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Before I get to this report from Car magazine I have a couple of observations of my own. Firstly, I’ve known of drivers receiving an end of contract charge to buff out the ‘Swirl Effect’ on the paintwork caused by constant use of a car wash and it wasn’t cheap. In my opinion the occasional use of a carwash is fine but regular use may cause this effect on the paintwork.

The answer may be to use a roadside handwash but these can be equally as dangerous because the pre-wash spray that some use can damage paintwork, rubber, plastic and attach the alloy wheels. I remember in one report I ran the spray was little short of diluted acid intended to degrease industrial equipment. Check that they are using a proprietary brand of pre-wash to lift the grime.

On to the Car report:

► Are automatic car washes good for your car?

► Why they may not be

► And what you can do moving forward

The Best Car Cleaning Products

We’ve all been caught at the crossroads between convenience and quality when it comes to washing a car, and while taking your car through an automatic car wash may seem innocuous every now and then, you’re not only doing your car a disservice in terms of cleanliness, you’re also damaging its finish.

But what kind of damage can be unknowingly inflicted upon a car’s paint by going through an automatic car wash?

According to Damon Lawrence who runs automotive detailing business Auto Attention, car washes are a major cause of paintwork getting damaged. ‘

‘Automatic car washes, as much as they are convenient, are abrading your paintwork because the brushes used aren’t properly maintained,’ Damon says.

‘These machines are essentially like slapping your car with a dirty mop, causing hundreds of deep micro scratches called swirl marks. Over time, this damage builds and eventually results in your paint becoming dull and the scratches become easily noticeable.

‘Repairing the swirl marks is done through a process called paint correction. This process cuts down the peaks of your paintwork to level out any swirl marks seen on the surface.

This process can only be done so many times due to a car’s clear coat being a certain thickness, depending on your manufacturer. The cost of this process varies but on average costs over £1000.’

And if you try to skirt the issue by using a touch-free automatic car wash, chances are you’re still doing damage.

‘Unfortunately as perfect as the idea sounds, not only do touch-free washes use aggressive acids to cut down the grime which can eat away paint, the high pressure hose simply won’t clean it 100%.’

So what’s the alternative for time-poor car owners who still want clean cars?

Applying a ceramic coating is a great way for your car to stay clean in the first place.

The hydrophobic properties will make it harder for dirt and grime to stick to the car’s paintwork, while also encapsulating and rinsing off dirt when it rains.

But, if you want to take the best care of your car’s paint, ‘it is always best to do it yourself and use the two bucket wash method, making sure to use clean microfibre materials when touching the car.’  By Graham Hill thanks to Car Magazine.

The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) is predicting record pump prices of 142ppl for petrol and 148ppl for diesel, set in April 2012, will be broken well before the end of the year.

Experian Catalist UK averages for October 19 were 141.35ppl and 144.84ppl, respectively.

The primary reason is the rise and rise of crude oil costs which recently hit $US85/barrel for Brent Crude.

This involves more than a 50% increase since January 2021 and has been caused by a cutback in production from OPEC countries and Russia at the same time as the global economies are staging a rapid economic turnround from the global pandemic, says the PRA.

There is no immediate sign of a change to this position and some analysts have talked about further oil price rises to $US100/barrel by Christmas.

Current average pump prices across the UK are being softened by some of the largest retailers who typically benefit from a three or even four-week lag to their delivered fuel prices.

Only last week, two major grocery retailers in Belfast were vying for business by offering fuel at below standard wholesale cost with pump prices as low as 125.9ppl for petrol and 130.9ppl for diesel.

Another less obvious reason for the wholesale price increase relates to the production profile obtaining in Western Europe, says the PRA.

S&P Global Platts advised PRA: “Physical spot market activity has seen Gasoline and diesel rise in tandem with the wider energy complex, and this has a knock-on effect, boosting retail prices for road and heating fuels.

“Lower stock levels in Northwest Europe are tightening supply and this is accompanied by stronger demand for gasoline in the US, which is an export outlet for the European gasoline market. There’s also stronger demand in the petrochemical sector, which is attracting certain components that would be otherwise destined to gasoline blending.

“The picture for diesel is not dissimilar, with limited refinery output coupled with stronger demand across Europe and a boost of demand from the heating fuels lifting values across the entire gasoil complex.”

The average price of a litre of petrol and diesel rose in September to make a tank £12 more expensive than a year ago, according to new RAC Fuel Watch data.

A full tank of diesel is now £76.59 – up £1.40 in September and £11.63 more than a year ago, the data found.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

The Government needs to start developing a new road pricing scheme now to ensure a smooth transition from today’s emissions-based motoring tax regime.

That was the message from the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) to the Transport Committee, which is conducting an inquiry into road pricing.

BVRLA director of corporate affairs, Toby Poston, told MPs that there is a clear need for a new national road pricing scheme to be developed as more zero emission vehicles are seen on UK roads.

