Firstly, when purchasing a vehicle, you should always refer to the service history to check it has been serviced timely and correctly. As discussed below, this will help when you come to sell the vehicle in future. A service history is proof that a vehicle has been maintained in accordance with manufacturer guidance. This is of particular importance when it comes to selling a used vehicle through the pre-owned vehicle market. Regardless of whether you take your vehicle to a main dealer, or an independent repair centre, your service and any relevant paperwork can be logged in your service book, which will help to maintain the vehicle’s value. If your chosen independent repair centre uses original equipment and is VAT registered (like CARS), your manufacturer warranty will remain unaffected. However, if you miss a service, your vehicle will have a partial service history which could limit how much you are able to sell it for in the future. If you’re looking into buying a used vehicle, either privately or via a dealership, you should ask to see all the relevant paperwork. If the vehicle has been serviced and maintained correctly, each service will be logged and dated within the service book, along with any additional paperwork. For some more modern vehicles, you can check the service history online which may provide further information about the vehicle. Visit our blog ‘ Why is it important to service my car? ’ for further information.

In this blog, we give an overview of the different types of car insurance policies available in today’s market, and look to uncover some common policy terms. Policy Types Fully Comprehensive – This is the highest level of car insurance coverage. You are usually covered for third-party damage to another vehicle or person, as well as damage, fire or theft of your own vehicle – regardless of who is at fault. Your insurance provider may offer extra policy features for an additional cost. These include, but are not limited to, breakdown cover, windscreen cover and car key cover. Third Party, Fire and Theft – This policy type covers you for theft of your vehicle or fire damage, as well as any damage you cause to other people and their property. This type of insurance policy will not cover any damage to your own car (unless it occurred as a result of fire or attempted theft), meaning you will have to pay for any car repairs directly. Third Party Only – This is the minimum level of cover you can legally hold if you intend to use your vehicle on UK roads. This type of policy covers the costs of damage you cause to someone else’s vehicle or property, as well as any injuries you may cause to a third party. There is no cover for your own vehicle. You should always provide accurate information to your insurer and keep them updated with relevant changes. No-Claims Discount When purchasing a policy, you may also be asked if you hold any No-Claims Discount. This discount is a reward for policyholders not making any claims on their insurance policy during a specified timeframe (usually a policy year). It is offered by insurance companies to encourage sensible driving. For example, if three years go past without a customer making a claim on their policy, they will have earned three years’ worth of no-claims discount. This discount usually results in a reduction in premium costs upon policy renewal. The discount will depend on the insurance company’s specific terms and the number of consecutive claim-free years. In some cases, there may be a maximum limit to the number of years of NCD that can be accumulated, and this should be checked with insurance companies on a case-by-case basis. NCD is usually lost or reduced once a claim is made, which is likely to lead to an increase in higher premium costs at renewal. A time where this may not apply would be if the NCD is protected, as in this instance, an insurance company may allow a number of claims to be made in a policy year before the discount is lost or reduced. A fee is usually payable for this added layer of protection. If you’ve been involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault, we have a method here at CARS which enables you to have your car repaired without paying your excess or impacting your NCD, even if it’s not protected. Excess An insurance company will also apply an excess to your policy, made up of compulsory excess and voluntary excess. The compulsory excess is selected by the insurance provider and can vary depending on several factors, such as age, driving experience, and the type of vehicle – the risk. The voluntary excess is selected by the policyholder at the time of initial policy commencement. The total excess may become payable in the event of a claim. Many people select a higher voluntary excess to benefit from lower premiums, assuming they won’t need to make a claim. Remember, nobody wakes up in a morning and expects to get into a motoring accident, so make sure you select an excess amount which is affordable for you if the worst should happen! The claim process varies between insurers. Your excess is usually paid directly to the repairer upon completion of the repairs. Even though the accident may not be your fault, in some cases you may still be asked to pay your excess, which can be refunded once liability is agreed, and the claim is settled. There are other options to make sure you don’t pay your excess in certain cases. It’s certainly worth calling us to discuss these.  We have several blogs in our advice centre which offer information about how to choose the right insurance company, how premiums are calculated and what would happen if you needed to make a claim. Get in touch with CARS for non-biased advice, tailored to your individual circumstances.

