I do mostly short journeys and tow a few times per year - would it be wise to trade in my diesel car for a plug-in hybrid?

My current car is a four year old Citroen C4 Picasso 1.6 HDI with 33,000 miles on the clock. I tow a small caravan (700kg) several times per year on long journeys, but my regular usage is short trips of...

My neighbour has been wrongly accused of using his phone in his car - what do you advise?

Yesterday, my neighbour received a letter accusing him of using a mobile while driving. It was a vehicle he has never owned or drove, what is his next step?

Volkswagen's warranty won't cover the paint defect on my Golf - how do I pursue this matter?

I purchased a Volkswagen Golf GTI about two years and nine months ago. I've now noticed paint peeling off both rear wheel arches. Volkswagen's warranty team has declined my warranty claim on the basis...

Should I get a hybrid car or an EU6 diesel?

I'm looking at replacing my Honda FR-V with a Lexus NX or Land Rover Discovery Sport. My heart is with Land Rover, but build quality seems to be an issue and I worry at the potential lifespan of diesels...

The clutch in our Octavia failed after only 10,000 miles - should Skoda cover the cost?

The clutch in our our 2015 Skoda Octavia VRS has failed after just over 10,000 miles, which the dealer has told us is not covered under warranty. I'm well aware that clutches are considered wearing items,...

I had a replacement windscreen fitted - is it my insurer's responsibility to pay for the rain sensor tech replacement?

I recently had fitted a replacement windscreen on my Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. This was arranged through my insurer's approved suppliers, Autowindscreens, to whom I paid my excess of £75.They were told...

A cyclist is fraudulently claiming my son, a learner driver, knocked him off his bike - what to do?

My son, a learner driver who's driving as a named driver on my daughter's policy, recently received a letter from solicitors claiming that he'd reversed into an old man on a bike in a car park about a...

Should I use Shell V-Power in my 1.2 Puretech engine?

I have Vauxhall Crossland X 1.2T 130PS and intended to use Shell V-Power fuel to keep the components as clean as possible. After reading the owners manual, it recommends 95 Ron - 98 Ron. As Shell V-Power...

My car was written off and I received a payout - do I now have to pay an extra fee to send my V5 to the insurer?

My car was written off by my insurer. I've contacted the DVSA and received confirmation that I'm no longer the registered keeper of the car, I have also received my financial settlement and it has been...

Can my insurer increase the premium on all three of my policies for an accident I recently had?

I was recently involved in an accident, with minor damage to both vehicles. As the car I bumped was in front of me, going round a big roundabout (French driver was lost and suddenly stopped in the traffic),...

What's the best was of selling my Mazda MX3?

I've been trying to sell my Mazda MX3 for two months. What's the best way of selling a used car with moderate mileage (92,345) compared to its age (1997)?

Would a pick-up truck be suitable for off-roading and city driving?

Following your advice five years ago, I purchased an old Range Rover Sport - which I loved and was very practical with a reasonable amount of off road use. Rather rashly, but sensing some expensive repairs...

Given the decline in diesel car prices - how will this affect leasing prices next year?

Given what is reported to be happening to used diesel car prices, what effect is this likely to have on leasing prices for early next year?

My new car has been broken into twice recently - is this done through keyless entry?

I have a 2017 BMW X3. It was broken into two times in less than eight weeks, perhaps using some sort of keyless entry. In both cases, there wasn’t any physical damage to the car. On the second incident,...

Is turbo cool down necessary for modern cars?

I've just acquired my first turbo car, a Renault Megane GT Sport and am somewhat unclear about the need for turbo cool down. My manual doesn't mention it and the dealer says its not necessary on modern...

I was charged by a French car hire company for a driving violation - is this a scam?

I hired a car at Toulouse airport for 10 days in June. I'm unaware of any traffic violation during the hire, but late in July I received a letter from the car hire company telling me that they gave my...

Do I need anything else replaced when a cam belt is changed?

I have a 2009 Renault Clio, which has done 3500 miles. According to Renault, it needs a new cam belt. They recommend that the tensioner and the water pump should be replaced, but nothing else needs done....

Why is there an eight month wait on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class hybrid?

I ordered a new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate plug-in hybrid over two months ago. I've now been told by the dealer that delivery will not be until March 2018 due to a shortage of engines. Do you think that...

I was involved in a no fault, multi-car crash - why has my insurance premium increased?

I was stationary in traffic a few months ago when I was hit from behind and shunted into the car in front. The person in front said there was only one bump and the person in the car behind me admitted...

My friend's premium increased after he reported a fraudulent claim - how do we proceed?

My friend returned to his car to find a note saying he had damaged another car in supermarket car park. This was not true, there was no incident. He now finds his premium has gone up as he reported an...

Can I drive a friend's vehicle if it's covered by a trade insurance policy?

Can I drive a friend's vehicle if it's covered by a trade insurance policy? I'm insured fully comprehensive on my own vehicle.

Are the prices of diesel cars dropping?

Are the prices of diesel cars dropping?

My son hit another car - should he go through his insurer or a claims company?

My son drove into the back of another car a week ago, completely his fault. He has fully comprehensive insurance and his car has a smashed headlight, broken bumper and damaged radiator. The other car...

Can I reject a car based on misleading claims about the number of previous owners?

I bought a car from a dealer that didn't have the V5. I used a V62 to register and tax the car. The advert showed two previous owners, but I've now found out that it's had three previous keepers (all individuals,...

Our car was damaged and no details were left - should we claim on our insurance?

While parked on the street, our car received damage to the rear light and bodywork but no details were left of the offending vehicle. Our insurance policy does not have no claims protection and the excess...

Somebody insured a vehicle in my name - how do I prevent this happening again?

