Learning Centre

If you’re unsure about anything motoring, whether it’s what happens once you’ve placed your order, or where does vehicle tax go when you’ve paid it, then you’re in the right place. We have articles on everything you could want to know about leasing, buying and owning a car. Our learning centre is full of answers to the questions you want to ask when it comes to your car.

How do cars work?

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Like an inquisitive 6 year old I was curious about how cars work. I mean I get in and drive my car every day. I know what all (ok most) of the pedals, levers, buttons do but how does the car actually work? How do these series of actions I take daily as a driver result in a four-wheeled piece of tin moving forward and backwards? I set about to find the answer to the question How do cars work? It was more complicated than I originally thought. Each collective of components works independently but feeds into one another. I’ll explain more in this article starting with……

How do cars work? Read More »

two men shaking hands after car deal - who are the bvrla

Business vs. Personal Leasing criteria

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When it comes to leasing, you might be trying to decide whether you want to lease personally or through your business. There are times when our customers start out wanting to lease personally and then change to business leasing, and vise-versa. But, is the criteria different? Naturally, there will be a slightly different criteria for business leasing than there is to personal. And, it’s important you know the differences before you decide which one is best for you. In this article, we look at the difference between the two leasing types, the difference in criteria, and which one would be best for you.

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Driving habits

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Do you think you have good or bad driving habits? If you’ve been on the road for a number of years and your driving test is a dim and distant memory. Then you should be a pretty experienced and competent driver. You will have a wealth of experience and a good understanding of the road. You might even consider yourself to be a pretty good driver. But, the longer you’ve been driving the more likely it is that you will have developed some bad habits over your time on the road. I would put good money on the fact you no longer drive with your arms firmly at 10 and 2 on the steering wheel for starters!

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White Bentley Continental convertible on a road with grass in the background

Is Bentley reliable? An honest assessment of the prestigious brand

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Bentley is synonymous with luxury, prestige and quality car making. If you drive a Bentley, then you are sure to get a few, or several, envious looks as you drive through the city streets.

And, of course, with quality car making, luxury and prestige, you’re going to get reliability too, right, guys?

Guys?

Not so much. The thing is, Bentley aren’t exactly known for their reliability. In fact, the are possibly the most unreliable cars in Britain. A strong statement, but one that we can back up with evidence.

So in this article we are going to look at just how unreliable Bentley are, why, and how this fares against their other luxury competitors.

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Bizarre things people have been caught doing whilst driving

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This article was a lot of fun to write. I was amazed, amused and honestly horrified at some of the things people have been caught doing while driving. As we’ve covered in a previous article distractions while driving can be hazardous. There are some distractions that can’t be avoided such as an accident on the road, pedestrians behaving badly or a fellow road users reckless driving. But, this list is packed full of completely avoidable and utterly bizarre things people have been caught doing whilst driving.

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White SEAT Leon off track with fields in the background

How Reliable are SEAT Cars? An Objective Look at the Spanish Brand

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Reliability is a big factor in choosing which car brand to go for. There’s no point spending money on a car only to spend more money getting it fixed.

The question of reliability is an interesting one, and there is proof that we Brits aren’t actually that good at judging how reliable a car will be. A study has shown that we rank prestigious German brands higher for reliability than they actually are, and we tend to shun the less luxurious brands, thinking that they are less reliable than they actually are.

And one of those brands that we thought more unreliable than it actually is, is SEAT. So, how reliable are SEAT cars?

In this article, we look at SEAT’s reliability and compare it to some of its main rivals.

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Keyless Cars

Keyless cars, risks, benefits and safety

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The new technology of keyless cars has received some negative press lately. A simple Google search for keyless cars delivers numerous tabloid articles about hackers and car theft. It’s scary reading. In this article, we will get to the real truth behind these keyless car stories. What are the real risks and are there any benefits to keyless cars? Read on for all the info.

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Who are the BVRLA

Who are the BVRLA? What do they do?

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The BVRLA is like a mum and dad to the car rental and leasing industry. The BVRLA teach car rental and leasing companies how to be good, responsible and downright wonderful to our customers. The independent body ensures that anyone who leases a car either long or short term have the protection that comes with choosing a BVRLA approved dealer or broker. In this article, we’ll take you through the membership requirements and rules we must follow and how this benefits our customers.

