What has the Honest John team been asked this week?

[Web Version]( | [Update preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Facebook icon]( [Like]( [Twitter icon]( [Tweet]( [Forward icon]( [Forward]( [My insurer would not insure my son to learn to drive in my car - do I need to state that he was declined insurance?]( Posted by on 19 April, 2024 My insurer would not insure my son to learn to drive in my car, a Dacia Duster. Do I need to state that he has declined insurance when I try other learner insurance companies? [Read more →]( [I'm a tall driver and need a car with space for rear facing baby seat - what would you recommend?]( Posted by on 18 April, 2024 We are looking for a car that can accommodate a tall driver (6ft4) and also a rear facing baby seat to fit in behind the drivers seat. We live in London and use our car for day to day tasks so preferably a small car but will also need something for visiting family up north. We were thinking about a high spec Nissan Note 2016 petrol due to reported good rear legroom and modern gadgets, or a Citroen C4 SpaceTourer due to the rear seats being able to move - although would prefer manual controls for fan etc.We did think about the Ford C-Max but are concerned about the ecoboost engine- budget up to maximum of £15K. [Read more →]( [Should I consider a high mileage used Toyota?]( Posted by on 18 April, 2024 Is it a bad idea to consider purchasing a high mileage current version Toyota RAV4? My budget is around £16k and I really like the current-gen model (2019+), but the only vehicles that come into budget have around 75k+ miles. I'd normally dismiss the thought of spending that much on a car with those miles, but given that these are Toyotas with a very well proven drivetrain, could it be a reasonable proposition? Additionally, I'd assume that any cars with mileage this high in a short space of time would likely have been covering motorway miles. [Read more →]( [Can I use my Category N write off on the road again?]( Posted by on 17 April, 2024 Can I still drive my Cat N car? My car was hit by a police car while it was parked and after 4 months of trying to get them to repair it their insurance has now deemed it a Cat N write off after sending them photos of the damage. They're sending me a check for the value of the car, minus the salvage value, stating; "Please note it is your responsibility to dispose of the salvage accordingly". This was a paragraph in the letter I received: "In addition the vehicle details will be added to the Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud Theft Register. It is the responsibility of the registered keeper to notify the DVLA. If this action is not taken, the registered keeper will still be liable for the vehicle under the Continuous Registration requirements of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2002 and could incur a fine" Does this mean i have to tell DVLA, and can I still drive the car on the road as long as it is taxed, MOTd and insured? My plan is to use the money they give me and some of my own in order to get the damage repaired, but I'm not sure if I can legally do this or will I be pulled over or fined for driving the Cat N car on the road? [Read more →]( [My wife is disabled but received a fine for parking on the pavement - can she appeal?]( Posted by on 17 April, 2024 My wife is disabled and parked her car fully on the footpath, the footpath was wide enough for prams wheelchair users to pass safely however my wife has received a PCNc for being parked on double yellows. She only parked on the footpath as in the disabled bay in front someone had parked and did not display a blue badge. Can she appeal? [Read more →]( [Does it matter if I have an odd tyre?]( Posted by on 17 April, 2024 A recently purchased Fiesta has continental tyres except the near side front which is a goodyear with a similar tread pattern. Is this acceptable? [Read more →]( [Can I still buy a range extender EV?]( Posted by on 17 April, 2024 What electric cars have range extenders? [Read more →]( [Can my son take ownership of my car while I remain the insurance policyholder?]( Posted by on 17 April, 2024 I own two vintage cars, due to advancing age I plan to transfer ownership to my 36 year old son.The cars will be kept on my premises and insured by me as main driver so that I can drive and son as named driver. My question is can you have one person as owner and a different person as insurer? [Read more →]( [Will cylinder deactivation cause my engine long-term damage?]( Posted by on 16 April, 2024 My wife has a VW Golf which goes into Eco mode and runs on two cylinders for better economy. My problem is that in Eco mode i can hear the engine note change and feel extra vibration. I do not doubt we are getting better mpg, but is this feature doing long term engine damage? [Read more →]( [What do you suggest as a replacement for an ageing Vauxhall Zafira?]( Posted by on 16 April, 2024 I am having difficulty finding an alternative to my ageing Vauxhall Zafira. They have been a versatile and practical workhorse for many years and I am looking for something with similar versatility. I am no longer towing, so a smallish petrol engine would be fine, preferably automatic. Seven seats are not essential. I look forward to your suggestions for a second hand replacement produced in the last 2-3 years. [Read more →]( [My front tyres are cracked - do I need to replace them?]( Posted by on 16 April, 2024 My Peugeot 3008 has Michelin 205/55 R19 tyres. Despite only 10,000 miles the the front ones show cracking on the outside treads. Are they safe to drive with? [Read more →]( [How can I arrange a safe transfer of money when selling my car?]( Posted by on 16 April, 2024 I am selling my car privately and have some concern about being scammed. I have read of all sorts of clever ways that scammers use to cheat people without them being aware. What safe method of payment would you recommend bearing in mind that the closest Barclays Bank, who I bank with, is 13 miles away? [Read more →]( [Can a MHEV be left for a month without starting ?]( Posted by on 15 April, 2024 I have a BMW X3 MHEV Hybrid, 2021 model. I am planning to be away for 4 weeks. Is it okay to leave it on the drive unused for 4 weeks? Will it drain the battery? [Read more →]( [Is it correct that the five year cambelt interval has been removed for Skoda models?]( Posted by on 15 April, 2024 According to some Skoda dealers the cambelt does not need to be changed every 5 years now, which has been the original guidance from the manufacturer. Apparently, new guidance as of July 2023, states that the 5-year interval for camblet replacement will be replaced by time/distance intervals as prescribed in ElsaPro. Can you confirm this guidance is correct? I have bought a 4-year-old Skoda Scala (2020 registration) car with less than 2000 miles and my mileage will still be incredibly low for a 5-year-old car (maybe around 4 to 5 thousand miles by the 5-year mark). In your opinion should I still change the cambelt at the 5-year mark or delay this? if you suggest a delay, how long shall I wait and can you provide the Elsa Pro cambelt change recommendations for my car e.g. time or mileage requirements? [Read more →]( [Can I safely change my low profile tyres and wheels?]( Posted by on 15 April, 2024 The low profile tyres on our BMW 530d xDrive are easily damaged by potholes, as are the alloy rims. Is there a safe alternative? [Read more →]( [Is the tailgate not opening an MoT failure?]( Posted by on 15 April, 2024 I have damaged the tailgate on my Dacia Sandero stepway when taking off a bike carrier ahead of its MoT tomorrow. The hinges seem strained so it wont fully easily open. Is this an MoT failure and should I tell them in advance? [Read more →]( [What are the requirements for MoT-exempt cars in Europe?]( Posted by on 15 April, 2024 Post Brexit, what is the MoT requirement for classic cars exempt in the UK? [Read more →]( [Can I get temporary insurance cover for a non-UK resident?]( Posted by on 15 April, 2024 My wife is a foreign national and lives and works in Brussels. She has a current British driving license. Autonet insures me to drive my car but is reluctant to insure my wife because she is not "resident" in UK, I want to insure my wife to drive my car for the brief periods she is in the UK, Can you please recommend a company that could do this? [Read more →]( You received this email because you signed up to our mailing list. If you’re not interested in receiving our newsletter any more, you can: [Edit your subscription]( | [Unsubscribe]( Honestjohn.co.uk 5 New Street Square London United Kingdom EC4A 3TW