Having a car accident can be an awful experience and one which no one ever wants to go through. Even if no one was injured during the car accident, the effect it can have can last weeks if not months afterwards and many people struggle logistically with managing without a vehicle in the days and weeks following the accident.  Many people rely on their car to get them to and from work or do the school run or even do the weekly shop.  Finding yourself without a car can cause a lot of problems and mean you have to rely on public transport which can not only be costly but sometimes unreliable.

Some insurance companies will offer you a courtesy car but often this is a group A insurance car which is a small car such as a Nissan Micra or Vauxhall Corsa. If you need a bigger car then you may be able to pay for an upgrade otherwise you will need to look at hiring a vehicle. If your car is deemed to be a write off by the insurance company then usually the courtesy car is needed back the same or the following day leaving you very little time to source a new one.

Dash cams have been out for a number of years now, but recently they have grown hugely in popularity with motorists looking to have that extra bit of security and peace of mind should the worse happen. Dash cams allow for easy installation in to the front or rear (or both) of their vehicle to allow them to record footage that may prove vital in an accident or near miss. Dash cam footage can often be used in court to show the person responsible for causing the accident.

It can also help as a deterrent for anyone who is thinking of trying to take your car or the contents within it. Not only can dash cams help in this way but some cams can help to lower your car insurance costs.

There are always scams that come about on the roads and one that has been prevalent over the last few years is “crash for cash”. This is where a driver pulls in front of another vehicle and purposely slams their brakes on causing the other person to crash in to the back of them. As the driver behind, you automatically become the at fault driver. This usually results in your insurance company having to fork out for damage and possibly personal injury claims along with your premium going up. Dash cams can record that all important footage that can not only allow you to prove the accident wasn’t your fault but to be used in court to prosecute the offender.

Cars can be costly to run and repair and it is important that you stay on top of any repairs in order to ensure the car is safe to drive and to avoid further damage if repairs are not completed.
A common issue with cars is suspension, this is partly due to general wear and tear but can also be due to hitting pot holes etc.
Most people can tell their shocks or struts are wearing out when they begin to feel every bump in the road. If your car feels quite bouncy especially when going over dips and lumps in the road the chances are you may need the shock absorbers looking at.
If your car feels like its drift or pulling when you are turning a corner then you probably have an issue with your suspension. If left, this can be dangerous so it is important to get this looked at as soon as possible.
If you notice bald spots or uneven wearing on your tyres then you may have an issue with the suspension that is causing the car to put uneven amounts of pressure on the different wheels. This should be rectified before fitting new tyres otherwise the new tyres will be damaged as well.

Over the past few days we have had some very welcomed sunny and warmer weather but this is not set to last and many of us may experience snow or ice over the next month. There are times when you may find yourself in a situation where you have to drive in these sorts of conditions and there are a few tips below that may just help you out:

Planning ahead is often the best way to ensure you are prepared. You should always make sure that you have de-icer, scrapper and working heaters in your car before setting out.

Making sure that your phone is always charged and ideally you have a charger or power bank with you when driving in all conditions but especially in the colder months is essential. If you happen to breakdown or have an accident you need to be able to get help quickly.

Check that your tires are not only well within the legal limits (all round) but also have the adequate amount of pressure in and do not have any damage.

Certain makes and models of cars handle better in the wet / ice than others. If you drive a rear wheel car you may find that it does not feel like it is handling as well as you may expect it to.

If you have just bought a second hand car or if you have had your car for a while but little work done on it then it could be a great time to have a safety check done. Many of the larger garages will do a free safety check but be prepared for them to point out every little thing that may need doing on your vehicle. If you have recently noticed that your car doesn’t seem to be driving right then you should get it booked in to a garage as soon as possible to have a once over.

