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MOTs tend to roll around quickly, but rather than waiting to find out that your car has plenty of problems, you can kick-start any repairs by getting your car serviced beforehand.

An MOT is similar to a standard car service, but the only difference is an MOT is compulsory. If your car can’t pass its MOT you can’t drive your car on the road, so if you’re fully aware of some issues, then it could be wise to get the problems solved sooner rather than later.

You may also choose to book your car in for its MOT at the earliest possible date, and this may give you a few weeks to get new parts purchased and fitted. Remember, some car parts are not easy to get hold of, and you can be waiting on a garage for days or weeks, so opt for a service several months before if you know you have options.

You never forget your first car. That’s’ because it’s a chapter in your life that reflects freedom and a great sense of achievement. You don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money on your first car, and it’s actually better not to.

You’re likely to have a few bumps and scrapes in your first year, and you should get to grips with the art of driving before you splash out on an expensive motor. If you’re looking to save money, then you should opt for a car that’s low on insurance, so below 1200cc and not too old.

There’s a lot of pressure on young driver to choose a car that’s ‘cool’ but there’s plenty of time for that, and your first priority should be price, because insurance premiums are sky high for new drivers.

The Rapid sits between the Fabia and the Octavia and it’s essentially a family car. It has the look and feel of a family car yet it must be said it does pack some speed, with a clean and efficient petrol engine.

It’s not the type of car that will pick up awards for its design but you do get safety, comfort and space. There are clean lines and sharp angles, yet it is a little on the boxy side. There are plenty of safety features, including stability control and ABS anti-lock braking.

The Rapid‘s interior is really well thought out, and you get luxury cream upholstery with a stylish gear knob, steering wheel and infotainment system. It certainly provides a good level of comfort and you have everything you need for those long journeys.

The Vauxhall Vectra C is probably one of the most widely used taxi cars in the Uk but what is it that makes it so appealing to taxi drivers? Well, it’s cheap on fuel, and that means more money in the pocket from fares, but the spacing is also very good.

You get plenty of legroom, reasonably comfortable seats, though many drivers will fit their very own beaded seats. It’s not a noisy car and it’s easy to get hold of spare parts too. This type of car doesn’t exactly wow customers in terms of styling, but customers simply want to get from A to B and this car is more than capable of providing a typical customer with a ride across town.

It’s also low to the ground, making it easy for customer to get in and out while boot space is good for those travelling with luggage. With 3 people in the back and two in the front it doesn’t exactly feel cramped either, so all round it really is an ideal taxi car.

There are many different types of cars; you have saloons, hatchbacks, family cars, estates, vans and SUVS among others, but what exactly is a compact MVP?

The term has been thrown about in recent years, usually describing the Renault Scenic, the Ford CMAX or the Citroen C4 Picasso. These to some, are all family cars, but family cars are now being related to larger sized hatchbacks like the Ford Focus, the Honda Civic and the VW Golf.

Below is a selection of indicators for a Compact MPV:

• Flexible seating (sometimes 7+)
• 1600cc to 2000cc
• Extra Boot Space
• A High Ride
• Six-seaters have three seats both in the front and rear row

There’s no doubt that a compact MPV is a type of family car, while it’s often used by taxi firms and that’s due to its extra seating.

When you’ve passed your driving test it really is an exciting time and you can begin to think about your first car. There are so many options out there, and usually people will opt for a used car, perhaps a hatchback to keep the insurance premiums down.

A Ford Ka, Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo, Fiat Punto, Citroen Saxo or a Renault Clio are among the most popular options, but if you’re older than 25 then you may want to start off a little bigger, perhaps with a family sized vehicle like a Civic, Megane, Golf or Mada 3.

There certainly crucial elements to consider when you choose your first car:

• Mileage should not be too high, preferably under 80,000
• Insurance premiums and Tax should be checked
• Performance (take it on a test drive)
• Vehicle History

If you look into each of these different areas then you may be able to get a decent first car at a cheap price and it’s more likely to last you if the engine is sound, the history is good and the mileage is low.

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.

2014 SRT Viper is a beautiful piece of machinery. Getting you from 0-62 MPH in a low 3 second range and a max speed of 206 mph you couldn’t say no to. But not only does this car have an impressive engine, but the look is devilish! Aggressive yet functional with its gill-shaped side ports, carbon fiber hood and aluminium door panels make this the lightest model yet. The air extractors in the hood not only add to the look of this car but help cool your V-10 engine. If you like to test your car round the corners, this Viper won’t disappoint. With a near-perfect 50/50 weight ratio from front to back, race-tuned performance coil springs, stabilizer bars and more, this car will confidently allow you to lean into those curves.

For those really wanting to make a point, they have also got 2 special edition models: the TA and the Anodized Carbon Edition. However, even with the standard option, you won’t be disappointed. The interior is proof of this attention to detail, with added luxuriousness and comfort that will entice you in for those long car journeys.

New driver? Looking for your first car? Why not try the Citroen C1 which is all-new for 2014?!

Prices start at: £8,245 and with it being in the Lowest insurance group (group 1) you’ll save yourself some money on insurance, which is high enough as it is for new drivers!!

This second-generation model slightly larger and has a more sophisticated predecessor whilst only being around £150 more expensive. You’ll also find this car quite eco-friendly. The manual version will give you 65.7mpg with just 99g of CO2/km whilst getting you from 0-62mph in a reasonable 12.3 seconds.

With a selection of optional accessories, including carbon look door trims, bumper grille chrome surrounds and 4 trim levels will help you “pimp up” this car and enable you to make the car your own.

You can also add front and rear parking sensors to help you with the challenges of modern day parking!!

Not sure? Well the Peugeot 107 and Toyota Aygo are both very similar to the Citroen C1.