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The Audi RS5 Sportback is a fast five-door hatchback that's an alternative to more traditional super-saloons
like the BMW M3, Mercedes C63 and Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio Verde.

Review: Audi RS5 Sportback

Tested: Audi RS5 Sportback, Audi Sport Edition

 From the top, it’s important that you know how much I like this car. Enormously, as it turns out. So, you may, at any time prior to the verdict some 1,300-odd words further down, want to revisit this opening paragraph…for the purposes of balance, you understand.

#NotFakeNews: There is such a thing as a car that's too good. Most of the premium quality cars currently available at any price point still carry a few notable flaws – either outright deal breakers or niggly-nagglies – that remind you that humans are still in charge of their respective designs and build.

Rarely does a car come along that makes you wonder if the entire development team was replaced by overly scrutinous androids. The 2019 Audi RS5 Sportback is one such car, and its class-leading antics are almost frustrating in their pitch-perfect execution.

The Audi RS5 Sportback is a fast five-door hatchback that's an alternative to more traditional super-saloons like the BMW M3, Mercedes C63 and Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio Verde. You'll pay more for the Audi than the M3 or Giulia but the Mercedes is slightly more expensive than all three.

In many respects, the RS5 Sportback is identical to its coupe sibling, but has two extra doors and an additional 60mm between the axles for improved rear comfort.

Unlike similar feral products from the likes of BMW M or Mercedes-AMG stables, Audi Sport’s fastest models tend not to look like they could kneecap you for no immediately apparent reason. Their performance-oriented styling is usually more subtle and conducive to flying in under the radar.

But while this RS5 Sportback would likely still come across as the more sophisticated member of a trio comprising a C63 and an M3, the 20in alloy wheels, high-gloss black trim pieces and louder sports exhaust introduced as part of the Audi Sport Edition mean it can still turn heads.

Turning more heads and being the trigger for indiscriminate curb side/traffic light chatter was the Sonoma Green paint colour. While undoubtedly a bold left-field choice, I really loved it and thought it well-suited to the character of the car.

Inside, it’s back to RS5 business as usual for this Sportback model. You get a lovely interior with plenty of plush materials, a slick infotainment system with smartphone mirroring, and Audi’s signature Virtual Cockpit digital driver’s display.

Audi’s top-spec Navigation Plus infotainment system comes as standard, along with the brand’s Virtual Cockpit. This replaces the conventional analogue instrument panel with a 12.3in high-resolution digital display that can show information on speed and revs in the form of conventional gauges; satnav instructions or performance data, or several combinations of each.

The driving position is tough to fault, too, with plenty of seat and steering wheel adjustment and a comfortable backrest that provides plenty of upper back support. You can adjust both the bolster and lumbar support to find a supportive position, and they even have a massage function to accompany the heated elements. 

Even if you’re extremely tall, you’re unlikely to have any complaints about how far your seat slides back or how much room there is above your head, despite how its standard panoramic roof reduces ceiling height compared to the regular A5 Coupe or Sportback.

The Sportback also gains a large rear hatch, making it a truly practical vehicle, despite its 465-litre boot being 15 litres down on the Giulia, M3 and C63. With a bigger boot opening than its saloon rivals, it's easier to load bulky items, and with the rear seats folded down there's space for flat pack furniture and even a bike.

It might have an Audi badge glued onto it, but the RS5’s 2.9-litre V6 petrol engine is shared with the Porsche Panamera 4S. Thanks to its twin turbochargers, this engine delivers 444hp and 442lb/ft (600Nm) of torque and feels much more urgent low down in the rev range than the previous V8-powered RS5.

Even so, it’s worth revving the V6 hard to make the most of its performance. Do this and the quattro four-wheel drive system provides traction to slingshot you off the line, making the 3.9sec 0-62mph time seem entirely plausible – and it’ll top out at a governed 155mph.

Once on the move, though, it never feels quite as quick as an Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, BMW M4 Competition Pack or the Mercedes-AMG C63. Mind you, you’ll be in licence-losing territory quicker than you can say Quadrifoglio.

The automatic gearbox has eight well-chosen ratios. It operates smoothly when you’re driving sensibly, although there is a noticeable delay to change down when you ask for a sudden burst of acceleration. It’s smooth and obedient when you take control manually, too, but isn’t quite as snappy to shift as the dual-clutch gearboxes in rivals. 

Set the car into Dynamic mode on the Audi Drive Select system and the automatic gearbox response sharpens up; it’s quicker to change down, allowing much easier overtakes. It also holds onto gears for longer so you can build up through the rev range for even more power.

The Dynamic mode also ramps up the noise from the optional sports exhaust; in this setting, you’ll find the engine howls and parps when you’re revving it, but the downside is a pronounced drone at speed. In Comfort mode, the engine note is more refined, but is sometimes intruded upon by rumbling road noise. 

