet, panels and other bits from the front of the vehicle before fleeing the scene, Manchester Evening News reported.

Rory, 31, had parked the car in its usual spot in front of Winton Dental Practice on Vaughan Street.

He believes the criminals nabbed the parts between 9.30pm on Wednesday and 6am on Thursday.

Cost of attacks on Sadiq Khan’s hated Ulez cameras revealed

Figures show the Met Police recorded 1,760 incidents of criminal damage or theft from April to February.

There are more than 3,400 cameras in London, charging drivers of polluting vehicles £12.50 a time to enter the city.

But Mayor Sadiq Khan’s un­popular scheme has led to 40 to 60 attacks a week, say insiders.

Each camera is believed to be worth £10,000 so the total cost to replace damaged ones would be £17.6million.

How do speed cameras work?

Speed cameras record a vehicle’s speed by either radar technology or markings on the road.

If a car is deemed to be going above the speed limit, an image will be snapped of the vehicle’s registration number, as well as its colour and type.

These images can sometimes include the driver’s face, as well as any passengers in the front seat.

Contrary to popular belief, not all speed cameras flash when they take an image of a car.

Bright and bold cars lose value faster than other colours

While it may seem like a trivial choice, picking the perfect paint job for your car impacts the resale value and general maintenance.

Lime greens, burnt oranges and sunshine yellows might speak to your personal tastes, but they are notoriously difficult to sell on the used car market.

That’s because, as a more niche choice, it’s tricky to find willing buyers, forcing you to lower the asking price or wait longer for a suitable offer.