A debt recovery company sent a letter to me, which claimed that I owed them money on a Hastings policy. After I contacted Hastings, it transpired that I was the policyholder of an unknown vehicle with...

A bus reversed into my sister's car - should she claim through her own insurance?

A school bus reversed into my sister's car while she was dropping off her grandchildren at school. She sounded her horn before the collision but the driver then drove off. While still in a state of shock,...

My used car has had faults since I bought it - will my warranty cover them?

I purchased a used Jeep Wrangler from a dealer for £20,000. They told me the car had been serviced by themselves, including all oil changes. Upon driving home, the car didn't feel right. I rang the dealer...

Is it reasonable to haggle more off the asking price when buying through a main dealer?

I'm a cash buyer with no trade-in. I'm hoping to buy a 2012 Ford Fiesta, with the Aston Martin grille and 36,000 miles on the clock, through a Ford main dealer. They're having to transfer the car from...

Does my car need to be dealer serviced to maintain full service history and warranty?

I have a 2016 Audi A3 sportback S-line. Very pleased with it, but it's now due its first service. Do I need to go through Audi? I have an excellent local garage who will inevitably undercut the prices...

What do you recommend to clean stained car seats?

I have stains on my car seats. I've tried vinegar and bicarbonate soda, as well as vanish, but they make the seats worse. Can you recommend another option?

SEAT tells me my diesel Alhambra only needs serviced every two years - is this too long?

SEAT contacted me after one year of ownership about the annual service on my 2.0-litre diesel Alhambra. However, now they say that my car did not need a service until it was two years old. This incompetence...

My nearest service station is 15 minutes away - how do I check my tyres when they're cold?

I live in a country village and my nearest service station is about 15 minutes drive away. I find it almost impossible to check my tyre pressure when the tyres are cold (which is what I have been recommended)....

I bought a secondhand car two months ago - is the seller responsible for fixing its faults?

My dad purchased me a 2009 MINI about two months ago, in which time I've done 2000 miles. When the car went for it's MoT, it passed with a minor refusal for headlight bulb but was advised an engine management...

My diesel car has an 18,000-mile servicing interval, is this too long to leave it?

I have a Renault Kadjar diesel, which I'm told needs servicing every 18,000 miles. I'm a bit uneasy about this. I had Skoda diesels previously that I took off longlife service intervals and did every 10,000...

The dealer is refusing to accept my rejection of a faulty car - what do I do?

I brought a Skoda Yeti from a Skoda main dealer four months ago for £7000. I've been on maternity leave and only drove the car small journeys (only done 1500 miles). I recently went back to work via the...

I'm using a scrappage scheme to buy a new car - can I get a refund of my unexpired road tax?

I'm using Volkswagen's scrappage scheme to buy a new Golf. Can I claim a refund of the unexpired Road Tax on my old diesel car? One salesman told me that I can and another claimed that, because the car...

Is it normal for a car dealer not to allow a test drive until a deposit has been paid?

I'm three hours drive from a dealer selling a car that my son wants. I contacted the dealer and he said we can't test drive the car unless we buy it by putting down a £500 deposit. Apparently they wont...

Should I buy a diesel car if I live in a city?

I live in London, is it better to buy a new petrol or diesel car at the present time?

Is it important to have matching tyres all round?

I have a Ford Focus Mk1 with new Uniroyal Rainex 3 tyres on the front wheels, which I'm quite happy with. I now need new tyres for the rear wheels. Should I buy the same as the front or the new Michelin...

Can driving a car through low floodwater wreck the engine?

I drove my Alfa Romeo through a floodwater, which was lower than the sill, at lowish speed. How likely is it that this could've wrecked the engine? The car is heading for write off subject to the insurer...

How much is my 1966 Toyota Hilux worth?

I have a 1966 Toyota Hilux pickup. The vehicle has a valid MoT until September 2018. The bodywork is in reasonable condition, some dents and scratches but not excessive. It was inspected for the MoT and...

I can't open the back doors of my car, what's wrong with it?

The central locking on my Vauxhall Meriva isn't working. I turn the key once to unlock the drivers door and twice to unlock the back and passenger doors, however only the driver's door will actually open....

Our fusebox caught on fire - do we have any recourse as we've only owned it five months?

We've owned a 2013 Volkswagen Passat for the past five months. This morning, while my wife was driving to work, she heard a crackle and thought it was the radio. Then smoke started to pour into the cabin...

I had a courtesy car after an accident - why is the insurer now refusing to cover the hire car costs?

I had an accident in May and was advised by my local garage to contact an accident management company. They replaced my damaged Audi A6 with a BMW 5 Series courtesy car. I signed documents, but failed...

What is my restored 1927 Fiat 509 Spider cabriolet worth?

I'm busy with a full on restoration on a 1927 Fiat 509 Spider cabriolet. How many 509 Spider cabriolet were produced in their day? I've noticed that there's not a lot of these cars around anymore. What...

A seller lied about being the registered keeper of a car - was I right to avoid buying?

I went to buy a car yesterday, the seller said he bought it new and was the only owner. When I looked at the logbook, it stated the registered keeper was ERAC - Enterprise Rent A Car. When I asked for...

Is it true that dashcams and satnavs can't be hardwired on keyless entry cars?

Halfords could not hard wire a dash cam to my Suzuki SX4. I thought that their reply was something you might want to bring to the attention of your readers. They don't hard wire dashcams or satnavs to...

Should I take up the offer of insurance with no claims protection?

Should I take up the offer of insurance with no claims protection? Direct Line will do it for an extra £28.

After having the alternator on our Hyundai Santa Fe replaced, our brakes failed - could this be linked?

We had an alternator replaced recently on our Hyundai Sante Fe. This morning the brakes failed completely and I crashed into another car. Brake fluid levels are fine and there was no warning at all. Could...