Dynamic mode also adds weight to the steering, but it’s still quite heavy even in Comfort mode, making it difficult to turn out of T-junctions or parking spaces sharply. Enter a series of corners and you’ll find that it’s easy to place the front of the car, but while the optional Dynamic Steering system (which varies how far you have to turn the wheel, depending on speed) certainly helps you get around tight turns easier, it also reduces the sense of connection with the front wheels and makes it less instinctive to know what they’re doing.

However, no matter how hard you push, the RS5 never feels like it’s going to get too out of shape. Some may miss the sense of adjustability and ‘honed-to-hoon’ dynamism offered by the rear-wheel-drive Guilia, M4 and C63, but in the dry, the traction you get out of corners from Audi’s quattro system is virtually unbeatable.

Fast, frantic but perfectly practical, the Audi RS 5 Sportback aims to be the market's definitive mid-sized high performance five-door hatch. It gets a sophisticated quattro 4WD system and can hit 174mph on the Nürburgring but is just as happy popping to the skip on a weekend, or collecting your dry cleaning. The spec of this revised version looks impressive, including an RS sport exhaust system and a sport differential. You only truly get a sense of just how fast it is by following behind in something else.

Sure. Some alternatives are cheaper and sound more exciting and, while there’s a much-welcomed 60mm more legroom than the coupe, the rear can still feel cramped for those gifted with more height than I (which, to be fair, is pretty much everyone else).

I take nothing away from Audi’s ethos of quality and refinement but, compared with its rivals the RS5 Sportback feels like something of a blunt clinical instrument from behind the wheel, and one that perhaps lacks character. Some may say the RS5’s envelope hasn’t even been opened, let alone pushed.

An Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is more exciting, while the V8-powered Mercedes-AMG C 63 has a greater sense of occasion. But, hey, see paragraph one.

But what other high-performance four-wheel drive mid-sized hatch of this sort is there to challenge this one? The closest thing the market has to offer, a rear-driven Mercedes-AMG C 63 wagon, wouldn't give you the all-round grip and really needs a dry racetrack and a licence to burn rubber if it's to appeal over an RS5 Sportback.

As for a high performance SUV, forget it: you'd be all over the place just trying to keep this Audi in sight. Drive it and you'll experience a slightly guilty thrill as if something this much fun really couldn't be legal. Indeed, one day cars like this might well be legislated out of existence.

In the meantime, enjoy this one while you can. The robot in me loved it.

Fast Facts: Audi RS5 Sportback Sport Edition

Engine: 2.9-litre TFSI twin turbocharged V6.

Transmission: Audi quattro AWD, via 8-speed tiptronic automatic

Often, the decision to buy our next car is one that is thrust upon us by unforeseen circumstances; a broken down banger or sudden vehicle theft, for example. Occasionally, however, we may be lucky enough to plan ahead and choose when we want to make that all-too-precious upgrade to our next car.

Choosing the right time to buy can actually be as tricky as choosing which car you actually want. Should you buy in summer or winter? Start of the month or end of the month? Weekday or weekend? All these are questions we ask ourselves and rarely know what is best.

We'll start with an easy one: If you have the flexibility to visit a dealer during the week you’re more likely to get better facetime as they’ll be quieter. This is an easy way to put yourself in the driving seat. (Sorry, couldn't resist the pun...)

The type of car will also affect when the best time to buy is. For example, convertibles and sports cars tend to be more popular in summer (picture top-down winding roads with the sun beating down on the way to the beach), and so you may find cheaper deals for these during the winter months. On the flip side, 4x4s are more sought after during winter (thinking more about dark, wet and snowy school runs now...), so these could be available at a discount over spring and summer.

Also consider the weather. When it’s pouring with rain or snowing outside, people don’t really want to go out, so the dealerships may be quieter. Similarly, if it’s a glorious day, the average person wouldn’t want to spend it walking round a car showroom (me personally, it sounds like heaven, but that’s just me). And, of course, when it’s quiet in the showroom, the salesperson may be getting itchy feet for a sale… I think I sense a bargain approaching…

You’ll need to consider taxing your vehicle too. These are priced per month, so if you buy at the end of the month you will still have to pay for a full month. So it’s cheaper to collect your vehicle at the beginning of the month. And remember, tax is no longer transferable with the sale of a vehicle.

December and January can be a great time to buy a car too. Around Christmas time and the new year people are not really thinking about buying a car, so demand is much lower. This means dealers will be eager to get a sale if they see you enter their showroom. Consider this advantage you.

Usually, the first thing you'll decide is whether you want to buy new or used, as this will greatly affect when the right time to buy is. If you're still undecided, check out our article Used car vs new car - Which should you buy? for more information.

The majority of new cars are bought through dealerships. These dealers are given targets by the manufacturer and incentives to sell as many vehicles as possible. The rewards they get can be extremely lucrative and tend to be calculated every quarter. That means if you want a good deal, turning up at the end of March, June, September or December could mean you get a big discount if the salesperson needs a quick sale to hit a quarterly target.

