Budget 2014 - Attention All Drivers

So the Chancellor has put away his little red box for another year.  So what's changed for motorists?

Main Points

 - confirmation of freeze on fuel duty until Spring 2015. 

- an extension of the discount for ultra low-emission vehicles.

- a 2% tax on company cars with higher CO2 emissions.

- also a 2% hike in company car tax in 2017/18 & 2018/9.

 One You Might Have Missed

Do you drive a company van?  The benefit-in-kind (BIK) charge is rising from £3,000 in 2013/14 to £3,090 in 2014/15.  If you get free fuel for your company van,  an increase in fuel benefit will be relevant.  From 6 April 2014, the multiplier will increase from £564 to £581. Bear in mind that company van tax relates to private use of a van but doesn't include commuting. 

The changes do, however, affect double-cab or crew-cab vehicles which now come under the same rules as other company vans.  

And finally ...

You might not think that the announcement of a new £1 coin would have any relevance to drivers. It does mean, however, that all parking meters and machines across the country will have to be replaced to accommodate the new coin ...

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Cutting The Cost of Motoring

Are you looking to cut your motoring costs?  Of course you are.  Well here are some tips which could help make that tank of fuel go a bit further.  Check the boot – remove as much as possible to reduce weight.  Remove the roof box, roof rack or bike carrier too when you don’t need it – it creates more drag.  Ensure tyres are inflated to the correct pressure – they will offer less resistance on the road.  Drive more smoothly – try not to accelerate hard and anticipate the need to slow down sooner.  And lower your speed – particularly on motorways to burn less fuel.  By following these simple tips you could save up to 10% per year on your fuel bills.  

Finally, as with any purchase, it can pay to shop around, in this case for cheaper petrol.  Bear in mind though that this could  end up costing you more.  According to a well known cost comparison website this week millions of motorists are wasting time and money trying to find cheaper fuel.  As a general rule of thumb  travelling more than nine extra miles would cancel out any potential saving.  Assuming, however, you can find cheaper fuel within that distance you could still save money.   As somebody once said, every little helps!

On Skid Row?

Well, it may be February already but according to the forecasters, there could still be another month of wintry weather to endure. So, when you’re out on the road what can you do to increase your chances of having a safe journey. The following information is endorsed by the AA:

- Stopping distances are 10 times longer in ice and snow.
- Gentle manoeuvres are the key to safe driving.
- Select second gear when pulling away, easing your foot off the clutch to avoid wheel-spin.
- When climbing a hill it's important to avoid having to stop by waiting until the hill is clear of other cars or by leaving plenty of room between you and the car in front. Try to maintain a constant speed, choosing the most suitable gear in advance to avoid having to change down on the hill.
- When driving downhill, reduce your speed before the hill, use a low gear and try to avoid using the brakes. Leave as much room as possible between you and the car in front.
- Always apply brakes gently. Release them and de-clutch if the car skids.
- If you have an automatic car, in slippery, snowy conditions you can make driving much safer by selecting '2'. This limits the gear changes and also makes you less reliant on the brakes. Many modern autos have a 'Winter' mode which locks out first gear to reduce the risk of wheel spin. Check the handbook if you're not sure.
- If you do get stuck, straighten the steering and clear the snow from the wheels. Put a sack or old rug in front of the driving wheels to give the tyres some grip. Once on the move again, try not to stop until you reach firmer ground.


Keep On Running

Picture the scene – it’s 5 degrees below, you’re setting off for work but instead of clearing the ice and snow from your windscreen and getting into a freezing car you decide to switch on the ignition and let the heaters do their work while you go inside and wait with another cup of tea.

Sound familiar? Well, think again! Tempting as it is you risk losing your car and any payout from your insurers in the process. A recent survey by swiftcover.com found that 47% of drivers admitted regularly returning to the house whilst leaving the engine running. The insurer estimates £12.7 million-worth of vehicles are stolen because of this every year so don’t be a statistic. You have been warned!


VAT’s The Way I Like It … Not!

By now we’re all getting used to – if that’s the right phrase – VAT pegged at the new rate of 20%. Ouch! Economists and journalists bombard us with statistics on how this is affecting the average family budget and the impact it’s having on business.

Well, whilst we can’t persuade the Chancellor to think again, we would like to remind you that you don’t pay any VAT on a used car – even one that’s only a few days old!

Over the years we have been able to save clients £thousands on cars which not only don’t attract VAT but which have also lost a significant sum in early depreciation. Examples include savings of 15% on Hyundai, 20% on Mazda, 24% on Audi, 31% on Renault and 42% on Mercedes.

We love turning the tables on the dealers and finding great deals – and we can do the same for you or someone you know.


And Finally …

Amidst all the financial doom and gloom, just a reminder of something to bring you some cheer. If you recommend us to someone for whom we successfully source a car, we’ll give you £50 cash. And we won’t even ask you how you’ll spend it! You already know that you can recommend us confidently but we think it’s appropriate to show our gratitude to you in this way.

Beauty Parade

This is the time of year when manufacturers like to show off their wares at glittering events – the new models with which they hope to tempt us in the coming months. The biggest of these pageants is the Geneva Motor Show. Click here for a glimpse of the future.

“There’s Never Been A Better Time to Buy …”

Have you heard it said: “There’s never been a better time to buy a car?” If it’s so true why do we keep hearing stories from new clients who come to us frustrated at the poor service, not to mention downright rudeness and ignorance, they have encountered when out and about trying to buy a car?

Contrast that with some of the feedback we have received from our clients recently –

“Considerate, helpful, courteous and professional. Exemplary service.”
“A pleasure to deal with someone so patient & helpful.”
“The service you offer is first class.”
“We appreciated the clarity & quality of information provided.”

For us, it’s not that difficult to do the simple things well – return a message, answer queries knowledgeably and politely, be helpful – and we are committed to continuing to do this.

You cannot fail to have noticed the publicity given to the Government scrappage scheme over recent months.

But is it really as good as it appears. The people I’m most interested in, of course, are the buyers. So is it really such a good deal for them?

Newspaper supplements are crammed full of offers, all of which advertise the car at £2,000 less, making it appear cheaper. Of course, if you don’t have a ten year old car you will have to add that £2,000 back on again.

But what if you do have an old car? Here’s some food for thought. Your old car may actually be worth a whole lot more than £2,000, but don’t expect to get any more for it under the scheme. Similarly don’t expect to get any more off the cost of the new car either. That’s just plain wrong - although I would fully expect to get more than this off any car I was supplying to my clients.

So it’s the usual smoke and mirrors of the motor trade. What’s the moral of the story? Allow us to find you real deals – achieving the best possible price for your current car and the best possible deal on your new one.