Daily Motor News – Tuesday 17 December

Government publishes medical reporting consultation outcome 

The government has published its response to the ‘Revisions to the Medical Reporting Process for Road Traffic Accident Claims’ consultation paper. The consultation sought input from medical experts, medical reporting organisations, the legal profession and insurers or anyone else with an interest in the medical evidence reporting process. Full story

AXA UK partners with Lloyds Banking Group to offer motor insurance products 

AXA UK has announced a partnership with Lloyds Banking Group. The agreement, which secures AXA’s solus capacity over a five-year term for the Lloyds Banking Group motor portfolio under its well-recognised brands Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland, will commence from May 2025. Full story

ACSO comments on government response to medical reporting process consultation 

Commenting on the publication of the government’s response to the 2023 consultation on ‘Revisions to the Medical Reporting Process for Road Traffic Accident Claims’, Matthew Maxwell Scott, Executive Director of the Association of Consumer Support Organisations (ACSO), said: “Despite it being almost 18 months since the original consultation, we still do not know when any inflationary increases to fixed costs medical reports will be implemented, other than ‘in 2025’. Full story

Enterprise research reveals Christmas drivers going the extra mile 

New research from Enterprise Rent-A-Car has revealed that festive travellers are driving further this year, but may be worried their cars won’t go the distance. It found that almost half of all trips during the festive season will be by car (47%), while around one in six trips (17%) will include a rental vehicle this season. Full story

Just a third of grey fleet drivers are asked to sign and adhere to a driving-for-work policy reveals TTC 

Despite 99% of fleet professionals surveyed by TTC Group confirming they proactively promote responsible and safe business driving, just 33% of them ask grey fleet drivers to sign and adhere to a driving-for-work policy, one of the most important steps a business can take to reduce risk.  Furthermore, just over half said they invest in training for grey fleet drivers. Full story

Improving Consumer Understanding of Motor Legal Cover 

Motor Legal Cover is a common add-on but is often misunderstood. What can insurers do to help customers better understand it? 

Motor Legal Cover is an incredibly common add-on for motor insurance. Nearly 20 million customers bought this cover as an add-on or part of their car insurance in 2023 and 40% of motor insurers’ add-on revenue comes from motor legal cover. However, while this type of policy is very common, its claim rate is low. Full story

Can a car dash cam help with insurance claims? 

You’ve been in a car accident and it wasn’t your fault. But can you prove that? 

When it comes to accidents on the road, who’s to blame isn’t always clear. And even if you know it wasn’t your fault, proving that can sometimes be difficult when it’s your word against someone else’s. 

That’s just one of the reasons why dash cams are becoming more and more popular. They can provide a record of what happened in a car accident, which can help determine who was at fault and make the process smoother for everyone involved. Full story

Financial Ombudsman Service receives more than 4,800 new cases from businesses 

The Financial Ombudsman Service for small businesses has received more than 4,800 new cases from businesses so far this financial year, new figures have revealed. Fraud and scams remain the most common issue raised by these businesses, with over 1,000 complaints received in this category so far this financial year. Full story

European manufacturers call for decisive action on end-of-life vehicle regulation  

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has called for decisive action on End-Of-Life Vehicles Regulation from EU Environment Council. It wants a stepwise approach to plastic recycled content targets, to consider the challenges of limited closed-loop secondary raw material availability, the need for mandatory dismantling measures, and to consider the particularities of heavy-duty vehicles. Full story

The UK electric vehicle boom is set to accelerate 

Following a big push from the government and electric vehicle (EV) producers, the UK is expected to undergo a significant shift away from internal combustion (ICE) vehicles in favour of EVs in the coming years. This news comes despite lower-than-expected EV sales in the US and Europe this year. Full story 

Changes to ZEV could risk billions of pounds of UK investment 

A group of organisations that represent UK charge point operators, manufacturers, service providers, and other related companies have issued a coordinated call on the Government to urgently recommit to existing EV sales targets. Full story

Consumers take an average of 87 days to buy a car 

According to the latest analysis from Auto Trader, the UK’s largest automotive platform, 74% of January buyers start browsing in November and December. Additionally, recent research has shown 85% of in-market buyers are at least as confident as last year in being able to afford their next car. Full story

NHTSA finalises seatbelt reminder rule to increase seatbelt use, improve occupant safety 

The US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has finalised its rule requiring seatbelt use warnings for rear seats and enhanced warnings for driver and front passenger seats. NHTSA estimates this new rule will prevent more than 500 injuries and save about 50 lives every year, once fully implemented. Full story