“We are removing fossil fuels from the equation, so the current emissions-based tax system will see revenues plummet,” he said.

“Any new road pricing scheme must be easy to pay and have the simple objective of providing a revenue-neutral replacement for fuel duty and Vehicle Excise Duty (VED).

“It should be based on a simple ‘distance driven’ model that considers vehicle weight, emissions and use case, with discounts given to shared mobility solutions – such as car clubs, rental cars, buses and taxis – to incentivise more sustainable travel choices.”

With the sale of new internal combustion engine (ICE) cars and vans ending from 2030 and hybrids from 2035, and the Government consulting on a ban on new diesel trucks from 2040, the number of plug-in vehicle registrations is estimated to rise rapidly to around 3 million by 2025, 10 million by 2030 and 25 million by 2035.

KPMG’s Mobility 2030 team expects the already-growing sale of zero emission cars and vans to reach 98% of sales in 2031 and 27% of the parc by 2030.

Dwindling tax take from EVs

It leaves the Treasury urgently needing a plan to plug a potential £40bn shortfall from road taxes, including fuel duty.

At £28.4bn in 2019-2020 (excluding VAT), tax revenues from the fuel duty account for a significant 2% of GDP, while Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) receipts were estimated to account for £6.5bn.

Poston told the Transport Committee: “It is imperative that road pricing is considered and trialled now to ensure a smooth transition into a new system.

“Drivers and fleet operators need clarity on future taxation as they make the transition to zero emission road transport.”

The session also included representatives from RAC Foundation, the Renewable Energy Association and the Road Haulage Association. The phasing out of petrol and diesel vehicles puts around £34bn of fuel duty revenue at risk. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

The Government published its Net Zero Strategy ahead of COP26, including proposals for a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate forcing manufacturers to sell a certain proportion of electric vehicles (EVs).

The new net zero strategy aims to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) to reach a target of net zero by 2050.

It includes commitments around transport, including a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which it says will help deliver on the Government’s 2030 commitment to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, and 2035 commitment that all cars must be fully zero emissions capable.

It says that ministers will earmark a further £620 million for zero emission vehicle grants and EV infrastructure, including funding for local EV infrastructure, with a focus on local on street residential charging.

It is also allocating a further £350m of its £1 billion Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) to support the electrification of UK vehicles and their supply chains.

Furthermore, it says it will expand zero emission road freight trials to include three zero emission HGV technologies at scale on UK roads to determine their operational benefits, as well as their infrastructure needs.

“A well-designed, flexible regulatory framework could help maintain or even increase this pace to ensure we deliver on our shared decarbonisation ambitions,” Mike Hawes, SMMT

In the forward for the new strategy, the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, says: “This strategy sets out how we will make historic transitions to remove carbon from our power, retire the internal combustion engine from our vehicles and start to phase out gas boilers from our homes. But it also shows how we will do this fairly by making carbon-free alternatives cheaper.

“We will make sure what you pay for green, clean electricity is competitive with carbon-laden gas, and with most of our electricity coming from the wind farms of the North Sea or state-of-the-art British nuclear reactors we will reduce our vulnerability to sudden price rises caused by fluctuating international fossil fuel markets.”

The ZEV mandate will require a percentage of manufacturers’ new car and van sales to be zero emission each year from 2024.

ZEV mandate plans consulted on next year

The Government says it will consult on its ZEV mandate plans in early 2022. It will seek views on the design of the ZEV mandate (including uptake trajectories) and CO2 emissions regulation (as a backstop to ensure standards in the remainder of the fleet are maintained), and how and when targets will be set and enforced.

Gerry Keaney, chief executive of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), said: “This is uncharted territory for the automotive industry, and it is vital that any future ZEV mandate includes a review mechanism to assess potential market failures. The mandate must also take account of the very different uptake trajectories seen between cars and vans.”

The mandate, explains Keaney, will need to be backed up by some equally ambitious policy measures aimed at delivering EV demand.

He added: “We hope that next week’s Budget will see the Government commit to providing long-term financial support and tax incentives that will accelerate the roll-out of public and private charging infrastructure and absorb the price premium that many prospective electric vehicle users are still faced with.”  

Industry figures show more than 650,000 new plug-in cars have been registered in the UK since 2010, and more than one in seven cars sold so far in 2021 had a plug.

Furthermore, there are now 20 EV models that come with a range of more than 200 miles compared to the early Nissan Leaf models that delivered 60 miles, and battery prices are little more than a tenth of what they were in 2010.

Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said: “A well-designed, flexible regulatory framework could help maintain or even increase this pace to ensure we deliver on our shared decarbonisation ambitions.”

He continued: “To ensure we have the reliable, accessible and nationwide charge point network this transition needs, however, requires a similar regulatory approach.

“The announcement of additional funds for on-street residential charging must energise much-needed private sector investment but consumers will only have confidence in the future if there are commensurate and binding requirements on the infrastructure sector.

“Combining regulatory commitments with financial ones is the key to a successful transition to zero-emission road transport.”

