Motors tips — Martin Lewis’ advice to cut car insurance plus Wheeler Dealers host’s sneak peek at new series

Huge 370-acre UK car factory demolished

Honda's 370-acre car factory has been demolished.

The facility, based in Swindon, ceased operation in 2021, leaving 3,500 workers out of a job.

The factory will be replaced by 11 new buildings in a £700m new development, The Swindon Advertiser reports.

DEAD END

Major car brand's huge 370-acre UK factory demolished as site is replaced

How potholes damage your car

Potholes are all too common on Britain’s roads, damaging cars and enraging drivers everywhere.

Potholes specifically cause harm to your car’s suspension, tyres and exhausts.

Deep potholes can even leave you with flat tyers or cause your car to lose power.

Six retro-style motorcycles for under £8,000

Experts have shared six classic motorcycles you can get your hands on for under £8,000.

Top options include an iconic Triumph roadster and a beginner-friendly, super-cheap Honda.

Here are Motobob's top affordable classic bikes:

• Royal Enfield HNTR350
• Fantic Caballero
• Honda Monkey
• Triumph Speed 400
• Kawasaki 650RS
• BSA Gold Star

Find out more about each motor in the piece below...

WHEEL DEAL

Six retro-style motorcycles for under £8,000 including beginner-friendly Honda

Your postcode can impact car insurance prices

Perhaps unfairly, your postcode can actually impact the price of your car insurance.

Living in busy, built-up areas will usually increase costs due to the higher probability of an accident.

Postcodes aren’t the only strange factor considered when insurers decide the price of your cover.

They may also factor in the weather, living near a river may see them consider the cost of water damage.

Staggering cost of potholes to British economy revealed in new report

Potholes are costing the British economy an estimated £14billion, a report from the Centre for Economics and Business Research reports.

Damaging cars, causing accidents and adding to congestion means potholes are more than a simple annoyance to drivers.

Douglas McWilliams, the report author, said: “Potholes waste drivers’ time, put cyclists’ lives at risk and damage the environment.

“The government can afford to act. Why doesn’t it?”

COSTS A HOLE LOT

Staggering cost of potholes to UK economy revealed in shock report

Bentley to unveil most powerful car in brand's history

Bentley is set to reveal the "most powerful" car in the brand's history in a matter of days.

The iconic car manufacturer will unveil the third model from their reinvigorated Mulliner coach-building division on May 7.

The new motor is expected to receive Bentley's "most potent" W12 engine to date, according to Autocar.

But petrol heads will have to move fast, as only 16 examples will be built.

HELL BENT

Bentley to unveil the most powerful car in its history in a matter of days

England's speeding hotspots revealed

The areas of the country where drivers are most likely to be caught speeding have been revealed.

New research from Go.Compare ranked "the most dangerous places to drive", urging Brits to report reckless motorists to the police.

Using Home Office, DVLA and police data from 2022, the study compared the amount of speeding offences in an area with the number of registered drivers.

Follow our motors blog for all the latest tips, deals and news

This is your one-stop shop for all the latest car news, deals and tips.

From cheap gadgets to car insurance deals you’ll find everything here.

Is it always illegal to drive without insurance?

Yes, driving without insurance on a public road is against the law.

However, if the land you are diving on isn’t accessible by the public you do not need insurance.

The minimum cover you need to drive on public roads is called “third-party insurance.”

This covers you if you’re deemed responsible for a road accident that causes damages to another person or their property.

Tesla unveils new ‘quicker, more powerful‘ Model 3

Elon Musk’s Tesla has unveiled a new version of the company’s popular Model 3 Performance.

The new EV has gone on sale for £59,990 and is promised to be an upgrade to the favourite.

First released in 2017, the Model 3 was Britain’s second-best-selling car in 2021.

Tesla said in a press release they had made: “what we consider to be a perfect, high-performance daily driver.”

What is the punishment for driving without insurance?

Driving on public roads without insurance is illegal and can lead to some serious punishments.

As per RAC, the police can:

• Hand out a fixed penalty fine of £300.
• Dock 6 points off the driver’s license.
• Seize the vehicle.
• Destroy the vehicle.

A court can then issue:

• An unlimited fine.
• Disqualification from driving.