Another important factor to consider is the biannual number plate changes. Each year in March and September new registration plates are released. This often means there is a surge in demand in buyers wanting the latest plate on their new car (to hold resale value as much as possible), so beware as the higher the demand, the smaller the discount. At the beginning of these months you’ll be unlikely to see many bargains. That said, if you can hold tight until the end of the month, the initial surge may have died down and you might be able to find some wriggle room.

Similarly, if you’re not too fussed about having the latest number plate, you could try to bag a deal at the end of February or August when demand is often lower. Be careful though, because much of any saving will be coming off your future part-exchange price.

It’s worth noting also, that if you want the car quickly, you’ll likely have to take one of the dealers stock or pre-registered cars (also called nearly-new cars), as these can be turned around quickly. Dealers are often very happy to sell their stock vehicles as they just accumulate dust in their showrooms and plummet in value. They are often models that are soon-to-be-replaced with revised facelifted or brand new models too.

Pre-registered cars are cars that the dealer has bought and registered in their own name to bump up their sales figures. They then intend to sell these on themselves, usually within a few months, albeit at a good discount. They often buy a huge number of these towards the end of March and September to hit sales targets, so if you look around June or December you may be able to scoop a good deal on a pre-reg.

A brand new vehicle made to order will take a few weeks and may not be able to be registered until the following quarter, so bear this in mind too.

Unfortunately, bartering a deal on the actual car is only half the job of buying a new car. If you’re looking at finance packages, or any add-ons such as servicing plans or tyre and paint protection, then expect the haggling game to continue for a while longer yet. Also note that the salesperson will likely have specific targets for each of these too. For more information on the types of finances available, see our article PCP vs HP vs Loan vs Cash vs Lease - What's the best way to buy a car?.

Demand for used cars can follow a similar pattern to new cars. This is because at the change of number plates in March and September, when there is a huge rush for all the latest models with the latest plates, there is naturally a huge influx of part-exchanges that are then sold on the used vehicle market. So consider this a good time to potentially get a 3 or 4 year old car for a steal.

Essentially, if you're in a hurry then you won't have much leway when it comes to choosing when you buy your next car. But, if you've got time on your side, consider some of the tips above and you may be able to get just that little bit extra thrown into the deal. Good luck!

When summer has bowed out for another year and the leaves have started to fall, it’s time to think about preparing your car for the winter. The number of breakdowns soares in winter as most drivers are ill-prepared for the changing conditions. Even in the UK’s rather temperate climate, there are still some top tips you can follow to make sure you are ready for when winter finally comes.

When summer has bowed out for another year and the leaves have started to fall, it’s time to think about preparing your car for the winter. The number of breakdowns soares in winter as most drivers are ill-prepared for the changing conditions.

Even in the UK’s rather temperate climate, there are still some top tips you can follow to make sure you are ready for when winter finally comes.

If you know a service is due around the corner, it might make sense to get it booked in before winter. Colder weather exacerbates issues with your car, and rectifying them before autumn is over can help prevent a future breakdown.

Many UK manufacturers offer free winter health checks for your car. If you’ve not heard from your local garage, give them a call. They’re usually more than happy to fit you in - at no cost to you. This is because the law of averages tells them, that the more vehicles they inspect, the more likely they are to find issues that need fixing. Of course, if they find any issues and you want them sorting, then you will need to pay for it.

This is one of the most important parts of your car to have checked. As the temperatures drop, the battery is less efficient meaning its output is reduced. At the same time, people will tend to have their lights and heaters on more. Also, the engine oil gets thicker in colder weather so the battery has to run double time. All of these add additional strain so it’s important to make sure your battery is up to the task.

Car batteries are most effective for around five years, after which time it is worth looking to have them check out and replaced if needs be.

Remember, if your battery is flat and the car won’t start, you might be able to jump-start it with some jump-leads connected to another vehicle’s battery. This could be just enough to get you going to the nearest garage.

Top up your engine coolant with antifreeze

Engine coolant is a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze. It’s important to maintain this ratio throughout the year. Many people top up just with water over summer, this means that by winter there isn’t enough antifreeze in the solution to keep it from freezing over during cold snaps. This means your engine can overheat which can be a very costly repair.

The legal tyre tread limit is 1.6mm on any tyre in the UK. That said, during winter it is worth considering replacing any tyres with less than 3mm, as less than this means there’s less grip. As we all know, winter tends to see more rain - and naturally sleet and snow - than other times of the year, so this is when you need the most amount of grip you can get.

Some drivers go as far as having a summer and winter set of tyres. Winter tyres offer increased grip, so if you do a lot of driving in winter this is definitely worth considering. It sounds extreme but in some colder countries this is simply routine for all motorists!

Once you’re happy with your tyres’ treads, check they’re pumped up to the correct pressure. This will help with grip and fuel efficiency.