Paul Willcox, managing director of Vauxhall, also welcomed the ZEV mandate plan, which he says will provide clarity to the UK motor industry.

He said: “Vauxhall believes a ZEV mandate can work in the UK provided there are complimentary targets on the other key parts of the electric vehicle ecosystem which are key to driving Britain to a more sustainable transport infrastructure.

“With our Ellesmere Port plant set to become the first electric vehicle only factory within the Stellantis group, we look forward to working with the Government on the detail of how a ZEV mandate can be implemented and help support a sustainable vehicle marketplace in the UK.”

Vauxhall has committed to only selling fully electric new cars and vans from 2028 – seven years ahead of the government’s deadline of 2035.

Additional targeted action ‘may be be required’

The Government announced it would end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030, last year.

The sale of new hybrid cars and vans that can drive a “significant distance” with no carbon coming out of the tailpipe will be allowed until 2035.

Government modelling suggests that, by 2050, total transport emissions, including international aviation and shipping, could need to drop by 76-86% compared to 2019, down to 23-40 MtCO2 e.

In the interim, it expects they could fall by 22-33% by 2030 and 46-59% by 2035, compared to 2019 levels.

These figures, it says, are based on an indicative transport sector pathway contributing to the whole-economy net zero and interim targets. Its potential pathway also indicates residual emissions from domestic transport could need to fall by around 34-45% by 2030 and 65-76% by 2035, relative to 2019 levels.

However, the net zero plan says that depending on progress in the sector, at some points additional targeted action may be be required, such as steps to reduce use of the most polluting cars and tackle urban congestion, to enable these targets to be met.

It says it will regularly review progress against its targets – publishing the next transport decarbonisation plan within five years – and continue to adapt and take further action if needed to decarbonise transport.

Iryna Kocharova head of sustainability at Lex Autolease, said: “We are pleased to hear that the Government has announced further plans to support the ambition outlined in the Transport Decarbonisation Plan. https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/latest-fleet-news/electric-fleet-news/2021/07/14/government-publishes-roadmap-to-decarbonising-transport-by-2050

“We welcome the commitment to investment in infrastructure and supply chain and would be supportive of a well-executed EV sales mandate that is carefully designed to sit alongside CO2 targets creating an overall scheme which is reasonable and proportionate.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Department for Transport proposes minimum level of charging infrastructure in car parks and inclusive design for EV chargers.

The Government is consulting on the availability and accessibility of public electric car charging infrastructure, seeking new powers to intervene in the private sector.

A new consultation launched by the Department for Transport (DfT) – and its subsidiary the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) – is part of a call for four pieces of primary legislation.

The first would grant the department new powers to set a minimum level of charging infrastructure in non-residential car parks, which landowners must adhere to. The DfT suggests one chargepoint for every 10 parking spaces would be a potential target, with cable routes for chargers in one in five spaces.

If granted these powers, the DfT says it would “not have immediate plans” to use them and would instead “continue to monitor the delivery of charging infrastructure”, using the powers only if deemed appropriate.

The Government wants similar powers obliging local authorities to plan and deliver EV future charging infrastructure plans, pointing the finger at councils that have “not yet identified what is needed” in their jurisdictions with regard to on-street chargepoints and rapid charging hubs.

New Rapid Charging Fund

The third piece of legislation relates to the new £950 million Rapid Charging Fund to finance the installation of additional or upgraded EV charging infrastructure at service stations on motorways and major A roads.

The fund covers only England, future-proofing the provision of EV charging on National Highways’ strategic road network. The Government now wants the power to require open tenders for new agreements with private firms, with a minimum of two chargepoint providers contracted at each service station, creating more competition between companies.

Finally, the Government is seeking EV drivers’ views on their experience at public chargepoints, with a view to improving accessibility for disabled motorists and making people safer when their car is charging.

The consultation is open until 11:45pm on Monday 22 November. Responses can be submitted on the DfT’s website, by email or by post. By Graham Hill thanks to Auto Express

Tech giant Apple has plans to further its phone integration with control over more of your car’s features, including air-conditioning and seat adjustment.

Apple is reportedly working on a project to further its devices’ integration with cars, extending its CarPlay interface to also control functions such as the climate control and seat adjustment for compatible vehicles.

Codenamed ‘IronHeart’, the project is in its initial stages, as reported by financial publication Bloomberg, and its development would hinge on further cooperation with car manufacturers.

However, this is a distinct possibility given the widespread adoption of Apple’s CarPlay connectivity tech since the phone-based app was launched in 2014.

It’s no secret that Apple has delved into the realm of vehicle development, with the tech giant placing a heavy focus on autonomous driving systems. This furthering of its software integration would allow Apple users to adjust their car’s climate control settings and change their seat position, for example, through their device.

It’s reported by Bloomberg that the functionality of the new system could also include inside and outside temperature and humidity readings, temperature zones and fan speed within the car, window defrost settings, as well as the speedometer and fuel gauge displays.

