Questions from March 2018
The speed recorded on my satnav is 3mph slower than the speedometer reading, which is likely to be accurate?
My 2007 Skoda Superb, which I use drive as a taxi, was hit by a car. It's damaged near the back door and rear panel near the sill. The sill is badly dented, but the door closes and locks. It probably needs...
My 2007 Ford Mondeo was hit by contractors for British Gas while it was parked outside my house. Their excavation vehicle has dented the driver's door and badly scratched the rear passenger door. I've...
My 10-year-old car has been in Spain for nine years and 11 months. I've lost the V5C, so what do I say at Dover when I try to bring it back to the UK?
In December, while my car was parked on the street, someone hit the front bumper and the paint came off. I reported this matter to the police and two witnesses told me they saw the accident. They gave...
What are the best insurers for drivers over 80 years old?
My 2013 Ford Focus ST experienced uneven engine running in December. A Ford dealer traced the problem to the engine wiring harness - a problem for which the car was recalled in the USA. The harness was...
I'm considering buying a campervan to go travelling during my retirement. There is only me to consider, so a small van seems to be appropriate. The choice appears to be between a Volkswagen Caddy or a...
Despite the DVLA recognising that my old car has been sold and I'm no longer responsible for it, they are unwilling to refund the tax paid for the following month. They claim the date of sale is irrelevant...
My car was reversed into in a doctor's car park, but the driver left without leaving their details. A taxi driver who saw it happen has given me the reg number. Is it possible to trace the owner from this?
What small van would I be able to buy for £1500 - £2000?
Who should you contact first following an accident, your insurer or the vehicle manufacturer? I constantly receive messages from the manufacturer saying in the event of an accident to contact them first...
Where could I buy a used Tesco or Asda refrigerated delivery van?
I've heard that cars registered before 1 January 1978 no longer need an MoT - is this right? The Government website doesn't seem to reflect this change.
I bought a used car online. The seller said he was a trader and the car was advertised as a part-exchange, just MoT'd with a one year warranty. I booked to view it (80 miles away) over the weekend at his...
My Mazda 6 is just under three years old with 24,000 miles on the clock. I was told that the pads and discs need to be replaced all round. My first service at 7200 miles noted 8mm on the pads, the second...
I have been driving for over 50 years with no insurance claims. Last year, I was allegedly involved in a minor incident in my motorhome and my insurance company paid out on what I believe was a scam. My...
I bumped into a car today, but when myself and the other person inspected the damage it was only a tiny little scratch on the front. We both agreed it was fine and drove off. Could they claim against me...
I have a Ford Torneo that I bought in 2011. I have owned the vehicle for six years. When I bought the minibus, it had a V5 with two letters attached from the DVLA. The letters said their had been a discrepancy...
I have a 2014 Skoda Octavia vRS TDI with 88,000 miles and a full service history. It isn't due another service for 8000 miles, but the cambelt has just snapped. I don't know what engine damage has been...
My 2017 Vauxhall Astra has a large quantity of water sitting in the well under the boot floor where all the battery and fuses are located. It has stopped all the dashboard from working completely, however...
Cars with a list price over £40,000 pay higher VED, so what's included in the list price?
Do different insurance companies have different levels for writing off a car?
After parking in a shop's car park, in the only slot available, I saw someone on his phone. I ignored him until he came up to me aggressively and accused me of bumping into his car. I told him I had not...
I have a 1989 Jaguar XJS. Today I moved it off the drive for the first time in five months and it's obvious that the power steering has stopped functioning. What could be the cause of this, please?
Yesterday, I was rear ended at traffic lights. I have the third party's phone number. He did not know his insurer's name and is asking to settle without reference to insurers. The damage to my 2000 Mercedes-Benz...
My daughter, a bicycle courier, was knocked off her bike while working. The driver who ran into her admitted liability, but doesn't want to go through his insurance. He has offered to give her the equivalent...