With winter being so wet, lights can easily get dirty and become less effective. Try to keep them as clean as possible and always check for any cracked lenses. Replace any blown bulbs as well, as you’ll be using your lights a lot more than in the summer months. Remember, lights are not just to help you see, but for you to be seen as well.

Give your windscreen a good clean and check for any cracks as they can grow more quickly in winter. If you do spot any, then ask your insurance company how much it is to repair. It’s often free, or has a nominal fee of £10-25, and doesn’t affect your no-claims bonus. They will usually send someone to your home or place of work as well for convenience.

Top up your screen washer fluid. You will want to have it less diluted in the winter so it has a higher antifreeze concentration.

Run your finger along the wipers and check for any tears. If the edge isn’t smooth then they won’t be able to wipe your windscreen effectively. Consider replacing any torn ones.

It might not seem important as a winter check, but look for any stone chips. Whilst they’re mainly superficial, the salt that is added to roads in winter can attack them and make them worse. It’s a good idea to repair any surface damage before the weather turns. You could also have your car cleaned and polished with wax for an extra layer of protection, or even get your car professionally detailed. It will look awesome and keep your car bodywork in great shape through the winter.

A supply box can be useful in all seasons, but especially so in winter. Here are some handy items to consider keeping in your vehicle at all times:

Whenever going on a long journey, it’s good practice to make sure both you and your vehicle are properly prepared.

Check your windows and lights are clear, and you have enough screenwash. Also check your engine oil level and fuel level before you set off. If you hit major traffic there’s nothing more stressful than running low on fuel and not knowing if you’ll be able to get to a petrol station in time. Similarly, if you have an electric vehicle, check how much range you have in advance.

Check your route online. Whether using a satellite navigation system or not, it’s good to have a rough idea in your head of where you’re going, and any potential backup routes in case you hit heavy traffic or an accident.

On that note, check the traffic before you set off. If there has been an accident on your route it may make sense to go a completely different way.

Also, plan any stops in advance. It’s good to know where the services are on the way so you can schedule breaks for fuel, food, drink, toilets or to have a rest or sleep.

Whether you have a fairly modern vehicle, or one several years old, it’s always a good idea to have suitable breakdown cover. Policies can be quick and easy to set up, and if you do break down, it’s good to know you have support available.

Make sure you keep a copy of your policy number and a contact telephone number so you know who to contact if the need arises. Worst case scenario just google the company name and give them a call quoting your vehicle registration number.

It’s important to always expect the unexpected, and if you follow these steps, you should make it through another winter without any major issues. You’ll likely increase the lifespan of your vehicle as well, so it’s a win-win.

Despite revolutions in car technology and security, vehicle theft is still on the rise. Installing a tracking device for your vehicle is one of the most reliable ways to keep it secure. With advances in modern technology too, it’s cheaper than it has ever been before.

Why you should always buy a vehicle tracking device | Car Security, Theft, GPS, VHF

Despite revolutions in car technology and security, vehicle theft is still on the rise. Installing a tracking device (tracker) for your vehicle is one of the most reliable ways to keep it secure. With advances in modern technology too, it’s cheaper than it has ever been before.

In 2017 there were 89,000 vehicle thefts in Britain; up from 56,000 in 2016. Conerningly, 68% of stolen vehicles between 2012 and 2016 went unsolved.

There are fundamentally two different types of tracker:

VHF signal (Very High Frequency - Radio Band)

Some trackers may use a hybrid of the two.

VHF is the system used by all 52 police forces in the UK. It is more dependable than GPS as it can find vehicles even when they are hidden, say underground in a car park. It is also very useful as the signal is only triggered if the vehicle is actually stolen.

GPS has its advanatges and disadvtages over VHF. The main advantages are that it can track vehicles all over the world and can have very high quality feeds. The main disadvtanage is that the signal can be very weak and can struggle to penetrate walls and obstacles. This means if your car is stowed away in an underground car park then it may be difficult to trace.

Many modern tracking systems have complex software that can sense when a vehicle has been stolen. If it believes the vehicle is being driven by an unauthorised driver then it will contact either the police or your monitoring company, who can phone you to determine if you believe the vehicle to have been stolen or not.

In addition to simply locating a vehicle, some trackers can be set up to remotely immobilise a vehicle. This could be invaluable as you could prevent thieves from getting the vehicle to somewhere hidden, meaning you could more easily retrieve it.

There are lots of companies now offering tracking devices, all of which seem to have a different pricing structurer. Some have their devices starting from around £250 and many will also incur a yearly annual subscription. This is usually to cover the cost of hosting route data in their cloud storage, or to provide ongoing monitoring and support services.

Can car tracking devices reduce my insurance premiums?

Yes, definitely. Many insurance companies will offer a discount for protected vehicles, as this is preferable to having to buy you another one if it gets stolen. If the vehicle can be recovered then the insurance company will be able to claw back some of the money, so it’s hugely in their benefit if the car is tracked.

