Finding your perfect car can be a tough process; the most important thing to bear in mind is your budget. After all, your choice of car will be limited to what you can afford. Secondly, what will you be using your car for? If you take the motorway to work and back, you’ll perhaps want to consider a motor that does more miles to the gallon. You’ll do wise to consult the web for the top most economical cars.

There’s also the fuel type to consider; generally if you do fewer than 12,000 miles a year, a petrol engine is recommended. Diesel cars cost more to buy, and you’ll need to cover quite a lot of miles to make up the difference in fuel savings.

Does it matter to you whether you go for a used car, or would you prefer to buy a brand new model fresh out of the showroom? Buying a new car means you’ll benefit from the peace of mind of a manufacturer’s warranty, which should last for at least three years. That said, used cars will almost always be cheaper, plus their previous owners are likely to have taken the initial hit of depreciation, so you won’t have to! Why not take a wander down to your local approved used car dealer?

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We are all guilty of growing attached to our cars, and it can be a sad experience trading it in for a new one – so here’s some sure-fire tips on how you can prolong the life of your beloved motor and keep it in tiptop condition!
Driving smoother and less aggressively will reduce wear and save miles per tankful. Smooth inputs through the steering wheel, gearbox and pedals are also vital factors, along with keeping your eye on the bigger picture when driving to reduce the need for sudden braking.
Keep your car clean to prevent grit, grime and rust. Use correct cleaning solutions that do not contain aggressive chemicals that can damage the paintwork.
Have your car serviced regularly – check your vehicle handbook to know when your car is due a service and what work may be required.
Check your tyres’ inflation and tread once a week; they are your car’s most important safety feature. Under-inflated tyres will increase fuel consumption.
Make sure your vehicle’s fluids are topped up on a regular basis. Failure to do so may have calamitous consequences. Check your oil level once a fortnight by lifting the bonnet and removing the dipstick. Dark, dirty oil should be replaced.
When topping up your coolant reservoir and windscreen washer bottle, use 50% distilled water and 50% antifreeze. Do not use washing-up liquid as it contains salt and other nasty additives that will damage your car’s paintwork.
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Number plates (also known as licence or registration plates) should show your vehicle registration number correctly. You should always ensure that your number plate is clean so that it can be read clearly not covered in dirt or exhaust. Damaged registration plates that cannot be read can result in being pulled over by the police and a failed MOT.

The current vehicle registration plate format was introduced in 2001. It consists of 2 letters, referring to the region in the country where your vehicle was first registered, followed by 2 numbers which tell you when the vehicle was issued, then 3 letters chosen at random.

It is possible to get theft-resistant number plates, which are designed to make it harder for someone to remove them from your vehicle and reuse them. For more information ask your local car dealer or registered number plate supplier about theft-resistant plates.

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Would you have a personalised registration plate? If not, what are your thoughts on people who do? With countless types of number plates available for all kinds of individuals, it has become something of a trend to have a customised plate on your vehicle.

Rather than having a plate that matches their name, a lot of drivers now prefer to have something relative to their job or hobbies and interests; for example “K9” if they work with dogs, “CH1PPY” if they run a fish and chip shop or “G4MER” if they love gaming in their spare time! Motorsport enthusiasts might be drawn to the assortment of F1 plates currently available and darts players or fans may find the number 180 to be of relevance.

There are literally millions of personal plates and private registrations to choose from but also many laws and procedures that must be complied with.

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A young businessman has been caught breaking the speed limit and driving without due care and attention. Supercar-loving millionaire ‘Lord Aleem’ was banned from driving for 12 months after being convicted of motoring offences in his Rolls-Royce Wraith.

22-year old Aleem Iqbal, who has flaunted his array of luxury motors on social media, was caught exceeding the 70mph motorway speed limit and driving without due care and attention.

The Solihull entrepreneur committed the offences on the M40/M42 northbound at Tamworth-in-Arden in Warwickshire on 12^th May 2017. He then failed to show up before the magistrates at Warwick Combined Court in Leamington the following Tuesday morning.

Need we remind all drivers that no matter who they are, speeding can not only result in hefty fines and a possible driving ban but also puts your life and the lives of others at risk.

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According to RAC Research, nearly one in four drivers in Britain still make or receive calls while driving – despite the doubling of penalties for the offence in March 2017, increased to six points and a £200 fine. Furthermore, using your mobile phone when driving is a major distraction that could cause a major accident!

Although the figure has fallen since, 23% of more than 1,700 drivers who were questioned admitted illegally making or receiving calls when behind the wheel.

The survey also implies that 40% of people text, check their emails and go on social media while sitting in traffic – even though they know full well that it is against the law.

The motoring group has branded the issue an “epidemic”. Only one in 10 drivers reported that they were unaware of the harsher penalties for being caught when using their phone while driving.

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Driving in windy weather can present all kinds of hazards. It’s vital that you take precautions before getting behind the wheel on a windy day to keep you and your passengers safe.

Firstly ask yourself – is your journey really necessary? Listen to the news to keep up to date with road closures to avoid getting stuck in traffic that will cause delays to your journey. Only travel if there is no other option.

High winds can get under your car and affect your control, brought on by strong, sudden gusts that can take you by surprise. Driving slower will help you anticipate these gusts and reduce impact. Also having a firm grip on the steering wheel helps you maintain full control. If conditions become too extreme then pull over when safe and legal to do so.

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Engine idling is when you leave your engine running while your vehicle is stationary. People often do this when stuck in traffic jams, or waiting to pick someone up for a lift. Engine idling is bad for the environment; car fumes contain a number of harmful gasses including carbon dioxide, which can contribute towards climate change, not to mention other harmful gasses such as nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons that are linked to asthma and other lung diseases.

Rule 123 of The Highway Code states that drivers must never leave their vehicle unattended with the engine running, or leave the ignition running unnecessarily while their vehicle is stationary on a public road.

The police have the authority to issue £20 fixed penalties for emission offences and engine idling under The Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (England) Regulations 2002. Such penalties are imposed only if a person refuses to switch off their engine when asked to do so by a police officer.

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It is approaching the time of year when a great many of us will be driving to and from work in the dark. For this reason it is important to check that your lights are working properly and used when appropriate!

Obviously we use our headlights when driving in the dark in order to see clearly where we are going, and to ensure that we can be seen by other motorists. At the same time it is important (not to mention courteous) not to dazzle other road users by incorrectly using full beams. Headlight should be dipped when driving through built-up areas or when you are driving behind or approaching other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders. If you’re driving under 30mph in a well-lit area it is not illegal to use your sidelights but you will do better to use dipped headlights for best possible visibility.

When driving on rural roads, have your full beams on whenever possible but immediately dip your lights whenever another road user approaches to avoid dazzling them. If you’re on the receiving end of full beams, avoid looking at the headlights of the oncoming vehicle, keep your attention on the left-hand kerb and be sure to keep your speed steady.

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It is your responsibility to inform the DVLA if you’re unable to drive for more than 3 months because of an injury. Failure to do so could result in you being fined up to £1,000. Furthermore, you could be prosecuted if you cause an accident as a result of driving with an injury.

You should not drive if you are wearing a splint, cast, brace or boot that limits joint mobility. A cast on your arm will make it impossible to drive a manual vehicle, as you need to be able to control the vehicle while keeping one hand on the steering wheel. If you’ve a broken a leg or foot you will not be able to drive a manual or automatic vehicle until the injury is fully recovered and you are able to flex the affected joint with ease.

Your doctor should advise you whether or not operating a vehicle is safe, but they cannot make a legal determination of when it is safe for you to drive again…

Safe driving from Britannia!