The average cost of car insurance has risen by £338 in the last year with premiums soaring by £148 in the last three months alone.

It means that an average premium now stands at £924, with those in inner London forking out £1,503 on average – making it the most expensive area for drivers to get their cars insured. In Outer London, prices have risen by £446 in a year, increasing up to £1,187 on average.

Outside of the capital, drivers in Manchester and Merseyside are putting up with an annual increase of around £417, with average premiums now standing at £1,154. In the West Midlands, the cost of car insurance now stands at an average of £1,139 – or up £442 on the year prior.

Younger drivers continue to struggle under high insurance premiums, with those aged 21 and under now seeing average costs of over £2,000, according to Confused.com’s car insurance price index, which compared over six million quotes.

Louise Thomas, motor expert at Confused.com car insurance, said: “For another consecutive quarter, we’ve seen some of the highest inflation rates when it comes to car insurance.

“With prices up on average £148 (19 per cent) in just 3 months, and £338 (58 per cent) in 12 months, drivers are likely to be paying more than ever. So those who haven’t yet been affected should be wary of how pricing may affect them at their next renewal.”

However, those aged over 30 are still having to pay increasing amounts for cover, with drivers up to the age of 38 not paying less than £1,000 for their car insurance on average.

“But there are deals around and drivers can still save money, even if they’ve noticed their renewal has gone up. And in a time of financial uncertainty, this can be really helpful if you’re needing to watch your money more closely than before. So if you’re due to renew, consider ways in which you can keep costs down.”

The average price of the UK’s most popular used cars fell by 1.4 per cent in the third quarter of 2023.

Analysis by AA Cars shows that despite the fall, average prices for the most searched-for cars remain 3.4 per cent higher than last year. The average price of the ‘most popular cars’ stands at £16,736 through July, August and September, contrasting the average price of £16,182 from a year prior.

It does, however, represent a decrease compared with the £16,965 average price recorded during April, May and June of this year.

The Mercedes C-Class saw the largest annual fall in price, dropping by 10.36 per cent to £19,225 from £21,424. In contrast, prices for the Kia Sportage increased by 13.9 per cent to £19,267 from £16,913 a year ago.

Prices for the Ford Fiesta – which has now been discontinued – fell on a quarterly basis but still remained higher than a year ago. The average price for the compact model now stands at £11,148, up from £10,851 a year ago.

Mark Oakley, director of AA Cars, said: “The average price of the UK’s most popular used cars continues to fall.

“Although prices on average are still higher than last year, this is not the case for every model and there are some great deals available for drivers prioritising good value for money.

“For drivers considering a greener car, this might be a good time to start looking. Ever greater numbers of EVs and hybrids are entering the second-hand market each month, boosting supply and choice and pushing down prices. Switching to a green vehicle can be a great way to future-proof yourself as more cities roll-out or expand clean air zones, not to mention saving on fuel bills.”

Prices for the 20 most popular electric vehicles and hybrids fell by seven per cent between the second and third quarters of 2023, with the average price for the most popular models listed by AA Cars standing at £19,932, down from £22,021 in the previous quarter. The fall in EV prices comes despite the demand for used battery-powered models soaring, with SMMT data showing that sales are up 81.8 per cent compared with a year ago.

Mike Brewer, the star of television’s Wheeler Dealers series, has opened up about the numerous death threats and ‘tirade of abuse’ he has received online.

Brewer, who is celebrating 20 years of Wheeler Dealers this year, explained in a Car Dealer Magazine video: “I’ve had death threats. Regularly, people threaten to rape my wife and daughter and murder me. People say they’re outside my house. I’ve actually had people at my gate.

“I wake up every day to a tirade of abuse. It happens every single day.”

Wheeler Dealers has now entered its 21st season, reaching 200 million-plus people worldwide. However, this success has been tempered by a lot of online hate.

“When you’ve got a global show that reaches more than 200m people, you’re gonna have a tiny percentage of those people take umbrage at the fact that you’re successful,’ said the 59-year-old.

“People take umbrage at that and get jealous of it. So they revert to social media and tell me what they think of me, and the abuse does hurt.

