Daily Motor News – Monday 12 May 2025 

Car thieves are shifting tactics, now targeting parking sensors and airbags as the black market for car parts grows. Meanwhile, West Midlands Police are cracking down on illegal street racers, resulting in multiple arrests and vehicle seizures. 

On the legal front, AND-E and Keoghs scored a significant victory in a credit hire case, reducing a £48,000 claim to just £1,175. In Norfolk, council vehicles were involved in almost 170 crashes last year, costing taxpayers £390,000. 

Internationally, the UK auto sector welcomed a new UK-US trade deal that cuts tariffs on cars from 27.5% to 10%. Meanwhile, a £1bn investment has been secured for a gigafactory in Sunderland, set to power 100,000 EVs annually. 

Elsewhere, older drivers are paying less for car insurance, and it’s reported a simple one-word mistake on insurance applications could invalidate coverage. 

Security surprise: Thieves now targeting parking sensors and airbags 

Car thieves are now targeting parts such as parking sensors and airbags as the black market for stolen car parts thrives. The theft of parking sensors quadrupled in 2024 as car criminals move to stealing car components rather than taking the vehicles themselves. Read more

Driving bans, arrests and cars seized as reckless street racers facing full force of the law 

Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster joined Operation Hercules officers as West Midlands Police continue their relentless crackdown on illegal street racing and dangerous driving. Read more

AND-E and Keoghs secure significant result in credit hire case 

AND-E (Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Europe), working with Keoghs, has secured a significant saving on a credit hire claim that illustrates the lack of consumer understanding of the credit hire process.  The case of Wiltshire vs AND-E saw the claim for credit hire reduced from £48,000 to £1,175. Read more

Norfolk council vehicles involved in almost 170 crashes 

Eleven fire engines were among almost 170 council vehicles involved in crashes in Norfolk last year. New figures have revealed that Norfolk County Council paid out almost £390,000 in compensation to third parties in 2024/25 after 169 collisions involving its vehicles. Read more

Your car insurance could be invalidated if you get this one word wrong on your application 

Drivers have been urged to check they have got the terms correct on their car insurance policy as a one-word mistake could invalidate your car insurance. Read more

Do older drivers really pay more for car insurance? 

Many older drivers are paying less for car insurance than those in their 30s and 40s, Which? analysis of GoCompare data found. The comparison site figures – based on quotes  – show motorists aged 65 to 74 actually have the cheapest average annual premium, with the cost of cover for a 75 to 84-year-old still lower than a driver in the 35 to 44 age group. Read more

Commentary | Used car transactions Q1 2025 

Ian Plummer, Commercial Director, AutoTrader: “The used car market carried some real momentum into the new year off the back of a very strong 2024, and it’s gathered even greater pace over the last few months despite further political and economic turbulence.” Read more

‘Breakthrough’ UK-US trade deal welcomed by auto sector 

News that the UK and US have finalised a deal to reduce trade tariffs has been welcomed across the automotive sector. The agreement follows weeks of negotiations and will see US tariffs on cars immediately slashed from 27.5% to 10%, for up to 100,000 vehicles – almost the total number that the UK exported last year. Read more

‘They’re coming and they’re serious’: Why automotive industry needs to ’embrace’ China 

Chinese car manufacturers are making European and American rivals seem ‘irrelevant’ thanks to their advanced technology and increased production power. Read more

Tech Trend Radar 2025 

Which innovations will shape insurance in 2025? Discover the game-changers in our Tech Trend Radar 2025 — your guide to the technologies that matter. Read more

£1bn secured for electric car battery plant 

A £1bn investment has been secured for a new electric car battery plant, the government has said. It is hoped the new gigafactory being built at the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) in Washington, Sunderland will support 1,000 jobs and power 100,000 electric vehicles annually. Read more

Revive!’s Spring Surge is well underway in April 

Revive! made a fantastic start to Q2 with a wide range of vehicles coming to the company in April for Smart Repairs. It certainly seems like our annual spring surge in repairs is well underway as figures were skyrocketing throughout the month. Read more

Prasco UK Ltd has celebrated 20 years in business. 

Northern Accident Repair has moved into its new, 19,000sqft Rochdale site. 

Chris Roberts has been promoted to Bodyshop Site Manager at Komoo Thorne. 

Strata has been appointed as the brand experience agency for OMODA and JAECOO in the UK. 

The FIA Region I Plenary Assembly has re-elected Jorge F Delgado for a second term as the FIA Region I President for Europe, Middle East and Africa.