Blog

  While many people are sceptical - and maybe even a little nervous - of the idea of driverless cars, at Big Motoring World we’re excited about the possibilities of this incredible technology. There’s been some real progress in this area over the last few years - despite a number of high profile setbacks - and it now looks like driverless cars are all set to arrive on the UK’s roads and motorways in the very near future. Oxbotica are a firm who develop the sophisticated ...

Drivers who routinely speed will soon find that it really isn’t worth it, as speeding fines are set to go up by 50 per cent for the most serious offences. According to AutoExpress, new laws came into force on 24 April 2017. The legislation is aimed squarely at those who commit regular and serious speeding offences, with the aim of reducing accidents at high speed. The average fine in 2015 for speeding was £188, and courts sentenced 166,695 offenders. So, while British drivers tend ...

The practical driving exam for learner drivers in the UK will be undergoing various changes towards the end of this year. In order to bring the test further in line with modern driving behaviour, the test will undergo tweaks which will be effective from 4 December 2017. So, what can you expect as a learner driver? Four Main Changes to Driving Test The four big changes are: Outdated manoeuvres like reversing around a corner will be shunted, in favour of more common manoeuvres such as reverse ...

Flip flopping on their message isn’t exactly new for governments over the years. And when it comes to diesel car emissions, they’ve been true to form. While UK drivers were once encouraged to drive diesel cars thanks to the assumption that they caused less damage than petrol, it turned out that this wasn’t quite the case. Penalties for driving diesel ensued causing a fair amount of outrage among those who followed earlier advice. Suggested diesel scrappage scheme So, the recen...

There are many ways that technology has transformed car ownership, and one of the biggest is the rise of the EV. Electric cars have quickly become more accepted as a viable option for UK drivers. And this means that more EVs are now on the second-hand market. But is it worth buying one? And if you do, what should you keep an eye out for? Is a used EV right for you? It can’t be denied that there are lots of reasons to look into buying a second hand EV, including lower prices, reasonable mil...

If you haven’t heard by now that the British government recently introduced new car tax rules, you’ve been living under a rock. It’s been clear for a while that these new rules could make owning a car more expensive for some people, but new research has shown just how bad it could be for some drivers. Big Motoring World asks: how will new car tax running raise your costs in future? New rules The new car tax rules are set to bring sweeping changes. Under the new system, if you ...

Car insurance is a necessary evil – you’ve got to have it just in case something goes wrong with your car, but it can be insanely expensive, hitting your wallet hard every single month. But there’s one tactic that could really help you save a lot on car insurance, so keep reading to find out what it is… Premiums rollercoaster It’s clear, given what’s going on in the world right now, that living costs are rising. And unfortunately car premiums are going up to...

Breaking down on the roadside is a lot of peoples’ worst nightmare. What if you could predict a breakdown before it happened, so you could get your car sorted ahead of time? Now you’ll be able to, as breakdown insurance provider AA has launched a new technology which can do exactly that! Breakdown cover If your car goes caput while you’re on the road, it can prove costly. You’ll have to pay, among other things, to get experts to come out and either fix your vehicle at th...

Driving is really rewarding, as it gives you the freedom to go anywhere you want in the UK in just hours. But there are some things about driving that get on even the most patient of motorists’ nerves. Big Motoring World looks at recently released research to ask: what annoys British drivers the most? Biggest annoyance We Brits really believe that we’re the best drivers in Europe. But new research commissioned by RAC suggests that when we say this we’re probably referring to j...

Our industry’s best and brightest recently gathered in Geneva for the biggest event in the European car calendar. This was the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, which was held from 9th to 19th March, and really didn’t disappoint, as top brands unveiled their latest supercars and flagship models to the world. Here are Big Motoring World’s highlights from the 2017 Geneva Motor Show  for your reading pleasure. Flying into the future Airbus made a grand spectacle at the Geneva Motor Sh...

It’s a good idea to keep an eye on what the government’s doing, as a British motorist. Whitehall’s car market policies can hit your pocket book, so it’s best to be prepared. UK Chancellor Philip Hammond recently announced the 2017 Budget, and here’s what you need to know about it as a driver. New tax rules As we already reported, new car tax rules are coming in, which Hammond confirmed in the Budget. If you registered your vehicle before 31st March 2017, nothing wi...

It can cost an arm and a leg to take your car to the mechanic. It’s a good idea to carry out checks at least once a month, so you can spot any potential problems before they lead you to the mechanics’ door, saving you serious time and money. Here are five car checks you should do every month. Check screen wash It sounds too pointless to bother with, but check your screen wash levels anyway. You never know when a rainy days going to strike in the UK, so you’ll need to keep the ...

