Daily Motor News – Monday 05 January 2026 

Welcome to the first edition of ILC’s Daily Motor News for 2026 – a year already marked by wintry disruption, shifting trends and continued transformation across the motor sector. 

The UK has returned to work and school under amber weather warnings, with the RAC predicting the busiest breakdown day of the year and insurers urging drivers to take extra precautions against frost-related risks such as vehicle theft and damage. 

The FCA has launched an investigation into a claims management firm amid concerns about advertising practices linked to motor finance cases. At the same time, pothole-related claims have risen sharply – up 91% over three years – highlighting infrastructure pressures on the claims landscape. 

In the EV market, China’s BYD has overtaken Tesla in global electric vehicle sales for the first time, while UK consumer optimism for 2026 remains tempered by economic headwinds. 

On the supply side, Euro NCAP’s new safer trucks programme has been recognised for its commitment to improving heavy vehicle safety across Europe. 

With the year ahead poised to challenge and evolve the sector further, ILC looks forward to continuing to support insight and collaboration – working together for a better tomorrow. 

Council pothole claims rise by 90% in three years 

Pothole compensation claims submitted to 177 local authorities have jumped by 91% in just three years – soaring from 27,731 in 2021 to 53,015 in 2024, new data analysed by the RAC reveals. Read more

FCA opens investigation into claims management company 

The FCA has opened an enforcement investigation into The Claims Protection Agency Limited (TCPA) following concerns about its advertising and sales tactics in relation to potential motor finance claims. Read more

With temperatures below zero, experts warn car owners not to become a victim of ‘frost-jacking’ 

With temperatures having dropped below zero and many parts of the UK seeing severe ice and snow this morning, the car insurance experts at Go.Compare are warning drivers not to leave cars unattended while they defrost – as you could risk your car being stolen, or potentially a costly fine. Read more

AA Accident Assist reveals what drivers crashed into during 2025 

As people reflect on the ups and downs of the last year, some 67,000 customers who used the AA’s Accident Assist service, may be thinking about the crashes they’ve been involved in. Unsurprisingly, the most common incident was colliding with another vehicle while driving (40%*), but there are many other crashes which may have been avoided. Around a fifth (19%) of crashes involved hitting a parked car, whereas one in 10 incidents involved driving into the back of another vehicle in slow moving traffic. Read more

80 Years of ERS: Built on specialism, shaped by brokers and focused on the future 

In 2026, ERS will reach a milestone that very few insurers ever achieve. Our 80th anniversary. Since 1946, ERS has had a clear purpose: to be a specialist motor insurer that understands risks others don’t, to work closely with brokers to deliver solutions where standard approaches fall short and to make your client’s motoring passions and livelihoods possible. Read more

The ABI issues advice for homeowners and drivers ahead of upcoming cold weather 

With amber warnings for snow in force across Scotland for the weekend, and cold weather expected across the UK, the ABI is sharing advice with customers to stay safe and protect their homes in low temperatures. Read more 

China’s BYD overtakes Tesla as world’s top EV seller 

China’s BYD has overtaken Elon Musk’s Tesla as the world’s biggest seller of electric vehicles (EVs), marking the first time it has outpaced its American rival in annual sales. Read more

SMMT Impact and Influence Report 2025 

The 2020s have proved so far to be a decade of rapid transformation for the automotive industry, and 2025 has been no different. Some challenges remain familiar – geopolitical and economic uncertainty, the zero emission transition, navigating the complexity of global supply chains. Others have been new and profound – the upending of international trade relations by new US tariff policy and a cyber incident that cast vast ripples across production at every level. Read more

Optimism for 2026 Tempered by Deteriorating Economy 

The deterioration of the UK economy is expected to offset causes for optimism as the rental and leasing sectors prepare to face mixed fortunes in 2026. While the sector stands in good stead to take advantage of emerging opportunities for growth, it is preparing to support customers through developing financial headwinds. Read more

Good Practice of the Month – January 2026, awarded to EURO NCAP for establishing the project Euro NCAP Safer Trucks Programme 

Our January spotlight features the project, ‘Euro NCAP Safer Trucks Programme,’ established by Euro NCAP in the EU (with the organisation based in Leuven, Flemish Brabant, Belgium). The project aims to improve the safety performance of heavy trucks across Europe by encouraging the adoption of advanced technologies and standards that help prevent, manage and reduce the severity of road crashes. Read more

Carpenters Group: Careers that thrive – how culture and policy are shaping the future of insurance 

Over the course of my career, I’ve seen the insurance and legal sectors evolve in ways I couldn’t have imagined when I started out. While there have certainly been challenges along the way, I’ve been fortunate to grow within a company that’s embraced progress and created the kind of environment where careers can truly thrive. Read more

NVCRP 2025 Round-Up: A Year of Progress, Partnership, and Impact 

2025 marked the end of a highly productive year for the National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership. The year included an important milestone for the Partnership, which celebrated its first anniversary in November. In just over twelve months, the NVCRP has established itself as a credible national body, delivering measurable outcomes and strengthening the UK’s response to organised vehicle crime through a clear strategy and coordinated action. Read more

Callum Beaton FCII, has begun his term as President of the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), the largest international professional membership body for insurance and financial planning professionals. Callum takes over the role from Nicola Stacey ACII. Debbie Mitchell DipPFS will serve as Deputy President for 2026. Read more