One additional thing that very few people seem to be aware of is also necessary. The previous green paper driving licences were valid until 70, but the photocard, introduced in 1999, must be renewed every ten years. Failure to renew can result in prosecution and a fine of £1,000, even though your driving licence is still valid. In addition, those who got their licences before April 1999 are under no obligation to get a photocard driving licence yet – though this rule may change in time.

Logically, any form of ID that contains photographic proof of who you are will need updating periodically. The renewal date is listed under section 4b on the card. The key printed on the back explains that this is the date until which the licence is valid. However, also printed on the back is the date before the motorist’s seventieth birthday. This date is when the driving licence itself expires and is separate from the renewal of the photocard.
 
The DVLA has said that it is sending out reminders. It costs £20 to renew, and a recent photo is required. If you apply at a participating Post Office branch, your photo can be taken there. In addition to possible hefty fines, failure to renew could potentially invalidate your insurance in the case of an accident.

It’s not going to be as cheap as you’d expect

As a general rule, you shouldn’t use the first garage you find. Shopping around could save you hundreds of pounds at very little expense to you. Ask your friends, neighbours and everyone you can find for recommendations on the cheapest local garages to try to minimise the amount of money spent unnecessarily on the exact same work that would be done for a fraction of the price somewhere else.

You may need to leave your car in for repairs

Although it’s not exactly ideal, if a serious problem is noted, it’s quite likely that you’ll need to let the garage keep hold of your car until it is deemed safe to drive again. This can take anywhere from one night to well over a week, so before you take it in, try to have an idea in mind of how you will travel and provide transport if you can’t use your car for an extended period of time.

If it’s available in your area, look for a quick car servicing service, as they are specifically trained to get the job done in as short a time period as possible.

Across the insurance industry, premiums for the unemployed have increased by 30%. Insurance is based on risk, which means that people are placed into categories. According to the insurance companies, statistically the unemployed have more accidents. The fact that a large percentage of unemployed drivers are also young must significantly contribute to this statistic. High-risk jobs also result in higher insurance premiums.

Young drivers can end up paying extraordinarily high amounts and, unfortunately, this classification extends to the age of 25 regardless of driving record or profession. Adding a parent or mature driver to the policy can help to reduce the premiums.

You can do little about the various risk assessment categories into which an insurance company will place you when you get a quote. However, there are a few things you can do to keep your premium as low as possible.

Adding a spouse to your policy is likely to reduce the cost. Keeping your car in a garage or under some kind of cover can cut insurance by up to 10%. Assuming you will not need to make a claim, increasing your excess will also reduce premiums. Paying insurance annually, if you can afford to, will also cut the high interest incurred on monthly payments. Owning an old second hand car will not necessarily reduce your premium; the theory is that a driver will care less and have more accidents. Perhaps investing in something newer yet economical would also help. Finally, drive carefully. A person with a clean driving record will obviously be less of a risk to an insurer.

Before part-exchanging your car, you need to make sure that you have all the necessary paperwork, such as the car registration document, the current MOT certificate, your servicing history and any invoices for any recent repair work. You also need to make sure that the car looks clean and tidy and that all keys are accounted for.

Once you are sure everything is in order you can start negotiating with the dealership. Once you’ve chosen your new car, you want to make sure that you get a good price for your old one, so making sure that everything is in order helps towards securing a good deal. Some dealerships will offer a discount off your new car too, so make sure you get the best deal they have to offer.

This method of car selling saves attempting to pinpoint the exact value of the car unscientifically, and there is no need to drive around for weeks with a ‘for sale’ sign showing in the back window. There is also the important issue of personal safety, as this method will avoid you having to publish a personal telephone number in the paper, and no strangers will call. It also takes away entirely the issue of letting people test-drive the car, and the question of whether just to let them drive it away in the hope that they will bring it back or to insist on going along too. After all, no one would recommend getting into a car with a stranger on a Saturday night, so there is no need to do so on your own doorstep on a Sunday morning.

