What has the Honest John team been asked this week?

[Web Version]( | [Update preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Facebook icon]( [Like]( [Twitter icon]( [Tweet]( [Forward icon]( [Forward]( [I'll be three days late with service - is my FSH affected?]( Posted by on 2 February, 2024 My car is just coming up to 3 years old and my 3rd annual service is due. My 3 year warranty expires on the same day. If I get my service done a few days before the warranty expires the dealer has to use manufacturer parts. However, the dealer has offered me the same service 3 days after the warranty expires, using non-manufacturer parts and it's 20% cheaper. I am likely to trade the car in within the next few months so I'm keen to keep the service cost down. If I get the service done 3 days after the warranty expires, 3 days late for its service, will those three days affect my FSH? More to the point, when I take the car to a dealer to trade in, would they be able to devalue the car based on the most recent service being 3 days late? [Read more →]( [Is an accident involving a named driver on the policy also noted against the insured?]( Posted by on 1 February, 2024 Is it your understanding that an accident involving a named driver on the policy is also noted against the insured at Claims Underwriting Exchange (CUE) and therefore the accident has to be disclosed by both the insured and the named driver when arranging insurance in the future? It seems possible practice may vary as between different insurance companies. I had an accident as the named driver (my wife being the insured) in December 2022 but it only appears to have become an issue on renewal in January this year, I being the insured and my wife a named driver. A broker I spoke to had never come across the point. Is it possible to have my wife's name removed from the CUE? [Read more →]( [I bought a car but the V5C is missing - what can I do?]( Posted by on 1 February, 2024 I have taken delivery of a car from a dealer. On delivery the paper were missing the V5C and it came with a part completed V62. I have tried to register and tax car online - no luck. I took documents into post office who says cannot process and I must send V62 off to DVLA ( wait time 4-6 weeks) to get a V5C and then I can tax car. This means I cannot drive a car I have paid for and I am insuring. Any advice? [Read more →]( [How much does it cost to replace a hybrid battery?]( Posted by on 1 February, 2024 What is the cost to replace a hybrid battery? [Read more →]( [Are electric cars are here to stay?]( Posted by on 1 February, 2024 Do you think EV's are here to stay and will the high repair costs plus insurance make them unaffordable for the masses? Also have designers lost the will to live as the front of vehicles look like sardine tins and extremely horrible? [Read more →]( [Is my Honda at risk from catalytic converter theft?]( Posted by on 1 February, 2024 I own a 2016 Honda CR-V, is this a target car for catalytic converter theft? [Read more →]( [I received a parking fine for not displaying blue badge - can I appeal?]( Posted by on 1 February, 2024 I parked in a disabled space and forgot to display my badge (I had my mum with me who has cancer and wasn’t well) I received a fine a week later and immediately appealed. The fine should have been on hold until the outcome and then said I could still pay the £60 reduced fee if unsuccessful. I’m still in their time frame for a response. However I received a debt collector letter demanding £170. No matter how many times I’ve told them I’m in appeal and sent evidence, they keep saying I was out of time to appeal (I wasn’t). This has stressed me so much I have paid the initial £60 but I'm worried the debt company will still not accept this. I’ve written to them and the parking company and Tesco where I parked, is there anything else I can do as they have not followed their own terms? [Read more →]( [Should I sell my car?]( Posted by on 31 January, 2024 A couple of dealers are urging me to trade in my immaculate 39k 8 year old Skoda yeti now, saying all cars are dropping fast, except their stock of course. Is the market dropping significantly and/ or is it likely to revive a little in the spring? One dealer said that some dealers had bought in cars 2 months ago when trade in prices were higher and were struggling to sell them now at their expected 2 month old retail price. My guess from these quick sale web sites is that a retail price of £2,500 to £3,000 more than trade in may now be normal. Is that right? In fairness dealers have to prep a car, service it, stock it for a bit, pay vat, supply a guarantee and hold it till it sells so clearly the price difference is not all profit. As all that matters is the cost to change, is that cost really widening? [Read more →]( [Can I just replace the front tyres on my car?]