“It does affect me, and it affects my mental health. But fortunately, I’ve got a really strong family and a very strong, loving wife. And I’ve got a great team of people around me that know simply what you read online isn’t true.”

He added: “I struggle. Personally, I may drink a bit too much to try and numb the pain. And that manifests itself in weight. And then that manifests itself in people just being abusive and cruel about size online. But it’s a vicious circle. And unfortunately, this is the world we live in.”

The new season of Wheeler Dealers starts on Discovery Plus on Friday, October 6, and Brewer touched upon some of the early days of the hit series.

“When we started to make the first season of Wheeler Dealers, I always felt we were just making it up as we went along,” he explained.

“I was being offered Top Gear at the time, I’d just come off the back of Driven, as well as Deals on Wheels on Channel 4 and I really thought this would just be a bit of a stop gap in between.

“I knew that it had some kind of presence and legs then. And here I am, we’re just about to start the 21st season 20 years later and I’m still doing it. It’s incredible.”

The cost of car insurance for young drivers has soared by £594 in just a year, new research has found.

The average premium now stands at £1,792, representing a significant year-on-year increase from the £1,198 drivers aged under 24 would pay in August 2022. Car insurance now represents 63 per cent of the total car running costs for young drivers, with Compare the Market – which compiled the research – stating that higher car insurance premiums may be coming, in part, due to repair cost inflation.

Julie Daniels, motor insurance expert at Compare the Market, said: “Many young drivers will be worried about the soaring cost of car insurance in recent months. When combined with the wider cost-of-living crisis, more expensive insurance premiums could mean that driving becomes prohibitively expensive for lots of young people.

“For those looking to save money on their car insurance, it is a good idea to shop and compare policies to see if there is a cheaper deal available. Switching to a telematics policy may also be a more affordable option for some young motorists.”

Petrol costs for younger drivers, however, have fallen by £147 in the past 12 months from £982 to £836 for a motorist travelling 6,500 miles per year. The total annual running costs for a new car now stand at £2,8864 for a young driver. This represents a 19 per cent increase from last year, too.

Over £47 million worth of motor insurance claims were rejected during the second half of 2021, new research has found.

More than 14,000 motor insurance claims were rejected between July and December 2021, with over 1.7 million claims being submitted overall. Though rejected claims accounted for just 0.8 per cent, Go Compare, which went through Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) data to make the findings, said that it still amounts to a ‘huge sum’ of money lost.

There are a number of reasons why a claim might be rejected. These include having out-of-date information – such as an expired MOT or wrong address – or filing a claim too late. As a general rule, insurers should be informed of any incident within 24 hours.

Ryan Fulthorpe, car insurance expert at Go Compare, said: “£47 million is a massive amount of money to be rejected, especially if it’s due to easily avoidable mistakes. Reading the terms and conditions of your insurance policy carefully and making all your payments on time are the two most essential things you can do to avoid having a claim rejected.

“Keep any direct debits and bank details updated to make sure you don’t accidentally miss an instalment.”

Other reasons for an insurance claim being rejected include negligent behaviour such as driving irresponsibly or not performing maintenance checks, as well as using the car for anything other than what is specified in the policy. Claims can also be rejected if the car in question has been modified and these changes haven’t been reflected in the policy details.

A spike in temperature can cause a car to react differently to normal – here’s how to make sure it’s all up to speed.

The UK is currently enjoying some last-minute hot weather, bringing a sudden burst of sunshine to many people who thought that warm temperatures were set to be a thing of the past for 2023.

But hot weather can affect cars differently and there are some different measures you can take to make sure that your vehicle works just as it should in higher temperatures. Let’s take a look.

Air conditioning

If you’re driving a car with air conditioning, then you’ll know how crucial it is at keeping your vehicle’s interior cool. However, if it isn’t blowing ice-cool when activated, there could be a number of reasons behind it.

One of the primary causes for a malfunctioning air-con system is a lack of refrigerant. This can be solved with something called a ‘re-gas’ where the levels are topped back up again. Fortunately, it’s relatively inexpensive and will have your air-con back to normal in no time.