The tech will also reportedly build on CarPlay’s existing offering when it comes to control over a vehicle’s multimedia set-up, with more detailed adjustments to the stereo possible through equalisers and fade and balance controls.

CarPlay users currently have to switch between the Apple-based system and a vehicle’s built-in multimedia tech to adjust many settings; if Apple were to further integrate its technology this sticking point could be negated for some drivers and passengers.

Apple’s main rival Google has already branched out into the infotainment field with its Android Automotive operating system, improving the integration between users’ compatible devices and their cars; Volvo, Polestar and Renault, with its Megane E-Tech Electric, all use this interface.

A more advanced Apple-based infotainment system might also allow the development of third party apps for vehicles in time. However, it’s thought that development to this level might be met by reticence from car manufacturers, who could be reluctant to hand over control of some vital vehicle systems.  By Graham Hill thanks to Auto Express

The new airless Michelin Uptis is made from rubber and fibreglass and promises to be longer lasting, fuel-saving and recyclable.

The Uptis airless tyre has been demonstrated in public for the first time – and its maker, Michelin, says passengers in an Uptis-equipped car couldn’t tell the difference between its potentially game-changing new tech and traditional tyres.

“The Uptis is as revolutionary as the radial tyre was in the 1940s,” says Cyrille Roget, the company’s technical and scientific communication director.

“Tyres have been around for 130 years now, and we’ve never been able to find a complete solution to punctures, irregular pressure and sidewall damage.

“One of the best things was that after a few moments driving with Uptis, people didn’t realise it was any different,” he said after a recent demo in Munich. Auto Express has yet to get behind the wheel of an Uptis-equipped car to test that claim, but Roget says the advantages are difficult to ignore, while confirming Michelin is on schedule to launch the new tech in Asia in 2024.

Punctures, sidewall damage and irregular, premature wear through incorrect pressures see over 200 million tyres wasted every year. Incorrectly inflated tyres lead to countless gallons of extra fuel consumed annually, too.

The construction of the Uptis tyre uses a mix of regular rubber and a flexible, strong and light fibreglass blend, which Michelin has 50 patents for, plus “spokes” to keep its shape for the weight it’s designed to hold.

The structure then maintains the right “pressure”, which has benefits for both tyre performance and wear, as well as fuel economy. “It’s less of a burden on the consumer,” Roget added.

“You don’t have to check the pressures, you won’t be stranded at the side of the road with a puncture, and for the [car] manufacturers, they don’t have to include a spare wheel, or a jack, and there’s no need to have to have tyre pressure-monitoring systems, all of which saves a lot of weight in the vehicle.”

It’s unlikely you’ll be able to get Uptis from your local tyre fitter when it arrives over here, though. “We’re looking at the business model, and while we’re aiming at the mass market, we’re initially looking at East Asian countries, due to the poor quality of their roads, and the damage and resultant waste of conventional tyres,” said Roget.

He added that the Uptis may be sold like Michelin sells truck tyres to fleets, in kilometres rather than tyres. In time, they could be returned and re-treaded using 3D printing technology. By Graham Hill thanks to Auto Express

Everything you need to know about London’s new ULEZ charge

 ► London’s ULEZ launched 8 April 2019

► Now area within Norht and South circular

► Charge is £12.50 a day for affected cars

London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) has grown today, and now covers an area 18 times larger than before. Previously restricted to central London and the original congestion charge zone, the previous ULEZ was launched in April 2019. From 25th October, the ULEZ now covers everywhere inside the North and South circular roads (though not the roads themselves).

Transport for London estimates that 80% of cars won’t incur a charge, but there should still be an impact on the amount of pollution. ‘With the expanded scheme we will reduce the amount of carbon being emitted by more than 100 tonnes,’ Sadiq Khan, told the Today programme. ‘That’s about 60,000 vehicles being taken off the roads.’

So how much does the ULEZ charge cost, what’s it for and when do you need to pay it? Keep reading for CAR magazine’s guide to London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone.

How much is the ULEZ charge, and how big is the zone?

The Ultra Low Emission Zone has been pushed through to clean up the air quality of London, and initially it’ll only affect central London. It’s also going to be replacing the short-lived T-charge but will operate in addition to the Congestion Charge.

It rolled out on 8 April 2019, and covered the same area as the Congestion Charge – and now it covers everywhere within the North and South circular.

And below is the sign you’re going to start to seeing as you drive into central London, signalling that you’re approaching the ULEZ. However, you can check before you set of, using this tool which shows which postcodes are affected here.

What time of day does the ULEZ operate?

Unlike the Congestion Charge, there is no operating time for the ULEZ charge; if you enter at any time of the day or night, you’ll have to pay. After all, this is about stopping emissions, not traffic at peak hours.

More bad news: the charge is calculated per calendar day, so if you drive in to the ULEZ area at 11pm at night and then drive out at 2.30am the following morning, you’ll have to pay the charge twice. Sour!