So, potentially, the tracker could pay for itself. Sounds like a win-win… The main caveat is that it all depends on what type of car you have. An expensive car is more likely to benefit from a discount in insurance premiums, and some insurers may be specific about which brands of tracker they accept. Moreover, some insurers will actually insist you have a tracker installed first, depending on the value/type of your vehicle. Always ask your insurer first before signing up.

What to look for when choosing a tracker?

There are a huge variety of tracking devices, all with different features and use different technologies. These are the main things to look out for when choosing the one most suitable for you:

GPS or VHF, or combination of both. If using GPS, it is recommended to have a well-placed GPS and GSM antennae to be able to receive GPS signals as well as send location data via GSM. These days most tracking devices have a GNSS module instead of a GPS module. This is because GNSS combines four different satellite systems: USA’s GPS, China’s Beidou, Europe’s GALILEO, and Russia’s GLONASS into one. This enables you to get the most accurate location wherever you may be in the world. We recommend making sure your tracking device has GNSS installed if going down the GPS route over VHF.

Many modem and tracking devices come with a mobile app for customers to see in real-time where their vehicle is. This is very sought-after and gives complete peace of mind at all times. Bear in mind that this will require GPS and if you have a VHF tracking device and want this feature then it will most likely also need to be GPS enabled. There is often an annual subscription required too for real-time mapping as it involves a lot of data being hosting in the cloud as well as complex sofware.

You may or not require very regular updates to the location of your vehicle. Some trackers will update their locations every 5s-10s while others may be 30s-60s. Some will also allow you to configure your options. A higher interval will mean it uses less power but will not be as good for real-time tracking as a vehicle can travel a lot of distance in 60s. Therefore, plotting the historic movement of the vehicle will not be as accurate.

There are a suite of monitoring options available for different trackers. Below are some of the ones to look out for:

Speed Alerts - The system will alert you when the vehicle travels over a set speed limit. These alerts can be delivered by text (SMS), email or even smartphone push notifications.

Ignition on/off - Alerts for when the vehicle’s ignition is switched on or off.

Route historic log - Some devices will save the vehicle’s route to a cloud hosting provider so you can access this at a later date. This is useful for tracking where a vehicle has previously been but will most likely require an ongoing subscription.

Geo-fence zone - If you use the tracking device for a fleet of company vehicles, or for a child’s first car, you may want to set alerts for when the vehicle crosses a set boundary. For example, if the driver leaves a certain town or county.

International use - If you are likely to be travelling abroad, be sure to check your tracking device is GSM enabled and can transmit in foreign countries. Many of the trackers on the market in the UK will only work on the UK network.

All tracking devices will have an upfront cost and some may also have an ongoing subscription depending on the functionality available with the tracker. Make sure you are aware of all ongoing costs before committing to a specific tracker.

If your vehicle is ever to be stolen you will want to make sure you have a tracking company with good customer support. Read their reviews to see how responsive they are, and check out their stats to see what their success percentage is for retrieving stolen vehicles. Also, if you haven’t already, check out the free DriverBuddy Web App and sign up so you can instantly notify the DriverBuddy community if your vehicle is ever stolen.

If you want very fast reaction times, check if your tracker comes with a central monitoring station and whether or not this is linked with the police. The VHF trackers will transmit on the police frequency so they will be able to track it themselves as well.

There are two options when it comes to installation of your tracker; have it hard-wired into the vehicle’s electrics or simply stuck on as a magnet.

Many wired trackers will need to be professionally fitted (although some can be fitted DIY if you know what you're doing). The upside is that they will not require any form of charging or batteries replaced. They are designed to use the car’s battery in the most energy efficient way so as to not drain its power. These tracking devices will most likely have an installation cost but means they will function indefinitely on that vehicle without any further intervention.

If you would like to track more than one vehicle, or perhaps a bike, then a magnetic tracker may be more suitable. They simply stick on to any metal surface and can be easily interchanged between vehicles. As they are not hard-wired, though, they will be battery operated and will require either regular charging or replacement batteries when they run out.

Trackers can be a big initial payout, and sometimes may have ongoing costs, but this cost could potentially be negated by insurance disocunts. If you're considering a tracker, check the device is approved by The Thatcham Research Group first, as they set the minimum required standards for how they function.

Rewire Security offer a range of fantastic security tracking devices. We would highly recommend their products as they are tried and tested, good value for money, and have excellent reviews.

Why you should always buy a vehicle tracking device

Complete MOT test and certificate advice, plus info on getting an MOT history check, when its due and how your MOT affects car tax, insurance, buying & selling.

An MOT (Ministry of Transport) is a legal requirement for cars over 3 years old (except for Classic cars registered more than 40 years ago which are now declared as Vehicles of Historic Interest (VHIs) making them exempt from MOT testing) and require to have tests carried out to ensure they are still safe and roadworthy.

When your car is three years old from the date of its registration, you will need to get its first MOT test done, then it needs to be retested every year on the anniversary of its last MOT test.

