Road Safety

Passport, Wallet, Travellers’ Cheques… VE103B?

Passport, Wallet, Travellers’ Cheques… VE103B? https://wvl.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/driving-abroad-featured.jpg 660 300 Anthony Anthony https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a9c4089fd91833b9d9ac3cd2423e0fcb?s=96&d=mm&r=g

With the Easter holidays nearly upon us, and forecasts predicting the weekend’s weather to be a wash-out, for many of us, our thoughts may be turning to a few days away somewhere in Europe with a brighter outlook. But, if you’re driving a leased vehicle, there’s a crucial document you’ll need to take with you.

Whilst we’re busily cramming everything into the boot, squeezing in bags, bikes and the kitchen sink to cover all eventualities, whilst also remembering to pack passports and travel/insurance documents too… have you packed your VE103B?

Most people don’t realise that, much like not being allowed into a country without a passport, you’re not allowed to take a leased/hired car abroad without a VE103B. This is a document from the company that has leased your lease/hire vehicle which gives you permission to take it to another country. Produced by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), a VE103B is also known as a ‘Vehicle on Hire’ certificate.

In the unfortunate event that you are involved in an accident or stopped by the police, failure to produce a VE103B could result in your car being impounded. Whilst this isn’t always the outcome, it is still an offence not to hold a VE103B and you will most certainly face the consequences of long delays and/or heavy fines. Acquiring this document is quite easy, and WVL are able to provide one.

Holding a VE103B will afford you full peace of mind to travel anywhere in mainland Europe, and as the majority of our fleet has full AA Cover too (including European Assistance) you can be sure that your little away-break doesn’t turn into a big nightmare.

VE103B

Don’t forget that there are other factors you’ll need to consider when driving abroad – not least the different road laws throughout different countries. For example, did you know it’s compulsory to carry a breathalyser in your vehicle at all times in France, and also that their legal limit is 50mg – much lower than the 80mg here in the UK?

As of April 2017, please note: vehicles will also need to display an emissions-related Crit’Air sticker to enter Paris and other cities. Learn more in our Crit’Air blog post.

The Week In Motoring #6

The Week In Motoring #6 https://wvl.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/wvl-blog-featured-6.jpg 660 300 Anthony Anthony https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a9c4089fd91833b9d9ac3cd2423e0fcb?s=96&d=mm&r=g

2014 Budget

First on the motoring agenda for George Osborne in the 2014 budget announcement was to reveal that the proposed fuel duty rise in September of this year is to be abandoned: fuel duty will now in fact be frozen until September 2015 – welcome news for motorists.

More good news was to come, this time for classic cars as a 40-year rolling period keeps them exempt from vehicle tax duty – likely to have a welcome positive impact on their values, too.

It’s not all good news however, as the Chancellor announced that vehicles in tax bands D upwards would experience a minimum of £5 increase in vehicle excise duty.

Perhaps the most widely reported outcome of the Budget was the revelation that a £200million fund would be handed to local authorities in a bid to help repair the potholes that have appeared on Britain’s roads as a result of several harsh winters. Whilst this is a good start, many critics have pointed out that it’s not nearly enough to address the widespread poor state of our roads. Professor Stephen Glaister, RAC Director, stated: ‘our road maintenance backlog stretches back to some £10.5billion worth of repair, which means that the cash will go less than two percent of the way to addressing the problem.’

Tyre Safety Campaign Encourages Drivers to Regularly Check Their Tyres

Britain’s battered and bruised roads have sparked a tyre safety campaign to urge drivers to check their tyres and wheels for damage more often. The advice comes after the Chancellor announced that increased funds will be provided to local governments to help fix Britain’s roads.

TyreSafe chairman Stuart Jackson stated, “While the announcement of extra funds to help repair the UK’s roads is welcome news, it will not happen overnight. In the meantime, it’s critical that drivers pay particular attention to the condition of their tyres and wheels as hitting a pothole can cause significant damage.”

Jackson goes on to say that untreated tyre damage could present substantial danger not just the driver but other road users too.

Even slight damage to tyres, such as hairline cracks, can cause the tyre to slowly deflate. If a wheel is driven with an under-inflated state for prolonged periods it can cause the tyre to overheat, resulting in a greater chance of deflation in the future.

It is vitally important to check your tyre pressure regularly, particularly in the days after hitting a pothole. The correct tyre pressures for your vehicle can be found in its handbook.

Company Car Drivers Leading the way with Low CO₂ Emissions

The amount of Carbon Emissions from new company cars reached an all time low of 120.4g/km in February according to ALD Automotive, beating the previous low of 125.2g/km set at the end of 2013.

