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The good news just seems to keep on coming for fans of alternative energy vehicles - in the wake of a series of recent announcements by national governments of impending bans on diesels, it now seems that electric vehicles are also becoming an increasingly affordable option. Lower running costs Here at Big Motoring World we were certainly intrigued to read news of a recent piece of research that suggests that it is now cheaper to own and run an electric car than a petrol or diesel in the UK, US ...

We all know that it's not great to hog the middle lane on the motorway. It's frustrating, shows a lack of awareness of other road users - and it also could land you in trouble with the police, who class it as 'careless driving'. Here's a quick film that shows how serious the problem is.

Here at Big Motoring World we were surprised recently by an interesting piece of research that reveals exactly which professions have the most car insurance claims. Strangely, it doesn't appear to be the most dangerous or high-risk workers who have the most accidents - the truth is that it seems to be the people who are doing more regular, deskbound jobs that are claiming more often. A surprising picture The research from insurer 1st Central took a look at 400,000 policies across the UK in an at...

  The new driving test has a new 'show me' and 'tell me' element that reflects the kinds of things you need to know once you're driving in real life, such as how to test your brakes or put the fog lights on. Here at Big Motoring World we think this is a great idea - and a useful exercise to go through whether you're taking your test or even if you're an experienced driver. Take a look here. ...

We've all been there. You're running late for work. You can't find your other glove. You jump in the car, turn the key and realise you can't see a thing out of the window. You scrabble in the glove box for a scraper that isn't there, find an empty can of de-icer, and then try to scrape the window with your credit card. It snaps, so you boil a kettle, tip it over and, if you're really unlucky, you crack your windscreen. Icy mornings always seem to catch everyone by surprise (even here at Big Mot...

Winter is well and truly here now - and as the weather is likely to only get worse in the coming months, at Big Motoring World we thought we'd share this short film about driving safely in winter. And yes, we'd really like to try out the Finnish police force's winter driving test track too.

Here at Big Motoring World we welcome anything that helps to reduce accidents and makes our roads safer for everyone. The Government recently took a big step in the right direction recently, with the introduction of a number of positive changes to the UK driving test. The changes - which were thoroughly tested with learner drivers before their implementation - took effect on 4 December. Here's a quick run down of what they are: More independent driving - now 20 minutes rather than 10. A ne...

The Derby Telegraph recently published a useful set of tips on how to make sure you don't invalidate your car insurance. Some might seem obvious - others less so - but they're certainly all worth bearing in mind if you want to stay on the right side of your insurers. Take a look here

The annual UK Budget is always a slightly unnerving time for British motorists - the news is rarely that encouraging, and most gifts are given while something else is simultaneously being taken away. So, here at Big Motoring World we were really pleased to hear that the there is some undiluted good news on the way for the UK car industry - a £500 million cash injection to help support electric motoring in the UK. Riding the wave It's an announcement that is probably not that surprising, gi...

Big Motoring World has launched a premium warranty created specifically for their BMW and Mercedes customers. The warranty is available for cars up to four years old and with less than 75,000 miles on the clock at the time of sale. The new warranty includes a no claims limit with unlimited claims, full breakdown cover throughout the warranty term in association with Drive Assist and a 24 hour, 7 days a week customer help line. “We found that customers were frustrated with the standa...

Big Motoring World has been included in The Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250 league table, which ranks Britain’s private mid-market growth companies with the biggest sales. It is compiled by Fast Track and is published in The Sunday Times – and 2017 is the first year that Big Motoring World has made the list, entering at number 143. “We have been growing our business consistently over the past few years, and so our thanks go to all of the staff who have worked s...

So, the clocks have finally gone forward and the nights are drawing in - and with winter fast approaching we’re already starting to get a taste of some of the more testing driving conditions to come. Driving in cold weather can be treacherous and difficult - but sometimes the problems can start even before you leave your drive. One of the biggest mistakes is leaving your car unlocked and running outside while you wait in the warm. Apart from asking for your car to be stolen (you may as we...

It’s hard to think of a better choice of manufacturer to provide the 2018 safety car for MotoGP. We’re big fans of two wheels as well as four here at Big Motoring World, so we were hugely excited to hear the news that BMW have got the nod for next season. It’s no ceremonial role either - any car that follows a pack of some of the world’s fastest racing bikes needs to be quick, reliable and agile. Track ready That’s why we think the new BMW M5 performance sedan - whi...

