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

How long Brit drivers spend sitting in traffic in their lives

Drivers spend 175 full days of their lives sitting in traffic jams.

A poll found the typical motorist now queues for 84 hours a year — twice the figure in 1994. Over 50 years, that works out at 4,200 hours.

The study was carried out using data from satnav firm TomTom for price comparison site Quotezone.co.uk.

Tesla cuts monthly cost of supercharger membership

Tesla has slashed the cost of its monthly supercharger membership, meaning any EV driver can top up for less at 42 sites.

The US electric car company owned by Elon Musk has cut the price of membership by £2 from £10.99 a month to £8.99 in a bid to attract more drivers to use its expanding network of supercharger ultra-rapid public chargers.

As a perk of ownership, Tesla drivers get access to the supercharger network’s lower charging rates while owners of other EVs are charged at a slightly higher per kilowatt-hour of electricity dispensed.

Shocking German fuel law

In Britain running out of fuel is no more than an annoyance but in Germany, it can be a criminal offence.

It’s illegal to run out of fuel on Germany’s famous Autobahn.

Authorities consider running out of fuel a preventable problem and say stopping on the side of a road that often has no speed limit is extremely dangerous.

Worst cities in the UK for traffic jams

According to a recent study, the worst place for jams in the UK was London, where delays add up to 148 hours every year.

Here are the 10 worst cities for traffic jams (in hours per year):

1. London – 148 hours
2. Bristol – 89 hours
3. Manchester – 88 hours
4. Leicester – 79 hours
5. Sheffield – 76 hours
6. Liverpool – 75 hours
7. Belfast – 75 hours
8. Edinburgh – 74 hours
9. Hull – 71 hours
10. Nottingham – 69 hours

£3 tool to stop people stealing your parking spot

A YouTuber shared a clever trick to stop other drivers taking his favourite parking spot.

All it requires is a cheap £3 tool from The Range and the spot will be yours for the taking.

PARKING MAD

I found way to stop drivers taking my parking spot - £3 tool keeps anyone away

Mike Brewer selling car for staggering amount

Mike Brewer is selling a Ford Transit van for a staggering amount after giving the motor a full restoration.

Mike will be selling the MK1 Ford Transit at an upcoming Iconic Auctioneers sale which offers low-mileage models of some of the most popular commercial motors in UK history.

The 1980s motor could sell for 50 times its original value at the price of £60,000.

Mike Brewer selling car for staggering amount

Mike Brewer is selling a Ford Transit van for a staggering amount after giving the motor a full restoration.

Mike will be selling the MK1 Ford Transit at an upcoming Iconic Auctioneers sale which offers low-mileage models of some of the most popular commercial motors in UK history.

The 1980s motor could sell for 50 times its original value at the price of £60,000.

First person to drive around the world in an EV

An intrepid motorist has become the first to drive around the world in an electric vehicle.

The record-breaking stunt saw Lexie Alford, 26, visit all six continents in as many months in the new electric Ford Explorer.

The challenge, Ford’s Charge Around the Globe, was set to demonstrate the true capability of EVs.

Lexie – aka Lexie Limitless – had already broken the record for the youngest person to travel across each of the world’s 196 sovereign nations at the age of 21.

How much does a fuel drain cost?

Putting the wrong fuel in your car can be pricey.

If you have followed the advice and not started your engine, a fuel drain will cost between £100 and £200.

However, if you have started your engine with the wrong fuel inside, the damage can be severe and the cost to repair much higher.

And unfortunately, it’s unlikely your insurer will cover all of these costs either.

Always check a car’s service history

You should ALWAYS check a car’s service history before you purchase it, expert Marc ‘Elvis’ Priestly says.

Car owners should have the MOT history available to view, but it’s always easy to find online too.

Elvis told us: “Even if a car’s passed all of its MOTs, the service history can often be a really good clue into some of the work that might have been done.

“Advisory notes are often little warning signs that something that might be on its way out, or that something more serious that may have been done to get it through its MOT, and it just gives you little pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that build up this picture of what sort of life the car’s had.”

Best buys for under £5,000

The Ford Fiesta has been named on the list of the best cars you can buy for under £5,000.

Motor experts from online marketplace Carwow revealed their picks for the top bargain rides in Britain today, including a "perfect city car".

The others on the list are the Peugeot 208, the Ford Ka, the Citroen C1 and the Nissan Note.

The simple repair that could ruin your car

A basic DIY repair using a £3 garage essential could be ruining your car, according to a mechanic.

Scotty Kilmer, who has more than 50 years' experience in the motor business, urged drivers to avoid the seemingly harmless hack to solve an irritating problem.

Find out more here.

SLIPPERY CUSTOMER

Simple €3 DIY repair could be ruining your car – what to do instead

How much does it cost to learn to drive?

Learning to drive is seen as a rite of passage for many young people, but, with the cost of living continuing to rise, it can come with a steep price tag that some can’t afford.

Here, we take a look at exactly how much it might cost to learn how to drive in 2024.

First, you need a provisional license which will set you back £34 if you apply online.

Now for the lessons…

According to the RAC, lessons typically cost between £25 and £45 per hour.

They recommend that new drivers have 45 hours worth of instruction, bringing the maximum cost of lessons to £2,025.

Now, a theory test will cost £23 while a practical test costs £62 on weekdays.

You will also need to factor in the cost of a test car, which the RAC says could cost around £30.

In total, that’s approximately £2,174 before you factor in the price of a car and insurance.

Does cruise control use more fuel?

Cruise control only reduces fuel costs when driving on a flat straight surface, according to RAC.

That’s why it’s usually recommended for driving on motorways.

If you decide to use it on winding, bumpy roads it is unlikely to save you any cash and could, in fact, add to your fuel costs.

Don’t forget to top up fluids regularly

Failing to replenish your car’s fluids can have serious consequences.

According to RAC, engine oil and lubricant should be checked once per fortnight.

To do this, open your car’s bonnet, remove the dipstick, wipe it and then place it back in.

When you remove it for a second time, the oil should be a yellow/brown colour.

If the oil is darker or even black you should replace it.

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.

How much does a fuel drain cost?

Putting the wrong fuel in your car can be pricey.

If you have followed the advice and not started your engine, a fuel drain will cost between £100 and £200.

However, if you have started your engine with the wrong fuel inside, the damage can be severe and the cost to repair much higher.

And unfortunately, it’s unlikely your insurer will cover all of these costs either.

What is the cheapest EV in the UK?

A major car brand has revealed the UK’s cheapest EV which is nearly half the price of its nearest rival.

The hotly anticipated Dacia Spring is set to retail from from £14,995, making it one of the most competitive EVs on the market.

The Spring EV, which is set to be released in the UK in October, will be an astonishing £12,000 cheaper than Britain’s
current cheapest EV, the MG4.

It will be the sixth cheapest new car on sale in 2024 across all fuel types.

First person to drive around the world in an EV

An intrepid motorist has become the first to drive around the world in an electric vehicle.

The record-breaking stunt saw Lexie Alford, 26, visit all six continents in as many months in the new electric Ford Explorer.

The challenge, Ford’s Charge Around the Globe, was set to demonstrate the true capability of EVs.

Lexie – aka Lexie Limitless – had already broken the record for the youngest person to travel across each of the world’s 196 sovereign nations at the age of 21.

How long Brit drivers spend sitting in traffic in their lives

Drivers spend 175 full days of their lives sitting in traffic jams.

A poll found the typical motorist now queues for 84 hours a year — twice the figure in 1994. Over 50 years, that works out at 4,200 hours.

The study was carried out using data from satnav firm TomTom for price comparison site Quotezone.co.uk.