No, you wont be notified when your MOT is due and there is no grace period if you were to miss the due date of your MOT. To save you falling foul of not remembering when your MOT due date is then sign up to our (Beta) free MOT notification service and we'll give you plenty of notice of when it's due.

In short, no you can't. It is illegal to do so with the exception of driving to an already booked MOT. Not having a valid certificate could mean risking a fine, points added to your licence and a driving ban. It also has an impact on the price when you’re buying or selling a vehicle.

An MOT test doesn't take very long. The test takes around 45 minutes to an hour, and you can choose to wait while the vehicle is being inspected.

The MOT test includes checks on many aspects of the car to ensure it's roadworthy and safe to drive, these include:

Once your vehicle has had its MOT and successfully passed all the above inspections, then you'll be issued an MOT certificate (this is generally called a VT20 MOT Test Pass certificate). These have changed since May 2018 (left the old version, new version on the right) to try and make it easier for customers to read and understand what, if any, issues may have cropped up in the MOT test.

Yes, this information is freely available from the Governments free MOT Checker service from the DVLA or you can sign up to Driver Buddy's free service. As soon as you've signed up and entered your number plate, we'll retrieve all your MOT history and update it after each MOT service carried out.

A valid MOT is a requirement for taxing your car online or at the post office. If you’re not driving or taxing your car because it’s off the road, you should declare a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).

The biggest issue comes when both your road tax and MOT are due at the same time and the tax runs out before an MOT pass.

So it’s worth either taxing your car slightly earlier or going in for an MOT up to 30 days before the due date to avoid them clashing. Otherwise you may be able to legally drive without an MOT to the nearest test centre, but you’ll potentially be at risk for not having valid road tax.

If you’re driving and insuring your car to use on the road, then you’ll need to have a valid MOT to be legal. But it’s not a requirement to get car insurance, or to receive a payment in the event of a theft or accident.

You may need to take out insurance on a car which has been declared SORN and is kept away from the public highway. Or you may need cover in order to travel to the MOT test itself.

If you do make an insurance claim on a car without a valid MOT you can expect the payout to be lowered to the value of a non-MOT’d car which is significantly lower.

This really depends on the vehicle as the price can increase/decrease but there is a maximum cost set by the DVSA.

Those fees are listed in full on the GOV.UK website. In short, the maximum MOT fee for a car with up to eight passenger seats is £54.85. For a motorcycle it's £29.65.

What is an MOT, what is checked and when is it due?

When choosing your next car there are so many factors to consider. And even once you’ve decided which car you want, you suddenly get presented with your next dilemma: how to finance it.

According to the Finance and Leasing Association, 88% of new private cars bought in 2017 were paid for with some form of finance.

There are six main ways you can go about obtaining your next car. Hire Purchase (HP), Personal Contract Purchase (PCP), Personal Loan, Credit Card, Lease, Cash

HP is a very simple way of paying for a vehicle. You pay an initial deposit - usually around 10% of the value of the vehicle. You divide the remainder by the number of months in your contract (ie 48 months), add some interest - usually around 6-7% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) - depending on the market) and there you have your monthly payment. Keep an eye open for 0% finance deals too, this could save you thousands in interest over the course of the loan.

You won’t need to give the car back at the end of the period, so there’s no worrying about mileage or condition either. You will end up paying a great deal more than if you’d bought in cash, simply because of the interest, so it’s worth checking out the total amount to be paid before signing up. Also note, that until the term of your contract is up, you will not own the vehicle. This means you won’t be able to modify or sell it on until the end of the contract either.

PCP seems to be a favourite among dealers at the moment. It’s sort of a halfway house between hire purchase and leasing. Because dealers love this option so much you often get offered £1,000 or more off the purchase to take them up on it. Don’t be fooled, though, whatever they’re offering you, you’ll be paying more than that in interest over the lifetime of the finance agreement.

You will pay an initial lump sum - usually around 20% or so of the value of the vehicle. You will then be given set monthly payments for a fixed period, ie 48 months. 

The main difference is that when your fixed term ends you don’t own the car. Instead you’ll be given two options:

A pre-agreed final payment to purchase the car at that point - often referred to as the Guaranteed Minimum Future Value (GMFV)

Simply hand the car back to the finance company

The reason the monthly payments are considerably lower than for hire purchase is because the total amount paid is offset by how much the car is worth at the end of the agreement. The loan amount is essentially the cost of car plus interest, minus the deposit and the GMFV.

Many people opt for PCP because of these low monthly payments and knowing the amount you’ll have to pay to buy the vehicle at the end of the contract upfront is helpful for budgeting.

Be mindful that you will have to adhere to pre-agreed terms such as a mileage per year and final condition of the car. Go over the mileage, or try to hand the car back in a poor condition and you’ll be charged additional fees.

If you buy the vehicle at the end, then the total amount paid will be roughly similar to that of a hire purchase plan.