It is a hugely emotive area, with good reason. But, here at Big Motoring World we welcome the recent news that the government is putting plans in place to introduce tougher penalties for drivers who cause death by dangerous driving or who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Under current legislation, the maximum sentence for causing death by speeding, racing, or using a mobile phone is 14 years - the new proposals would see this raised to life. Causing death by driving while under th...

We all understand the need to stay focused as we drive. After all, driving is a complex business - it requires a huge amount of concentration to keep an eye on the road ahead while operating a complex and potentially deadly, fast-moving piece of machinery. But, we also know that maintaining that focus - particularly over a long drive - isn’t always easy. So, here at Big Motoring World we weren’t surprised to hear about some recent research that has shown just how distracted some of ...

For the sixth month in a row, increasing numbers of UK car buyers have shied away from buying a new car. The fall in sales - which was announced in October - has been driven in large part by plummeting diesel sales. Consumers are clearly spooked about mixed messages around government plans to improve air quality - diesels are set to face the brunt of any new air quality legislation, and the loss in consumer confidence in the technology is revealed in a spectacular 22 per cent decline in sales of...

Here at Big Motoring World we’re struggling to think of a better place to stage a solar-powered car race than Australia. The latest edition of the World Solar Challenge took place recently, with 42 cars taking part in the largest event of its kind. Bigger than ever The race has been going for an incredible 30 years now, with drivers using only the power of the sun to propel them the 1,878 miles from Darwin to Adelaide. This year’s event featured 95 teams from more than 20 countries. ...

If the Silicon Valley TED-talkers and the Elon Musks of the world are to be believed, we’re heading for a world in which car ownership might well soon be a thing of the past. Just as one day home ownership might seem like a quaint luxury to the generations to come who can no longer to afford to buy, so owning your own vehicle might seem like an unnecessarily costly and risky venture. In an age of autonomous self-driving cars, increasingly technologically advanced electric and hybrid vehicl...

Over here at Big Motoring World this was an idea that struck as an odd one - but if it’s a sign of things to come then we might all need to start getting used to the idea of a ‘no petrol’ station. The next generation Shell are all set to open the UK’s very first next generation forecourt in London in 2018 - offering the capital’s motorists a wide range of biofuels, electric vehicle charge points and hydrogen cell refuelling. The station will be completely free of th...

Sometimes it feels like everything in the future will be 3D printed - from cars to houses to furniture - but could this groundbreaking technology really be the future of tyre manufacturing in years to come? Well, some very talented people at Michelin and Continental clearly think so, if their latest concept designs are anything to go by. Latest concepts We’re used to seeing the latest cars and visions of the future at the Frankfurt Motor Show, but it was two concepts from these leading tyr...

Here at Big Motoring World we were interested to hear that Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced controversial plans to introduce low emission zones in Scotland. The big idea is to penalise drivers who want to drive into some of Scotland’s largest cities unless their vehicles have the latest clean technology - plans that would include most diesel vehicles. Four cities are expected to bring in the new zones, with Glasgow leading the way later this year, followed by Edinbur...

It’s fascinating how quickly the mind gets used to ideas that at one time seemed fantastical - as human beings we are adapting more and more quickly to the incredible rate of change in our lives. While we’re not quite there yet, if you had told us a few years ago here at Big Motoring World that one day autonomous drones would be delivering items we’d ordered the same day, or that our phones would have built in face recognition, we’d never have believed it. But now, in to...

When a market as huge and as economically significant as China makes a decision, the world tends to sit up and take notice. So the recent announcement by the Chinese government, announcing that they are working on a timetable to end the “production and sales of traditional energy vehicles,” certainly made an impact here at Big Motoring World. If the announcement is an accurate indication of Chinese plans - and there is little reason to think it’s not - then it’s hugely s...

It’s a curious thing - and a phenomenon that we’ve certainly noticed here a Big Motoring World. The great British public have taken convertibles to their hearts - this despite our less than predictable weather. Most British owners of soft tops will have lost count long ago of the number of times they’ve hopefully looked skywards, taken the roof down and set off on a journey, only to be forced to pull over in a panic only minutes later as the heavens open. This just isn’t ...

