Most modern cars now come with Alloy wheels as standard but other times you must pay extra when the car is new to have them fitted at the factory. Often alloys are the more sporty options, so if you opt for a model of vehicle that is sporty or the higher end version you will most likely have alloy wheels on it. There are advantages and disadvantages of having alloy wheels over steel wheels and often people go for them purely for the look and style that they add to the car. If you damage a steel wheel, you may find that if you were considering putting alloy son then this would be a good time to replace your steels with a full set of alloys. Alloys wheels can be...

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A MOT test is an annual test of vehicle safety, roadworthiness aspects and exhaust emissions required in the United Kingdom for most vehicles over three years old. It is required by law if the vehicle is going to be used on public roads. Once a vehicle is over three years old a new MOT test will need to be carried out every 12 months. If you take your car to a main dealership or a garage which is part of a chain then you will likely receive reminders to tell you when your MOT is next due. If you use a small independent garage this may not always happen. The DVLA do not send out MOT reminders so it is your responsibility to check that the MOT is still in...

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Buying a second hand car can always be a bit of a worry. You never quite know what exactly you are buying even if you do all the research. If you are buying or have bought a second hand car in the region of £1500 or less then research shows that you can expect to have to spend a similar amount of money again on it over the next year or so. It is important to do some checks before committing to the purchase of a second-hand vehicle. Firstly you should ask to see the HPI certificate which is a check to show that the car has not been subject to a write-off, have outstanding finance on it or plate changes etc. It can also sometimes show you mileages taken...

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Many of us would love to be able to buy a brand new car but simply cannot afford too. For every new car sold in the UK there are about three used ones sold. Buying a used car always carrys an element of risk. You may be buying a car off a complete stranger and have no idea of the history, if it has been looked after or even if the mileage is accurate. You will have to rely on the information you have such as service history and previous MOT’s. Even if you buy a car off someone you know and trust, they may not be aware of an outstanding issues which could only arise after you have purchased the vehicle. Ideally, you want to try and buy a...

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Before committing to buying a new or used car be sure to check the boot capacity if space is important to you. You need to think carefully about how much space you need. Many people assume that most 5 seater cars have a similar amount of boot space but this is not correct. Also just because it is advertised as a 5 seater, doesn’t necessarily mean that you will fit five adults in without a struggle. If you need to put car seats in the back, again you will often struggle to get three across the back seats.  Some cars have a lot of room for the passengers but the boot is very small meaning you struggle to get your weekly shopping in let alone a pushchair or have somewhere...

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