Daily Motor News – Wednesday 11 February 2026 

“The £11.9bn paid out in motor claims across 2025 highlights the pressure on the market, driven largely by the high cost of repairing today’s complex vehicles. Close collaboration between industry, government and wider stakeholders is essential to help bring costs down, particularly as high-tech vehicles become increasingly expensive to fix.” Chris Bose, Director of General Insurance Policy at the ABI. Read more

Motor claims reach £11.9bn in 2025 as repair costs surge 

Motor insurers paid out a total of £11.9bn in claims throughout 2025, according to new figures released by the Association of British Insurers (ABI). This included £2.9bn in the final quarter alone, with damage to vehicles – including third-party, accidental and windscreen-related incidents – driving the bulk of claims. These accounted for nearly £7.5bn or 63% of the total paid. Read more

Niche mobility in focus 

Concluding the day’s agenda at ILC’s Mobility in Insurance Claims Conference, a panel of experts explored the under-represented, high-impact world of specialist mobility provision. Hosted by Chris Ashworth, Founder and Motor Sector Lead at ILC, the session spotlighted the operational, financial, and regulatory challenges unique to sectors such as taxi, commercial vehicle, and motorcycle replacement. Read more

Severe weather disruption is becoming a motor risk issue, not just a claims one 

Recent flooding and prolonged road closures across parts of the UK have renewed focus on how severe weather disruption is translating into motor claims and liability risk, particularly for commercial vehicles and fleets. Read more

Car dealers and manufacturers emerge as alternative channels for UK motor cover 

GlobalData surveying has found that while traditional insurers remain the primary distribution channel for UK motor insurance, a range of alternative digital and automotive-linked channels are also used by consumers. As insurers explore embedded partnerships and digital distribution models, understanding how customers currently access cover remains critical for assessing potential future shifts in distribution strategy. Read more

Can you spot the fake? AI-generated claims images are already fooling insurers 

Insurance fraud has added an average of £50 to consumer annual premiums, as new research demonstrates how artificial intelligence can create convincing fabricated claims scenes that closely mirror tactics used by fraudsters and organised crime groups. Read more

Ford says it took an extra $900m tariff hit last year 

Ford said the US car maker’s tariff costs were $900m (£660m) higher than expected last year because of a last minute change to the Trump administration’s tariff relief program. The scheme is meant to help car firms offset US President Donald Trump’s levies, and lets car makers that import parts for vehicles assembled in the US apply for credits. Read more

The world’s first EV with a sodium-ion battery has landed – and it beats traditional lithium batteries in one key way 

The world’s first mass-produced sodium-ion (Na-ion) battery for cars has entered mass production and will be sold in China in the upcoming Changan Nevo A06 EV. The battery technology, which has been developed by CATL (arguably the world’s largest manufacturer of EV batteries), has just finished winter testing in Inner Mongolia, where temperatures regularly drop well below what most EVs are designed to handle. Read more

December 2025 new car pre-registration figures 

SMMT released figures for December pre-registrations in the UK new car market. The data shows the number of cars disposed of by vehicle manufacturers in December 2025 that were defined as pre-registrations. Read more

Why the Rules of Future Global Mobility May Be Written in the UK — Not Silicon Valley or Shenzhen 

The next phase of global mobility competition will be decided less by who builds the smartest vehicle, and more by who designs the system those vehicles must operate within. Read more

GEM urges ‘life-ready’ focus for learner drivers 

GEM Motoring Assist has welcomed the Government’s new road safety strategy, describing it as a pivotal opportunity to improve outcomes for young and novice drivers. Although drivers aged 17 to 24 account for just 6% of licence holders, they are involved in nearly a quarter of all fatal and serious collisions on UK roads. GEM believes the Government’s plans could be a “vital chance to change the story” by introducing a more comprehensive and structured learning experience for new drivers. Read more

CII reports growth in exam and qualification numbers 

The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) reports an increase across exam sittings, written exams and qualification completions for both general insurance and financial services in 2025. At almost 55,000, the number of exam sittings reached a decade-long peak, and the highest number seen by the professional body since 2020. Read more

North Wales driving experience puts road safety in the spotlight 

The Welsh Wonders IAM RoadSmart Experience is returning to one of North Wales’s most scenic regions, combining road safety with a fun day out. The seasonal adventure, which runs from April 1 to September 30, 2026, will challenge drivers to put their road safety knowledge to the test on a treasure hunt-style road trip and a chance to win a £50 voucher. Read more

A pensioner with vascular dementia has been convicted in one of Britain’s controversial fast-track courts of not insuring a car she had not been able to drive since 2024. The 76-year-old woman was prosecuted by the DVLA over the unpaid bill on a Ford car still registered in her name. Read more