There are some simple safety checks that you can do on a daily or weekly basis to keep on top of maintenance of your car. Tyres play an integral part of safety. Under or over inflated tyres can cause you to not have proper grip on the roads, damaged or perished tyres are often the cause of blow outs and tyres with little or no tread can easily cause a vehicle to lose control.

Brakes – the brakes are another very important part of the safety of the vehicle. You should test your brakes every time you get in to the car and before you pick up too much speed to check that they are responding. Any issues with brakes should be checked by a mechanic immediately.

If you are starting to experience issues such as your lights are not as bright as they used to be or you have a battery and stop light illuminate on your vehicle or the car stalls or has difficulty starting then you may be a sign that your alternator is on its way out. If the vehicle has difficulty starting after the battery is fully charged, the problem likely is with the alternator. You may even have an alternator light on your vehicle which will illuminate when there is a problem.

There are some easy tests that can be done to test it the alternator is in fact charging the battery enough. If your alternator dies then your car will not be able to charge the battery enough for it to start or to keep running.

There are risks of fire etc with alternator problems so it is important to get it checked out as soon as you notice any issues.

The cost of replacing an alternator varies from garage to garage and from make and model of vehicle. On average you can expect to pay £250 plus to get the repair done at an independent garage.

Unfortunately many people get nervous when taking their car in to a garage to have repair work done. Unless you have a back ground in mechanics, you may have little knowledge of how your car works and all the components that are needed to ensure safe and smooth driving.

If you have to take your vehicle in for a problem that needs investigating, you may worry that you are going to get ripped off and told you need more work doing to the vehicle than you actually do.

The only way to do this is to try and find a reputable garage. A garage that values its customer’s opinions and is trustworthy will not want to jeopardise their reputation to make a few extra quid.

Speak to friends and family members to find out their experiences of local garages that you may be able to use. If you know anyone within the car industry you may be able to ask them for their advice.

If you are uneasy about repair work that you have been quoted for, do not be afraid to take your vehicle elsewhere for a second or third opinion. Most garages will not have an issue with this unless they have something to hide.

Unfortunately many people do not realise how important it is to have your vehicle serviced on time. Some people are surprised when their vehicle keeps developing problems, and often much of this is to do with not maintaining it correctly.

When you own a car there are certain maintenance that should be done on it in in order to keep it running as it should. Even with regular services there are no guarantees that it will not develop a problem but you are decreasing the risk of certain things going wrong.

At a service the car is given a good check over and depending on what level of service you have, some components such as spark plugs will often be changed. A service will not only replace parts that may be wearing out but will also cover oil changes etc that may also improve the performance and economy of the vehicle. The cost of serving can vary on make and model of the vehicle, place that carries out the service and what type of service you have done.

If you have your car serviced at a main dealer you will often pay between £200-£400. At an independent garage you may be able to get a similar service for under £200. If your car is under warranty you will often need to ensure that genuine parts are used in the service.

People all over England are complaining about the state of the roads, following a harsh winter, many of our roads simply could not take it and have either started to slip away down the side banks or from rather larger pot holes.

Pot holes can be a nightmare for drivers and can seriously damage your cars wheels, tires and suspension. If you hit a pot hole at the wrong angle or are going too fast you could not only damage your vehicle but also lose control of the car.

Many councils are working as fast as they can to fix these issues but in the meantime there are thing you can do to try and avoid them. When driving along a road that has a lot of pot holes, drop your speed a little bit. Ten miles per hour can make a massive difference to the damage a pothole will cause. If you see one try and avoid it but also be aware of other traffic around you. Check that there is no oncoming traffic and also that no one is over taking you. This is especially true to cyclists who can very easily be missed by drivers swerving for potholes.

If you cannot avoid hitting it then go as slow as you possible can over it and if you think it may have caused any damage, stop and check as soon as it is safe to do so.

If you have a vehicle that is no longer under warranty then you may want to try and cut down on serving costs year after year. A service is vital for a vehicle and often prevents some problems from occurring. It may also highlight issues that need attention such as replacement of brake discs or pads etc.