Your car must have a Ministry of Transport (MOT) certificate, if you want to actually drive it. This is something that a surprising amount of Brits don’t seem to fully understand, as new research shows that millions of us have at some point driven without a valid MOT. Big Motoring World reveals more… Rundown on MOTS If your car has an MOT certificate, then it means that the vehicle meets legal road safety and environmental standards, so it’s safe to drive. You have to take yo...

The eyes of car tech enthusiasts have all been drawn to Google this week. The giant technology firm has recently patented an absolutely fascinating car safety system, in a potentially game-changing move. We know you’re eager to find out more, so let Big Motoring World tell you all about it… Tech innovator Once upon a time Google was nothing more than the world’s favourite search engine. Oh how times have changed. Over the past few years, Google has gradually re-positioned itse...

There’s nothing more satisfying than getting a luxury car, such as a BMW or a Mercedes, at a rock-bottom price, because you bought it second-hand. It seems as though this is a popular opinion among many Britons, as new figures show that 2016 was a great year for used car sales in the UK! Increasing sales The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), a body that represents the British car industry, is constantly releasing fresh used car figures. Here at Big Motoring World, we regu...

If you’re a parent, you may put your children on your car insurance policy, to shield them from the ridiculously high premiums that often hit younger drivers. But this is a huge mistake that could really hurt your wallet. Big Motoring World explains why this practise, known as “fronting” should be avoided at all costs and how you use other methods to lower your child’s car insurance premiums. Climbing premiums The cost of car insurance is climbing for everyone right now....

You should be aware, if you or your children are learning to drive, that the government will soon be ushering in some changes. Big Motoring World asks how are UK driving tests changing in 2017? UK driving test There are two exams that you need to pass to get a UK driving license. First there’s the theory test, which is used to examine your understanding of the rules of the road. It involves two sections – one where you answer 50 multiple choice questions and one where you are tasked...

If you’re a parent, it’s crucial that you learn how to fit car seats in your vehicle properly, to keep your kids safe at all time. The UK’s new car seat law will soon come into effect and it will bring a few changes that you need to be aware of. Keep reading as Big Motoring World explains more… Vital info Under UK law, you must sit your child in a car seat until they either grow to 4 feet 5 inches tall or turn 12 years old. You must place them in a rear-facing seat for ...

Parking is one of the most frustrating tasks the average UK motorist faces in their daily life. How do we know this? In a new poll, Brits admitted that they waste a lot of time trying to park their vehicles… Wasting precious time For this study the British Parking Association (BPA), a national trade body, questioned 2,000 UK-based adults. According to BT, the research determined that on average, British motorists waste four days every single year trying to find parking spaces. Also in th...

Google Maps is one of the most important tools in the modern driver’s arsenal. Looking to increase the value it provides to customers, Google recently announced that it is planning to roll out an amazing new feature for Maps, which could benefit drivers everywhere. Big Motoring World reports. Innovative tech The rapid advancement of digital technology, has radically changed car ownership. New cars, especially those released by luxury brands like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, increasingly come wit...

Car insurance is a considerable cost for drivers up and down the UK. But it looks as though it’s getting worse, as new data suggest that car insurance premiums climbed to a four-year high in 2016. Insurance rates It’s important to remember that average car insurance premium rates vary wildly across the country. Statistics gathered by AA indicates that average premiums dip as low as £270 per month in the Isle of Man, making it the cheapest UK market for car insurance. However, ...

It’s critical that you register your vehicle for car tax, as otherwise you can’t drive on the UK’s roads. On 1st April 2017, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s (DVLA) will roll out new rules for car tax, however in a recent survey, most Britons admitted that they’re unaware of this new system. Changing rules You are required, after buying a new car, to tax the vehicle by law. Under the existing system, this tax is calculated according to your vehicle’s...

Industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) recently released new figures which shed light on British new car colour preferences for the last 12 months. Looking at this data, Big Motoring World asks: what was the UK’s most popular new car colour of 2016? Popular colours According to Today, a US news portal, the colour of a car can say a lot about its owner. A silver car, for example, holds futuristic, and prestigious connotations. In contrast, when someone buys a wh...

British government department, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s (DVLA), will introduce its new car tax regulations on 1st April 2017, impacting drivers across the country. Preparing you for these significant changes, here is Big Motoring World’s guide to the DVLA’s new car tax rules. UK car taxes If you buy a car and you plan to drive it, you’re required to tax the vehicle by law. The rate of tax that you pay depends on your car’s engine size (this is the s...