An insurance-preferred repairer, otherwise known as an approved repairer, is one which is authorised by your insurance provider to repair your car in the event of a claim. This could be because the insurance provider has beneficial pricing rates with the repairer, enabling them to carry out the work for a reduced cost. There is an assumption that a preferred or approved repairer offers better quality repairs and customer service, simply because they are recommended by or associated with an insurance company. However, in some instances, this isn’t the case. For example, CARS of Grimsby is an independent repair centre, not affiliated with any insurance companies. However, we have committed to offering the best service to customers across all aspects. This includes offering faultless service to customers, only using new and genuine parts, and working in accordance with manufacturer repair methods. An independent repairer relies on reviews and referrals to generate new business, so the service received is likely to be better than that offered by a preferred repairer which already has a guaranteed workflow. As a result, it is clear that high-quality repairs can be found outside of the approved repairer network. Many insurance companies specify to individuals that they have to use one of their preferred repairers. However – this is not true! It is your right to take your vehicle to any repairer of your choice. Your insurer may state that they apply an additional excess for taking your vehicle to an alternative repairer. However, here at CARS, we have various excess support options available to our customers, so this fee may not be payable. We also take over all communication with our customers’ insurance companies, making the claim process as stress-free as possible! The most important point to remember is that in the event of an accident, you should always contact CARS before contacting your insurance company. This will ensure that you receive trustworthy and non-biased advice, tailored to your circumstances. The following blogs will provide more information around insurance-preferred repairers, and how to ensure you are selecting a repairer that will return your car to a safe, roadworthy state: Do I have to take my vehicle to one of my insurer’s approved repairers? Why should I use CARS instead of my insurer’s approved repairer? How do I find a trust-worthy and reliable accident repair centre?

Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) is a type of Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) which is usually built into newer and more modern vehicles. It was introduced to prevent collisions or reduce the impact of unavoidable incidents. AEB works without any input from the driver. The system monitors the road and traffic conditions to warn the driver of upcoming danger. Dependent on the vehicle, it may also seek to detect pedestrians and other obstacles. The brakes will automatically be applied if the driver doesn’t respond quickly enough. To do this, the system relies on a combination of light detection, radar and/ or sensors to establish whether a dangerous situation is developing.  Whilst this system will give added reassurance when heading out on the roads, it is not a replacement for making sure you are alert at all times.

We understand that you might have many questions when it comes to your MOT: Do you have to have an MOT every year? What happens during an MOT? How long does an MOT take? How much does an MOT cost? And so on! The majority of vehicles are required to pass an annual MOT to prove that they are safe and roadworthy. An MOT involves several checks on your vehicle from safety components such as seatbelts, to mirrors, lights, and the braking and fuel systems. If your MOT has expired, it is illegal to drive your vehicle on the road and you could be prosecuted for doing so. You should also note that driving without a current MOT invalidates your car insurance, and you are unlikely to be covered in the event of an incident and subsequent claim. The only exception is where you are driving your vehicle to a test centre. An MOT usually takes between 45 to 60 minutes, but you should remember that if your vehicle fails its MOT test and repairs are needed, you could be without your vehicle for longer. You are not allowed to drive your vehicle if it has failed its MOT, unless you are taking it to a repairer, or its existing MOT certificate is still valid. However, if it fails its MOT with a dangerous fault, you won’t be able to drive it away at all, regardless of whether it has an existing valid certificate. If your vehicle passes its MOT but the test centre has made advisories, you can legally drive it on the roads. However, we recommend that these advisories are dealt with by a local repair centre as soon as possible. This will ensure that your vehicle remains safe and roadworthy. Whilst the cost for an MOT will vary between test centres, the maximum cost for a standard car is currently set at £54.85 (as at 15/03/2024). This cost may increase or decrease in the future. We have established that some of the most common reasons for MOT failure are as follows: Lighting and signalling issues Damage to the windscreen and/ or wipers Brake faults Issues with the exhaust system Insufficient tyre depth You can visit our blog ‘ Common reasons for MOT failure ’ to find out more. We recommend taking care of your vehicle and conducting regular maintenance to reduce the chance of your vehicle failing its MOT. This involves keeping the internal and external areas clean, as well as dealing with any faults or new issues (such as knocking sounds, pulling, etc) in a timely fashion, to prevent them from becoming more serious and costly issues. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Along with the overall increase in the cost of living, the costs of running a car are also on the rise. In this blog, we provide an overview of the things you should consider when working out how much it costs to run a car over time. Service & MOT costs – We advise booking your vehicle in for an annual service and MOT to ensure it remains safe and road-worthy. Whilst a service is not technically a legal requirement, it will help to maintain your car and flag up any minor issues before they turn into larger, more expensive problems. Fuel costs – While the cost of fuel may vary around the country and dependent on the brand, there are other variables to consider when estimating your fuel cost. You should consider the estimated fuel consumption of your vehicle and the fuel type (petrol or diesel). Tax – The amount of tax charged is dependent on the age of the vehicle and in some cases, the level of CO2 produced. There may also be an additional charge payable for cars with an initial list price of more than £40,000. There are several resources online to check the exact rate of tax payable for your vehicle. Insurance – Ultimately, the cost for your insurance will be calculated based on the insurance classification for your vehicle, and the level of cover chosen. We always recommend using a local broker to ensure you choose an insurer and policy suited to your individual circumstances. You can also read our blogs ‘ How do I choose the right insurance company for me? ’, ‘ What car insurance should I buy? ’ and ‘ What should I look out for when purchasing car insurance? ’ for further information. Depreciation – Whilst not technically a running cost, you should also consider the loss in value over time when estimating how much your car will cost you. Whilst most cars will depreciate over time, you can minimise this loss by keeping a record of all servicing, dealing with minor issues prior to them becoming extensive problems, cleaning your car on a regular basis and keeping the mileage low where possible. Finance – If you need to borrow money to buy a vehicle, for example via a finance arrangement, you should consider the interest and other fees associated with the repayment method. Miscellaneous Costs – We also recommend budgeting for any miscellaneous costs where possible. For example, if parts on your car start to show signs of wear and require replacement, this will usually be an additional cost. Please remember that if you’re involved an accident and need to make a claim on your car insurance, we have various excess support options available to help our customers. If you’ve been involved in an accident, have damage on your vehicle or just have a general query, don’t hesitate to get in touch!

