My daughter's insurance was wrongfully cancelled, then reinstated - will she need to declare this in future?

My daughter has a Peugeot 108 on their Just Add Fuel agreement. She's 20 with a perfect driving record. Everything has been okay until she went to university in London last September. The car is left at...

My car won't start - can you help me?

My car has problems starting. A mechanic replaced the straight front exhaust pipe and after a couple of weeks the car doesn't start. The mechanic tells me the filter and catalytic convertor are sooted...

My car's start-stop won't work because of a partly discharged battery - would a trickle charger solve the issue?

My 18 month old Mercedes-Benz E-Class won't automatically stop-start anymore due to a partly discharged battery. It's left in my garage for weeks at a time, so it's understandable. I took it for a 120-mile...

Why isn't my heater working?

The heater in my Renault Scenic has stopping working. I've checked the fuse, but it's working fine. Any suggestions?

My son had an accident four months ago - can the insurer insist he still pays the premium for the next eight months?

My son had an accident four months ago and the insurance broker is really messing him about. When he had the accident, the insurance broker said they would not pay for recovery or storage, so my son organised...

Should I get a pre-reg car inspected by a mechanic before I buy it?

I'm buying a pre-registered Volkswagen Up (30 miles covered and registered January 2018) from a Volkswagen franchised dealer. Is it advisable to have an independent mechanic check it over?

Is leaving a car unattended while it's de-icing illegal?

I regularly go out early in the morning and start the engine of my car to de-ice the windows and mirrors. Because the car has keyless start and is parked on a private driveway I can then get out and lock...

My daughter had an accident when she was a learner, without a qualified driver in the car - can her insurer ask for £10k to cover their losses?

Over two years ago, my daughter had a minor accident whilst driving as a learner. At the time, she did not have a qualified driver in the car accompanying her. My daughter's insurance company declined...

My friend's spare key was stolen - how do we ensure the thief doesn't come back and steal her car?

A friend of mine has come back from holiday to find her house has been burgled. She took her car with her, but the burglars have taken her spare set of keys for the MINI. We've blocked the car in for tonight,...

Can you suggest a product/tyre that protects against kerbing?

Is there a product that will help protect alloy wheels against kerbing damage?

Do garages try to sell unnecessary extras when you go for a service?

I recently took my 2015 Ford Fiesta auto (12,000 miles) for its three-year service at our local Ford dealer. We had agreed a price for the service and MoT, but they asked if I wanted to pay £25 more so...

How much does a new cam belt cost?

I was charged £700 for the fitting of a new cam belt kit on my Ford Focus. Was I overcharged?

Is it okay to paint brake calipers?

My daughter has an Abarth 595. She wants to paint the brake calipers red. Is that safe to do? If so, what sort of paint is needed and are there any special precautions to take?

What's the minimum mileage a car should do to keep it in good condition?

No single car meets all my needs. I'm prepared to have two, but only cover about 4000 miles a year in aggregate. I'm aware that under-used cars deteriorate badly. What's the minimum mileage a petrol car...

What is the maximum weight my van can tow?

Can a Vauxall Vivaro 1.6 120PS legally tow a 1.5-tonne piece of equipment on a large trailer?

Is it possible to get into a car without a key?

My sister's car was broken into but undamaged. She said that thieves have a device to open any car without causing damage. Is this true?

Is it worth paying more for protected No Claims?

Is it worth paying a higher insurance premium on my Volkswagen Up to protect 15 years of No Claims Discount?

Can an insurer combine damage repair costs from two separate accidents to write off a car?

My father was involved in a collision, causing damage to the nearside rear of his 2016 Ford Fiesta. The third party accepted responsibility and we contacted my father's insurer to inform them. We confirmed...

I hit a car, then another vehicle hit my car afterwards - why am I being charged two excess fees?

I had a collision in the snow on 28 February, which was my fault. While exchanging details with the other party, an out of control tractor drove into the other party’s vehicle, knocking it into mine and...

A garage lied about worn brake pads and charged me an extra £750 - what can I do?

I took my Mazda MX-5 in for a service recently. When paying for the service, I was told that the pads were 90 per cent worn and the discs had a lip, so they required changing at the same time. Being surprised...

Is it possible to buy a warranty on an old car?

Where can I get a warranty for a 2006 Lexus RX400h? Most companies seem to have a 12-year cut off for cover.

I want to buy a damaged car to repair - could it appear as a write off after I buy it?

I'm interested in buying an accident-damaged car to repair. The car hasn't been written off, but the guys selling it (and others cars) buy their cars direct from a particular insurance company. Apparently,...

What issues should I look out for on a 20 year old motorhome?

I'm looking at a 1998 Fiat Ducati Lanka motorhome to buy. Can you tell me what issues to look out for and how they compare to the Hymer B544 of the same age?

If you insure a car using an incorrect reg number - is the insurance invalid?

My wife has just bought a new car. In advance of collection, a reg number was supplied by the garage, and she arranged insurance based on that. She went to the garage to collect the car and then drove...

What's the best way to sell my classic car?

I have a lovely 1999 Mercedes-Benz 320 SL. It has 84,000 miles on the clock and a full service history. A house move is forcing a reluctant sale. Where do you think the best place to advertise this would...

I have triplet boys turning 17 soon - what's the best way to insure them?

I have triplet boys turning 17 in July. What is the best way to get car insurance for them before their driving test and soon after?

