All new and used cars in the UK are placed into car insurance groups which play a major part in determining your insurance policy premium, the system is set up and monitored by the Association of British Insurers (ABI). There are currently 50 different groups reflecting the wide range of vehicles available. When the system was first introduced back in the 1970s, there were only nine available classes, but this expanded to 20 by 1992, and then to the current number in 2006. All cars registered in 1996 or later are now placed into one of these 50 groups, while earlier vehicles are placed at an insurer’s own discretion. more info… →

“Sale or Return” (SoR) is a relatively common way that sellers can take advantage of the increased marketing and promotional power of a motor trader or dealership to sell a vehicle on their behalf. It is also often used within the motor trade itself, where both new and used cars can be moved between traders to take advantage of factors such as location and availability to match clients with vehicles and so on. more info… →

Although speed limits seem to be a constant cause of debate, they are nothing new. Speed limits were first introduced to the UK not long after the arrival of the motor car on our roads, as an insurance policy to keep cars down to the speed of a horse for the safety of other road users. Our speed limits have undergone many changes since, reflecting changes to our vehicles, roads and way of life. more info… →

Whilst governments continue to work on banning petrol and diesel, new and used cars to meet emission targets, the need for electric heavy goods vehicles is essential to decarbonise this part of the global transport network. more info… →

Check the shelves of most petrol stations, motoring and motor trade stores and you’ll find a bewildering variety of vehicle fuel additives available on sale. Poured into the fuel tank of a new or used vehicle, they claim to be able to clean your engine, improve performance and even increase fuel efficiency. more info… →

If you’re a regular motorist, you’ll already know the nation’s roads are lined with speed cameras snapping away at vehicles travelling too fast. However, you might not be aware of speed cameras that can track your vehicles average speed along specific stretches of road. more info… →

Keyless cars were initially developed in 1995 by Siemens for the motor trade, to be installed in Mercedes-Benz vehicles. They’ve come a long way since then, but so has the technology used by criminals to steal them. The older the car, the more vulnerable, but there are ways to help prevent this ever-increasing crime. A keyless new or used car can be broken into and driven away in a matter of seconds, so taking precautions is essential. The convenience of keyless entry and start goes without saying, but to thieves, it is just a different sort of challenge. They are now using a relay car hack to break into vehicles easily, quickly and without causing damage. more info… →

Winter can get expensive. The cost of heating your home increases, plus all the gift-buying and activities over the holidays can stack up too. But there’s one area where you can make savings over the colder months, and it’s not always on your Unicom insurance policy, fuel costs are always cheaper in the winter than in the summer. more info… →

The key to buying great Christmas presents is knowing exactly what excites the recipient – and when it comes to petrolheads, it’s obvious. There’ is an array of fantastic motoring gifts out there, so whether you’re buying for a friend in the motor trade, a racing aficionado or a family member who adores casual weekend drives, you should be able to find the perfect present. If you need some inspiration, here are some great festive gift ideas. more info… →

One of the first choices we must make when buying a new and used car is whether to opt for a manual or automatic gearbox. It sounds like a simple decision to make, but it will affect your driving experience, so we look at the advantages and disadvantages of both options. more info… →