If buying privately meet the seller for an interview face to face at their home address or place of business.  It is important to confirm the seller’s identity before considering the used car.  If there is any doubt that they are not who they say they are do not proceed any further.  Use internet databases, directory enquiries or the phone book to confirm the details given.

Once you have found a used car in which you are seriously interested make the investment of having an independent mechanic check it over to ensure there are no unwanted hidden surprises.

Do some research and identify the car’s relative worth on the market. Be suspicious of a price that seems too low and thoroughly question the private seller or dealer on price irregularities.

Get hold of the vehicle history reports and do your research on the car’s past. There are many websites which offer this service for a relatively cheap price which is worth paying for the peace of mind of knowing the car has not been in a major accident or stolen.

Ask for the V5 registration document and check the numbers have not been changed and make sure the dealer actually owns the car they are trying to sell you.

If these guidelines have been adhered to you should have made a sound and secure purchase. Obtain a receipt, get behind the wheel and enjoy your new car.

Before you apply to become a driving instructor its a good idea to check that you are eligible; you don’t need any formal qualifications, but the Driving Standards Agency will need you to:

•    Have held a full UK or European Union driving licence for at least four years.
•    Have not been disqualified from driving for any reason in the four years before you start your instructor training.
•    Have the ability to read car number plates from a distance of 90 Feet (27.5 meters).
•    Be ‘fit and proper in the opinion of the Driving Standards Agency.

Starting your new career is easy with instructor training and whether you join a driving school in Birmingham or your local area, you will have a job for life!

The section entitled “notification of sale or transfer” should be completed, detached, and then posted to the DVLA immediately (DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR).  Be aware that the new car registration certificate will not be sent out immediately. If you do not do this, you will receive inquiries as to the subsequent use of the vehicle.  You will need to provide the purchaser with the top portion of the certificate.  Should the sale of the vehicle be a private one, the DVLA must be informed as soon as possible once the purchaser takes possession of the vehicle; you should remind them of this fact to be safe.

Typically what happens once the DVLA has been informed of the sale and transfer is that you will receive an automatic acknowledgement letter within about four weeks.  This letter will confirm the sale and transfer, as well as relieve you of any further reliability for the vehicle.  Just be patient as it can take up to four weeks for this to work through the system at the DVLA.  Do not contact the DVLA before the four week waiting period has expired. 

A number of private companies, as well as the DVLA, offer the ability to search available plate numbers for the one you specify.  They may even suggest options if the plate you desire isn’t available.  With the new numbering scheme, you’re likely to be able to ‘build’ a plate to suit your needs, since there are more letters and digits on the newer-model plates than in previous years.

Of course, cherished plates, those older plates from days gone by, are often made available as well.  But because there are fewer of them, they command a higher price than current-day plates.  Still, if you wish to truly make a car your own and ’76 MGB’ is the only plate that will do, you may just be able to get it – at a price.

Auctions are held several times a year for cherished plate numbers, and if you attend, even via the Internet, you may be able to bid on the plate you want.  It certainly makes memorising your plate number easier that way.  

Consider adding a personalised or cherished plate to your special car, and really enjoy your drive!

When purchasing a new or used car, the dealer or seller is usually the one to notify the DVLA of the sale, although sometimes the purchaser is asked to do this.  The form used to record the sale, the V5 or V5C, has a portion for you as the purchaser to keep and record your information.  Both purchaser and seller must notify the DVLA immediately of the transfer of the vehicle.

If for some reason the seller doesn’t have a car registration document (V5) or certificate, you as the purchaser can move the DVLA registration into your name via form V62, available for download from the DVLA website.  In 4-6 weeks of mailing the form in you should have your new car registration.  Be sure to check it carefully for accuracy.  Mistakes not caught right at the outset can take much longer to correct later on.

If you are registering a car for the very first time, be aware that a fee of £55 will usually be levied to cover the costs of the vehicle’s registration throughout its life.  Under normal circumstances, a dealer will include this in the cost of the vehicle and take care of the registration paperwork for you as part of the sale.

If you are applying for a VIC, the DVLA will ask you to declare whether your vehicle’s monocoque body or its chassis has been modified or replaced in any way.  VOSA will then be able to decide whether or not your VIC application can proceed based on the information that you provide them with, or whether your vehicle will need to be referred to a local DVLA office for further inspection.  At this point, it will be ascertained as to whether or not it falls under the DVLA’s guidelines for vehicles which have been rebuilt.