Who are the BVRLA? What do they do? Read More »

Red Vauxhall Astra driving on the road

Are Vauxhall’s Reliable? An Unbiased Look at the British Brand

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Vauxhall are synonymous with British industry. It’s one of the oldest established vehicle manufacturers in Great Britain, and something us Brits are very proud of.

However, there is one thing that tends to be overlooked when celebrating Vauxhall, and that’s its reliability.

How reliable are Vauxhall cars?

In this article, we look at whether Vauxhall’s are reliable and see how this measures up to its biggest rivals.

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Common Faults That Occur After Certain Mileage

Common faults that occur after certain mileage

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Owning a car comes with the financial responsibility of repairing and maintaining it. This is part of the course and an essential task every car owner must go through. It would be great to be able to be financially prepared for any needed repairs. But how do you know what will go wrong on your car and when? The simple answer is that you will never know for sure. That doesn’t mean, however, that you can’t at least be prepared for what might happen. This article sets about exploring some of the more common faults that occur after a certain mileage so you can be prepared.

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Ford Focus in blue

Is Ford reliable? An honest assessment of the American classic

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When looking for a new car, it’s important that you look at the reliability. Cars these days are extremely reliable compared to many decades ago, but that doesn’t mean they are all without fault.

One brand that has had a few problems with reliability is Ford. The classic American brand has been consistently low on reliability surveys and is constantly beaten by its Japanese competitors. In fact, American cars haven’t got the best reputation for reliability full stop.

So, how reliable are Ford? Have they been able to shake off the unreliability label they held in the 70s? In this article, we take a look at consumer reports and surveys and judge whether Ford cars are reliable, and how they fare against their competitors.

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Should I have a dashboard camera fitted in my lease car?

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Dashboard cameras, otherwise known as Dash Cams are wired into your car. They are front facing through the windscreen. Designed to start recording as soon as the engine is started. Clever stuff. Dash cams have an inbuilt memory and record on a continuous loop so all of your driving is recorded. They are designed to prove what happens during a car accident and to enable the insurance companies to prove who is at fault. The rise in popularity of the dash cam has been attributed to the increase in insurance scams in the UK. In fact, figures from market research company GFK show that dashcam sales have increased by 918% over the last 12 months. In this article, we look at the perks and drawbacks of a dashboard camera. We’ll also look to answer the question ‘Should I have a dashboard camera fitted in my lease car?’

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What Is a Black Box And Why Do I Need One?

What is a black box and why do I need one?

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A ‘black box’ is a term more commonly used to talk about aircraft. In an aircraft, the black box monitors the plane, how it is flown, the flight path and to discover the cause of aircraft accidents. For a car, the concept is similar. The black box monitors how the car is driven. It is primarily used to reduce car insurance premiums for high-risk drivers. In this article, we aim to answer the question ‘What is a black box and why do I need one?’

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distraction when driving

Distractions when driving – Distracted drivers caused accidents

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Distractions when driving are all too common and distracted drivers can cause fatal accidents. With 1752 fatalities on Britain’s Roads in 2015, we look to investigate if distractions when driving are contributory factors. You might be surprised at the statistics in this article. We were shocked at how common and how dangerous distractions when driving are.
Distracted driving is usually divided into three components:
Visual – Distractions that cause drivers to take their eyes off the road.
Manual – Distractions that cause drivers to take their hands off of the wheel.
Cognitive – Distractions the cause drivers to divert their attention from the road.
Statistics show that up to 72% of drivers in the UK have admitted to multi-tasking whilst at the wheel. This dangerously high level of distracted drivers causes countless road accidents every year, often leading to serious injuries and fatalities

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Safety Features To Look For

Safety features to look for when leasing a new car

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Choosing to lease a new car is exciting. That brand new car smell is within your reach, now you’ve just got to decide which car you want. I say just…… it’s the biggest decision to make of the whole process. You must consider what the car will be primarily used for and what you will find most comfortable. Whether you want a petrol or diesel engine? In amongst all of these decisions, it’s easy to forget about safety features. But the safety features in your new car could be the difference between life or death so they are vitally important to consider. Yes, all cars must meet certain safety standards but some are definitely more safety conscious than others. In this article, we’ll take you through some of the key safety features to look for when leasing a new car.

