Trending topics in March 2020
Questions from March 2020
We aren't using our cars regularly, following Gov restrictions. Are there any tips regarding tyres, batteries etc?
My car was booked in for its first MoT. The Hyundai dealer has now closed for the Coronavirus lockdown. Can I drive without the MoT?
My granddaughter is home from university due to the Coronavirus outbreak. I am 86 years old and am in self isolation What is the situation with insurance to cover her to go and do grocery shopping for...
You gave out info regarding driving while in isolation/over 70's, saying that if taking the car out we could not exit the car for any reason. You said the info came from Public Health. As I and most of...
I have a new PCP, less than 30 days old. I got it before Covid19 had massive effects on the UK. I’m self employed and this has had huge effects on my business. Am I able to reject my car because of this?
My car is SORN'd, as it's no longer in use, pending a sale. Can it be taken on a short test drive without having to tax it for a whole month. If so, would my insurance still be valid?
I purchased a 2018 BMW X6 with a full service history and warranty until 25 October 2020. It has 22,500 miles on the clock. 140 miles into a journey, a regular clunking sound came from the engine. The...
My Toyota Prius (17 reg) is mainly used for short runs, up to about 35 miles.This has never caused me any problems, however, in the present times, l feel it is likely to be used even less. We're in our...
I ordered a new Skoda in late February and was told a factory order would be three months. Skoda has now told me all factories in the EU will be closed on a temporary basis due to Coronavirus. I now have...
My daughter purchased a 17-plate Fiat 500 five months ago. It started dripping oil yesterday. When checking the oil level, she found white foam. She's a key worker and needs transport. Can she reject the...
If a car battery slowly degrades because of lack of use during the Covid-19 four months' isolation period, will the alarm go off at some point and continue to do so? I'm thinking of many people in my area...
My car is due to be repossessed this month. Is there anything that can support my request to come to a new arrangement? I can no longer meet the payment required to stop repossession as all my contracts...
I’m considering changing our 2009 Ford Focus 1.8, which is still running well with 70,000 miles on the clock. It’s used as the second family car mainly for local journeys of 15 to 20 miles but we also...
I ordered an expensive Range Rover to my specification a few weeks ago, which the dealer advises is now ready. I paid a deposit at the time of order. Due to the Coronavirus situation and the economic impact...
My Hyundai Tuscon is booked into the Hyundai dealer for an annual service as it has a three year warranty left. If the garage closes due to coronavirus and the service is carried out when it eventually...
Several months ago I purchased 2018 Ford Focus automatic. It's fine to drive but seems to use a lot of fuel. How can I reduce the petrol consumption? Turn off traction control? Switch to eco mode (it...
The salesman told me my Ford Fiesta ST has adaptive cruise control but it doesn’t and it can’t be retrofitted. Can I reject the car? The manager says Terms and Conditions says specs can change, but surely...
I'm currently self isolating (am 70 next Friday), however, my service/MoT is due. Is there any news from the DVLA about how it plans to deal with this, We do not have off road parking.
I'm stuck in Portugal with my car because of Coronavirus and no idea when I can get back to UK (borders closed,ferries cancelled etc), and therefore unable to renew my MOT when it expires. My car insurance...
Can you tell what type or brand of antifreeze I need for my 2005 Subaru Forester?
I'm thinking about buying an electric vehicle together with fast re-charging gear to be installed in my garage. From time to time I visit my daughter in London, about 190 miles away, and would need to...
I recently purchased a secondhand Nissan Navara, which I have been informed (by DVLA) has a manufacturer recall on this vehicle that has not been resolved. The recall is for chassis corrosion and cracking....
What’s your opinion on a 2005/2006 Mk1 Land Rover Freelancer diesel automatic for reliability?
My MoT expires while I'm self isolating because a family member my have Coronavirus. I have cancelled the previously arranged appointment for the MoT but does this mean that I cannot use the car when the...
Can you advise on a tracking device for a Range Rover Evoque. It's required by Direct line insurance.
I'm an elderly car driver over 70 and, as you know, we have been told to self-isolate for four months. In two months time, my MoT runs out. Should I inform the DVLA of this because when the isolation period...