Telematics insurance, more commonly known as black box insurance, lets your insurer monitor your driving skill and style. This is usually done via a box-like GPS device, a plug-in device or in conjunction with an app downloaded on a smartphone. Your insurer will analyse information such as acceleration, braking, cornering, driving smoothness, miles driven, the date and time you drive and how often you take breaks when on longer journeys. You should check with each insurer, as the information they collate may be slightly different. Based on this information, they will then score your driving, which will affect how much your insurance premiums are. A higher score indicates good and safe driving and could result in lower premiums. Some insurers also offer additional rewards such as vouchers or cashback. However, if an insurer sees evidence of poor and/or dangerous driving, the score will be lower and could result in a more expensive insurance policy. Whilst this type of insurance was originally designed for young drivers as a way of rewarding safe driving by reducing premiums, other individuals may be able to buy this type of policy, regardless of age. Like any insurance policy, the cost will depend on several factors, such as age, address and the make and model of car. Visit our blog ‘ How are car insurance premiums calculated? ’ for further information.

In the accident repair industry, it’s not uncommon for repairers to be approved by insurance companies. For example, if you’re involved in an accident and phone your insurance company, they are likely to tell you to take your vehicle to one of their preferred repairers. There might be a preferred repairer in your local area. If not, you may have to travel to an alternative town or city to have your vehicle repaired, which will be an issue if your vehicle is not roadworthy, for example. You do actually have the right to take your vehicle to any company of your choosing, such as a non-preferred repairer, regardless of what your insurer tells you. This could mean that you receive better customer service, work carried out to manufacturer standards and with new and genuine parts. Unfortunately, not many people know this. CARS of Grimsby is not affiliated with any insurance companies. We are an independent repair centre, serving Grimsby and the surrounding area. Whilst we are not automatically passed work by insurance companies, we carry out large volumes of insurance work for our customers, including taking over all communication with their insurance companies to ensure a stress-free claim process. So, why take your vehicle to an independent repair centre instead of your insurer’s preferred repairer? You will have access to a loan vehicle, should you require one, regardless of whether an accident was your fault or not. An independent repair centre that has no guaranteed stream of work usually attracts customers based on referrals and reviews. As a result, it is important for them to provide top-quality service at all times. Preferred repairers are often working on extremely tight profit margins and because of this, some are authorised to fit second-hand and/or non-genuine parts. In contrast, an independent repair centre has control over which parts they fit. For example, at CARS, we will only use new and genuine parts. This ensures each vehicle leaving us is safe, road-worthy and back in the state the manufacturer intended upon originally leaving the factory. Independent repair centres can still repair modern and technologically advanced vehicles. Here at CARS, we are consistently upgrading our equipment to keep up with any industry changes. Furthermore, we are also invested in the training of our technicians, to ensure they are always above industry standard. As a result, we can repair almost any vehicle that comes through our door.  We recommend always contacting CARS before your insurance company, to ensure you receive credible and non-biased advice, tailored to your individual circumstances.

To work out your premium cost, insurance companies consider your individual risk factors to determine how likely you are to make a claim during your policy term. As such, changing your address could have an impact on the cost of your car insurance. Insurers will look at several factors associated with the area to determine the risk to them. For example, they will look at the previous number of claims in that area, along with the number of accidents recorded. They will also look at other factors, such as traffic volumes and the number of ‘high-risk’ traffic systems, for example cycle lanes or busy roundabouts. Parking availability will also have an impact. In some cases, parking your car in a driveway or garage may result in lower premiums. If you do not have access to this, you may be subject to higher costs. It is no surprise that urban and dense city areas come with a higher premium cost. This is because the more vehicles on the road, the more likely an accident is to occur, and the more likely you are to make a claim. These areas are also more likely to have higher crime rates, which will be a contributing factor when working out insurance cost. Read our blog ‘ How are car insurance premiums calculated? ’ to find out more. We recommend shopping around for quotes to find the best deal for you. We also advise using a local broker to ensure the policy terms you accept are appropriate for your circumstances. Finally, you should always make sure that all information provided to your insurance company is truthful and accurate.