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three highway code booklets on a white background

What is the Highway Code and why is it important?

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Regardless of whether you are a driver or not, you will have heard of the Highway Code. It’s probably one of the most important documents for every road user in the UK.

If you are a driver, a cyclist, a motorcyclist, a horse rider or a pedestrian, the Highway Code applies to you. All the time, day and night. Many of the rules in the Code are legal requirements and failure to follow this code could end up in fines, points on your licence or total disqualification. So, the Highway Code is a bit of a big deal.

But, what is it? And why is it so important?

In this article we look at everything to do with the Highway Code including it’s history and why it’s so important.

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how to overcome new driver anxiety

How to overcome new driver anxiety

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Congratulations! You’ve passed your driving test! You’re now free to drive off into the sunset on your own!

While this might seem like a wonderful idea, and maybe one you’ve been waiting for, you might find yourself suddenly panicking about driving on your own. This is completely normal and you aren’t alone.

New driver anxiety is common, and it’s nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. Mostuch of the time, you overcome new driver anxiety by becoming more confident at driving on your own. That said, we understand that it’s easier said than done. So there are other things that you can do to help overcome your anxiety.

In this article, we look at some of the things you might want to try, in order to help overcome new driver anxiety.

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costs new drivers should be aware of

New driver insurance do’s and dont’s

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Congratulations, you’ve passed your driving test! You are now free to drive off into the sunset on your own!

That is, once you get yourself insured on a car, of course.

Before you can drive off on your own you will have to make sure that your car is insured to allow you to do so. New driver car insurance can be a daunting prospect and we’re sure you’ve heard some horror stories about how much it costs to insure a car as a new driver.

Because you are a new driver, you are a higher risk to insurers. And, it’s a fact that you are more likely to have an accident as a young driver. This means that your insurance is going to be higher. That’s simply a fact that you will have to live with.

However, there are some things that you can do to help get the best insurance, and there are some things you shouldn’t do.

In this article, we look at the car insurance do’s and dont’s for new drivers.

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is car leasing bad?

Is car leasing bad?

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Car leasing has become increasingly popular here in the UK over the past few years, for both business and personal use. More and more people are leasing their cars than ever before and many are seeing it as a viable option for getting their next car.

That said, despite its rising popularity, there is still a common misconception that car leasing is a bad idea. But is this the case?

You may have noticed already that we are a car leasing company. So you may be wondering why on earth we would discuss whether car leasing is a bad idea when we lease cars ourselves. That would be like McDonald’s telling you that fast food is unhealthy.

However, we at OSV pride ourselves on our transparency, and want our potential customers to know everything there is to know about car leasing before they actually lease a car. And that includes the downsides.

We know that car leasing isn’t for everyone, and it would be irresponsible of us to try and convince you otherwise. So in this article, we are going to look at times when car leasing wouldn’t be the best idea for you, and also quell some of the common misconceptions about car leasing while we’re at it.

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Top 10 Safe Cars

Top 10 safe cars | The top 10 cars putting safety first

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Modern motoring is about combining comfort, handling, safety and speed. Rounding up all of this in a neat and stylish package is no mean feat for car manufacturers. Often manufacturers must choose a priority factor in their design. Meaning that while some cars offer maximum comfort and great handling they could lack in speed and not offer so many safety features. The reason? It would be cost prohibitive to offer the best of everything.

Luckily all cars must meet certain safety specifications. In this article, we’ll go through the minimum safety requirements for UK vehicles. We’ll also round up the top 10 safe cars on the market. Make a good choice and put safety first with these top 10 safe cars.

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the difference between petrol and diesel

The difference between petrol and diesel

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When choosing to buy or lease a new car you’ll be faced with a multitude of decisions. Not less, whether to select a diesel or petrol vehicle for your needs. Diesel has become an increasingly popular option for drivers in the past decade. This is largely because UK government have hailed diesel to be more environmentally friendly. Similarly, diesel cars are more efficient, especially if you travel long distances regularly. In fact, it is their economic credentials which led the government to believe that diesel engines were a more environmentally friendly option. This has now been proven to be inaccurate.

