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More and more manufacturers are embracing the new stop-start technology in an effort to reduce car emissions to meet the targets set by the EU if they are to avoid some hefty fines. “But how does stop-start work Graham?” I hear you all shouting at your computer screen. In fact I can’t hear you shouting, I’m imagining it. In fact you may not even give a monkey’s banana but you’re going to be told anyway! Let’s take Read more �

As you are probably aware the VAT rate will increase back to 17.5% on the 1^st January 2010 with further rises expected as we move out of recession. Some pundits are already predicting a rise in rate to 20%. We will start to see interest rates shift upwards and car prices will continue to rise making this year a good time to take out a PCP if you are thinking of this form of finance. Mercedes have seen this Read more �

We have a unique and totally different method of leasing in the UK compared to the US and to make matters worse few people in the UK actually understand how it works. On numerous occasions I’ve had conversations with customers who have explained to me they have negotiated a great deal with a dealer and could I work out a lease for them based on their negotiated price. The problem is that this isn’t Read more �

Over the last few months we have seen a great deal of activity in dealerships offering a greater variety of finance products to customers. Manufacturer provided finance facilities are offered through ‘captives’ that are either funded by the manufacturer or through a major finance provider. The funder provides the facilities on documents printed in the name of the manufacturer. As a result of increased competitiveness Read more �

Fraud, miss-selling and malpractice cases have been on the increase during the recession causing a serious re-think about the regulation of the motor finance industry. In the meantime brokers are strongly advised to provide warnings to customers about the dangers of signing a legally binding contract without reading and understanding the terms and naively basing the decision to take finance on rate or APR alone. I Read more �

New rules will be introduced next year to speed up insurance payouts following car accidents where liability is accepted. The Ministry of Justice said the agreement will streamline road traffic accident personal injury claims between £1,000 and £10,000 – around 80% of all motor personal injury claims. The new process comes into force in April 2010. It means, where fault is not disputed, Read more �

It wasn’t that long ago when you could return a car at the end of a lease in pretty average condition and the leasing company would overlook anything other than serious damage. These days they send out specialist inspectors to check over the car and seem to charge for anything that doesn’t conform to showroom condition, in one case they counted the number of stone chips on the bonnet and argued that there were Read more �

If you drive a car and thought you were being singled out in the past to pay off the National Debt single handed through all the various stealth taxes, you aint seen nuthin yet as the saying goes. As local authorities form a disorderly queue behind Nottingham, the first to announce at work parking, to put forward their own schemes for Government approval, others are looking at ways to Read more �

I was recently in a meeting when someone announced the fact that as we emerge from the recession there will be a lot of ‘positive negative’ news about. I instantly thought of him as funny farm fodder and expected him to be carted off at any moment by men in white coats forcing him into one of those tailored jackets whose sleeves tie up at the back. Positive negative news indeed, what a nutter, Read more �

A report out this week shows a drop in leased vehicles of 10% this year. The reasons are fairly obvious with larger companies making redundancies and having to make better use of resources, fewer vehicles are now required.. One van can now do the job of two and one salesman can cover a larger area as a result of decreases in sales and customers. Having said that Read more �