Cars on Contract

Specialised Car Insurance
Insuring your classic car will require you to take out specialised car insurance.  Many insurers do not offer classic car insurance, sticking to the less specialised markets of mainstream car & van insurance.  This means that you will have to do some research into which insurers are right for you.  You can do this easily online.

Many of those insurers insuring classic cars are in fact specialised providers.  They can also provide insurance cover for vintage cars, obscure car brands or cars and vans that have been heavily adapted or modified.

Bespoke Insurance Deals for Classic Car Owners
Some of the insurance deals that exist especially for classic car owners are limited mileage policies, kit car insurance, agreed value classic cover and classic car club member discounts.

The limited mileage policy takes into account the fact that many classic car owners do not drive their classic car all year round and in all circumstances.  Rather, the car is owned for prestige or collectability, so it is not driven in everyday circumstances.  The means the insurance policies are minimised accordingly.

Kit car insurance is specially designed for replica cars that are often raced on special kit car days.  Insurance can be offered for multiple drivers.  Agreed value classic cover takes into account the fact some classic cars may not last for many more years.

Classic car club member discounts considers the fact that many classic cars are driven by the same people in the same gatherings.

First time buyers often have a difficult time obtaining car finance, particularly if they have no credit.  It is harder yet if what little credit they do have is poor.  So what is the answer?  There are several options to ensure that the car can be purchased with as little trouble as possible.

One way is to establish a bank account at a local bank.  After a relationship has been established for a period of six months, the first time buyer should contact the bank’s loan department for an appointment to see what is available.  Some banks are more lenient toward their customer base.  Some will require a co-signatory to ensure that the monthly payment will be made.  While it is best to obtain a loan on one’s own behalf, having a co-signatory is just as good if the payments are made by the first time buyer and are on time.  This will help to establish good credit, which will become even more important in the future.

Another option is to find a dealer that offers car finance.  This can be a tricky option, depending on the rate the dealer is willing to give.  Sometimes the interest rates are very high which can be quite costly.  Shop around before buying to know the average rate on car loans.  Also, be aware of length of the loan.

Lastly, one can borrow money privately, usually from a friend or family member.  Unless it is the only option, it is generally not a good idea.

Over the course of the twentieth century, the UK system of displaying car registration numbers and letters has become increasingly sophisticated. The original system was implemented from 1904, lasting to the early 1930s. This generally included a letter, which related to the local authority which issued the car registration plate, and a series of numbers to identify the car owner.

The identifying letter code related to the number of inhabitants per town in England and Wales, with London being assigned the letter ‘A’. The numbers then grew in proportion to the number of car owners in a particular area, with London again having the greatest number of cars on the road. In Scotland and Ireland, the letters ‘S’ and ‘I’ were added in advance of the town related letter to denote the country.

From the 1930s, the same system of starting letter and subsequent numbers was developed to include more series’ of letters to keep up with the number of cars on the road. From the 1960s, car registration plates introduced a letter at the end of the combination, which denoted the year the plate was first assigned. Each subsequent year then carried its own letter, ‘A’ standing for 1963, ‘B’ for 1964 and so on. This was changed in the 1983, with ‘A’ now coming at the front of the registration system, ‘B’ being 1984, etc.

The current registration system includes two letters for the region, two numbers for the year and a three letter identifier.

Following their initial check over a used car it is imperative that a potential buyer gets behind the wheel and takes the car for a test drive.  You must feel comfortable with the car you plan to purchase so climb in the seat and drive for at least half an hour. If the dealer protests they are not serious about selling, so simply walk away as your peace of mind is paramount.

One useful tip is to take a friend with you, preferably with some knowledge of cars to enable a second opinion and to double up on the examination and evaluation.

Be sure that the car is comfortable, after all you will be the one in the driving seat and there is nothing worse than electing for style over the practicality of comfort.  Ensure the position of the seat is adjustable and the interior design makes the driving position suitable for you.

When first turning the ignition on check all the warning lights for irregularities. When you finally start the engine check all the other controls such as the lights, washers, heating, stereo, wipers and windows as these can be costly faults to repair later on.

Ensure the engine is cold when starting off as some shady sellers will pre-warm the engine to mask problems. If you have a friend with you ask them to sit in the back seat to give a passenger review.

When driving use all the gears and plan a route incorporating both continuous and stop/start driving on the motorway and town roads, constantly gauging the performance. Check all displays, manoeuvrability and remember to test the reversing capabilities.

Once the driving is completed check all the dials are showing normal readings and open the bonnet to check the engine.  Look for leaks of any kind.

The importance of the test drive cannot be highlighted enough so follow these tips and you will be taking a sure step towards buying a good second-hand car.

Needless to say it is imperative to check the engine when thinking of purchasing a used car.  Being the driving heart of an automobile, the state of the engine will determine the performance of the car and is of course a clear indicator for how the previous owner cared for and maintained the vehicle. Follow these simple guidelines and you will be following the right path to making a sensible purchase.

Lift the bonnet and check the engine compartment interior. Try to pinpoint any signs of rust, excess dirt, oil leakage or any other surplus fluids. Also look for evidence of fresh paintwork. This can be the sign of repairs which are often concealed and left off the vehicle service history by dubious dealers.