How much will the ULEZ cost, and how do you pay it?

If your vehicle is affected, you’ll have to pay an extra £12.50, and if you’re using a larger vehicle (like a lorry over 3.5 tonnes or a coach over 5 tonnes), it’ll cost an extra £100 per day. Like the congestion charge, you can pay online, and even in advance.

Remember, this is in addition to the London Congestion Charge, so if you’re going through during the Congestion Charge’s operating time, too, you’ll have to pay both tolls. There are discounts available. The TFL website states that ‘residents who are registered for the residents’ Congestion Charge discount will get a 100% ULEZ discount until 24 October 2021′. Instead, ‘residents will continue to pay the T-Charge at a discounted rate of 90%, during this ULEZ resident sunset period.’

What’s the fine if you don’t pay the ULEZ?

Don’t pay the ULEZ charge, and you’ll be presented a £160 fine, though that halves to £80 if you pay quickly.

How to check if your vehicle is affected

ULEZ charges are calculated on the emissions a vehicle produces rather than the car’s age, and the minium emission standards for petrol and diesel cars are below:

• Petrol: Euro 4
• Diesel: Euro 6

If your car fails to meet those standards, you’re going to pay the charge, so this will only affect older cars. According to the TFL’s website, most petrols registered after 2005 will pass the Euro 4 protocols, although some cars from 2001 onwards may also be okay. In terms of diesels, most vehicles bought after September 2015 will generally pass the ULEZ standard.

What about classic cars?

If you’re a classic car owner there’s some better news. Cars built more than 40 years ago (those exempt from VED road tax) will also be exempt from the ULEZ charge. So anything made before 1 January 1981 qualifying for historic vehicle tax will be exempt from the new ULEZ charge.

Be aware, that historic vehicle tax doesn’t include commercial vehicles though. By Graham Hill thanks to Car Magazine

One of the drawbacks to taking out a lease through a broker like me, if you have a car that you would normally part exchange, is that we don’t take part exchanges. However, with so many companies wanting to buy your car now is a great time to consider the alternatives and return more than you would receive from a dealer in part exchange.

In my forthcoming book, Love Cars! Hate The Finance? I explain that one of the worst on-line buyers was webuyanycar.com. However, since the owners of webuyanycar.com – British Car Auctions set up Cinch a corner has been turned. Initially, cars bought by webuyanycar would be auctioned which gave them an advantage as of course they didn’t incur auction costs.

Once they had the opportunity to retail cars through Cinch they were able to offer more for good quality cars that could be sold via the Cinch platform. But you shouldn’t stop there. Thanks to Autocar we have 9 options that you can use to sell your car if you are moving into a lease.

Getting shot of your car can be a pain in the bottom end, especially if it doesn’t sell straight away. We offer some suggestions beyond the classified ad and trade-in.

 As this is written (September 2021), right now, the car on your driveway is like a pot of gold. That’s how valuable used cars are. Well, the right sort of used cars at any rate – nearly new, sporty or niche, Euro 6 diesels, tidy SUVs…

A few reasons: microchip shortages are delaying deliveries of new cars, so forcing buyers to consider buying nearly new instead, fewer new cars were sold last year so there are fewer part-exchanges knocking around and people, forced to hunker down during covid, have more cash to spend on treats like a change of car.

Making a ton of money on your old car is one reason you might want to sell it but there are plenty of others including a change in your circumstances, it’s costing more to maintain or you simply want to upgrade. The question is, how can you do it? In no particular order, here are nine suggestions:

Part-exchange it

People become so focused on buying their next car that they forget they’re selling one, too. It’s called their part-exchange and it has a value not only to you but to the dealer buying it. They can make money on it and, if it’s a popular model such as we described above, a lot of money – so make them sweat for it.

Before you turn up at the dealership, make sure you know what your car is worth. You can get an online valuation or one from a company that buys used cars (see below). However, such valuations are often behind the times or on the low side. Instead, we’d run the car past online third-party car buyers such as Wizzle and Motorway that put your car in front of dealers who compete to buy it, rather like an auction. Doing this, you’ll get a more realistic, competitive and up-to-date valuation.

So armed, you’ll know if the dealer is making you a fair offer. Depending on how they work, they’ll either give you a discount on the new car and the lowest price for your old one or no discount and a good price for your old car. As long as you know the market value of your car and keep your eye on the cost to change from your old car to the new one, however they construct the deal, you’ll know whether you’re being treated fairly or not.

Sell it to a cash-for-car company

We’ve all heard the stories about companies offering an enticing online price for your car before reducing it substantially after inspecting it in person. Back in 2017, we tested a couple of them, using a 2012-reg Peugeot 107 Allure with 49,000 miles on the clock, which we declared to be in average condition (light scratches and kerbed wheels). For reference, we checked its value with a leading trade guide. It suggested £2325.

We Buy Any Car offered £2185 before, on inspection, revising its offer to £1706. Its rival, We Want Any Car, initially offered £2190 but, on seeing pictures of the car, adjusted its offer to £2070.

