Daily Motor News – Monday 15 December 2025 

As 2025 draws to a close, the motor claims and insurance landscape continues to evolve amid shifting regulations, changing consumer behaviour, and rapid technological advancement. From road safety to underwriting forecasts, this week’s headlines offer a snapshot of the pressures and progress shaping the sector. 

A new EU report highlights concerning disparities in road safety standards across Europe, underlining the urgency of cross-border collaboration. Meanwhile, EY warns that the UK motor insurance market is set to return to underwriting losses by 2026, reversing a brief period of profitability in 2024 (Insurance Business). 

In the mobility space, consumer sentiment is shifting once again, with demand for petrol and diesel vehicles rising, as noted in EY’s latest Mobility Consumer Index. Alongside this, political uncertainty continues, with the potential rollback of the UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle mandate looming ahead of the next general election (BBC). 

These developments underscore the importance of agility and insight across the claims supply chain. By staying informed and connected, the ILC community continues to play a vital role in building a better tomorrow. 

UK motor insurance tipped back into loss by 2026: EY 

The UK motor insurance market is expected to move back into marginal and then negative underwriting territory over the next two years after a profitable 2024, according to new projections from EY. Read more

Behind the Scenes of Insurance Services with Sam Nicholson 

Insurance Services is the beating heart of our organisation and at the helm is our Head of Insurance Services, responsible for ensuring everything runs smoothly and continues to evolve. From 24/7 First Notification of Loss (FNOL) to claims handling, admin and outbound legal, this role is all about delivering excellence and driving improvement. Read more

Inaugural MIB and Project EDWARD Special Constable Award winner announced 

Special Chief Inspector Samantha Wright was announced as the recipient of the first MIB (Motor Insurers’ Bureau) ‘Special Constable Award for Outstanding Contribution to Roads Policing’, presented at the Project EDWARD Parliamentary Reception. Read more

Meet Daniel, our new Bespoke Personal Motor Regional Trading Underwriter 

ERS sat down with Daniel, its newest member of the Bespoke Personal Motor team, to learn more about his background, his passion for specialist motor, and how he plans to support brokers with more flexibility, more engagement and more opportunities for growth. Read more

Tories to scrap petrol car ban if they win next election 

Kemi Badenoch says the Conservatives will scrap the ban on petrol and diesel vehicles due to come into force in the UK if they win the next election. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, external, the Conservative Party leader said the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate (ZEV) was a “well-meaning but ultimately destructive piece of legislation”. Read more

UK consumer preferences are shifting back towards petrol and diesel cars, EY report reveals 

UK consumer sentiment around Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) has seen a fall in momentum, while buying intent for petrol and diesel vehicles has bounced back, according to the latest EY Mobility Consumer Index. Read more

NHTSA Releases Multi-Year Research Project on Modernizing Safety Standards for Automated Vehicles 

US: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today released the fourth and final volume of its research effort “FMVSS Considerations for Vehicles with Automated Driving Systems.” This research explored potential technical changes to safety standards that would address conformity challenges posed by automated vehicles, which will inform NHTSA’s modernization efforts. Read more

Consumer car finance new business volumes grew by 3% in October 2025 

New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer car finance new business volumes grew in October 2025 by 3% compared with the same month in 2024. Read more

Enterprise Rent-A-Car adds repairer loyalty programme in partnership with LKQ 

Bodyshops on the Enterprise Rent-A-Car repair network are now eligible for reward points through an exclusive Enterprise loyalty programme in partnership with LKQ.  Read more

UK Metals Sector Report: December 2025 

Operating conditions in the UK metals sector remained problematic in 2024-25 as both, supply and demand struggled amidst micro- and macroeconomic challenges. Read more

Plugged-In: EV Collision Insights Q3 2025 

US: Claims frequency for repairable, collision-damaged battery electric vehicles (BEVs) rose to 3.21% in the U.S.—an all-time high and increase of 4.2% year over year. Predictably, new BEV purchases surged, jumping 36% compared to Q3 2024 as many American consumers capitalized on the $7,500 tax credit that expired on September 30. Read more

Leadership in risk management: Driving influence and resilience through strategic communication 

Effective risk management leadership leverages strategic communication to influence executive decisions, build organizational resilience and transform risk into a powerful strategic opportunity. Read more

‘Taxi-dents’ of Christmas: Brits reveal the shocking things they have done in taxis this festive party season 

A new Go.Compare study has uncovered the trouble Brits get up to in taxis at this time of year, and the results read like the script of a chaotic Christmas comedy. Read more

FLA submits consultation response on FCA’s motor finance redress scheme, calling for a fair, targeted and workable solution 

The Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) has today submitted its response to the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) consultation on a proposed Section 404 Motor Finance Consumer Redress Scheme. Read more

The State of Consumer Trust 2025: What 600,000+ merchants reveal about customer confidence 

Trust sits at the center of e-commerce. It’s what shapes every click, every purchase, and every recommendation. Yet many merchants misinterpret what drives it. Read more

Images showing motor industry workers, with some of the vehicles they helped build, have been produced in a project to mark major World War Two anniversaries. Read more

Rhys Jones has been promoted to Testing Operations Manager at Thatcham Research.