My 2013 Ford Focus 1.0 suffered engine problems at 58,000 miles. Ford has diagnosed that it needs a new engine. Ford know this three-cylinder engine has problems, so what are my consumer rights?
My 2006 Volkswagen Polo has done around 65,000 miles and is regularly serviced. While doing a long journey, the emission control warning light illuminated. Shortly afterwards the engine cut out and I managed...
My Hyundai i20 was written off recently. My insurer has offered me £3695 to find a replacement. I found one on the AA used car website from for that price, but it's not AA-approved. Can I buy it with confidence?...
I need to have a Cortisone injection in my hip under general anaesthetic at a private hospital soon. I plan to drive there for 7am and leave my car at the private hospital overnight and collect it the...
I have a 2015 Vauxhall Insignia. I’ve only had the car just over a year, but a couple of weeks ago it broke down with white smoke belting out the back of the exhaust. The car is now at Arnold Clark. I...
What cars would you recommend as possible future classics? They must be automatic and reasonable to maintain.
I need a car with 4x4 capability because I have to negotiate a muddy track every day. I need a reliable car, but it doesn’t need to be big. I do around 8000 miles per year, mainly short journeys, so I’m...
My new car was wrongfully advertised as having DAB radio - can I claim compensation for mis-selling?
I have just bought a very nice Volkswagen Golf from a Volkswagen dealership, which cost £9750. When advertising the car, the first selling point was that it had a DAB radio (a £150 extra).Two days after...
I hit pothole and wrote off an alloy wheel. A number of other cars were similarly damaged in the 30 minutes I was there and the police attended the scene. My car is a 1999 Toyota Avensis Estate in good...
I was involved in a no fault accident. I took my claim to an accident management company, they gave me a hire vehicle and all was well. My car was written off as Cat N and I was offered a settlement from...
Our car was stolen a couple of months ago. Unfortunately, it was during the icy weather so we were defrosting the car. We left the keys in it for a few seconds to retrieve gloves from the house. A car...
My three-month old Audi S3 was stolen and recovered three weeks later. It was bought from new and was still in showroom condition with 1800 miles on it. It now has an extra 2000 miles on the clock, is...
Is it legal to use a mobile phone in a cradle for navigation while driving? Will the insurance be valid?
I hired a van to move house, but I'm now being charged for a replacement heated windscreen because of a 7mm x 3mm stone chip (which I believe could have been repaired). I was told when collecting the vehicle...
I'm looking to replace my Mazda 6 diesel with a petrol. When is the best time to look for a new car? The new 18-reg is due out in March, so should I wait until after March or will I find a bargain now?
My friend's 21 year old son had a car accident on the ice last week. His car (a cheap old thing) was a write off, but no one else was involved. The AA driver who came to recover the car advised him not...
I'm a taxi driver and would like to fix a dash camera in my taxi. I contacted my insurance to find out if installing a dash cam could reduce my premium. They replied no and they will just make a note that...
My 2004 Toyota Previa suffered loss of power in the snow. The AA got it to work enough to drive it to my dealer. Even though the AA driver told them about the fuel filter, the dealer ignored that and diagnosed...
I was traveling up a hill in snow doing 18mph recently. A pickup truck, which was coming down the hill too quickly, couldn’t stop and went up verge - then back down into the rear of my van. He is claiming...
When I turn my on my right indicator, the right brake light also flickers. Once I put my foot on the brakes while indicating, the indication gets faster. What's the issue?
My Ford B-MAX was involved in an accident and the other party accepted liability. I didn’t want the hassle, so I claimed against my own insurer. I lost my excess but, as I have legal cover under my insurance,...
I'm about to purchase a car for £2500. The comprehensive insurance is quoted at £1200 per year because I don't have and No Claims Discount. Is there any way to bring this cost down?
I was driving with my ten year old at around 10-15 mph (there are people who can vouch for this) when I heard a thud. When I got out it, I realised it was a child who had run into my car on a quad bike....
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