Many banks offer personal loans for things such as home improvements and new cars. This is one option to consider as the money is rarely secured against your property or vehicle and tends to come with much lower interest rates than car finance.

Because the loan is also not secured against the vehicle you’ll need to have a good credit rating to get a decent interest rate. One of the reasons car finance such as PCP and HP has such high interest rates is because of their leniency for poorer credit ratings and higher frequency of payment defaults.

Essentially, if you qualify for a personal loan, it might be worth considering over car finance.

Once received you can simply buy the car outright. Of course, you’ll still need to manage and keep up with the monthly loan payments

One huge plus side to both personal loans and car finance is that they can actually have a positive effect on your credit rating - as long as you keep up the payments. Apply for too many loans though and this’ll show up too and will have a negative effect.

Depending on your credit limit, you may be able to pay for the vehicle, either in full or in part, on a credit card.

If you have 0% on purchases for a fixed term this could be a great way to finance your vehicle without paying any interest. Just be sure to pay the full balance off before the interest free period ends. Otherwise you’ll end up paying huge levels of interest. Alternatively you may be able to transfer the balance to another 0% interest on purchases credit card, but this usually incurs a balance transfer fee.

One major benefit of buying on a credit card is that even if you put just a small amount on it, then you’ll be covered by Section 75 of the consumer credit act. This means that if something goes wrong with the vehicle or the purchase then your credit card company may be able to help.

Be aware though that some dealerships won’t accept credit cards due to the high transaction fees, which can no longer be passed onto the consumer.

With leasing you basically rent the car for a set period; usually 3 - 4 years. You will pay an initial deposit and then a set amount every month, like hire purchase.

One of the main advantages to leasing is that the car is always new, and is usually fully covered by warranty for the duration of the lease. Any issues or problems and you can rest assured it’s the problem of the lease company. Some packages also include servicing and vehicle tax as well. So shop around for the best deals.

The major difference between leasing and the other options is that you do not ever actually own the vehicle and at the end of the term you’ll have to hand it back. Like PCP, you’ll also have to abide by a pre-agreed number of annual miles, and the vehicle will have to be in good condition upon return.

If you have the capital available then buying a car outright with cash is a very good option. You’ll pay absolutely no interest on the price of the car, and you will have no monthly payments to worry about either.

You will need to have the full amount available in your account to complete the purchase. If your money is tied up in fixed-term savings accounts there may be a fee for withdrawing early.

Some people also have their money in Stocks and Shares ISAs so it may take a few days to a few weeks for your broker to sell your investments and return your cash to you. You’ll also stop earning any dividend payments your holdings may have been paying, and there will be no further potential capital gain on your investment.

It’s also worth noting that you have an ISA limit each year (currently £20,000 in 2019/20 tax year) and once you hit that limit you cannot pay into it until the next tax year. Therefore, think carefully before withdrawing from your ISA to pay for a car.

In summary, there's no right or wrong when it comes to financing your next vehicle, it just depends on your budget and financial situation at the time. Whichever option is best for you, don’t let the dealer persuade you. They’ll often have ulterior motives and will be pushing you towards the option that gets them the most commission.

And finally, haggle! Regardless of the method of payment, when buying a vehicle it’s always important to try to get as much off the price as possible. It’s factored into the sale price.

There’s always room for manoeuvre and the dealer would rather sacrifice a percent here or there to stop you walking out the doors and into the dealership across the road.

PCP vs HP vs Loan vs Cash vs Lease - What's the best way to buy a car?

It would be an easy assumption to make that since cars have such advanced technology that it is now considerably safer - and harder to steal - than ever before. That assumption, however, is not necessarily true. In recent years there has been a huge influx in the number of vehicles being stolen via what is known as "keyless car theft".

How to help prevent keyless car theft | Car Security, Faraday Pouch

Many new vehicles are fitted with keyless entry. Essentially this means the owner simply needs to have their key on their purpose, and they can gain entry to the vehicle simply by opening the door when standing nearby. Once the vehicle detects the key, it will unlock the doors automatically. Similar, once you are inside the vehicle, it will automatically detect you are there, and when you press the Start/Stop button the vehicle simple turns on. Effortless.

There is a sinister downside to this awesome new technology though - what if your vehicle gets hacked? Sadly, it's not as far-fetched as you might imagine. More and more vehicles are being stolen this way, and it's a lot simpler than you might think.

Cunning thieves have developed a new strategy to stealing these high-tech vehicles. They simply need to purchase two devices; a Relay Amplifier and a Relay Transmitter. Next, they drive round whichever neighbourhood they choose, and if they see a nice car parked outside one of the houses, they move to the next step...

One of the thieves stands near the desired vehicle holding the Relay Transmitter. The other walked around the property with the Relay Amplifier. The idea is that the amplifier picks up the low signal from the keys inside the house, and amplifies it. The transmitter then picks up this amplified signal. The vehicle is then tricked into thinking the transmitter is actually the key itself and allows instant entry in the vehicle. Once inside, the thief simply presses the Start/Stop button, and they are away.

