Sir Stirling Moss, the champion motor racing driver has call for there to be a competence test for those above the age of 70, because driving conditions have changed drastically over the last fifty years, with the option of refresher courses at driving schools in Sunderland, so people can brush up on their driving skills.

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.

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Leasing a Dodge nowadays is a smart decision because you’ll only pay a part of the total cost of the vehicle. When you lease it, you are going to pay 30% to 60% less than the price of a brand new car. You can also choose if you want to pay a down payment or only pay taxes on your monthly bills.

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.

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If there were prizes for ingenuity, Mercedes would certainly be up for an award with their Mercedes B-Class model. It seems the company saw a big enough gap in the market to develop a stylish, effective and practical hatchback, an ideal option for thirty-something’s who refuse to resign themselves to mediocre family cars.

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.

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When you are looking at booking your driving lessons it is a good idea to check out driving schools special offers, which could save you money and even get you money off other services like your car insurance or breakdown cover. Booking your driving lessons with a qualified driving school in Cardiff will give you the best chance of passing and provide you with the necessary driving skills to be safe and secure whilst driving.

Special offers are a great way to save money and usually the more driving lessons you book at a time the lower the cost for each lesson. Some driving schools also offer student discount if you have a student card and the BSM also offers 25% off RAC breakdown cover for when you’re on the road.

Booking a block of driving lessons will save you money in the long run and often when you contact the driving schools in Cardiff they will be able to tell you about their current special offers and work out a plan to suit you.

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If you are planning on taking your vehicle out of the UK on a permanent basis, you will need to inform the DVLA of your intention to do so.  If you are taking it away on a temporary basis, you will need to take the proper documents with you.  The DVLA defines permanent as 12 months or more, and temporary as less than 12 months.

When taking the vehicle out of the UK for 12 months or longer, the DVLA will classify the vehicle as being permanently exported.  Fill out the “purple” section of DVLA Form V5C/4 of the V5C vehicle registration certificate, then post it to the DVLA at Swansea SA99 1BD.  Make sure that you keep the rest of your car registration certificate as this will most likely be needed in order to register it abroad.  The vehicle will be subject to any legal requirements of the country which the vehicle is exported to.

Should you not have a DVLA registrations certificate you will need to obtain a V561 “certificate of permanent export.”  You can download this form and then complete the “Application for certificate or permanent export” (V756).  Once you have completed the proper documentation, post it to the DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AG.

Additionally, should you be moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, you will only need to fill out the “change of address” section and then post it to a local area DVA office, or a V5CNI if you are moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain and post it to a local area DVLA office since the vehicle will still be operated in the UK.

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Spent thousands on your private number plate? Don’t forget to get a good print; or your great number plate won’t have the visual impact it should have. Number plate printers use different technology to print plates, and although they all should adhere to the standards that the DVLA set, they may not be of equal quality. Quality is often affected by price, so trying to save a few pounds by going for the cheapest plate, may end up costing you the visual pizzazz you have paid for.

One of the best places to look for a reputable number plate printer is online. Look for customer reviews on independent websites; find one of the better plate printers. Even though it may be tempting to do a price comparison, remember that a low price is likely to show up in the quality of the print, and a low price may also mean that the print does not meet DVLA standards. The better plate producers use fully computerised laser printers and thermal printing, with manual assembly at the end of the production line.

It is very important that you make sure that the plate print you are buying meets DVLA standards. DVLA standards include rules on the reflectivity of the plate (which can be affected by the manufacturing technology) as well as the typeface type, spacing between letters and the exact background colours. There are also elements in the number plate design that are mandatory, such as the flag design and prefix letters.

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If you buy a brand new Cadillac SRX 3.6 V6 VVTi nowadays, you might have a hard time paying off the monthly car loan. Leasing this fantastic car at THW Vehicle Leasing will cost you only £620 per month for a 3-year personal or business deal.

