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 Whilst fleet sales were down last year retail sales were up as a result of the scrappage scheme and dealers that expected to make losses ended up making profits. This was the result of what could only be described as a total con trick. Retail buyers were convinced that giving up their old car to benefit from a £2,000 bonus from the Government and manufacturers was a good idea but stories were exchanged throughout the Read more »

 Well here we are into a new year already. Hope you had a great Christmas and New Year celebration. Last year wasn’t as good as it should have been but didn’t end up as bad as I thought it might do due to an enthusiastic flurry in December. Unlike the last recession, during which we struggled to find clients that wanted to take out finance, I had about 5 times as many people looking for finance in this recession than I Read more »

It looks as though we may have seen the last of one of our more popular lease brands, Saab. Talks had been taking place to sell GM’s money losing brand to Spyker Cars NV but these have now broken down and whilst I have read that the Swedish have tried to put together a package to save their famous brand it now looks very unlikely.  By Graham Hill

In a survey carried out by Supercover Insurance it was found that more than half of cars left parked in motorway services or public car parks had valuables such as laptops, sat navs and mobile phones visible in the vehicle. They pointed out that drivers were not aware that many of these items may not be covered by their insurance policy. My advice, lock all valuables in the boot but don’t just stop at valuables, Read more »

The surprise car of the year has been named as the VW Polo. I actually can’t remember the last time I supplied a Polo and whilst reports have suggested that the latest version is about the same size as older Golfs it doesn’t seem to have set the world alight in any other way. Just goes to show what I know! Toyota’s IQ was in second place with the Vauxhall Astra in 3^rd place. Amazing! By Graham Hill

More people are taking cars on lease as it saves money and improves cash flow. They are also wising up to the fact that cars have to be returned in a ‘reasonable’ condition which means any damage should be repaired or you could face some serious refurbishment charges if the leasing company assesses the work when the vehicle is returned. As a result many are turning to the cheapest alternative and that is the Read more »

Confusion is going to reign over the many issues that will surround the use of electric cars as company vehicles. Already manufacturers are developing their new electric cars with some such as Peugeot already taking reservations on their new cars. But who pays for the fuel? Cars will need to be charged at the driver’s home as well as at work so who foots the bill and how will it be proportioned between business and Read more »

I’ve spoken about back problems before and mentioned the potential dangers faced by employers who choose cars for employees, considered unfit for purpose, in my book ‘An Insider Guide To Car Finance.’ However the University of Loughborough, whose research into driver back problems I mentioned recently, have issued some guidance for drivers and employers when selecting cars that will be used for Read more »

It’s been a mixed year for us in the car leasing business. Cars have become more and more difficult to source and lenders have pulled out of the broker market in their droves but we have still managed to find some pretty good deals to keep the interest going. We are all uncertain about next year as we are still in recession and manufacturers are still struggling to meet demand but one thing is for sure, I’ll still be pushing Read more »

As companies make redundancies it is likely that drivers will have to cover larger territories, drive for longer periods and cover greater distances. The fear is that back problems will increase rapidly and lead to more sickness. With Bluetooth connection and auxiliary power outlets in cars it is now possible for company cars to be used as mobile offices causing more workers to be sitting in them to work. The Read more »