Wipers

So it might sound strange to talk about windscreen wipers during a period of hot, dry weather but, as with most times of unseasonably warm temperatures, there’s often the chance of a heavy downpour at the end.

So rather than waiting until the moment the rain hits, test out your wipers to make sure that they’re not rubbing or failing to screen properly. If they make a squeaking noise when you use them with washer fluid, then they’ll need replacing – you’ll thank yourself later!

Washer fluid

Since we’re on the subject of cleaning a windscreen, it’s a good time to think about topping up your washer fluid. Dry weather tends to bring dust and this can quickly accumulate on your windscreen – particularly overnight – and make it harder to see out.

It’s why ensuring that you’ve got plenty of washer fluid is essential. Most cars have the filler spout under the bonnet, usually signified by a blue cap. Make sure you top it up with proper washer fluid, too, as it helps lubricate parts of the system far better than just water.

Tyres

If you’re planning on making the most of the warm weather and travel a little further afield than usual then it’s a good time to check your tyres. They’re a crucial part of your car’s setup, of course, and any issues with them could prove dangerous in the future.

Check the sidewalls – the sides of the tyre – for any cracks or splitting and make sure no nails or thorns have lodged in there either. You’ll need to make sure that the tyre’s treads meet the legal limit in the UK – 1.6mm – and you can do this by inserting a 20p coin into the grooves. If the outer band is covered by the tyre then they’re good to go – see the band and they’ll need replacing right away.

Coolant

Coolant is your car’s way of maintaining the correct temperature. That’s why you’ll need to make sure that your vehicle has the right amount of coolant in it, or there’s a risk of overheating and causing damage to the engine.

Most cars have their coolant reservoirs under the bonnet, with a gauge on the side of the ‘bottle’ indicating minimum and maximum levels. If yours is low, top it up with an appropriate coolant or, if you have any concerns, you should ask a trained professional to do it for you.

The current transition to electric cars is ‘unequal’ and doesn’t favour all groups of people from making the switch to a fully electric vehicle.

That’s according to Marc Palmer, brand director at Auto Trader, who told a House of Lords inquiry today that the current switchover to electric vehicles was ‘fragile’ although there was significant progress in the fleet market.

Palmer stated, however, that the changeover process is ‘unequal’, with the vast majority of electric cars driven by those in more affluent areas with access to off-street parking, which allows for easier charging.

“There are three core groups being left behind – those over 55, women and those lower-income households. We see a real risk of them being left behind in the transition.”

He added that ‘a change in lifestyle is what’s holding a lot of people back’.

He was speaking as part of a panel during the Environment and Climate Change Committee Inquiry into Electric Vehicles today (September 6) alongside other industry leaders from outfits such as Motors.co.uk, the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association and Zipcar.

Palmer said that current government targets were ‘achievable but it’ll require action’, adding that they were seeing progress in the sales of electric vehicles overall. A new mandate is set to be enforced soon that will require manufacturers to sell a certain proportion of fully electric vehicles – 22 per cent by 2024, 80 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2035.

Demand for electrified vehicles grew in August, with figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders showing that nearly two out of every five of the 85,657 new vehicles sold during the month was a battery-powered model.

BMW has given an idea of what its next generation of vehicles could look like via its ‘Vision Neue Klasse’ design concept.

It’s being incorporated into a vehicle which showcases a whole new design for BMW. It’s a car which has been ‘pared down to the essentials’, according to BMW, though continues to have some of the brand’s trademark design features such as the front kidney grille and a Hofmeister kink of the side window graphic.

It also sits alongside existing concepts – the i Vision Circular and i Vision Dee – to create a trio of models that point towards BMW’s future vehicles. It’s the Vision Neue Klasse, however, which is said to be the one that is closest to a full production vehicle. It’s expected that BMW will produce a road-going version by 2025.

Inside, there’s the next generation of BMW’s iDrive system while a greater use of recycled materials aims to help bring down the car’s carbon footprint. Underneath is an electric powertrain, too.