A spokesman for We Buy Any Car said: “The company guarantees to give the price quoted on the website if the vehicle is as described but, if issues come to light on inspection, then the price needs to be adjusted. The price offered by different [online] buyers will vary and so we recommend motorists shop around to get the best price.”

In fairness to WBAC and its rivals, we should add that all such companies have had to raise their offers in response to today’s market conditions where prices of good used cars have risen rather than fallen. We should also point out that while there’s no charge to you, you may be charged for the company’s transfer of funds to your bank account.

Sell it via a third-party car buyer

It sounds dubious but a third-party car buyer is only like We Buy Any Car and its rivals expect that rather than buying your car, it offers it to traders who buy it instead. You upload pictures of your vehicle to its website complete with a detailed description and the company then presents it to traders who subscribe to its service.

Before the sale, the company will tell you what, based on recent sales, it thinks your car is worth. Based on this figure, you set a reserve price below which you won’t go and then sit back and wait for the best offer. It’s like an auction with only those traders who are interested in your car, bidding to buy it. There’s no cost to you – even the transfer of funds is free.

Companies providing this service include Wizzle and Motorway. Using the latter, this writer achieved just £600 less for his Mazda MX-5 than he bought it for two and a half years and 18,000 miles before.

Auction it

Third-party car buyers are like auctions but here we’re talking about the real things. Of course, to suggest you sell your car at an auction sounds little better than feeding it to the lions but, if you’re canny about it, you might get a decent price. By canny, we mean choosing not only the auction house carefully but also the sale itself.

For example, if your car is young with a lot of value in it or an in-demand premium or sports model, you should pick a sale where cars like it are also being offered. This way, you stand a better chance of it being seen by buyers interested in such cars and with a market for them.

A key thing to note is that since lockdown, the major auctions in particular have moved to online sales only and also barred private bidders, so before you get too excited about a car, check you’ll be allowed to bid for it.

Meanwhile, Tom Luik, owner of Cannock Motor Auctions, operates weekly sales of cars typically aged between four and 10 years old and he says there’s always a good number of buyers. The challenge is to get sellers to set sensible reserves (the lowest price they’re prepared to accept).

“Nine out of 10 times, our estimate for what the car will go for is accurate but some sellers don’t believe us,” he says. “They’ll end up offering the car several times but, at the fourth attempt, we insist they offer it without a reserve. No one wants to see the same car going through an auction again and again. It puts buyers off.” cannockmotorauctions.co.uk

Sell it to the trade

Selling your car to the motor trade seems little better than selling it at auction with the extra disincentive that no one else is competing with them to buy it. But choosing a dealer that specialises in your kind of car could net you a decent price and as we explained earlier, they are desperate for the right kind of stock – any stock. After all, you’ve saved them the trouble of buying it at auction and they can test it and quiz you all about it. However, do make sure you’ve researched your car’s value first.

Offer it for sale or return

If you have the time and can afford to do it, another way to sell your car is to leave it with a dealer who specialises in your particular model or type of vehicle.

They’ll stock it for an agreed period and take a cut of the sale price for selling it. They’re more likely to be interested in this kind of deal if your car is a bit special in some way and so likely to attract attention.

Scrap it

There are some salvage companies that not only buy scrap cars for around £120 at current prices but also buy cheap runners (cars in good condition with an MOT) for more. Car Take Back (CTB) is backed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. It was formed 15 years ago when end-of-life vehicle regulations, which govern the disposal and recycling of cars, came into force. It works with 300 authorised treatment facilities (ATFs) licensed to handle scrap cars.

You enter your car’s details on the CTB website and await an offer. Don’t hold your breath, though. For a 2018-reg Mazda MX-5, CTB offered £1236. On the other hand, for a 1998-reg Nissan Micra with 160,000 miles we found being advertised by a dealer for £199, the company bid £81. It’s not much but, if you just wanted a car off your hands without paying for advertising, it’s worth considering.

Give it to charity

For many, this might be the disposal method of last resort but at least the car’s cash value goes to a good cause. Give A Car, founded in 2012, is one of the leading operators in this field. All of the cars it receives are either scrapped or sold at auction. It processes around 150 cars each month.

Many of them are cheap, but it claims 30% are runners and occasionally it receives higher-value vehicles. For example, it was once given an Austin-Healey that was subsequently auctioned for £17,000. When you donate your car, you choose which charity you want the proceeds to go to.

The non-profit enterprise takes a cut of the car’s disposal price to pay its running costs. On cars that sell for less than £150, this figure is 30% including VAT, and on cars that sell for more, it’s 35%. This fee is applied after the auction or scrap company that disposes of the car has charged Give A Car for its collection and processing, a figure that’s typically around £120. (This charge isn’t imposed on cars costing less than £150.) It means that on a car that sells for £1000, £308 including VAT goes to Give A Car and £572 to the charity.giveacar.co.uk

Advertise it on social media

As with most other aspects of life, social media can also offer a sales route. Facebook Marketplace is a common route, but even TikTok and Twitter can be useful to reach an audience. Some even go viral, although always be prepared for how your video might be received: a US car dealer posted about using colour coat spray to cover seat stains, only to receive a huge backlash. 

