Daily Motor News – Wednesday 11 December

Number of young drivers illegally using phones behind the wheel reaches eight-year-high 

The proportion of young drivers illegally making and receiving phone calls behind the wheel without hands-free technology is at its highest rate in eight years – 21 years after it first became punishable by law* – according to new data from the RAC. Full story

eSure celebrates tech partnership 

eSure Group has highlighted the benefits to policyholders of its partnership with HERE Technologies. It harnesses HERE’s telematics data to inform motor insurance pricing models, while its dynamic map content and high-quality traffic data enables it to react at pace to emerging trends and build richer, data-driven insights. Full story

The EV insurance question: Are we missing our PCW moment? 

Big shifts in big markets create winners, leaving others on the outside or behind; UK motor insurance stands at another critical juncture that may once again determine which players fit into which box. Just as Price Comparison Websites (PCWs) revolutionised insurance distribution, so electric vehicles are poised to impact our understanding of motor risk. Full story

Driverless cars will run out of road in UK if stateside lessons are ignored, expert warns 

The Labour government must learn lessons from the United States on the rollout of autonomous vehicles – also known as driverless cars or ‘robotaxis’ – if they are to have any chance of success in this country, a leading expert in the field has insisted. Full story

Trend Tracker report reveals potential repair challenges 

Trend Tracker’s UK Motor Claims and Body Repair Report 2024/25 has revealed that the average age of the UK car parc has moved out to nine years old. It found that car ownership still averages 3.7 years, meaning that 16% of car owners are considering buying a new car in the next 12 months. Full story

The true cost of bumping up an insurance excess to save on a premium  

Car insurance costs are climbing as inflation, more costly repairs, and a greater proliferation of injury claims add to the price of new policies or renewals. And with UK motorists feeling the financial pinch generally, many are seeking a softer insurance landing by increasing their excess. Full story

Car loan crisis could rival £50bn PPI scandal, FCA chief warns 

The financial scandal brewing in the UK’s motor finance sector could rival the infamous £50bn Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) consumer scandal, the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) top legal chief has conceded. Stephen Braviner Roman, the FCA’s general counsel and executive director in charge of legal affairs, said the fallout from hidden commissions on car loans could result in a much bigger industry-wide bill than previously thought.

Claims management companies circle after UK court ruling on mis-sold car finance 

Specialist law firms and credit management companies could be in line for massive payday with their cuts from consumer compensation. Full story

Vertu boss blasts ZEV Mandate as 1000s cannot collect new petrol cars before Christmas 

Vertu Motors has brand new sold petrol cars stuck in compounds and cannot deliver them to customers in time for Christmas because of the ZEV Mandate, its boss has said. CEO Robert Forrester blasted the government’s ZEV Mandate and its decision to move the date of the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesels from 2035 to 2030. Full story

Motorcycle safety scheme goes global  

A prize-winning motorcycle safety project in Scotland will be shared with road safety partners around the globe. Project PRIME saw Transport Scotland work with the Road Safety Trust, BEAR Scotland and globally recognised expert Professor Alex Stedmon to create 22 trial sites across Scotland where new road markings were installed to improve the riding behaviour of motorcyclists taking left hand bends. Full story

Diversity improving overall in the insurance and long-term savings industry 

Key figures from the Association of British Insurers’ latest Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) data collection highlight the work of insurers and long-term savings providers to improve gender representation, ethnic minority representation and socio-economic diversity across the sector. Full story

Good news for fleets on charging and fuel costs  

In the latest BVRLA Blog, Tom Rowlands, MD Global EV Solutions at Corpay, Allstar’s parent company, explains how the Allstar AllCosts report reveals that the average home charging cost has fallen to the lowest level since before the cost of living crisis. Full story

asTech Driven by Repairify partners with Auto-Wares to enhance automotive diagnostics and repair solutions 

Repairify has announced a strategic partnership with Auto-Wares, a leading provider of automotive parts, tools, and equipment in North America. This collaboration will enable Auto-Wares customers to access asTech’s advanced diagnostic technologies and repair solutions, improving operational efficiency and service accuracy in the automotive repair industry. Full story