Daily Motor News – Tuesday 18 March 2025 

Eva Sandstra-Bennett, Van Product Manager at Direct Line business insurance commented: “While police efforts in recovering stolen vans is commendable, individual prevention remains the most effective way to deter thieves. This includes keeping keys in a Faraday pouch, parking in well-lit areas, using a steering wheel lock, and installing a tracker or immobilizer.” Read more

Hot wheels – 31 vans stolen every day

A staggering 11,273 vans, worth an estimated £200m, were reported stolen across the UK in 2024, averaging 31 thefts a day, according to new analysis by Direct Line van insurance. 

Just two in five (39%) stolen vans were recovered by the police – totaling 4,450 vans. While van thefts have declined in 2024 compared to 2023, the high number of thefts highlights the ongoing issue of van security and the need for increased preventive measures. Read more

Car insurers still charging high APRs on monthly payments despite regulator scrutiny

Many car insurers continue to charge annual percentage rates (APRs) as high as credit card lenders for customers paying monthly, despite repeated warnings that such charges may be excessive, according to research by consumer group Which?. Read more

Cost of pothole damage rises to £1.7bn – reversing two-year drop

New data reveals worrying news for drivers as the cost of pothole damage is once more on the increase.  After welcome falls over the last two years, the last twelve months have seen the nation’s drivers face a total bill of £1.7bn in repairing damage to their cars caused by potholes. Read more

Tesla insurance rates set to spike as cars become vandalism targets

Tesla owners, brace yourselves. Your insurance premiums could soon be even more expensive. No, it’s not because parts suddenly got harder to find. It’s because owning a Tesla in Elon Musk’s DOGE era is now riskier than it was just six months ago. Read more

Intelligent Motoring urges motor retailers to seize GAP Insurance opportunities as consumer appetite returns

Despite GAP Insurance now back firmly on the customer propositions table for retailers, Intelligent Motoring estimates that 90% of dealers are not taking advantage of the customer loyalty and value-add opportunities it brings. FCA scrutiny has driven positive changes and brought about enhanced transparency and improved value for consumers. In turn, Intelligent Motoring reports increasing demand, with consumer confidence and appetite gaining pace for its retail partners and through its direct-to-consumer car ownership solution, MotorEasy. Read more

Pembrokeshire County Council spends £880k on pothole repairs

Pembrokeshire County Council spent more than £880,000 on pothole repairs. The council has also paid £2,500 in compensation claims for damage caused by potholes in the last three years.

This comes as compensation claims against the council for pothole damage have increased by 286 per cent since 2021/22, according to an investigation by Accident Claims Advice. Read more

Profit doubled – Record premium income

Sabre Insurance Group, one of the UK’s leading motor insurance underwriters, reports its results for the year ended 31 December 2024.

Geoff Carter, Chief Executive Officer of Sabre, said: “We are extremely pleased with our performance in 2024, demonstrating strong cycle management over the past twelve months. We grew strongly in the first half of the year when market conditions were attractive, and we maintained our strict underwriting discipline despite a steep decline in market prices during the second half.” Read more

Tesla Autopilot smashes through fake road wall while LiDar Lexus stops like a pro

YouTuber compares a LiDar-equipped Lexus with a Tesla’s camera-based assistance tech to see which demolishes fewer dummies. Read more

BYD unveils battery system that charges EVs in five minutes

BYD Co. unveiled a new system for electric cars that the Chinese automaker says will allow them to charge almost as fast as it takes a regular car to refuel.

BYD’s new battery and charging system was capable of providing 470 kilometers (292 miles) of range in 5 minutes in tests on its new Han L sedan, Chairman and founder Wang Chuanfu said Monday. The manufacturer will start selling vehicles with the new technology next month. Read more

Jump in affordable electric options – The Facts update

Auto Trader, the UK’s largest automotive platform, together with ChargeUK and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), share update on their initiative combatting misinformation surrounding electric cars.

The collection of user-friendly, simplified facts that offers a balanced and data-backed view of the reality of owning and driving electric cars has been updated from the launch version released November 2024. Read more

ALARM Survey highlights continued misery for local road users

The Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey report shows that the backlog of carriageway repairs in England and Wales has reached new heights at almost £17 billion – the highest figure in 30 years of reporting – and that roads are only resurfaced, on average, once every 93 years. Read more

How are supply chains affecting car and home insurance

Supply chain disruption has become a global issue for businesses in the last few years especially and it can be caused by a variety of factors. In the last instalment in this series, we investigated how disruptions in the supply chain have impacted businesses in recent years and what businesses need to be aware of in 2025.

This article serves as part two in this series and will focus on how supply chains are affecting car and home insurance. Read more

Third-party providers: Get ready to register as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider

We recently published a blog post on what third-party providers, such as accountants and legal professionals, need to know about becoming an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), also known as an authorised agent. Since then, we’ve been busy developing the registration service.

The ‘Apply to register as a Companies House authorised agent’ service launches on 18 March 2025. Third-party providers who plan on carrying out identity verification checks on behalf of clients for Companies House will need to register as an ACSP from this date. Read more

Businesses urged to prepare for National Insurance changes

With National Insurance (NI) thresholds set to change from 1 April, businesses across the UK are being encouraged to assess how the adjustments will impact their payroll costs. Employers and employees alike may see shifts in their contributions, making it essential to plan ahead.

To support businesses in navigating these changes, the National Body Repair Association (NBRA) has launched a National Insurance Calculator. Read more

Workplace safety: Critical trends, rising risks and essential preventive measures 

The Health & Safety at Work Act, alongside regulatory bodies such as the Health and Safety Executive and NEBOSH, has been instrumental in protecting workers’ and public safety. However, recent statistics reveal that in 2023-24, 138 workers were killed in work-related accidents (up 1.5% from the previous year), while 87 members of the public suffered fatal injuries — a concerning 19% increase. These figures underscore the critical importance of maintaining robust workplace safety measures. Read more

QCD Autocentre Brackley has become the first repairer to join FixMyCar’s new approved garage network.