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

Warning to drivers over little-known DVLA licence rule

Experts at Motor Match said the crucial mistake can put motorists at risk of facing severe penalties.

According to the motors pros, failing to update your address details with the DVLA is not just a minor oversight.

The common error can leave you out of pocket and lead to serious consequences.

In the event of an accident, having accurate address information on file is key.

The experts said: “Address updates are more than just a matter of compliance.

“In the unfortunate event of an accident, having accurate address details ensures that essential information reaches the right individuals promptly, expediting necessary processes and potentially saving lives.”

£1 Boots item transforms car

Costing just £1 at Boots, shaving foam is one of a few miracle household products that has a dual purpose as a cleaning tool.

Interior decorating magazine, House Beautiful, raved about the closeted cleaning product writing: “prepare to be enlightened, because the grooming essential is actually a brilliant cleaning tool.”

Salt, washing up liquid and shampoo also have the same effect.

They can be used to get rid of various types of stains from wine spillages to chewing gum.

Nic Shacklock, an expert at Online-Bedrooms.co.uk, said: “Carpet stains can be an absolute nightmare to clean especially if they’ve been sitting there unnoticed for weeks.

“These stains can be lifted with some common household items meaning you won’t have to spend a fortune having to get the entire floor deep cleaned.

“Washing up liquid is a great solution to getting rid of mud marks and baking soda can remove any lingering odours.”

EV brand cuts price of flagship SUV model 

Fisker, which was launched in 2016 by Danish car designer Henrik Fisker, is facing uncertainty after a torrid year saw its shares drop by over 99%, resulting in it being delisted from the New York Stock Exchange.

Now, in a bid to drive demand, the brand has taken the scissors to suggested prices across its lineup.

This includes its Ocean SUV model being knocked down by up to a whopping £15,000.

That reduction is set to bring the price down to £30,900.

Even the range-topping Ocean Extreme has gone under the knife, with a £15,000 cut to £43,990, which is less than the base-level Tesla Model Y.

And the mid-level Ultra version has declined from £50,900 to £38,900.

The smallest price cut, just £6,000, was reserved for the entry-level Ocean Sport, which now costs just £30,900.

What causes a slow puncture?

Usually these leaks are caused by small objects such as nails and screws.

They create a small hole which lets air out gradually, but don’t cause enough damage to instantly burst the tyre.

Air will continue to escape when you’re both driving and parked.

Sometimes the problem can be a result of faulty valves on the tyres.

There is a small rubber nozzle where air can be pumped into if the tyre needs topped up or deflated.

If this is damaged, motorists will soon discover they have a flat tyre.

Wear and tear on the wheels is another culprit, if the rubber is cracked or worn down it can lead to a deflated tyre over time.

£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 road side.

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.

Drivers warned over little-known rule that could land you £5,000 fine

Drivers are being warned over a little-known rule that could land you a £5,000 fine.

The fine can be given out for the way you use your air conditioning – as according to the Highway Code your car must be “well ventilated”.

The reason for that is drivers need to avoid drowsiness and falling asleep at the wheel.

Sleepiness can make you a dangerous driver as you can make poor decisions and are not fully in control of the motor.

Rule 237 of the code reads: “You must keep your car well ventilated to avoid drowsiness”.

Failing to adhere to these guidelines and therefore not having proper control of the vehicle could land you with a £5,000 fine in the most serious cases.

An expert at insurance company Zego said: “A well-ventilated car helps in keeping the driver’s senses alert and minimises the risk of drowsiness. Even a brief loss of concentration can lead to accidents.

“A well-regulated cabin temperature can significantly reduce such risks.”

Don’t ignore the tiny details

When buying a used car, it’s crucial to keep an eye out for the tiny details, mechanic Marc ‘Elvis’ Priestly has warned.

He said: “Things like rubber seals around the doors and windows will perish over time, and become brittle and hard, and the moment you start using the car again, after all that time, they can then suddenly start to fail because they’re no longer soft and supple.

“The car might look gleaming, but it’s the hidden bits that only a discerning buyer would take the time and know where to look, that are important.”

Follow our motors blog for all the latest tips, deals and news

This is your one-stop shop for all the latest car news, deals and tips.

From cheap gadgets to car insurance deals you’ll find everything here.

Martin Lewis reveals how drivers can get ‘cheaper’ car insurance with little-known change

Money expert Martin Lewis has explained how drivers could cheaper car insurance while enjoying extra benefits.

Martin suggests that comprehensive cover, despite its often higher price, can end up being the cheapest option.

He told ITV’s Tonight Show: “If you want the cheapest, sometimes comprehensive policies can be cheaper than third-party policies.

“Comprehensive is seen as a lower risk by some insurers and that outweighs the fact you’re getting more for it.”

Car insurance prices soar once again

Brits are facing another increase in car insurance prices this year.

In another blow to struggling drivers, 2023 saw a 34% average increase in the price of car cover, The Association of British Insurers (ABI) reports.

This is compared to just 2% in France and 6% in Italy.

How one driver protected their driveway with this Screwfix product

A homeowner was left frustrated by strangers accessing their driveway before discovering this product from Screwfix.

The man, who wanted to remain anonymous, decided to get retractable bollards fitted and went about getting quotes from professionals.

