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Uninsured driver numbers soar
- 07/09/2015
- Posted by: Simon Wait
- Category: News
The number of uninsured drivers on UK roads has increased by a ‘worrying’ 10 per cent in just a year, according to worrying new figures released today. According to figures from the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), compensation pay-outs because of accidents involving uninsured drivers increased from 21,972 in [...] -
Markerstudy acquires Lionheart Insurance
- 04/09/2015
- Posted by: Simon Wait
- Category: News
Motor insurance provider, Markerstudy, has acquired Birmingham-based Lionheart Insurance for an undisclosed sum. The deal, which has received approval from the Financial Conduct Authority, adds over 1,500 policyholders and more than £2m of premium to Markerstudy's retail arm. Directors, David and Alison Wilkes [...] -
Co-operative makes general insurance loss
- 04/09/2015
- Posted by: Simon Wait
- Category: News
The Co-operative's general insurance division has reported a 4.5% fall in gross written premiums for the first half of 2015. The drop to £180.3m from £188.8m at the start of 2014 came as it declared an operating loss of £17m. However, the insurer highlighted that it had incurred £17.3m of ‘transformation [...] -
Direct Line guarantees hire car cover
- 04/09/2015
- Posted by: Simon Wait
- Category: News
Motor insurance provider Direct Line has launched guaranteed car hire cover as a standard feature of its comprehensive car policy. All new and existing Direct Line customers are now entitled to a new standard hatchback sized vehicle from a hire car company in the event of a claim, at no extra cost. The hire car [...] -
‘Smart Motorways’ make sense says FTA
- 04/09/2015
- Posted by: Simon Wait
- Category: News
The implementation of 'Smart Motorways' in Northern Ireland would make economic, environmental and safety sense – is the message from the Freight Transport Association (FTA) today. Responding to a study commissioned by the roads authority – TransportNI - which outlines the proposal of the M1 and M2 in and out [...] -
Lookers acquire Benfield Motor Group
- 04/09/2015
- Posted by: Simon Wait
- Category: News
The largest independent motor group in the North East, Benfield, has been acquired by Lookers plc for £87.5m in cash. The firm has grown into a leading motor retail and after-sales service group, with 30 dealerships, more than 1,600 staff and an annual turnover of nearly £700m. Chief executive of the [...] -
UK car market sees continued growth
- 04/09/2015
- Posted by: Simon Wait
- Category: News
The new car market recorded its 42nd consecutive month of growth in August – albeit in one of the year’s quietest months – according to figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. New car registrations increased 9.6% to 79,060 for the month, taking year-to-date growth to a healthy [...] -
VM’s sued over keyless ignition defect
- 03/09/2015
- Posted by: Simon Wait
- Category: News
Consumers in the US have sued ten of the world’s largest vehicle manufacturers for hiding the risks involved with carbon monoxide poisoning in over 5 million vehicles equipped with keyless ignitions. The case was filed in a federal court in Los Angeles by 28 plaintiffs, who claimed that the companies knew about [...] -
Tools of the trade
- 03/09/2015
- Posted by: Simon Wait
- Category: Magazine
The car manufacturing industry is one that is constantly updating technologies in new and future vehicles, which directly affects the repair and refinish industry and the tools needed. Here, bodyshop magazine examines the current and future trends in relation to the tools of the trade. One manufacturer currently [...] -
UK pension savings at record high
- 03/09/2015
- Posted by: Simon Wait
- Category: News
According to the ONS, more than half (59.4%) of employees were members of a workplace pension in 2014, up from 49.8% in 2013 and the total of 46.5% in 2012, and the highest since 1997. The overall growth was driven by auto-enrolment and increases in membership of occupational defined contribution (DC), as well as [...]