Frighteningly, with experience this process can be achieved in a number of seconds. It is also completely silent as gone are the days of smashing the driver-side window and setting off the vehicle's alarm (if it even had one!).

Can the criminals use the vehicle without the proper key?

In reality, once the car is turned on and driven away from the property then the thieves will not be able to restart it again once it stops without the correct key. Not a huge issue really, as most stolen vehicles are quickly scrapped and broken down for parts. Usually this happens within 24 hours of the vehicle being stolen, so if it happens to you, then you may have little time to get your cherished vehicle back.

How do I prevent my vehicle being stolen?

The easiest way is to buy a special signal-blocking pouch for your key. This is a simple holder that you can place your vehicle key in which blocks any signal. This way your vehicle can never be stolen in this manner.

It's also advisable to follow vehicle safety best practices, such as:

Ensuring your vehicle is locked at all times

When possible keep it in a secure location, such as a locked garage

Consider fitting wheel locks or additional vehicle immobilisers

Driver Buddy has a unique stolen vehicle alert system. If your vehicle is ever stolen, simply tap the stolen button and all Driver Buddy users will be notified, it will be posted to our social media channels, to social media channels were affiliated with and our custom widgets posted across multiple forums. If anyone sees your vehicle they can report it to us, or directly to the police. We believe this to be an invaluable tool in helping keep vehicles safe and discouraging vehicle theft by making them too hot to handle.

The Driver Buddy App is free to use and takes just a minute to sign up. Sign up today  to Click here to join this growing community of drivers who care about their vehicles.

Monojoy offer a great range of faraday pouches that will block the signal from your vehicle keys. They have a good choice of styles and options available for all tastes, and at a good price. They also have great reviews too!

It's been a long time coming but electric vehicles are finally here - but should you buy an EV or stick with petrol or diesel? DriverBuddy discusses the pros and cons.

It's been a long time coming but electric vehicles are finally here - and the question on everyone's lips is: "Should I buy one?". Sadly, the answer isn't a simple yes or no.

Once-upon-a-time electric vehicles (EVs) were heavy, ugly and very, very expensive. These days, however, they are a lot better looking, and are actually perceived of as being a premium product over their petrol and diesel counterparts.

Even now, EVs do not come cheap. In fact, they're still considerably more expensive than petrol and diesel vehicles. That said they have come down a lot over the years and for the first time they are within touching distance of non-electric models, and finally within reach of the average car consumer.

At the top end we have the Teslas. The high-end, premium electric vehicles founded by Elon Musk - the billionaire entrepeneur who co-founded PayPal; among many other ventures. Tesla are several years ahead of most of the other vehicle manufacturers when it comes to electric vehicle technology, especially the charging infrastructure they have in place. The good news, though, is that the mainstream manufacturers are catching up fast.

Even with a mammoth price tag of over £65,000, the Tesla Model S was the best selling electric car in 2016. The cheapest EV these days will still set you back over £25,000, but prices are falling.

There is an upside once you have purchased one though. Running an EV at today's electricity prices will cost several times less per mile than a petrol vehicle. So if you rack up a lot of miles in your current vehicle, it may well pay off in the long run to switch to electric sooner rather than later.

In addition to cheaper running costs, you'll find that the tax is cheaper. A LOT cheaper. In fact, there is no tax to pay on fully electric vehicles. Also, servicing tends to be cheaper too as batteries are a lot less complicated than engines, and there are fewer moving parts. This also means there is less that can go wrong, meaning fewer repairs throughout the lifetime of the vehicle. Ever had to replace a clutch, gearbox or have an engine rebuilt? These may soon be a thing of the past.

What are the different types of electric vehicle?

There are three main types of electric vehicle:

Plug-in electric - This is essentially a fully electric vehicle with no internal-combustion engine of any sort. It requires charging before it can be driven

Plug-in hybrid - This uses an electric battery - like above - but has a petrol or diesel engine as well for when the battery runs out

Hybrid - Uses a combination of electricity and petrol/diesel and alternates between the two depending on whether the driver wants better economy or performance

Tag: vehicle

Review: Audi RS5 Sportback

When is the best time to buy a car?

Preparing your vehicle for winter

Why you should always buy a vehicle tracking device

What is an MOT, what is checked and when is it due?

PCP vs HP vs Loan vs Cash vs Lease - What's the best way to buy a car?

How to help prevent keyless car theft

Is it time to buy an electric vehicle?

Tag: vehicle

Review: Audi RS5 Sportback

When is the best time to buy a car?

Preparing your vehicle for winter

Why you should always buy a vehicle tracking device

What is an MOT, what is checked and when is it due?

PCP vs HP vs Loan vs Cash vs Lease - What's the best way to buy a car?

How to help prevent keyless car theft

Is it time to buy an electric vehicle?

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