Tyre tread is the main way to check the condition of tyres. The tread is simply the collection of grooves that you will see running around the outer surface of the tyre, the part that is in contact with the road. These improve the grip of the tyres by providing gaps to allow water to run through, improving contact with the dry ground. The minimum depth (measure it with any ruler narrow enough to fit in) is 1.5mm – at this point, the tyres really have to be replaced.

An obvious tip for safer tyres is to make sure you keep them pumped up at the right pressure. A full car needs a slightly lower pressure than an empty car so check the manual for appropriate pressures before reaching for the pump. A simple visual examination before journeys to check the tyres aren’t deflating is also a great habit to get into.

Buying used cars privately is certainly now safer given the amount of reputable private sales sites on the Internet.  Advertisements can be studied in depth and then followed up with registration and outstanding hire purchase checks, the specific cars history in terms of accidents or collision damage as well as ownership and registration details.  There is little that cannot be discovered about any prospective purchase, even with a limited knowledge of mechanics.  Of course, on viewing the car you still have to remain diligent: checking tyre wear, pedal wear and ensuring you take the car for a reasonably long test drive, not just around the block.

Much of the risk and stress has been removed from buying used cars privately on and offline, though there are still pits in which one can fall.  It is imperative that you research what the model is worth prior to arranging a test drive and negotiate a reasonable price.

It is likely that when you buy from a car dealer you will be paying more for the car than you would if you were purchasing the same model privately – though the premium you pay to a dealer affords you greater security in your purchase.  Dealers are often prepared to compromise on price or some of the after care facilities to ensure a sale, so don’t be afraid to ask.

The company is still one of the largest car manufacturers in the world and so when it comes to giving a car valuation for a Ford motor there are many different avenues to follow for this ever popular brand.

The Ford Fiesta was one of the most well-liked models of its day and is still a great favourite as a family runabout.  The range of this famous make has extended into the trucking industry, the manufacture of heavy goods and commercial vans, as well as into the production of sports cars.  For a short while, Ford was involved in the production of F1 engines, but this relationship came to an end in 2004 when Jaguar Racing was bought out by Red Bull.

A car manufacturer of this pedigree is so famous that the sale of any Ford motor car, be it the sporty Ford Mustang to a more conventional family motorcar, such as the Focus, means that the seller is trying to find the accurate value of a tried and trusted brand.

In order to assess the correct value of your vehicle, try entering the registration online into one of the many car valuation or sell used car online sites, and see how these professionals will value my Ford.  Alternatively, an independent garage appraisal will take wear and tear into account, as well as the service history.  The tried and tested phrase ‘one careful owner’ can add pounds to the value of your Ford and will usually encourage buyers to take your car seriously.

Looking for very cheap cars, using online searches of sites such as Auto Trader or through dealers makes it easy to find a used car for a reasonable price. It is also possible to locate a suitable brand new car, at a significant discount and purchase it with a low finance rate loan and small deposit. 

Spend time checking out the options that are available from the seller before committing to making a purchase. Make a note of all the relevant information and then compare prices with other sites and dealers. Ask the seller about the documents relating to the car and about the warranty and costs associated with servicing the vehicle. Also ask about the car’s road tax band, which is based on its CO2 emissions. 

When viewing any very cheap cars, make sure they are seen in daylight. Even a new car should be inspected for any damage or issues prior to purchase. When deciding on a car, think about the mileage that it will do each year, as this will determine how frequently it will need to be serviced. A car could do anything between 7,000 and 20,000 miles per year, so tit could need one or more service visits per year.

It is essential to take a test drive and when looking for really cheap cars, check that your insurance covers you to drive the car and check out the cost for insuring it. Make sure that the car drives smoothly, that it is comfortable to sit in and drive and that the make and model is suitable for its intended use. While a two-seater may be fun, it is not a practical family car.