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How to get your first car loan

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You’ve decided that you want a new car, but you’re going to have to take out a loan to do so.

Getting your first car loan can, at first, sound like a daunting prospect. The word loan comes with all sorts of connotations that can send people into a panic and phrases like interest rate and APR get thrown around, leaving people confused and put off.

However, getting a car loan isn’t scary, nor complicated. In fact, it’s a pretty simple process. But, we understand that unless you know that process, it might not seem that way.

And that’s where we come in. In this article, we’re going to look at how to get your first car loan, from the credit check to whether you might want to consider a guarantor.

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What are the limitations of a lease?

What are the limitations of a lease?

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Opting for a lease vehicle gives you a whole host of flexible options. Many consider leasing a car to be the cheapest way to get behind the wheel of a new car. While leasing offers a great deal more flexibility than purchasing a vehicle there are some limitations. In this article, I’ll go over all of the flexible options you have when choosing to lease and what are the limitations of a lease.

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Most Popular Car Manufacturers In Different Countries

Most popular car manufacturers in different countries

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Every country is different. We have different laws, different cultures, and we also have a different taste in cars. For example, in the UK, our most popular car brand is Ford. But, that’s not the case in Australia.

So, what are the most popular car manufacturers in different countries? In this article, we have a look at the top car brands in different countries across the world and their most popular cars.

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do lease cars cost more to insure?

Do lease cars cost more to insure? | Tips to reduce insurance costs

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It’s important to do your research when thinking about leasing a car. This includes ensuring you plan your budget factoring in all of the additional costs. It’s worthwhile noting that typically your lease payments won’t include car insurance. You do still need to insure your lease car, but this will be an additional cost you’ll need to budget for. In this article, we’ll take you through ways to reduce your insurance premium and answer the important question, do lease cars cost more to insure?

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Fueling silver car

Fuel economy explained

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When you are looking at new cars and you are reading the top tips to finding a new car, you might come across people telling you to look at the fuel economy. But, what does it mean? And how does it work? In this article, we look at what fuel economy is, how it works, and why it’s important when looking at a new car.
What is fuel economy? Firstly, what do we mean when we talk about fuel economy?

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If I have a contract hire car, do I need a log book?

Do I need a log book for contract hire?

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Contract hire describes leasing a vehicle for a set time period. It offers flexible motoring for a fixed low monthly fee. It’s becoming increasingly popular with people who don’t want the hassle of selling on the vehicle at the end of their contract or the worry of depreciation. There are two types of contract hire. Personal contract hire (PCH) and Business contract hire. The only real difference between the two is that the business contract hire allows the VAT to be claimed back.

Do I need a log book for contract hire? Read More »

the evolution of cars

The evolution of cars

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The car is one of those things we couldn’t possibly live without. Sure, you could take away our smartphones and our tablets, we’d complain but we would still be able to carry on with our lives. Take away our cars, however, and then there would be trouble.

Our cars do everything nowadays, you can make phone calls, compose text messages and some cars have their own wifi hotspots, and it won’t be before long that our cars drive us to our destinations.
So, when did it all start?
In this article, we look at the evolution of the car, from the first ever car to what’s next in the world of Automotive technology.

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Car Headlight and bonnet

Should I upgrade my car?

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If you’ve had your car for a while now, you might be wondering whether it’s time for an upgrade.

On average, it is expected that people will keep their cars for up to six years until they purchase another one. However, that number is changing and it doesn’t always apply to you. Should you upgrade your car? And if so, how should you go about it? In this article, we look at when you should upgrade your car, how you should upgrade it and whether you should go through a dealership or a vehicle broker.

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Are all lease cars brand new?

Are all lease cars brand new? | Can you get second hand lease cars?

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Are all lease cars brand new? Very simply, 99% of lease cars offered into the marketplace are brand new. Some finance companies will offer lease contracts on second-hand cars up to 12 months old but these aren’t commonplace. Second-hand car leases are known as VAT Qualifying vehicles. In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of leasing a second-hand vehicle. We’ll also investigate why it’s not such a common occurrence.