If I store my 2006 Nissan X-Trail 2.5-litre petrol with nearly a full tank of super unleaded, will the petrol have deteriorated too much when I start using it again?
Yesterday (March 18), I traded in my car for a used Qashqai at a Nissan dealer. Car is registered 11 months ago with 3700 miles. Serviced by the Nissan dealer on 24 Feb 2020. I drove it towards home for...
I received a phone call this morning from a mobile number claiming to be from the Motor Insurance Bureau. They knew my name and asked if I or any members of my family had been involved in an accident in...
My wife has a 2013 Nissan Qashqai auto with just under 20,000 miles on the clock. When pulling away and accelerating, there is no problem - but when moving slowly and accelerating, the car judders, hesitates...
I am about to be quarantined for three months. I propose to run my car weekly. How long do I need to run it to keep the battery charged? Anything else I need to do?
As we (both in our 70s) will be self isolating for three months, what is the best thing to do to look after our cars? We have a Volvo V70 D4 and a Seat Ibiza (petrol). I am always worried when it comes...
I had a very good offer from a trader for my car now even if not buying another just yet. Do you think trade in prices will plunge in the next few weeks?
Also, should one be able to buy in a few weeks,...
I have a 2014 Mazda CX-5, which I have owned for seven months. I purchased from a car trader. Last week, it failed very suddenly with loss of power and black smoke from the exhaust, there were no warning...
I passed the driving test in 1989 in France and converted it to UK driving licence in 1998. I'm looking at motorhome and just realised my licence does not include C1 so they took the assumption my licence...
My Audi Q5 TDI Quattro was bought new in December 2014. It has covered 75,000 miles and has been serviced regularly by Audi dealers. At a recent service, the garage said that a new drive shaft is required...
It appears that the Government will be 'forcing' the over-70's to stay indoors. Surely, I can take my car out for a drive (on my own, windows shut and full tank of fuel)?
Not only will it keep the car...
Our car MoT runs out on 3 April. We have to self isolate as my wife receives annual flu jabs. Will I be able to make essential food shopping journeys if I can't renew MoT, and will insurance be valid?
My car was first registered on 8 Jan 1980. Heritage Certificate build date of 22/23 March 1979. DVLA says it's not exempt. Tax is due 1 April 2020. Is my car Tax Exempt or not?
I own a J Reg (1992) ex-MOD Defender 90; 69HP, naturally-aspirated diesel. I am concerned that I will be caught out by tax changes based on the CO2 it produces. I do few miles, mainly off road. Given...
I have a 1993 Mini Mayfair that has only covered 30,000 miles and has been run on 20/50 Classic vehicle oils. I have been given five lots of Magnatec 10/30 oil. Is this okay to use in my car?
I've been looking at buying a BMW test car from a main dealer. It's a 2012 model that was only registered last month. It has all the bells and whistles, the mileage is 1500 and includes a three-year (as...
I get a very bumpy ride and juddering with my Mercedes E43 AMG 4MATIC. Signs of early tyre wear too. The car has a limited turning circle and severe juddering on the steering and tyres. We are complaining...
We are using a 1995 Volvo 850 estate that has given us excellent service since bought used in 1998. However, recently we have experienced a very occasional failure of the direction indicators which led...
If I fit a dash camera into my car, do I need to inform my insurance company?
Now that I'm retired an electric vehicle seems to be the most practical, if not the cheapest, option to replace my Ford Mondeo estate. Being on a fixed and limited budget now, I'm looking at secondhand...
How many 1982 registered/1983 Porsche 944s are left on UK roads (licensed)?
I need a car now I'm retired and no longer have a company car. I really don't want to spend much more on a used car than £16,000. My must haves are: an auto, reversing camera, sat nav and ideally three...
My daily commute is a 180-mile round trip on a variety of motorway sections, roundabout filled dual carriage ways and B roads. I currently drive a 2009 Citroen C5 diesel automatic. Tax is a whacking £350...
My son has a Ford Fiesta radio. We put some wrong codes in the radio, it is now showing locked 10. Do you know how to unlock it as I now have the correct code?
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