I must admit that I am not an expert when it comes to cars. I know what I like and I can tell whether it drives well, but when it comes to understanding what is ticking below the bonnet, I am afraid that that is beyond my grasp.

That is why I always try to take a more knowledgeable friend or relative with me when I am choosing a second hand car, so that they can spot any obvious mistakes that I fail to notice. Failing that I have a checklist of points to watch out for written as an idiot's guide so that I can at least check the main potential faults.

I always check whether the battery is good or whether you are likely to have to call out The Battery Guys as, though not a serious fault in the car, it can cost a lot of money if you are not expecting it. If you can tell that the battery will have to be replaced soon then at least you can bargain on the price. (more...)

The United Kingdom, being a part of the European Union, does have its advantages, especially for those people who have worked out that importing a new car from a fellow European country is often cheaper than buying a new one here.

The reason for this is that the pre-tax prices in many European countries are much lower than in the United Kingdom, and when they are imported, they need only pay the VAT. This can save a great deal of money, especially on the more top of the line models.

Some people are put off, because they believe that the only cars that can be imported are left hand drive models. However, European law means that if a customer requests a right hand drive car, one must be sold at the same price. This is great news for those people looking to sell on their Used Imported Cars a few years later. (more...)

For young drivers it is especially important to take out a proper car insurance policy. young drivers insurance tends to have higher premiums as unfortunately there tends to be a reputation for young drivers to be less careful and drive at greater speeds than more experienced drivers. Often this reputation is very unfair however it is the reality and so young drivers often have to prove themselves by establishing a no-claims record before they can reduce their premiums.

For any driver it is important that they understand what their insurance policy is and any associated terms and conditions. One important are to understand is what the excess means.

Excess within an insurance policy is the amount that the policy holder will be liable in the event that they make a claim on the insurance policy. For example if your excess is £200 and the claim is for repairs of £800 then the policyholder will be responsible for the first £200 and the insurance company the remaining £600. (more...)

Being able to purchase a car online in the UK is a blessing for many who do not like the hassle of visiting one car dealership after another with the hopes of finding their dream car. Purchasing a car is a very big investment which is why you need to make sure that you do not rush into decisions otherwise you might regret them.

There are many UK car sites that will provide you with the opportunity to compare the makes and models of the different types of cars that you may be interested in from the comfort of your home. The advantage of using these sites to compare cars is that you will not be forced into buying a car that you do not want.

Normally, when you visit a local car dealership, you might be offered a mind-blowing deal on a car that you were not even considering. Car salesmen have the ability of talking you into buying the car that they would like for you to purchase instead of the car that you would like to have. Shopping for car online provides you with the time you need to properly compare cars, car dealerships, and different car deals. (more...)