Underinflated tyres reduce fuel efficiency

A common tyre issue could be costing you hundreds of pounds.

Wrongly inflated tyres can make your motor drive less efficiently and therefore cost you more money.

Underinflation can reduce a vehicle’s fuel efficiency by 10 per cent, costing the average family about £100 a year.

A poll of 1,000 motorists commissioned by Apollo Tyres found that only 15 percent of road users check their tyre pressures weekly.

When can you drive without wearing a seatbelt?

There are rare scenarios when wearing a seatbelt isn’t a legal requirement.

According to gov.uk, you don’t need to wear a seat belt if you’re:

• a driver who is reversing, or supervising a learner driver who is reversing
• in a vehicle being used for police, fire and rescue services
• a passenger in a trade vehicle and you’re investigating a fault
• driving a goods vehicle on deliveries that is travelling no more than 50 metres between stops
• a licensed taxi driver who is “plying for hire” or carrying passengers

£6 gadget that can save you £1,000s on repairs

The revolutionary tyre puncture repair kit requires no tools or jack – so no motorist is left stranded on the road side.

And they won’t have to fork out £1,000s repeatedly buying new tyres at a garage.

It costs less than a tenner, marked up at just £6.39 on the shelves.

Holts Tyreweld Puncture Repair claims to cause “no damage” and uses a “safe non-toxic-formula” which washes off easily.

It is currently available on the Tool Station website and has been hailed with glowing five-star reviews from buyers.

Britain’s most iconic cars revealed

The Mini Cooper is Britain’s most iconic car, a new survey has revealed.

The research found that a third of Brits (27%) feel affection towards the small motor, placing it ahead of the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost (23%), James Bond’s Aston Martin DB-5 (22%) and even the Jaguar E-Type (22%).

1. Mini Cooper – 27%
2. Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost – 23%
3. Aston Martin DB5 – 22%
4. Jaguar E-Type – 22%
5. Morris Minor – 15%
6. Aston Martin DB11 – 15%
7. Land Rover Defender – 13%
8. Ford Escort MK1 – 13%
9. Ford Cortina MK1 – 13%
10. Aston Martin Vanquish – 13%

Cost of attacks on Sadiq Khan’s hated Ulez cameras revealed

Figures show the Met Police recorded 1,760 incidents of criminal damage or theft from April to February.

There are more than 3,400 cameras in London, charging drivers of polluting vehicles £12.50 a time to enter the city.

But Mayor Sadiq Khan’s un­popular scheme has led to 40 to 60 attacks a week, say insiders.

Each camera is believed to be worth £10,000 so the total cost to replace damaged ones would be £17.6million.

Modifying your car could shorten its lifespan

Drivers should avoid making modifications to their cars, according to advice from RAC.

Making extensive changes to a vehicle, such as tuning the engine for more power, can put strain on other components.

Meanwhile, adding stiffer suspension can cause damage to the chassis, subframes and bushes.

Perhaps most importantly, making changes to your car will often lower its value, making it tougher to sell.

£1 Boots item transforms car

Costing just £1 at Boots, shaving foam is one of a few miracle household products that has a dual purpose as a cleaning tool.

Interior decorating magazine, House Beautiful, raved about the closeted cleaning product writing: “prepare to be enlightened, because the grooming essential is actually a brilliant cleaning tool.”

Salt, washing up liquid and shampoo also have the same effect.

They can be used to get rid of various types of stains from wine spillages to chewing gum.

Nic Shacklock, an expert at Online-Bedrooms.co.uk, said: “Carpet stains can be an absolute nightmare to clean especially if they’ve been sitting there unnoticed for weeks.

“These stains can be lifted with some common household items meaning you won’t have to spend a fortune having to get the entire floor deep cleaned.

“Washing up liquid is a great solution to getting rid of mud marks and baking soda can remove any lingering odours.”

When can you drive without wearing a seatbelt?

There are rare scenarios when wearing a seatbelt isn’t a legal requirement.