Company car CO₂ emissions have been significantly reduced in the past 5 years, having fallen by a total 17% (27% in the past 10 years). Moreover, they are also 8g/km below the UK’s average for new vehicles, something Fleet News claim “demonstrates that company car drivers are leading the way in terms of reducing carbon emissions.”

The latest findings from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) indicate that a car produced in 2014 is typically 14% more efficient than one produced in 2009. Mel Dawson, Managing Director at ALD, suggested that Benefit in Kind taxation is the main driving force behind low CO₂ emissions for company cars: “Our survey of over 1,000 company car drivers in 2013 found that BIK was the most influential factor for company car drivers when choosing their next vehicle.”

With increases in BIK announced for vehicles with over 75g/km of carbon emissions in last week’s Budget, this form of taxation is likely to continue to be a major influencer for company car drivers and their choice of vehicle.

Car of the Week

Our vehicle of the week is this executive BMW 318d SAL 2.0 Luxury Auto – Business Media:

Year / Reg 2013
Mileage 8,000
Engine 2.0L
Fuel Diesel
Gearbox Auto
Consumption (combined) 62.8mpg
0-62mph 8.9 seconds
Engine Power 143bhp
Body Saloon
Colour Blue

BMW-SAL

If you’d like to book a test drive or talk to us out about the latest leasing options for this vehicle, then don’t hesitate to call on 01753 851561.

The Week In Motoring #2

The Week In Motoring #2 https://wvl.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/ferrari-250.jpg 660 300 Anthony Anthony https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a9c4089fd91833b9d9ac3cd2423e0fcb?s=96&d=mm&r=g

Ferrari 250 TR Becomes the Most Expensive Car Ever Sold In Britain

Don’t you hate it when you bid for a car but someone pips you to the post by offering more money? Well, our bid for the Ferrari 250 TR was slightly improved on by an anonymous bidder who snapped up the racer for £24million. This 1950s beauty has a 3.0 litre V12 engine and 300bhp and can reach a top speed of 167mph.

The seller was 1961 Formula 1 World Champion Phil Hill who, along with Peter Collins, raced it to victory in the 1958 12 Hours of Sebring. The car also picked up victory at the 1000km Buenos Aires and raced in 1957 at Le Mans.

In 1967, the car was donated to the Ford Dearborn Museum where it lived for 30 long years.

UK Car Manufacturing at 6 Year High

Figures produced by the Society of Motor Manufacturers show a 3.1% rise in UK manufactured cars during 2013, with 1.5 million cars coming off the production line. The figure is the highest since 2007 and is expected to keep rising with estimates suggesting over 2 million cars could be UK produced by 2017, making it the 3rd largest car manufacturer in Europe.

Business Secretary Vince Cable speaks very optimistically of the rise in UK manufacturing stating, “Today’s figures are another sign that the British Car Industry is going from strength to strength – with one vehicle rolling off a production line someone in the UK every 20 seconds.”

Around 80% of the cars produced were exported around the world which Cable says is “testament to the diverse, high quality of British Manufacturing.”

New Campaign Highlights Risks to Business Drivers

Surprisingly, it has emerged that 21% of traffic collisions in the North-East involve people driving for work purposes. This has caused members of the public to question why there isn’t the same attention paid to highlighting the dangers of driving for work as there is drink driving, which is accountable for a quarter less traffic collisions.

From 2008 – 2012, 74 people died as a result of collisions involving business-related travel in the North-East with a further 748 serious injuries and 8262 slight injuries.

These statistics have caused Road Safety North East to launch a new campaign warning businesses that they could be prosecuted if they neglect their employer responsibilities. Among the campaign are guidelines including paying attention to weather conditions, avoiding distractions and to allow ample time for their journeys. The campaign also reminds employers that they are liable under the Corporate Manslaughter Act if their policies are not up to standard.

Schumacher Slowly Coming Out of Coma

7-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher is having his sedation reduced as doctors prepare to bring him out of his coma. Sabire Kehm has stated that doctors are beginning the ‘waking up process’ but that bringing Schumacher out of his coma “could take a long time.”

Schumacher has been in a medically-induced coma since 29th December after suffering a serious head injury whilst skiing in the French Alps. His family have requested continued privacy from the general public but have expressed their “sincere appreciation for the worldwide sympathy.”

Car of the Week

Our car of the week this week is the fantastic BMW 1 Series 120i.

Year / Reg 2010 (60)
Mileage 90,490
Engine 2.0L
Fuel Petrol
Gearbox Manual
Body Coupe
Colour White

BMW 120i

Price: £9,999

This BM1 Series Coupe is in excellent condition (both interior and exterior) and comes with a full service history, 3 month guarantee and 12 months MOT.

For further information, please call 01753 851561, or click here to view full details.