Be sure to check the oil.  Remove the dipstick, give it a wipe and then place it back in and then withdraw it.  Make a note of the oil level and the condition of the oil; look for any signs of water in the oil.  These are obvious indicators of the care and maintenance shown to the vehicle that will tell you a great deal about the car’s overall current condition.

Finally, providing it is cool, check the radiator by removing the cap carefully and inserting a rag.  Examine the rag for signs of oil in the coolant, which indicates a problem with the cylinder head gasket – expensive!

Even after your own thorough check it is advisable to ask an independent mechanic to fully assess the car and deliver the all clear before making the purchase.

Another of the registration certificates or documents that may need to be completed and posted to the DVLA is the 3-part V5 car registration document.  Be advised that there are certain sections that must be filled out when in the process of selling and transferring your vehicle to a purchaser.  The details which follow below contains the information and outlines the procedure that needs to be followed.

If you possess the 3-part DVLA registration certificate, you need to complete the “blue” section of the V5 document.  Both the purchaser and you must sign it and then post it straight away to the DVLA – Swansea, SA99 1BA.  Additionally, you are required to provide the purchaser with the correctly completed V5/2 green section.  However, should you sell your vehicle to a “motor trader”, you have to complete section V5/3 or the “red” section on the document.

Additionally, you will need to make sure that you have obtained the motor trader’s full details and their personal information and then post it to the DVLA (see address in the above paragraph).  You will then need to hand both the uncompleted V5 and V5/2 sections (blue and green) over to the motor trader.

Once the completed DVLA registration document has been posted to the agency, be patient and allow up to four weeks before you receive the acknowledgement letter from them.  This document recognises that the sale and transfer of the vehicle has transpired and also discharges any liability that you have for that vehicle.

Taking your driving test is probably one of the most nerve racking experiences of your life and when it’s over you will be itching to hear if you’ve passed or failed. If you have taken lessons with a driving school in Blackpool or local area you will have the best chance of passing. Luckily you won’t have to wait long for your results, as the test examiner will tell you if you’ve passed or failed straight away.

If you have passed you will be able to enjoy driving by yourself, without the need to have a family member or driving instructor next to you in the car. You will have to give the test examiner your provisional licence which they will send to the DVLA to get your full driving licence. Whilst your waiting for your driving licence to come you will be given a pass certificate and a report that highlights any faults you might have had during your test.

If you were unlucky enough to fail your test the examiner will talk to you and your driving instructor to explain why. You can apply to take your test straight away and will be able to re-sit it after 10 working days. You can use this time to practice over the faults that you had in your first test.

Taking driving lessons with a registered driving school in Blackpool or local area is the fastest way to pass your driving test and the instructor can help you practice your driving skills and help you iron out any faults you might have.

There are literally thousands of used Vauxhalls available on the second-hand car market, but choosing the right one can be rather daunting.  To help you find the perfect used Vauxhall for your needs, here are a few of the manufacturer’s most popular models.

One of the most affordable, and therefore one of the most popular used Vauxhalls on the market today, is the Corsa.  There are various models in the range, so which one you buy largely depends on your budget.  Due to its small engine and body size this car makes an excellent first car and many buyers of used models are youngsters fresh from passing their driving test.

Another very popular used Vauxhall is the Astra.  Slightly larger than the Corsa, the Vauxhall Astra is also naturally more expensive second-hand.  However, depending on your budget, you should be able to find a used Vauxhall Astra that will fit the bill.  The range of specifications is vast, so that fact, and the age of the car you have in mind, should ensure that you could find something to suit your pocket.  In addition to sports models, the Astra was also released as an estate version, so you will have a wide range of choice if you decide this is the used car for you.

Finally, another extremely popular used Vauxhall model is the Zafira.  With up to seven seats and substantial baggage space, the Zafira is the ultimate family car in the used Vauxhall range.  Due to its size, you may find the asking price is at the more expensive end of the scale, but having been around for a number of years the chances are that you will manage to find a Zafira to suit your budget.

With the advent of the 7-digit registration plates in 2001, new “mirrored” combinations became available for purchase as personalised number plates.  Many people enjoy these for their novelty, and in many cases they are much less expensive than personalised plates and certainly more reasonable than cherished plates.

A mirrored plate registration shows a mirror image, or near mirror image, of the beginning letters at the end of the plate.  For example, ‘AE53 AES’ is a mirror plate.  The only difference is the ‘3’ in the middle, since the plate holds seven characters.  ‘BE55 BES’ is another possible combination, one which someone named Bess would probably jump at.

Most companies selling these plates have some sort of search function, so if you’re looking for a certain prefix, you can search via that prefix or look down an alphabetical or numerical list and find what you are looking for.  For example, the ‘BU’ prefix could gain you something like ‘BU55 BUS’.  That could be a very fun license, especially for a tiny car!

The market for personalised plates has been growing at a very good rate, and some of the best numbers have already been bought up.  Celebrities and wealthy individuals enjoy the uniqueness of a registration plate that people will remark on as the car goes by.  With a little imagination and a few minutes on the search engine, you can also find a plate that suits your style.

Mirrored registration plates can be a quick and inexpensive way for you to have a little fun with your car that won’t cost any extra petrol.