Most cars have standard services and then have full services that are often done every other year. If you own a petrol car then the full service may include changing the spark plugs. Spark plugs are relatively easy to change and often can be bought for a fraction of the cost the garage will charge you. If you feel able to do so, then try and compare prices of spark plugs – buy them and fit them yourself. When you go to book your car in for a service then advise the garage that the spark plugs have just been changed so will not need to be done. You may find that this knocks £50 plus off the cost of the service.  When buying any parts yourself be sure to check the fitment details and if there is a returns policy should you discover that you have bought the wrong thing.

Your brakes are a vital component to the safety of the vehicle and should never be overlooked. Brake pads and discs are inspected during a Mot but this does not mean to say that they will not need replacing between MOT’s

Brake pads will need replacing more often than your discs usually and depending on the way in which you drive, brake pads usually last between 25,000 and 70,000 miles (an average of 50,000). The brake discs or brake rotors as they are sometimes called will usually last about 60,000- 70,000 miles. The constant friction caused by the pads rubbing on the discs can cause a lot of heat, if you then drive through a big puddle and a lot of water is splashed on them this can cause them to warp over.

When changing your brake pads, always check your discs thoroughly to ensure that they are in good condition. If they are verging on needing to be changed then it may be worthwhile getting them done at the same time to cut down on labour costs. Always check the discs for corrosion or indented surfaces as this too can cause issues when it comes to the braking system.

If you are considering getting a new car then you may want to take advantage of some of the current scrappage schemes that the car manufacturers have on offer. The government are trying to remove the number of old cars (especially the ones that give off high emissions) on the road and so have been able to allow car dealerships to offer substantial savings on a new car by giving people in excess of two thousand pounds for their part exchange.

You can get deals like this at any manufactures which often means you get substantially more for your vehicle than if you sold it privately. Another plus point of this scheme is that you don’t have to go through the hassle of trying to sell your car privately and often the dealerships are not concerned about the condition of the vehicle as it will either be sent to auction or scrapped.

If you think you can get a similar amount for your car privately then you may wish to speak to the sales team at the garage and ask them what other discounts they could give you if you don’t exchange your car.

Often people remember to fill up their washer fluid levels as they can clearly see when it is running out. But there are other levels that you need to check which are often even more important but are easy to forget about. Oil, coolant and brake / transmission fluid should also all be checked on a regular basis and before you do any long journey and if low, should always be filled with the correct fluid as per the manufacturer’s recommendations.

If your vehicle does run out of any of these fluids it can not only cause serious damage to the car but can also make the vehicle unsafe to drive. If your coolant levels are low for example then the car can very quickly overheat causing it to damage the engine or even set on fire whilst you are driving. It may just require a top up, or it may be the sign of a more serious problem such as a radiator leek which would need investigating by a garage.

Brake fluid is one that should not need topping up often at all but if it runs out, you could find yourself without brakes, which can easily cause an accident.

Some people are fanatical about keeping their car clean and in pristine condition where as other people simply see it as a something that should be done a few times a year, if they get the chance too. But did you realise that you can seriously devalue a car by not looking after it cosmetically and keeping on top of cleaning the inside and outside of the vehicle. You may find that certain things can seriously damage the paint work on your car such as bird poo and tree sap. They will eat away in to the paint and when you finally do remove it you will find that it has damaged the paintwork underneath and you’re left with a mark that cannot be washed off. When it comes to selling your car you should make sure that it has been given a good clean as people often think that if a car is not clean on the inside and out then it may not have been looked after mechanically either and therefore will not want to purchase it.

If you are not in favour of cleaning your car yourself then why not take it to one of the many hand wash services or a drive through car wash every couple of weeks, you may regret it in the long run if you don’t.

