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According to figures released by Warranty Direct, labour rates for mechanics have risen by 11.3% since the summer of 2006 to an average £75.17 per hour. Rates have increased sharpest by the independent garages to narrow the gap between them and the more expensive franchised dealer networks. The average franchised dealer is charging £95 an hour today compared with £88 in 2006, up 7.7%. In comparison Read more »

Next year should see an upsurge in contract hire sales as the new tax rules kick in. Professor Peter Cooke of the Centre of Automotive Management at the University of Buckingham (and one of my fellow contributors in Motor Finance journal) warned that the tax changes, to be introduced next year, will have a profound impact on the way that businesses fund their cars. Next year will see Read more »

Having been the first to break the news that the takeover of HBOS by Lloyds TSB would also result in the amalgamation of the two contract hire giants Lex and Autolease many are now reviewing what this could mean to the industry. Whilst the takeover still has to be approved by the FSA and needs shareholder approval both MD’s have said that in the meantime it is business as usual. As both companies are Read more »

A recent conference sponsored by leasing company Lex suggested that drivers and all businesses should consider ways of saving money. They concluded, as I have already suggested, that finance is one important area of consideration along with vehicle choice, emissions limits, fuel policies and for fleets even drink and drugs policies. Nothing very new there then but the interesting debate was over fuel choice. The proposal was that diesel Read more »

Well just as we started to rejoice in the steady fall in oil prices and the price war that started last week between the oil companies and the supermarket chains we suddenly saw a massive increase in the price of  crude oil of $25 a barrel on Monday. Now whilst there was an element of manipulation on the markets protecting traders on the futures market from over exposure it has still sent jitters throughout the car industry and concerned drivers (who heard about the rise). Strangely, this massive increase in Read more »

Tyresafe have launched a digitally animated guide to tyre safety on it’s website to help motorists avoid problems associated with poorly maintained or neglected tyres. Visit http://www.tyresafe.org/videos/ to see the presentations. They are really good, click on each link to watch each short video. Did you know that it isn’t the rubber on the road that keeps you safe but the air in the tyre? You need to watch the videos. By Graham Hill

As we all know it is quite normal for grey clouds to have a silver lining. I am busier than normal as consumers and small businesses look for ways to reduce their vehicle costs as we move closer to recession. For reasons mentioned previously leasing is a great option when times get hard but as fuel prices remain high we are seeing emptier roads. People are taking fewer trips in their cars in order to save fuel although Read more »

Autoglass has warned that many replacement windscreens could have been avoided if drivers acted more quickly when their screens suffered a chip as chips will nearly always become a crack. A straight forward chip repair takes about 20 minutes compared to nearly 2 hours for a replacement screen. The cost of windscreen replacement is rising rapidly due to the complexity of the glass used and the skill and Read more »

Warnings have been issued by the AA about the increase in theft of Catalytic Converters due to the sharp increase in scrap value of the precious metals housed in the units, platinum, palladium and rhodium. It is estimated that a stolen cat is worth about £150 in scrap value. Cars particularly at risk are 4WD cars and vans with a high ground clearance making it easier for thieves to saw off the cats. They warned that drivers of vulnerable vehicles should protect their insurance no claims discount as a claim could end up costing the driver £000’s. By Graham Hill

Hertz have announced their entry into the Car Club market as companies and consumers look at ways to reduce their car costs both throughout Europe and in the US. Locations are being selected throughout the UK and they expect to launch later in the year. Following existing models that are working they are expected to charge a monthly membership then the use of the car by the hour. The expectation is Read more »