4 years to first MoT - consultation announced

We have previously mentioned plans to extend the period before a car needs an MoT, and now the government has launched a consultation on changing the period, from three to four years. The consultation is here and the BBC News website reports the story (with added background) here.

Tesla avoids recall after Autopilot crash death - BBC News

BBC News reports that the NHTSA's report into the fatal Tesla accident in Florida, in which the driver had allowed the car's so-called Autopilot feature to do all the driving for him, does not require a recall. It accepts that the feature is designed only to help the driver, although it says that manufacturers of even semi-autonomous cars must provide warnings suitable for the "inattentive driver". And even if a modification can be done over the air, cars will still have to be recalled, which seems like overkill.



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CMA closes short-term car hire case

The CMA has announced the closure of the case concerning short-term car hire in the EU, which it opened in 2014, co-ordinating the efforts of other national authorities in the EU Consumer Protection Cooperation Network. The CMA says that it has had "co-operative engagement" from the five major car rental businesses, and has secured improved price transparency. Some terms and conditions have also been improved. Although the case is closed, the industry will continue to be monitored to ensure that the agreed changes are implemented.

Suspended jail sentence for 'irresponsible' dealer who sold dangerous car - Car Dealer Magazine

Car Dealer Magazine reports that a dealer who sold a dangerously defective vehicle has been given a five-month sentence suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay £3,500 costs, an £80 victim surcharge, a £150 fine and £2,000 compensation (you almost expect a 10 per cent service charge after reading that menu of charges) after pleading guilty to three offences, to described as 'trading regulation' offences and the third as a 'product safety' offence. The vehicle in question was a Nissan Navara which had major structural defects and severe corrosion - although the trader had described it as being in 'excellent condition throughout'.

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The Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Regulations 2016 (SI No. 2016/1193)

The Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Regulations 2016 came into effect on 31 December 2016. They increase the minimum mandatory insurance cover for motor insurance policies in Great Britain relating to property to £1.2 million for any one accident, replacing the previous minimum which stood at £1 million. The minimum derives from the Motor Insurance Directive (Directive 2009/103/EC of the Euiropean Parliament and of the Council of 16th September 2009 relating to insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles, and the enforcement of the obligation to insure against such liability). Article 9(1) sets the minimum, and Article 9(2) provides for it to be index-linked and adjusted every five years, hence the present regulations.



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Car dealer ordered to pay £1,500 after duping 'naive' customer - Car Dealer Magazine

Car Dealer Magazine reports that a dealer from Reading who sold a Ford Ka without telling the buyer that it had been previously damaged was given a 12-month conditional discharge as well as being ordered to pay £500 compensation and £1,000 costs (which seems to attach  more importance to legal fees than to the damage done to the consumer, but perhaps we should not be surprised at that).

At first, the magistrates were not convinced that the offender, an individual, should be treated as a trader  for the purposes of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 - notwithstanding that he had sold 19 cars in the two years leading up to the offence (in 2011). On appeal, Deputy District Judge Khan said that there was 'compelling evidence' that he was a car trader because of the regularity of the deals. In addition, his account with Auto Trader had a trade discount and he used a trade name in advertisements and on the receipt (which incidentally also bore the legend 'sold as seen', which wouldn't get him very far - indeed, could possibly even have got him prosecuted for another offence if it was seen as an attempt to exclude statutory warranties).

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Derby Trading Standards criticises defunct Caralot

Motor Trader reports that Derby City Trading Standards has obtained an enforcement order under the Enterprise Act requiring used car supermarket Caralot to refrain from misleasing consumers about the quality of their cars. However, the news coincided with the announcement that the company had gone into liquidation.

The Council said it had investigated 77 complaints against Caralot in three years.  “The business “failed to accept its responsibilities in resolving complaints, publishing misleading statements and omitting vital accurate information about their vehicles,” the Council said. There was also evidence of aggressive sales practices and e-signing finance documents on behalf of customers without their knowledge.

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