Monthly Archives: June 2014

As a driver (and/or owner) of a vehicle you need to be sure to check your tyres regularly for wear and tear. What you might not realise is that you could be fined, whether you were the driver at the time or just the owner. Both (if separate persons) could be found liable for the car being driven with a defective tyre. The maximum fine that could be imposed upon you is £2,500 and three penalty points (£5,000 if it’s a goods vehicle or a vehicle carrying more than eight passengers). If you are found to have more than one defective tyre you are at risk of being summonsed for each and every tyre which is considered to be illegal! Disqualification can also be considered by the court! When a tyre is fitted to a motor vehicle (this includes trailers) the owner and driver must ensure it is “fit for purpose”. You may get let of lightly and be given a Fixed Penalty Notice by a police officer instead of being reported for prosecution, but this is at the Officer’s discretion. It simply is not worth the risk.

If you want to go for an Electric or part-time electric model, you will find that the price range is even higher than a hybrid vehicle. Hybrids can be as much as 20% more expensive than its industry counterpart – ie. One powered by a conventional engine. There are some government/industry schemes available to help with the costs, so it would be an idea to do some research prior to your purchase. These types of vehicles will not normally be subject to Road tax; which could save you hundreds, maybe even thousands of pounds over the lifetime of the car. You can find this in other cars like the Alfa Romeo Twin Air – its engine emissions are just 99 g/km±, which means it is zero road tax rated and just 11% BIK.

Hybrids vary in specification, but there are two general types. Pure hybrids and mild hybrids. Pure will deliver significantly increased gas mileage an improvement of between 40-50 mpg; at a significantly higher purchase price. Whereas Mild deliver less improvement in fuel efficiency, but this will therefore come at a lower cost.