Are all lease cars brand new? | Can you get second hand lease cars? Read More »

Top Cars For Carers

Top cars for carers | The Motability Scheme

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A car is a vital tool for Carers. In this article, we’ll be looking at a day in the life of a Carer. Once we know more about our Carers day-to-day activities we’ll list the top 5 cars we recommend as the top cars for Carers. Also taking a brief look at Motability and how you can receive discounted car hire if you provide care for someone else.

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Top Cars for Estate Agents

Top cars for estate agents | Which cars are best for estate agents?

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Estate agents spend a great deal of time on the road. Dashing between properties is part of their day-to-day life. So choosing the right car is important. We look at a day in the life of an estate agent and what cars are best for estate agents to get around. Whether looking after rural properties or inner city London apartments.

Top cars for estate agents | Which cars are best for estate agents? Read More »

Costs new drivers need to think about

Costs new drivers need to think about

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Costs new drivers need to think about
Whether you are taking driving lessons, booked your driving test or you’ve passed with flying colours, you’ll likely be getting excited about the prospect of owning your own car and the freedom that comes with it. This article details the costs new drivers need to think about before buying or leasing a car.

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BMW car Line up

Do BMW own other car manufacturers?

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The automotive industry, as a whole, is very old. After all, the first motorcar was patented back in 1886 by Karl Benz. While the history of the car is a story for another day, the fact is that the automotive industry is an old and complex one. And, with old industries, you get a few overlaps on the way. One of the main overlaps you tend to get with the automotive industry is manufacturers acquiring other car manufacturers.

Do BMW own other car manufacturers? Read More »

Lady driving hands on wheel

Two wheel drive vs. Four wheel drive

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There are a lot of things to think about when getting a new car. Petrol or diesel? Audi or BMW? Hybrid or plug-in hybrid? Business or personal leasing? Two wheel drive or four wheel drive? We have answered many of the questions above, but we haven’t really talked about two wheel drive and four wheel drive yet. In this article, we are going to talk about the difference between two wheel drive and four wheel drive, and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

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The symptoms of driver fatigue

The symptoms of driver fatigue | What you should do to overcome driver fatigue

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The symptoms of driver fatigue.
Driver fatigue is incredibly dangerous and the primary cause of thousands of road traffic accidents every year. In fact, it is thought that 20% of accidents on the road are partly caused by driver fatigue. Looking at how to prevent driver fatigue and what you should do to cure driver fatigue. Don’t sleep and drive.

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Hybrid Car Charging

Hybrid Cars; Advantages and Disadvantages

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Hybrid cars have become increasingly popular as of late. Not only have they lowered in price and become more stylish, but the government’s crackdown on diesel engines means that hybrids are becoming an attractive option for many. However, while they are becoming more popular, we still don’t know much about them. In particular, we don’t really know the advantages and disadvantages of hybrid cars. So in this article, we are going to look at the different types of hybrid cars and their advantages and disadvantages.

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Driving Licence categories explained

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When you get your driving licence, you can legally drive any car you like, on any public road. While this may be common knowledge, it is less common knowledge that your licence actually allows you to go further than that. You know those numbers and letters on the back of your licence? Those state what you can and cannot drive. Many ignore them or don’t even think about them because they only drive a car, but you might be curious as to what those categories mean.

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Signing documentation with new car keys

Can a car lease be transferable?

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There might be a time when you want to transfer your car lease. Which means you will want to know whether you can transfer your car lease to someone else. There might be a time when you want to transfer your car lease. Which means you will want to know whether you can transfer your car lease to someone else.
You can, but there are some things that you should know first. We don’t go through this process often but it has happened in the past. So, in this article, we are going to talk about whether you can transfer your car lease, and what you can do if you cannot transfer your car lease.

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Who do Volkswagen own?

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One of the most interesting things about the automotive industry is that pretty much every brand is connected in one way or another. It’s like six degrees of separation but for corporations instead. A lot of car manufacturers are very old, and therefore have had their fair share of ups and downs and many have been owned and sold by a variety of different other car manufacturers and groups so two seemingly unrelated car manufacturers could actually be very much related. One of the biggest players in the automotive industry is the Volkswagen Group. In 2017, it was the world’s second-largest automaker (Toyota was 1st) and has the largest market share in Europe. So, who do Volkswagen own? In this article, we’re going to look at the history of Volkswagen, who they own and how they acquired them.

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