17yr old car owners, a dying breed. 08/10/2005 • Tradition of passing driving test at 17 is becoming a thing of the past• Theory test and university attendance mean many people are putting off driving lessons until their early 20s • First time drivers are more likely to buy a brand new first car today than 30 years ago The tradition of learning to drive and getting a first car at the age of 17 is dying out, according to a new report from leading motor insurer, MORE TH>N. Instead, more first time drivers are waiting until they are at least 21 years old to get on the ‘motoring ladder’, but nearly one in ten (8%) of these are likely to buy a brand new first car, compared to just one in a hundred (1%) of their counterparts 30 years ago. The ‘MORE TH>N Motor Ladder’ report1 reveals that young people are putting off learning to drive until later – impacted by the introduction of driving theory tests and an increase in university attendance. However, once they have passed their test, more than a third (37%) of these young motorists surveyed (aged under 25) buy a new, or nearly new, car, compared to just 19% of their parents’ generation (today’s 45-54 year olds).

Summer footwear craze
However, Norwich Union is urging drivers to spare a thought for safety when falling victim to fashion and has put together some top tips:. Footwear such as flip-flops are dangerous as the sole can get caught under a pedal during a simple gear change, when applying the brake or even when moving the foot from clutch to brake or vice versa. "Wear sensible clothing for driving, especially on a long journey. The absence of ankle support can lead to the foot slipping off the pedal altogether". car insurance check uk Read more...

New summer trip.
car insurance check uk With leading insurer elephant.co.uk's European Certificate, which is included with all fully comprehensive policies, you are covered for 30 days cover at once, and 90 days throughout the year, when driving to all members of the European Union, and a number of other countries across Europe including Croatia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic. Valid full driving licence. Your insurance certificate. Read more...

Weddings drive motorists to drink.
“Although we want people to have a great time at weddings this summer, we urge guests not to get into their cars until they’ve allowed sufficient time for the alcohol from the night before to leave their system – waiting roughly one hour after the festivities have finished for every unit of alcohol consumed.  For example if you’ve had a glass of champagne and three pints of standard strength lager, it would be advisable to wait for at least 7 hours once you’ve finished drinking, before gettin... car insurance check uk Read more...

Jonathan Williams, Head of Marketing at AutoTrader Media Group, comments:"As the number one motoring destination for new and used cars, we attract a large audience of 17-30 year olds. In recent research through our Desirability Index, we found that the most desired car for this age group was the Toyota MR2, followed by the Porsche 911 and the Subaru Impreza. Within the top 10, Audi and BMW gain two entries each - both are clearly prestige marques whose success in the new car market appears to be driving desirability in the used market. “Interestingly Mercedes, arguably less successful in new car sales, does not appear in the top 10, despite its prestigious brand heritage and the associated potential for used car buyers to find a quality used car bargain." Notes : 1. Source: Survey conducted on Auto Trader for MORE TH>N throughout August 2005 amongst 827 motorists aged 17+. 2. Table below shows percentage of no claims discount accrued with each year of no claims insurance. 3. The last ten years refers to the period 1994/1995 – 2003/2004. MoreThan Insurance -