Car maintenance blog
Clear, practical articles about vehicle maintenance, running costs, paperwork, safety and choosing a car.
Sep 05, 2026
When is your first MOT due — and why the date on the certificate wins
A new car in Great Britain does not need an MOT until it is three years from first registration. After that the test is annual. The legal due date is...... Read more
Sep 05, 2026
VED 2025/26: first-year CO2 bands, the standard rate and the £40,000 supplement
Vehicle Excise Duty is not one flat fee. In the first year most petrol and diesel cars are taxed from a CO2 table. From year two they move to a standa...... Read more
Sep 05, 2026
HMRC mileage allowance: 45p, 25p and the log you must keep
Approved Mileage Allowance Payments let an employee claim a tax-free amount for using a private car for work. The approved rates are 45p for the first...... Read more
Sep 05, 2026
Company car tax: list price, appropriate percentage and your income tax band
Benefit in Kind on a company car is mechanical: P11D list price × appropriate percentage gives the cash equivalent. You then pay income tax on that fi...... Read more
Sep 05, 2026
UK MPG vs US MPG: why the same car looks more efficient in Britain
UK pumps sell litres. Economy is still quoted in miles per imperial gallon. An imperial gallon is 4.54609 litres. A US gallon is 3.785 litres. The sam...... Read more
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