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Dealers are under pressure in the used car market with cars remaining unsold for longer. That’s the view of AutoTrader, which has launched a quarterly price index that monitors the movement in advertised prices for used cars.

Consumers are not aware of their rights when making insurance repair claims and are missing out on the service levels they expect...

A survey of MoT test stations has revealed “alarming disparities” in the results of cars tested. What Car? visited six garages in five days with a six-year-old Vauxhall Corsa that the RAC had inspected and rated as an MoT test failure.

Sales at the The Co-op Group’s Motors arm rose 6.4 per cent to £143.6m in the half year to 2 July 2011. Although it did not give an indication of profitability, it said the car business had “performed well given the difficult nature of the market currently, with the slowdown in the economy and increasing consumer nervousness”...

Prestige vehicle finance firm Bridford Financial Solutions is offering a trip to Monaco as an incentive to dealers to put finance through its books. Bridford is offering places on the Bridford Dealers Group visit to Monte Carlo for those who sell between £1m and £1.5m of finance through Bridford over the next three months.

August saw a reduced activity at auction and lower volumes of LCVs for sale. “A drop off in volumes coming into the market has helped and the buyers attending sales are definitely looking to stock up,” said Tim Spencer, Group Commercial Vehicle Auctioneer, Manheim Auctions.

Repair bills during the summer months are 10 per cent higher than any other time of the year, according to research by Warranty Direct. The warranty provider said its claims data shows July and August are the peak months as major components fail...

Trade body the RMI has hit back at reports that the government is set to relax MoT rules that compel motorists to pay for an annual MoT test. Reports citing Department for Transport (DfT) sources said it was important to review the scheme given the massive improvements in vehicle technology that have taken place over the past 50 years...

Limited supplies of used vehicles are expected to keep prices stable over the next few weeks, according to Glass’s Guide. “This will almost certainly keep prices stable until we see the first influx of dealer part exchanges during the second week in September, “said Glass’s Guide managing editor Adrian Rushmore.

Veteran car dealer and motor trade investor Tony Bramall and his family have increased their stake in Lookers. Lookers said on Friday 19 August Bramall, a non-executive director and his family bought a further 3,800,000 Lookers ordinary shares of 5 pence each at 50 pence per share and on Monday 22 August acquired a further 93,000 Ordinary Shares at 50.75 pence per share.