By Graham Hill thanks to Autocar

Familiar old activities have been joined by some scary new ones.

It’s come to something when not even Ethan Hunt, fictional hero of movie franchise Mission Impossible, can prevent his BMW X7 from being stolen. That’s what happened one night in August when Tom Cruise’s SUV was pinched from outside the Grand Hotel in central Birmingham, where he had been staying.

The car, which was equipped with a tracking device, was recovered three miles away a short time later. CCTV footage showed three people leaving it with a bag containing some of its contents.

The actor was reportedly furious about the incident, and we British motorists should be concerned too. At the time, a relay attack, where the car’s electronic security is fooled into believing the key fob is present, was the favoured explanation.

However, weeks later, the police don’t know exactly how it was stolen, only that its electronics were compromised.

The incident appears to show that for all their sophistication, today’s cars are seemingly as easy to steal as their forebears were in the 1990s, when more than 300,000 were pinched each year in England and Wales.

In 2020, ‘only’ 89,000 cars were stolen, 24,000 down on 2019 – a fall credited to fewer journeys being undertaken during the lockdowns, as well as to improved vehicle security, heightened public awareness and more effective policing. For example, West Midlands Police says that it has identified and closed down more than 100 chop shops – where stolen cars are broken for parts by organised gangs – in the past 18 months.

That’s the good news, but the bad news is that last year’s figure is still 20,000 higher than that from 2013. Indeed, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) recently reported a 3.1% year-on-year rise in vehicle crime between May and June.

It’s a confusing picture, but not as confusing as the methods criminals employ to steal, and steal from, cars. Here, we survey the state of affairs…

Thefts of and from vehicles: the numbers

85% of thefts happen during the night, and 39% happen on the owner’s home street

72% of stolen vehicles are never returned to owner

30% of stolen vehicles are written off

The entry method in 44% of thefts is opening unlocked doors, with 36% being by manipulation of a remote-locking signal

39% of items stolen from vehicles are valuables

37% of stolen vehicles are more than one year old but less than five years old

The most commonly reported emotional impact of vehicle-related theft is annoyance, at 76%

Figures courtesy of the Office for National Statistics, from Crime Survey for England and Wales, April 2019 to March 2020

Electronic compromise is the term for gaining control of a vehicle by hacking into its electronic systems. Relay attack is one of the best-known methods: a criminal holds a device against the door of the car, amplifying the security signal that the vehicle transmits.

Another stands near the owner’s home with a device that relays a pairing signal from the vehicle owner’s key to the accomplice, who then opens the car’s door and starts the engine. Relay attacks often take place on a vehicle owner’s driveway.

In a disturbing twist, it appears that some crooks are now disabling home owners’ wi-fi to prevent doorbell video footage being captured as evidence.

The NPCC says that relay attacks accounted for a large share of the increase in vehicle crime during May and June 2021. How large can be gauged by the fact that in 2020, 93% of the vehicles recorded as stolen by Tracker, a vehicle tracking company, were taken as a result of a relay attack.

Thankfully, car makers are fighting back. In 2019, Ford introduced ‘sleeping key fobs’, which become deactivated when not in use, on the Fiesta and Focus, and earlier this year extended the technology to the Kuga and Puma. These can’t be activated by a relay device. Since their introduction, Fiesta thefts have fallen by two-thirds.

Other forms of electronic compromise include having an additional key programmed to the vehicle, manipulating the car’s electronics via the on-board diagnostics port and swapping out the vehicle’s engine control unit. Many of the devices that thieves use are available to buy online.

Pleasingly, there’s little honour among criminals, as a security source explained: “A contact told us that he broke into a new Range Rover with a system that he had purchased for £12,000.

It enabled him to get into the vehicle, but it didn’t have the promised firmware that would allow him to start it. He’s now worried that if he returns the device for the update, he might not get it back.”

Have your car’s windows etched with its registration and VIN.

Park in a well-lit place and, if on your driveway, facing your house so that the thief will have to reverse the car.

If your car has keyless entry, check if you can disable the system; and if not, if a software update is available enabling you to.

Block the key signal by storing it in a Faraday pouch or a tin lined with metallic foil.

Fit an ECU security cradle.

Have your car’s security system updated to accept only two keys.

Fit a mechanical lock, such as a gearstick or steering-wheel lock.

Catalytic converter theft

If you think relay attacks on driveways are audacious, catalytic converter thefts are in another league. Many are done in broad daylight by the roadside and even in supermarket car parks.

The thieves are after the precious metals that the converters contain and which, having passed through various hands, fetch astronomical sums on the open market.