If the vehicle’s identity cannot be confirmed, it will fail the VIC.  Nor will it be entitled to retain the original registration marks.  It is possible that the vehicle can be registered with the DVLA, provided that hard evidence of a British National Type Approval can be produced in the form of a Minister’s Approval Certificate.  You can apply to VOSA for an IVA (Individual Vehicle Approval), but you will need to contact the DVLA office and obtain an alternative VIN (Vehicle Identification number.

In order to operate a non-EU vehicle in the UK temporarily, the driver will need to contact the HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs) upon entering the UK.  It is up to the HMRC to allow a vehicle from outside of the EU to be operating on UK roads.  If the vehicle is going to remain in the UK, you must obtain a UK DVLA registrations certificate and pay the appropriate vehicle tax.

EU vehicles that are imported into the UK can be operated in the country for up to a six month period within any 12 month period.  You will not have to obtain a car registration certificate or pay the vehicle taxes provided that you can show proof that you have complied with these requirements for the vehicle’s country of origin.  It is the driver’s responsibility to provide proof of how long the vehicle has been in the UK.  Usually, ferry tickets are proof enough.

Moss has said “As an 80-year-old driver, I can clearly relate to the topic of elderly motorists and I support the idea of tests for the older generation, So many things have changed since we first started driving: road layouts have been altered and the density of traffic has risen enormously, especially in the cities. The statistics show that although as a group we are less likely to be involved in an accident, we are more likely to be the cause of an accident, whether we are caught up in it or not – a sign that our reaction times are not what they once used to be. We do not need to give this generation a full driving test again, however, perhaps just a simple competence test every three to five years from the age of 70, to make sure we are still capable.”

This comes after an RAC survey showed more than four in five older drivers would back refresher driving courses for motorists aged over 70, which could be taken at your local driving school in Newcastle, at least 84 per cent of the over-70s in the poll of 1,150 British motorists said that they thought refresher driving courses would be beneficial for older drivers. Many wanted to see courses cover winter weather driving, driving at night and motorway and dual carriageway driving. When asked 25 per cent of the over-70s in the poll admitted that they lacked confidence in driving in wintry conditions.

A Dodge Nitro 5Dr Hat 2.8 Crd Sxt is one of the most frequently leased cars at nationwidevehiclecontracts.co.uk. You can pay £899.85 as an initial payment and pay £299.95 every month. It will be delivered to you within seven to 14 days if available in stock.

The Nitro has so much to say when it comes to style. It has a bold face, flared wheel wells, wide stance, and big rims. It is inspired by the M80 design, which inherits the clamshell bonnet and crosshair grille.

This mid-sized car is acclaimed for its dimensions. Nitro’s seating capacity is four to five people and the cargo space has enough room for several grocery and shopping bags. It has a 3-pod instrument panel and easy-to-read white and grey graphics. Leather has been used on the steering wheel as well as on the seats.

The V-6 engine is standard in all models, which can make a torque of 235 lb. ft, runs at 210 hp, and can be linked to an optional four speed automatic transmission. Moreover, this 3.7 litre engine has better fuel consumption and it can tow as much as 5,000 lbs.

While on the road, it will give you the experience of driving a sports car but with the size and durability of an SUV. Leasing the Dodge Nitro is a great decision due to its functionality and drivability.

The B-Class comes in various guises, a 1.5litre, 2litre and the 2litre diesel CDI; with 140bph on tap and average fuel consumption will vary considerably between the various editions. For long hauls, the B-Class will also not let you down on comfort, but unless you’ve got the radio cranked up to eleven, road rumble and wind noise will make for a fairly loud journey.
 
Sleek on the outside it may be, at least for a hatchback that is, but what shines on the surface isn’t necessarily a good indication of what lies beneath. As much as the front and rear seats of the B-Class will provide plenty of comfort for family breaks, the manufacturer seems to have turned a blind eye to the quality of the plastic, which can make this vehicle seem more like a child’s toy, a real shame considering that the car performs so well in most other departments. Space-wise there is sufficient leg room for both front and back passengers and in the boot there is an impressive 540litres plus of storage space, although having the capability to fit so much in could be a blessing in disguise when planning your next camping trip.

If you’re the lucky one sitting in the driver seat, the responsive handling of the B-Class will be a real treat. It is easily one of the most versatile all-rounders on the road today and will be just at home on the city streets, as it will in the fast lane of the motorway.

Of course, being able to brag to your friends that you own a Mercedes is not something that will come cheap, but another feather in its cap is that this is definitely one of their most cost-effective models. Starting at £16,940 and topping out at £24,240 for the 2litre CDI, this would be a wise option for anyone looking for a plain-speaking but stylish car, with the added bonus that speed need not be compromised for the sake of sensibility. There will always be cheaper and just as reliable alternatives, but unlike the B-Class, they simply won’t have that extra little something.