Finding out that you have a leaking car radiator often means you need to act fast. Car radiator leaks can happen at any time and it can often be due to damage to your radiator caused by a bird flying in to it, a stone hitting it or just due to age and deterioration. The leak may only be small or may be a huge hole causing you to lose fluid nearly as quickly as you put it in. When the car leaks water, it means there is not enough coolant going round the engine and therefore the car may quickly over heat. It will often overheat quicker when in stationery traffic.

If the leak is small there are a number of things you can try to fix it before having to fork out the hundreds of pounds to get a new radiator fitted at your local garage. There are a number of products on the market that claim to fix most leaks such as RadWeld that you pour into your coolant. The fluid will then circulate around the car cooling system, finding any leaks and plugging them up by setting in the holes. The solution will set in these holes and form a bond to keep the coolant in. This can be a permanent solution depending on how bad the leak is and how well the product works. These types of products do have very good reviews so it is always worth giving them a try first before taking the car to the garage, even if it only last another 6 months it gives you time to try and save up towards a new radiator.

If you have recently bought a car or van and want to give it a bit of a make over you may not want to spend a fortune on it. There are a few simple things you can do to give your car a whole new look and feel, it all depends on how far you want to go.

All cars and vans either have steel wheels or alloy wheels. Steel wheels are often covered over with wheel trims. Wheel trims vary in cost but are usually around £20-£30 for a set dependent on style and size. The size of your wheels, will match the size of the required wheel trims.

Alloy wheels are a lot more expensive to buy with a new set costing anywhere from a few hundred pounds upwards of a few thousand!

If your seats are looking a bit shabby and ripped then you can invest in a set or car seat covers. You can get universal, but for the best fit, opt for some specifically designed for your make and model of car. You can also get steering wheel covers and new floor mats just to give it that new, clean look and feel.

If you find that your car is pulling to one side when you drive it, there is a vibration coming from the steering or your tyres are wearing unevenly, then you may need to get your tracking checked by having a wheel alignment.

Wheel alignment is also sometimes referred to as wheel tracking and should be part of standard vehicle maintenance. This involves adjusting the angles of the wheels to the recommended position as detailed in the vehicle’s manufacturer specification. It helps reduction tyre wear and ensures the optimum performance and handling of the vehicle on the road.

It’s not just tyre wear that can suffer by incorrect wheel alignments. You may also find that your braking distance increases and your drive quality and fuel economy are also affected.

Only some garages will be able to do a wheel alignment and it you have recently had a bump, even if its just clipping the curb slightly then I would recommend getting your wheel alignment done. It usually costs about £30 but there may be a charge if it needs adjusting.

Damaging the wheels on a car can not only make it look less attractive but can actually be dangerous. It is said that a large number of us carry on driving cars with damaged wheels without even realising we are doing it.

If you have recently had a medium to large impact on your wheel, then I would strongly recommend taking it to your local garage or tyre centre to get it checked out. It may be that you have damaged the tyre wall or that the wheel rim is bent meaning it is not sealing the air sufficiently.

Even if the wheel and tyre look ok, you may have knocked out the alignment of your wheels and need to realign before driving again. Damaged wheels and poor alignment can not only be dangerous but can also cause uneven tyre wear meaning they will need to be replaced sooner that would have been necessary.

If you are looking for a place to take your car for an MOT but are worried about being landed with unnecessary repairs that really do not need doing, then why not opt to have your next MOT carried out at an MOT only testing station. There are hundreds of these all over the UK and often they charge a similar price to most other garages.

The benefit of taking a car to one of these types of testing stations is that they do not carry out repair work, so it is of no advantage to them to fail your vehicle unnecessarily. Of course, if there is an issue with that car that does not meet the MOT standards then they will have to fail it. If this is the case then you will need to take the car elsewhere to get the repair work carried out and then return if for the retest. Most garages offer a free 14 days retest window in which you can bring the car back in.