Frank Weber, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Development, said: “30 per cent more range, 30 per cent faster charging, 25 per cent more efficiency – the Neue Klasse represents a major technological leap that will take EfficientDynamics to new heights. The same applies to its design – which could not be any more futuristic,

“With the Neue Klasse, we have embarked on the biggest investment in the company’s history. We are not just writing the next chapter of BMW; we’re writing a whole new book. That’s why the Neue Klasse will certainly impact all model generations.”

The Vision Vehicle uses 21-inch aerodynamic wheels which hark back to the cross-spoke versions used in motorsport, while the exterior has been finished in an off-yellow colour. This is then contrasted by black side skirts and bumpers.

Inside, there’s a new interpretation of BMW’s iDrive system with the Panoramic Vision. Key information is projected at the driver’s line of sight across the entire width of the windscreen, while both driver and front passenger will be able to interact with this information. BMW says that drivers will be able to change the information they’re seeing on the central display via gesture control, too.

A Coventry-based electric motorcycle manufacturer has become a much-loved brand for a certain Hollywood actor – Ryan Reynolds.

Arc – headed up by founder and CEO Mark Truman – boasts ‘the world’s most advanced motorcycles’, with its Vector model using a 16.8kWh battery to deliver up to 271 miles of range from a charge. It can also hit a top speed of 120mph and do 0-60mph in around three seconds.

And it’s the Vector that caught the eye of actor Reynolds – who has starred in films such as Deadpool and the hit Netflix series Welcome to Wrexham, which tracked his and fellow actor Rob McElhenney’s early ownership days of the north Wales football club – and saw him get in contact with Arc directly via social media.

As a result, Reynolds ended up taking delivery of a personalised Vector – which cost between £100,000 and £150,000 – in November 2022, with unique touches such as unlacquered copper across the motorcycle. Eco-conscious Reynolds also requested the use of flax – a hemp-like material – to be used throughout the battery-powered Vector’s design.

Truman told the PA news agency that Reynolds was a ‘very down-to-earth guy’.

“He didn’t want to jump the queue,” said Truman.

“And he wanted to pay full price. Ryan told us that ‘the bike blew his mind’.

“When he was a little kid, he’d imagined what it would be like to be Superman flying just above the ground and this was the closest he’d ever get.”

Reynolds has stayed in touch with Arc after taking delivery of his Vector and recently took to Instagram to report to his 50 million followers just how much he was enjoying the motorcycle. As a result, Arc has seen an increase in engagement of ‘around 1,200 per cent’ via its social media feeds.

In response, Arc created its own Instagram post to thank the 46-year-old for his support.

“At midnight [after Reynolds’ post] we thought ‘Right, we’ve got to do something’, so we dreamt up a bit of a plan and did a midnight run to a 24-hour Tesco and found the last bottle of Aviation gin and put something together,” said Truman.

“I think people have been enjoying the banter between us.”

Motorists were stung with 674,732 fines for driving in Low Traffic Neighbourhoods last year, representing an increase of 30 per cent year-on-year.

It’s a significant rise on the 519,780 fines issued to motorists during 2021. Since the start of 2021, councils issuing fines for Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) have generated more than £91 million for the schemes, with £40.8 million amassed during 2022. Some £10.9 million has been brought in during the first five months of 2023 alone, too.

In 2022, each council that fined drivers for entering LTNs generated an average of £3.1 million from the schemes.

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods are designed to make urban areas easier to walk or cycle through by preventing cars, vans and other vehicles from using otherwise quiet roads as shortcuts. They also look to reduce inner-city pollution by promoting ‘greener’ forms of transport such as walking or cycling.

The data, which was compiled by Churchill Motor Insurance, found that ‘at least’ 21 councils operated LTNs in 2022 and 2023, which was 12 more than in 2021. It means that there are now 103 permanent LTNs now in operation, compared with 87 in 2021. They run in a variety of locations, including London, Derby, Newcastle, Birmingham and Rochdale.

Nicholas Mantel, head of Churchill Motor Insurance, said: “Low traffic neighbourhoods are a controversial issue, and our research shows the number of motorists impacted is increasing. More Councils are rolling out the schemes in their areas and the number of individual LTNs is also rising. When driving in major towns and cities, motorists should try to keep their satnavs up to date and look out for any new road signs to avoid being caught out for driving new LTNs.”