They suggested it would cost between £2,500 and £3,000.

WHEELY SAVVY

I stopped strangers accessing my parking spot with cheap hack from Screwfix

What about the cheapest?

We revealed in our last post that UK seaside town with the most expensive parking is Brighton, as per research by Motorscan. 

But what about the cheapest?

The cheapest overall was Hornsea, where it only costs £1.98 to park.

That's more than £20 a day cheaper than Brighton and almost £7 cheaper than Whitby, just an hour up the coast.

Can you drive a manual car with an automatic license?

In short, no.

If you want to drive a manual car you will need a manual license.

However, if you have a manual license, you are free to drive automatic cars.

New York man discovers haunting classic car graveyard

A man has discovered a property with over 300 abandoned classic cars and now visits the haunting site for weekly walks.

The car graveyard, discovered by New York man Phil T, is a site to behold for anyone interested in 1950s automobiles.

Check out the story below to see the nostalgic snaps...

LEFT BEHIND

Haunting photos show car graveyard with over 300 vehicles dating back to 1950s

Look beyond mileage when buying a second-hand car, expert reveals

The first thing any driver looks at when buying a second-hand car is its mileage.

While this is important, classic car expert and mechanic Marc ‘Elvis’ Priestly has warned against letting it decide your purchase.

He told the Sun: “Yes, if your engine’s done 200,000 miles, it’s had a hard life, and components will wear out, but there are lots of other things that might suffer on a very low mileage car if it hasn’t been run anywhere. 

“If it’s been sat in storage for a long time, some people will think that’s a wonderful thing, and that it’s going to be in great condition, but there are still things that will deteriorate on a car just due to its age, like corrosion in the bodywork.”

Expert warns drivers against viral TikTok trend

A motors expert has warned drivers against adopting viral online trends without undertaking the proper research.

Ben Custard, from dealership franchise Motorpoint, urged Brits to be cautious when picking up ideas online, claiming some could cause "permanent damage" to your car.

He said: "Most of the tips and hacks popular online haven’t come from an expert – meaning there's no guarantee that they’ll work, and they could even cause permanent damage to your vehicle."

CLEAN UP

Drivers warned over TikTok cleaning hack could cause ‘permanent damage’ to car

Check out our BMW X2 review

In our latest car review, we took a look at the BMW X2, a £40k car powered by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol turbo producing 170hp.

Sadly, our expert reviewers were not won over by the X2's new design, despite its host of high-tech features

Follow the link below for the full review...

GONE TWO FAR

BMW X2 has slick tech but ugly looks mean your £50k is better spent elsewhere

Which city in the UK has the most potholes?

Southend takes the crown for having Britain’s most potholed roads.

One in four of the Essex coastal city’s B and C roads, and 15 per cent of its A roads, were identified as in need of resurfacing from 2018 to 2023.

Derbyshire is next worst, then Hackney, East London, while Redcar & Cleveland in North Yorks is best, Department for Transport figures show.

Newham, Barnet, Brent, Hammersmith and Fulham also made the worst 10 places for potholes in the country.

Full list of 2024's banned number plates revealed

Following our post below, here's a full list of the DVLA's banned number plates being announced this year:

DVLA releases list of BANNED number plates for 2024

The DVLA has released its annual list of banned number plates, deemed "too rude" for our roads.

With another reveal to be announced in the coming weeks, RegTransfers has secured a list of the banned plates.

BE74 END, BL74 WJB, BO74 CCK and BU74 SHT will be banned.

Others include ST74 BER, TT74 WAT and WW74 NKZ.

UB74 TCH, AN74 USA and AT74 CKU will also be removed from production, according to the experts.

PLATE STATE

BANNED number plates of 2024 that DVLA deem 'too rude' for the road revealed

Mechanic warns drivers to avoid this type of used car

Sherwood Cooke Jr, owner of Royalty Auto Service, has warned drivers against spending their hard-earned cash on a specific type of used car.

The motor expert has told drivers to avoid ex-rental cars even if they spot a good deal.

While Sherwood admits most rental companies keep their cars in good condition, he claims the vehicles can often have unexpected issues due to how drivers treat them.

BAD DEAL

Mechanic reveals which used cars drivers should avoid - even if it's a good deal

Follow our motors blog for all the latest tips, deals and news

This is your one-stop shop for all the latest car news, deals and tips.

From cheap gadgets to car insurance deals you’ll find everything here.

Don’t ignore the tiny details

When buying a used car, it’s crucial to keep an eye out for the tiny details, mechanic Marc ‘Elvis’ Priestly has warned.

He said: “Things like rubber seals around the doors and windows will perish over time, and become brittle and hard, and the moment you start using the car again, after all that time, they can then suddenly start to fail because they’re no longer soft and supple.

“The car might look gleaming, but it’s the hidden bits that only a discerning buyer would take the time and know where to look, that are important.”

Five cars perfect for long commutes

A car expert has revealed the best motors for long commutes - including a very comfortable Mercedes.

Matas Buzelis, a motoring guru who works for carVertical, has picked out a handful of cars - with four priced at under £12,000 - that he thinks are perfect for drivers that regularly use the motorway.

take a look at the top picks below.

ON THE ROAD

Five cars perfect for long motorway commutes including £10k Mercedes