( Posted by on 31 January, 2024 The front tyres on my Kia Sorento are MOT advisory, the back tyres are fine. All four are Michelin Cross Climate SUVs 235/60R/18 and are 3 years old. Can I just replace the front tyres (same make & size) or do I have to replace all four tyres? If I have to replace all 4 tyres, what would you currently recommend for comfortable, long lasting mid market tyres? [Read more →]( [My dealer damaged my car, what can I do?]( Posted by on 31 January, 2024 I left my car at a Kia dealer for around 4 weeks so they could replace EV motor and transmission under warranty. When I collected the car it had damage to the front bumper. I duly complained on the spot and they are not admitting liability until they check CCTV. If they do not admit it was them, what can I do? [Read more →]( [What's the best car for a 19-year-old?]( Posted by on 30 January, 2024 I am looking for a second hand car up to £4k for my 19 yr old son. It's between a Fiesta and MINI One. I have seen several 2010 MINI Ones with reasonable mileage cheaper than same year/higher mileage Fiestas. I thought MINI was the superior car and would be more expensive, is there an obvious reason for this? Also, most seem to be Euro 4. Should I avoid and find a Euro 5 in case ULEZ rules change (we live in London)? [Read more →]( [Does my Dacia have a timing belt or chain?]( Posted by on 30 January, 2024 I am looking to buy a 2021 Dacia Sandero Comfort 1.0 TCe. When I checked online I found the engine specs showed a timing belt with change at 150k. However the dealer tells me the engine has a timing chain. Can you clarify for me? [Read more →]( [Is a broken third brake light an MoT fail?]( Posted by on 30 January, 2024 Can you please advise whether the below legislation is still current with regards to the third brake or high brake light? This would be for a vehicle that was first registered in 2010 . The 3rd brakelight is an 'optional lamp' and it is not obligatory under the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 (loads of cars still only have 2 after all). Only these two obligatory positional brake lights are required to be fitted and maintained. More specifically I am querying whether a driver can be stopped and fined by the police in the event the third brake light is not working but the main two brake lights are. [Read more →]( [How much does it cost to keep a number plate on retention?]( Posted by on 30 January, 2024 I have owned a personal number plate for forty plus years, I have had an offer to buy the car but want to keep plate on retention. I believe this will cost £80 and then £20 a year to keep it on retention. Is all this correct? [Read more →]( [Has Audi changed the timing belt renewal interval?]( Posted by on 30 January, 2024 Has Audi changed the timing belt renewal period for 2018 A4 1.4 TFSI? [Read more →]( [What Thatcham category is the 2016 Range Rover alarm?]( Posted by on 30 January, 2024 What is the Thatcham category of 2016 Range Rover alarm immobiliser? [Read more →]( [What is the best car for a 75 mile a day drive?]( Posted by on 29 January, 2024 For an average mileage of 75 mile a day what is the best reliable electric or small hybrid car available? [Read more →]( [I replaced the bumper on my Mercedes SL but the fog lights don't fit, when did they change?]( Posted by on 28 January, 2024 My car a 2002 Mercedes SL500 was stolen and crashed so I bought a salvage bumper and it fitted perfectly but the old spot lights didn't fit at all do you know what year Mercedes changed the spotlights on the SL models? [Read more →]( [Has Ford fixed the EcoBoost issues?]( Posted by on 28 January, 2024 I'm looking to buy a Ford Focus 2022-2024 model. I've heard that the EcoBoost engines go wrong, has that problem been corrected? [Read more →]( [DVLA tell me my my Austin Healey has been cloned, can I claim compensation?]( Posted by on 28 January, 2024 When I came to sell my 100/4M in October 2023, I was made aware that I was not the registered owner, that DVLA had issued a replacement V5C for a replica 100/4M. I remained in this position while DVLA investigated, two police checks at my house looking at the 40 year plus history, I was told originally that I could not drive the car as I was not the legal owner! Although DVLA later did allow me to use the car (2 cars on the road with the same identity! And they allowed this?). DVLA have offered me £150 as compensation, the images of both cars are still on line, I very much think this might have devalued my car (£60,000?) not to mention the cloned car which was sold for £175,000 but now I assume valued as a replica rather that an original. Someone has committed fraud at my expense, not being able to sell my car or even drive it (to begin with). Is £150 reasonable considering the above and four months of stress, hassle, sleeplessness etc? [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