I paid £1000 deposit for a car that wasn't as described - how do I get my deposit back?

I paid £1000 deposit to a garage for a car I was interested in. After 48 hours, without viewing it or signing anything, I saw it had 3400 extra miles on the clock than was stated. I decided to cancel because...

Can I keep my uninsured car on the road as long as it's taxed?

I'll be getting my new car next week. I'm going to transfer my insurance to the new car, but can I keep my old car on the road as long as I don't drive it? My tax doesn't end for another month.

I do 13,000 miles per year - should I go for a petrol car or the cheaper diesel version?

I do approximately 13,000 miles a year and quite a lot of motorway driving. I've seen a good deal for a 2016 Skoda Octravia vRS 2.0 TDI with only 2000 miles on the clock for £17,000 with a main dealer....

I jet-washed under the bonnet of my car and it now won't start, what's the issue?

I was recommended to pressure wash under the bonnet of my 2003 Ford Focus prior to putting it up for sale. This was against my better judgement, but I was convinced by my friend that it would be fine....

Is it possible to service a new car yourself?

I'm about to upgrade to a much newer Ford Focus. I have serviced my previous Focus myself for 10 years. What problems am I likely to come across with a three year old car? Is it still possible to service...

Is it safe to buy a car from a dealer that's far away?

I'm worried about paying a large cash sum to a dealer who is based far from where I live. Is my money safe if I buy a car from far away?

Is it a bad idea to buy a BMW X1 considering BMW are stopping production of some models?

I'm thinking of buying a used, 2017 BMW X1 M Sport diesel. Is this a bad move given that BMW are stopping production of some models?

My insurer paid out a false claim, leaving me with higher premiums - what can I do?

While sorting out insurance for my new car, I've been informed by my new insurer that there's a claim on my insurance for an incident that was reported on the 17 March 2017. There was an incident in a...

My car accelerates without pressure on the pedal - what's wrong?

I drive a 2017 Skoda Superb 2.0-litre diesel. In December, I noticed the car had started to intermittently idle at 1000rpm or slightly higher and the fan would kick in at the same time. I contacted my...

What vehicle do you advise for heavy duty towing?

I need to use an automatic for towing. Do you have any advice on what vehicle to buy?

Is it smart to get warranty cover on a used car?

I own a 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLC with 23,500 mile on the clock. It has full service history (mainly dealer servicing). I'm thinking about taking out warranty cover. Could you advise on how much this might...

Can I drive my SORN'd car to its MoT?

I own a car, which is currently on a SORN. It's kept off the road with no insurance and no MoT. How can I legally drive it to a garage for an MoT?

What product will remove mould from a convertible roof?

I have a MINI Roadster JCW. There's some green mould around the edge of the rear window and also where the roof meets the body at the rear. There are also some white dots on the cloth too. I've read about...

What product would you recommend to protect fabric seats?

I'm due to receive a new car with fabric seats in April. I would like to protect the seats from any accidental stains. Please could you advise what products are worth using?

A fraudulent claim is being made against me for damage that I couldn't possibly have caused - what do I do?

Nine months ago, I was sitting in standstill traffic looking out of my driver's side window when I felt a bump. My car had made contact with the car in front of me. I feel like I would have noticed if...

I have a 1997 Ford Galaxy - should we keep or scrap it?

I have a 1997 Ford Galaxy Ultima sat on my drive. It has not been driven in years and I think it has about 60,000 miles on the clock. We've owned it for a long time, but only used it a few times due to...

How common are electronic handbrake failures?

I'm thinking of buying a Volkswagen Tiguan, but I'm concerned about the electronic handbrake. I know someone who had a Tiguan roll down a hill after he had parked it. The dealer said that he must have...

My Skoda Superb on a four-year PCP is faulty - should I reject it in case it can't be fixed?

I took out a four-year PCP on a Skoda Superb in October 2017. I quickly realised there was an issue with the gearbox, particularly when changing between second and third gear. They attempted to fix it...

Is it normal to be charged extortionate amounts for 'defects' when handing back a leased car?

I was charged £600 for body repairs to a vehicle I returned at the end of a 42 month lease (22,000 miles) recently. I have now received a final demand from the leasing company. I spoke to a lawyer through...

A used car I bought three months ago suffered transmission failure - what are my rights?

I brought a 2013 Ford Kuga last December. It came with a three-month warranty. Last month, I noticed a grating sound when it changed from second to third gear. The garage had a look at it and assured me...

I have a 1995 Volkswagen Golf that needs £1000 of repair work - should I keep or scrap it?

I have a 1995 Golf GTI 16V, which I've owned from new. It has failed its MoT due to under body corrosion. The estimated repair is likely to be around £1000, although the garage say this will depend on...

How do you start a car with a dead battery?

My mate's Rover 75 won't start. It keeps making a clicking sound when he turns the key and his battery has gone completely flat. It wont start and you can't bump start it because it's an automatic. Do...

A delivery moped hit my son's car - should the company that employ the rider pay for the damage?

My son bought a used SEAT Leon FR from a friend two weeks ago for £2000. It was in excellent condition with a full service history. On Thursday, two young lads on pizza delivery mopeds came to his place...

My daughter hit a car at 5mph and the driver is claiming whiplash - can we do anything about this?

My 22-year-old daughter was second in line at a local roundabout in rush hour traffic. The Mercedes-Benz GLA in front went, but then slammed on his brakes as he saw a car coming from the right on the roundabout....