According to figures obtained from police forces in England and Wales by the BBC, 13,000 converters were recorded stolen in 2019, compared with 2000 the year before.

Last April, Ageas, one of the UK’s biggest car insurers, reported a steep rise in converter thefts during lockdown, stating they accounted for around a third of all theft claims (before lockdown, it was a fifth).

However, good news may be on the horizon. Converter thefts peaked this March, with 3245 recorded. The next month, the British Transport Police co-ordinated a multi-agency operation to tackle the problem. More than 1000 stolen converters were recovered and more than 50 people were arrested. Since then, thefts have declined steadily, with only 1378 recorded in July.

The NPCC credits improved liaison between forces for the reduction, as well as a new national database of stolen converters marked with an invisible special formula that contains a unique reference code. Developed by Smartwater Group, the high- temperature-resistant product can be applied to the converter when the vehicle is in a workshop for servicing or an MOT test.

 “On its own, marking a converter won’t prevent its theft,” says Mark Silvester, a West Midlands Police crime prevention manager. “However, when, for example, we find converters in chop shops or in the back of a car, the unique codes identify them as stolen, identify their owners and help us to build a trail that can lead to convictions and discourage further thefts.”

Stay safe

Park your car in your garage or else in such a way that it’s hard to access its converter (for example, parked tightly between other cars).

Fit a Thatcham-approved alarm with a tilt function that senses vehicle movement.

Fit a security device such as a Catloc or Catclamp.

Have your converter watermarked and advertise this fact on the car’s window.

Although thieves will operate in daylight, try to park your car in a well-lit area that’s overlooked.

Key theft

According to Neil Thomas, director of investigative services at AX Innovation, a fleet management company, you’re unlikely to have your car key stolen from your house. “Many criminals who steal cars to order are reluctant to enter their victim’s home,” he says. “Such crooks call themselves twoccers, which stands for taking without consent, and don’t regard themselves as burglars.” That’s a comfort, then. Even so, it does happen. Indeed, one of Thomas’s neighbours woke up recently to finda thief standing on his landing, demanding his car keys…

Mark Silvester says that programming a key fob to unlock and start a car is another method of attack: “The equipment is freely available but, generally speaking, most vehicle ECUs won’t accept more than three keys being assigned to the car. Ask your main dealer to update the car’s ECU such that it won’t recognise a third key.”

Stay Safe

Leave your car key downstairs. Better it’s seen than the burglar coming to you to get it.

Have your car’s ECU updated to recognise only two keys.

Views from a victim

Two years ago, David (not his real name) was confronted in his home by a gang demanding the keys to his BMW. “It was one o’clock in the morning,” he says. “As I opened the bedroom door, I was confronted by three people wearing balaclavas.”

David handed over the keys and in a few seconds his car and the gang had gone. “The police arrived in minutes and tracked my X5 hitting the ANPR cameras as it went up the M6 before it vanished. I never got it back.”

David says the experience has had a huge emotional impact on him and made him more risk-averse and security-conscious. “People should check the layers of deterrent they have,” he says. “For example, when I see cars pointing out of a driveway, I think how stealable that is. You have to think like a thief.”

Carjacking

You might think carjacking is something that happens only in other countries, but three years ago in Birmingham, a motorist who stopped his car to move wheelie bins blocking his path wasset on by baton-wielding thugs who forced him out of the vehicle before taking it. It was one of a series of carjackings that occurred in or near the city the same year.

Other techniques the criminals used included waiting near the victim’s house to attack them and grab their keys; and encouraging victims to stop their car by pretending to be broken down, bumping their car from behind or flashing their headlights.

In a concerted effort to quash the city’s carjacking epidemic, the police made 600 arrests in just a few weeks.

Stay Safe

Be suspicious of anything blocking your path, headlights flashing you to stop or groups of people lingering nearby.

Reverse into a parking space so you can leave easily and quickly, as well as see who is around you.

Change your parking place regularly.

Have your keys to hand so that you can quickly enter the vehicle and lock it from the inside.

Make sure you unlock only the driver’s door.

Always lock the car when, for example, paying for fuel.

Always allow sufficient space between you and the car in front so that you can pull away quickly.

Theft of belongings

In the league table of vehicle crime, theft from a car is still number one. In the past, it occurred because cars were easy to break into or windows were left open, but today it can be because the car is simply unlocked. “Check your fob has done its job,” says Mark Silvester.

“Not all cars signal that they’re locked or unlocked. It can be hard to check, too, because, depending on the model, it may unlock as you pull the handle. Mirrors that fold in and indicators that flash are a good indication that a car is locked.” Meanwhile, the old advice about not leaving valuables on view remains as valid as ever: “A lot of car crime is opportunistic. Leaving valuables on display is an open invitation.”

Stay safe

When locking your car, make sure by checking that the indicators flash or that the door mirrors have folded in.

Ensure the windows are closed.

Keep valuables including portable sat-navs out of sight.

Park in a well-lit, overlooked or busy area.

By Graham Hill thanks to Autocar