According to gov.uk, you don’t need to wear a seat belt if you’re:

• a driver who is reversing, or supervising a learner driver who is reversing
• in a vehicle being used for police, fire and rescue services
• a passenger in a trade vehicle and you’re investigating a fault
• driving a goods vehicle on deliveries that is travelling no more than 50 metres between stops
• a licensed taxi driver who is “plying for hire” or carrying passengers

New AI cameras to be rolled out in MORE UK areas

Drivers have been warned they could be slapped with a £1,000 fine and six penalty points as AI cameras are rolled out across ten UK areas.

Although a trial for the new devices began in 2021 National Highways are now expanding their network to clamp down harder on unsafe motorists.

The cameras work by automatically detecting drivers who are in breach of the law by flouting seat belt regulations or being on their phone while at the wheel.

Fixed to vehicles or trailers the advanced recorders boast multiple lenses which can capture various angles of both the driver and their passengers.

Any data captured undergoes scrupulous processing before being forwarded to police.

Drivers found to be on the wrong side of the law are notified through warning letters.

The expanded trial will run until March 2025 and will see esteemed police forces take part.

Top tips to prevent falling asleep at the wheel

IAM RoadSmart’s advice on how to avoid the dangers of drowsy driving:

• Extreme tiredness can lead to micro-sleeps – a short episode of drowsiness or sleep that could last a fraction of a second or up to 30 seconds. A car driving at 70 mph will travel 31 meters per second, giving plenty of time to cause a serious crash during a micro-sleep.
• The effects of losing one or two hours of sleep a night on a regular basis can lead to chronic sleepiness over time. So ensure you are well rested and feeling fit and healthy before you set off.
• Make sure you take regular rest breaks to split up the journey when driving on a long, boring stretch of a motorway. It’s good practise to stop at least every two hours and it’s essential to take a break before the drowsiness sets in.
• Plan an overnight stop. If you feel too fatigued to carry on driving, book yourself into a hotel at the next service station and sleep it off. It’s good to note that a caffeine high may be a quick fix, but it is not a long term solution and certainly no substitute for proper sleep.
• You’re bound to be tired after a full day at work, so avoid setting out on a long drive after you have finished for the day. It’s best to start your journey earlier on, and when you’re more alert.
• Avoid driving between the two peak times for sleepiness. These are between 3am and 5am and also between 2pm and 4pm.
• If you have taken prescribed medication, seek advice from your GP as to whether you should be driving or not. If bought over the counter, read the instructions on the pack or speak to a pharmacist.

99p Tesco product that can transform your car

Drivers can get their hands on a 99p Tesco item that that can leave their headlights sparkling.

In a video posted on TikTok by motors whizz Ashton Taylor-Burns, the content creator shared his golden advice.

“You’re going to need an old toothbrush and some baking soda toothpaste,” Ashton said.

“Spray your headlights with soapy water and then wipe off with a paper towel.

“Now add your toothpaste to the headlight and make sure it’s fully covered, scrub hard for a minute.

“Spray the headlight again with soapy water and rub with a paper towel to buff it out. Make sure to apply a lot of pressure when doing this.”

Look beyond mileage when buying a second-hand car, expert reveals

The first thing any driver looks at when buying a second-hand car is its mileage.

While this is important, classic car expert and mechanic Marc ‘Elvis’ Priestly has warned against letting it decide your purchase.

He told the Sun: “Yes, if your engine’s done 200,000 miles, it’s had a hard life, and components will wear out, but there are lots of other things that might suffer on a very low mileage car if it hasn’t been run anywhere. 

“If it’s been sat in storage for a long time, some people will think that’s a wonderful thing, and that it’s going to be in great condition, but there are still things that will deteriorate on a car just due to its age, like corrosion in the bodywork.”

Modifying your car could shorten its lifespan

Drivers should avoid making modifications to their cars, according to advice from RAC.

Making extensive changes to a vehicle, such as tuning the engine for more power, can put strain on other components.

Meanwhile, adding stiffer suspension can cause damage to the chassis, subframes and bushes.

Perhaps most importantly, making changes to your car will often lower its value, making it tougher to sell.

Modifying your car could shorten its lifespan

Drivers should avoid making modifications to their cars, according to advice from RAC.

Making extensive changes to a vehicle, such as tuning the engine for more power, can put strain on other components.

Meanwhile, adding stiffer suspension can cause damage to the chassis, subframes and bushes.

Perhaps most importantly, making changes to your car will often lower its value, making it tougher to sell.