Every generation sees themselves as pioneers in some way - the first people to see the way the wind is blowing, the first to embrace new ideas and start revolutions. And it seems that the same applies in the car industry too - as alternative power trains become increasingly popular, and the major manufacturers begin to pour money into researching the next big thing in car development - it is the younger drivers who are embracing change. In depth research Recent research by the AA - which asked 1...

We’ve probably all been there - especially on long distance drives. You rub your eyes, stretch as much as you can, have a coffee, and tell yourself you’ll skip this stop and push on to the next service station. It’s a common mistake - and it can be absolutely deadly. Recent research has shown that driving when you’re tired can actually be even more dangerous than driving under the influence of drugs. And while most of us would never do that, it still seems to be acceptabl...

Last year, here at Big Motoring World we were excited to hear the news that BMW was entering into an innovative partnership with tech giants Intel, to work together on developing its own autonomous, self-driving cars. Since then, Fiat Chrysler has also announced that it will join this groundbreaking partnership - an encouragingly collaborative approach in what is often a highly competitive environment. Testing times ahead The plan is for BMW to eventually have around 40 autonomous self driving c...

Considering the clarity of the Highway Code, it never fails to surprise us at Big Motoring World how much confusion there is about what you can and can’t do when you’re behind the wheel. So, from the legality of listening to your favourite tunes on your headphones while driving, to whether you can get away with imagining you’re on the German autobahn on the UK’s motorways, here are a few myths we’ve busted. You’re not allowed to wear headphones while you&rsquo...

Here at Big Motoring World, we welcome the recent news that motorway driving is soon going to be allowed for learner drivers. The UK Government has announced that from 2018, learner drivers will be permitted to hone their driving skills on the UK’s motorways – just as long as they’re accompanied by a qualified driving instructor. There are no plans as yet to add motorway driving to the test, as there are some areas of the country where accessing a motorway is too difficult. A ...

Driving licences were first handed out in the UK in 1903 – but it wasn’t until 1935 that the official driving test came into force. It’s been through a few changes since then (there are a few of the older members of our team here at Big Motoring World who remember when hand signals were still a part of the test!). It wasn’t until the 90s that reverse parking became a part of the test, and 1996 before the theory test came in. A new raft of changes are now due – and ...

Here at Big Motoring World, it’s something we’ve heard people say before: “All the best drivers fail their tests a few times.” Whether or not failing your test a number of times before finally passing actually makes you a better driver or not, we don’t know – but recent research suggests that there’s a curious link between being highly qualified and not passing first time. A qualified success The research was carried out Privilege DriveXpert, and the res...

Are we there yet? Anyone who has had the dubious pleasure of spending a long journey with a car full of tired, bored children (or who remembers the experience as a child), will know that it can be an arduous experience. So, with the summer holidays upon us, here at Big Motoring World we thought it would be good idea to share some tips to get you through your next road trip with the little ones. Prepare for the worst Accidents happen – drinks get spilled, food gets smeared over faces, and p...

Will self driving cars go the way of the long promised, but never really delivered hoverboard? Here at Big Motoring World we’re pretty sure not - judging by the amount of investment that the big companies are putting into researching, developing and now testing these cars, you can be sure we’ll be seeing them on the roads sometime soon. State of play So where do things currently stand with driverless cars? Well, here in the UK they’ve already been out and about, being tested on...

We’re not huge fans of tolls here at Big Motoring World. It’s not about just the inconvenience of having to break your journey to search in your pocket for some change from time to time - for motorists who have to use tolled routes regularly, the cost can become prohibitive. Taking a toll Tolls feel like a brake on free movement and can impact negatively on people’s ability to commute regularly or run their businesses. So, the broad agreement by most of the leading parties duri...

‘Iconic’ is a word that gets seriously over-used - these days everything from buildings to haircuts are given the label. But here at Big Motoring World we’re quite happy to use it for vehicle as legendary as the traditional black London cab - a car so distinctive that you could tell it from its outline alone. It’s been a fixture on London’s streets since the Austin FX4 was introduced in 1958, but its current version has been coming under increasing pressure to adapt...

Have you noticed how nothing ever seems to get cheaper? We certainly have here at Big Motoring World - which is why we thought it would be a great idea to share a few money saving tips with you in this blog. Rising costs We were struck by a shocking statistic recently - that with recent rises in road tax, drastic hikes in fuel prices and rising premiums, almost half of the UK can’t afford to have a car. Research shows that motorists in the south east of England alone spent a total of aroun...