The 2017 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was held this month in Las Vegas, Nevada. At this event, car-makers from around the world gathered to unveil innovative new concept cars and technologies. Looking back on the showcase, here are Big Motoring World’s five highlights from the 2017 CES. New BMW system BMW is constantly pushing the boundaries of car technology development. At the 2017 CES, the brand unveiled its HoloActive Touch system, an innovative in-car control concept. A development...

New reports show the UK’s Department of Transport (DfT) is currently considering proposals, which would see optional sessions on motorway driving included in British driving lessons. Driving tests After taking a theory exam, Britons must pass a practical test, where they’re required to demonstrate their ability to perform key driving skills, to acquire a UK driving license. These skills include various parking manoeuvres e.g. parallel parking, performing emergency stops and independ...

A recent survey shed light on how the development of self-driving cars could benefit various vulnerable sections of the country’s population. Big Motoring World reports. Personal assistants Autonomous vehicle technology is developing rapidly right now, with carmakers announcing increasingly ambitious plans. Luxury German car firm BMW, for example, revealed last year that it aims to have Level 5 self-driving cars, which require no human input to operate, on the roads by 2021. As the field...

A recent editorial on Vice claims that it will be traditional car firms, like BMW and not technology companies, such as apple, who will make autonomous vehicles a viable option for average drivers. Big Motoring World asks: will traditional car manufacturers take autonomous vehicles mainstream. Vice points out that just a year ago, it looked as though tech firms like Google, Apple and Tesla, along with Chinese-funded start-ups such as Faraday Future, would fuel the self-driving car movement. In ...

It’s illegal to use mobile phones while driving, but many people do. In order to tackle this problem, new reports reveal, The Department for Transport (DfT) is considering utilising technology to block mobile phone signals from drivers, preventing motorists from using their devices while driving. Driver perceptions  In a recent survey, we Brits crowned ourselves the best drivers in Europe. However, the same poll found that British drivers do engage in various bad habits while sitting...

The family cars we drive every day are getting bigger. Therefore, the number of car parking accidents is rising, due to inadequate parking bay space sizes. This means that it is more important than ever that you learn how to fix a car dent by yourself, to reduce maintenance costs.   Assess the dent The first thing you need to do is assess the dent, as this will determine the method you use to fix it. You should ask yourself whether the dent is shallow or deep, as in the latter case, it can...

A study from industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders indicates that UK drivers need to do more to keep their cars safe. Almost half (43%) of UK motorists polled have given their car keys to people they don’t know. With the rise of new technologies, however, drivers risk their cars being stolen, due to the onset of the ‘key jamming’ trend, even without being irresponsible with keys. Key jammers, the BBC explains, use transmitters, which can be bought easily...

Autonomous car technology is getting more advanced all the time. BMW, for example, plans to launch self-driving cars which require no human input by 2021. Over the next few decades, therefore, autonomous cars could drastically alter daily life. Big Motoring World asks: how could self-driving cars change the world? Changing infrastructure Forbes notes that LA-based Information Technology Agency’s General Manager, Ted Ross, believes that autonomous cars will change urban infrastructure. Ross...

We Brits are increasingly buying bigger and bigger family cars, to meet the needs of hectic modern life. New research suggests that the UK needs to widen its parking bays, as due to growing car sizes, car park accident rates have risen during the past two years. Big Motoring World comments. Growing car sizesAccording to the Telegraph, the size of popular hatchback car models has increased by a significant 16% throughout the past 15 years. Meanwhile, really large 4x4 models such as Range Rovers a...

We are living in a rapidly changing world, where innovative new digital technologies are being rolled out every single day. Over time, this has fundamentally altered our relationship with cars. Exploring this phenomenon, Big Motoring World asks: how has technology changed car ownership? Viewing cars An article on Tech.Co, a tech start-up news blog, sheds more light on this issue. First, it argued, technology has changed how we view cars. Before we ever set foot in a showroom, we can glimpse e...

UK Chancellor Phillip Hammond recently announced the 2016 Autumn Statement, detailing key financial policies for the coming year. Big Motoring World has learned that due to measures included in the Autumn Statement, your car insurance premiums will probably increase going forward. Autumn statement plans Data released by the AA shows that car insurance premiums vary across the UK. Average car insurance premiums run as high as £1,346 for drivers in our nation’s capital, but go down as...

The British government has recently announced that it is hoping to introduce measures to tackle rising whiplash claim volumes, which could reduce car insurance premiums for drivers throughout the UK. Whiplash problem Car insurance premiums vary across the nation. In a recent study, AA found that on average, the cheapest place in the UK for driving insurance is the Isle of Man, where drivers pay premiums of £270. However, drivers in London, the most expensive region for car insurance, pay a...