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 RMI Petrol Retailers Association is predicting a rise in fuel of 10 pence per litre in 2010 as a result of the VAT increase and other tax increases that are already planned or likely to be introduced when a new Government is elected. Clearly using the green argument to beat drivers over the head and justify exceptional taxation increases will help them to recover the huge deficit brought about by investment Read more »

 Some more great news in my opinion, Bosch have announced that the number of new cars fitted with my favourite safety device, ESP, increased in 2009 by 3% to 59%. This is still not good enough, it should be 100%, which it will be over the next few years but as ESP is a proven lifesaver the sooner all cars are fitted with it the better. By Graham Hill

 As I recently suggested we are hearing from the car manufacturers and industry pundits that as the scrappage scheme comes to an end there will be a change in emphasis from retail car sales to fleet. Bonuses will return in order to bring fleet sales back up having dropped back by over 20% last year. Having said that I have seen no real evidence that we will have an avalanche of bonuses over the next few months but Read more »

 Britain’s roads are now the safest since 1926 with road deaths running at 2,500. In many ways this has confirmed that the Government’s Road Safety Policy has worked although some would say that public demand and safety developments carried out by vehicle manufacturers have been the biggest contributors to improved road safety. All three major political parties are now taking a careful look at how this Read more »

 The cold snap meant that, for the first time in years in the south of England, drivers were not only having to deal with driving in very snowy and icy conditions but also have had to clear large amounts of snow and ice off their bodywork and screens. In some cases I saw drivers clearing snow that had turned to ice off their car with a spade and another with a piece of wood. Whilst most were reasonably sensible and Read more »

 For years I’ve fought against those providing misleading advice on cars and car finance with many of the cons revealed in my book, An Insider Guide To Car Finance, my Friday FAQ’s and the new videos that will be launched very shortly. Having just read the same press release for the umpteenth time I’m now moved to make further comment on the announcement that Autoquake are very generously waving Read more »

 For those that have to drive within the congestion charge zone in London and currently receive the daily discount of £1, given to those who are on business and are part of a minimum fleet of 10 vehicles and provided the vehicle has been registered under the London Fleet Auto Pay scheme, the rules are about to change. In the past all you had to do was enter the registration number and the name of the registered owner and Read more »

 I know I’m an old softie but I was saddened to read in amongst the list of new car launches this year an entry for the Saab 9-5. The lines looked great but may never be produced because minutes before, I read that GM, in its firesale of Saab, had sold the rights to the technology and tooling of the current 9-3 and 9-5 to Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Company. Does this mean that we will still see the new 9-5? Read more »

 The House of Commons Treasury Select Committee has been looking into credit reference agency ‘footprints’. A footprint is created each time a credit search is made on a person or business recorded by the credit reference agencies. Over the last few years car finance comparison sites have cropped up on the internet with some very shady providers freely advertising on them. A common routine is to Read more »

 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 »