Motoring

If you park in a private car park, you may no longer be issued a ticket if it takes you longer than five minutes to pay after arriving, thanks to a new voluntary code of practice. But there are gaps in the scheme – and some campaigners say the changes don't go far enough, instead calling on the Government to push ahead with a legally enforceable code of practice.

Renewing your car insurance? Don't get complacent. Even if your price hasn't gone up, you can usually find a better deal elsewhere, as MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis explains in the latest episode of ITV's The Martin Lewis Money Show Live.

The outcome of a major investigation into hidden, unfair car finance commission will be pushed back from September 2024 to May 2025, it's been announced. But the regulator behind the probe has told MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis that payouts to drivers are now "more likely". Check if you could be due £1,000s back using our FREE car finance reclaim guide and tool.

A new, greener type of unleaded petrol called E10 is being rolled out across forecourts in Northern Ireland by Tuesday 1 November, following its introduction across England, Scotland and Wales last year. But around 5% of cars, mainly older ones, aren't compatible with it, so will need to use pricier fuel. Plus, even if your vehicle can take it, you may have to fill up more often because it's less efficient.

Private car park operators in England, Scotland and Wales will no longer be able to issue parking tickets above £50 in the majority of circumstances, under new rules set out by the Government. The move will cut the value of tickets in half and also push operators to better display pricing policies and their terms and conditions.

Anyone who drives will know that costs are speeding into top gear. For example, petrol prices have risen to an eight-year high - up 21p/L from a year ago, average used car prices have jumped by £1,000 versus a year ago, and UK car hire prices are up by 84% compared with last year. 

Petrol prices have hit their highest level since October 2013, according to motoring firm the AA. It says the hikes are due to oil prices rising again following a slump caused by the pandemic. But there are ways you can cut costs now as we explain below. 

Drivers could save up to £35 a year on their car insurance, the Ministry of Justice has said, as major reforms to the claims process for whiplash injury come into effect this week. The shake-up includes a new online portal for road traffic injury claims, while whiplash cases can no longer be settled without medical evidence. 

Almost 78,000 motorists may be able to reclaim cash from payment accounts for the Dartford Crossing which have been automatically closed because they've not been used for 15 months, MoneySavingExpert.com can reveal. Even if you're not owed money, it's worth checking if your account's been closed without you realising, as if it has, you could be fined if you then use the Dartford Crossing without paying another way. 

The financial regulator has confirmed further measures to support borrowers struggling to make payments on car finance deals, buy-now-pay-later agreements and other credit products due to the coronavirus pandemic, with many able to get another three-month payment holiday if needed.