A first glance at this sophisticated car, will instantly give you a luxurious impression due to the edgy details on its front lights and the grille area, which have a different look than the usual 4×4s. This car has a low-rider look that is similar to other MPV-style vehicles. Although, this car weighs much, it still has good handling capabilities. Under the bonnet of the elegant SRX is its 3.6 V6 petrol engine that can produce 258 bhp.

The SRX is equipped with impressive brake system technology, including 13-inch brake discs that are backed up by a state-of-the-art anti-lock braking system. An additional safety feature is provided by General Motors’ Panic Brake system that can apply intense braking power to stop this two-tonne car during an emergency.

Looking inside the car’s cabin, you can find Cadillac’s latest enhancements, which include spacious storage capacity; flush mounted controls and switches; and softer surfaces. With just a touch of a button, you can fold the third-row seats to load up your weekend shopping and grocery bags. The car has a touch screen display that requires three to four menu choices to set up the things you need. You can also listen to the beat of your favourite music because this car can be equipped with an exceptional Bose stereo system.

Leasing a Cadillac SRX is very practical for any urban driver who wants an extraordinary driving experience.

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Now that you have passed your driving test and your instructor feels that you are competent to take your practical test, it’s time to book your driving test. You can do this over the phone or now quickly online, you need your theory test certificate number as well as your instructors details all of which you can get from either your instructor or your local driving school in Sunderland.

You can choose which test centre you take your test at and you will be sent confirmation in the post which you bring with you on the day, you can choose to take your test in your instructors car or if you wish your own however you must inform the test centre. You can also choose to have your driving instructor with you when you take the test or a friend or relative.

Your driving instructor will tell you what to expect from your test before you take it allowing you to brush up on the required skills, many instructors from driving schools in Newcastle have many years experience and also stay on top of any changes in the test so you always know what to expect.

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For almost as long as there have been cars on the road in the UK, there have been car number plates, or vehicle registration plates, attached to them.  Each of these plates displays a seemingly random series of letters and numbers, usually in reflective material unless the plate is extremely old.

On many plates you’ll see the EU Country Identifier at the far left. The identifier for Great Britain is a vertical blue band with a circle of stars on it, and beneath the circle the letters “GB” for Great Britain.  Following the Country Identifier are two letters, commonly known as the Area Code, or memory tag.  These indicate the local registration office: the first letter identifies a very broad area, and the second letter identifies the registration office within that area.   For example, plate identifiers beginning with A were issued within Anglia, those beginning with P were issued in the Preston area.  Within Preston, for example, you’ll find 18 issuing offices, each of which is indicated by the second letter.

The following two digits are the age identifier.  If the plate was originally issued between March and August of a year, the digits of that year will be displayed: 11 for plates issued between March and August of 2011.  If issued between September and February of the following year, the numbers would have 50 added to them.  So plates issued between September of 2011 and February of 2012 would display a 61. 

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Many businesses, such as car dealerships, buy and sell cars at a rapid rate, and it is simply not practical for them to go through the plate registration process at the DVLA for every car they own. This is an expensive administrative burden and the vehicles are rarely used on public roads, staying on the forecourt for the majority of the time.

The two main categories of businesses that are eligible for trade license plates are motor traders and vehicle testers. Motor traders are businesses that specialise in selling, manufacturing or repairing vehicles or those who have cars in their possession solely for collection or delivery. Vehicle testers are defined as businesses that use public roads to carry out short term tests, on vehicles that belong to others.

Trade plates can only be used on vehicles, if the vehicle is temporarily in the possession of a business that has the right to use trade plates. As soon as the vehicle is transferred or sold to another party, the trade plates can no longer be used on the vehicle, unless the new owner has a similar license. Vehicles which are part of a trader’s stock are considered under temporary possession, regardless of the period of time that the vehicle spends on the forecourt.

Applying for a trade license is relatively simple and requires form VTL301 to be completed and sent to the DVLA. Licenses are however time-limited, usually lasting only six months before the application needs to be renewed.

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