Daily Motor News – Monday 26 January 2026 

This week’s headlines explore how technology, pricing, and trust are shaping the future of motor insurance and mobility. 

A Which? survey of over 3,000 drivers has revealed the best-rated car insurers in the UK, while concerns grow over the impact of EV adoption on premiums – with reports automatic-only drivers paying nearly double compared to those licensed for manuals. 

In the US, Lemonade has launched autonomous car insurance offering discounted cover for Tesla FSD miles, as software takes an increasingly dominant role in vehicle development. At the same time, Tesla has been fined for failing to cooperate with UK police in multiple road offence cases. 

Elsewhere, Dorset is rolling out more 20mph zones, EV workshop safety is under scrutiny, and fraudsters are increasingly targeting newer vehicles for mileage tampering. 

As software-defined vehicles reshape the industry, and auction market mergers gain regulatory support (CMA ruling), the sector continues to accelerate towards a more connected, complex future. 

Best car insurance companies in the UK 2026 

Which? has surveyed 3,464 car insurance customers to discover the best car insurance companies and policies in the UK. Read more

Report: Automatic-only drivers hit with near-double premiums as EV shift gathers pace 

Drivers restricted to automatic cars are facing steep insurance penalties compared with motorists holding full manual licenses, new figures suggest, raising fresh questions for brokers about how the UK’s rapid shift to automatics and EVs is being priced. Read more

Lemonade unveils Autonomous Car Insurance, slashing rates for Tesla FSD miles by 50% 

US: Lemonade (NYSE: LMND), the digital insurance company powered by AI and social impact, announced the launch of Lemonade Autonomous Car insurance, a first-of-its-kind product designed specifically for self-driving cars, starting with Tesla FSD. Read more

Guest Blog: How software-defined vehicles are reshaping the auto industry 

Software development and integration is fast becoming the driver of a fundamental shift across the entire vehicle life cycle writes Steve Gasser, Business Development Manager, the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC). Read more

Tesla fined for repeatedly failing to help UK police over driving offences 

Tesla has been convicted at least 18 times and ordered to pay more than £20,000 for repeatedly failing to co-operate with UK police forces. The British arm of Elon Musk’s electric car giant has faced multiple criminal court proceedings over the past two years linked to alleged road traffic offences. Read more

Scaling software-defined vehicles: From build to organisational readiness  

As vehicles become increasingly defined by software rather than hardware, organisational readiness to scale automotive software has become a critical competitive differentiator. Nowhere is this competitive advantage more visible than in mainland China, where automakers are advancing software-defined vehicle (SDV) platforms at unprecedented speed. Read more

More 20mph speed limits – but do they work? 

More 20mph speed limits are being introduced across Dorset, with 10 towns and villages getting restrictions before Easter. It is the third phase of Dorset Council’s 20mph policy, introduced in 2022, giving town and parish councils the chance to apply for the lower speed limits, but are they making a difference? Read more

EV workshop safety: What independent garages, dealerships and EV service centres need to get right 

If you walk into your workshop tomorrow morning, can you say with absolute certainty that your team is protected from hazards they cannot see, smell, or hear? The rapid growth of EV servicing in the UK is no longer a forecast; it is a present reality. Read more

Newer cars increasingly targeted by mileage fraudsters 

While older vehicles remain the most frequently clocked overall, newer cars are increasingly targeted by fraudsters because of their higher resale values, new analysis suggests. Read more

How many miles do the British put on their car per year? 

When looking at used cars, odometer readings are obviously one of the first things we check. But is a high-mileage car always a bad buy? And how does the average mileage per year in the UK stack up against the rest of the continent? Read more

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally given the green light to Constellation’s takeover of Aston Barclay, concluding the deal is unlikely to harm competition in the used car auction market. Read more