Some cars come straight from the factory with alloy wheels on, others are added as an optional extra and other cars are built with steel wheels and wheel trims. Adding alloys wheels to a car can make it look a lot more stylish and some say it can also improve the handling and performance of the vehicle.

Buying alloy wheels can be expensive and you need to make sure that you get the correct size for your vehicle. You will also need to inform your insurance company that you have changed the steel wheels for alloy wheels as it is classed as a modification and should you need to make a claim, you may find out that you are not covered if you have not informed them of the change.

If buying alloy wheels second hand be sure to check for damage not only on the surface but also around the rim and on the inside of the wheel.

Buying a second hand car is always a risk. Even if you buy from a dealership you may get a warranty but the warranties are often quite limited and do not cover as many things as you may first think. If you only get a three month warranty from a car dealership you can pay to extend this warranty and there are third party companies that offer warranties to consumers regardless of where they bought the car from.

I would strongly recommend not to buy a car that you haven’t seen unless buying it brand new as any second hand car should be seen. Heard and ideally driven before agreeing to the purchase. Ideally you would also want to have a used car check carried out on the vehicle, some dealers do this as standard others will not so you may have to pay a company such as the AA to do this for you.

Alloy wheels can make a huge difference to the look of a car. Adding alloy wheels or even changing the design of them can stylise the car and make it look more modern and sporty.

The cost of alloy wheels can be expensive and the larger the wheel the more money you will have to pay for them. Some brands are also more expensive than others and if you start to look at chrome alloys or splitters then the price really starts to rise.

The problem with alloy wheels is that they can become scuffed and dented easily and if this happens the amount to repair or replace them can be costly. If the alloy is damaged beyond repair then you will need to buy a new one, and it can be very hard to obtain one, you may find you have to buy a pair or even a new set.

If your car has steel wheels on it rather than alloy wheels then you can fit wheel trims to it. Wheel trims are covers to hide the steel wheel and are a cheap way to style your vehicle.

As with tyres or alloys, you will need to find out what size wheels you have on your car to get the correct wheel trims which come in sizes ranging from 13 inch up to about 18 inch.

Wheel trims come in a variety of styles and you can change them quite easily. Many places that sell them, such as Halfords, offer a fitting service from as little as £5 but it is possible to do yourself and shouldn’t take much more than ten to fifteen minutes.

When fitting new wheel trims check carefully that they are clipped on all the way around and if possible secure them with a couple of cable ties to avoid them falling off when driving.

When looking to buy a car, you can spend hours researching the technical specification and reading owners reviews on the vehicle but unless you actually drive the car yourself, it is hard to know if it is suited to you. Everyone has their own driving style and therefore will be looking for different things in a car.

When you have found the make and model you like or even if you haven’t really decided, head down to a reputable dealer (ideally one that has been recommend to you by a few people) and book a test drive. Do not be afraid to ask to test drive a few different vehicles as this is the only way you can make a real comparison. If they don’t have the model in that you were looking for and are part of a group of dealerships, they may be able to acquire the vehicle for a test drive for you.

If you have a vehicle that is worth less than a thousand pounds, then there may come a time in the near future where the costs to carry out a repair or get it through an Mot simply out weight the value of the vehicle. Some people will still spend the money on it regardless as to what it may cost, but there comes a time when you have to get rid and start again.

If you have a car that has no MOT or does not drive you may wonder what you can do to try and recoup some money back. Depending on the weight of your car, you may get a few hundred pounds for it in scrap, but make sure that you contact a few companies to try and get the best price for it. Many of these companies will come to your house to collect it and will pay you in cash. You should never let the car be taken away without receiving cleared funds from them.

The other option is to try and sell the vehicle for spares and repairs. I recently did this with an Audi of mine that broke down and I could not afford to be spending hundreds on it getting it repaired, plus the age of the vehicle made it seem uneconomical to spend much more on it. There are many sites where you can advertise your car for free, I think it is always worth a try as you may end up with a few hundred more.