UK Government encourages Motor Trade apprentices

The new coalition Government is keen to see an increased uptake in apprenticeships for young people within the Motor Trade. Vince Cable spoke on the issue recently and the government are targeting an additional 100,000 apprentices in UK businesses by 2014.

Industry figures for the Motor Trade, recorded in excess of 11,000 apprenticeships during the past year. The trend towards apprenticeships and the government incentives offered are good news, for employers and potential employees at a time when youth unemployment is exceptionally high.

Training and career opportunities are available for many Motor Trader occupations. Many companies are taking on young people in this sector, with Jaguar / Land Rover being one of the largest, the company are creating 1,200 new apprentice places.

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Motor Trade facing tough challenges in 2011

Figures for January 2011, indicate a tough trading climate for the Motor Trade during the coming year. The SMMT statistics recorded a fall of 11.5% in new car sales. Increasing unemployment, lack of available finance and increases in VAT and fuel prices are all effecting consumer confidence and personal budgets.

Motor Traders and manufacturers are providing incentives to buyers to help revive flagging sales. However most consumers are taking a cautious approach with job security proving a factor with large numbers of public and private sector workers.

Many Car Dealers are focusing their stock on smaller more efficient cars, to help with rising fuel costs, with prices currently at a record high. The early indicators for this year are that their is a marked downsizing in cars and engine size. Electric cars are also becoming more attractive to buyers as the costs of petrol and diesel continue to increase. However the range of the current crop of electric cars and the number of public charging points needs to increase before this becomes a viable alternative for most road users.

During the coming year, we can help with your Motor Trade insurance costs. Get a quote for your Traders insurance and save up to 40% off your current premium with iQuote. We can provide immediate cover and offer flexible payment options, contact us for your Traders Insurance Policy.

Motor Trade reports 4x4 values rising fast

Car Dealers are currently trying to satisfy demand within the used car sector for 4x4's. This is largely due to the poor weather conditions and potential for further extreme weather. The increase in demand and prices for SUV's continues unabated despite the increase in fuel prices to record levels.

At the beginning of 2011, 4x4 prices were increasingly faster than other sector of the used vehicle market. The fuel prices are having a limited impact in this area, because Diesel vehicles are outperforming their Petrol counterparts with the highest prices.

Should there be a further spell of bad weather the demand is expected to peak even further than current levels. Therefore dealers are finding it increasingly hard to satisfy customer demand for 4x4's despite increased fuel costs.

For Car Dealers looking to save money on Motor Traders Insurance, you can save up to 40% off your Traders Policy. Visit the iQuote Insurance website this winter for your online Motor Trade Quote.

Mobile vehicle valuations for the Motor Trade

There is a new online service for mobile available from Glass's which provides valuation tools for Car Dealers whilst on the move. The mobile revolution for web usage has continued to grow during 2010 with online traffic from mobiles increasing 3-fold. The new service 'GlassNet Unlimited Mobile' reflects this trend and the increasing diversity of the Motor Trade.

The new mobile service will provide greater flexibility for Car Dealers who visit a customers to value vehicles, work on multiple sites and motor traders working from home. The mobile service will allow dealers to input specific vehicle information such as mileage and options to get an accurate valuation of any vehicle.

At iQuote Insurance we are also publishing new services for mobile devices, such as your iPhone, Blackberry or iPad. You can now get a quote for your Traders insurance online at our new mobile site: iQuoteMotorTradeinsurance.co.uk/mobile/ - Visit us for a Motor Trade Insurance Quote tailored to your business.

Top tips for Traders with iQuote Insurance

When you purchase a Traders Insurance policy, we are committed to providing you with the most competitive deal on your Traders policy. Because you are covering your livelihood and vehicle stock, you shouldn't purchase insurance cover purely on price. You should also consider the level of cover required and whether you require additional benefits such as premises or indemnity cover.

We have listed some handy tips designed to save you money on Motor Trade insurance:

• Make sure that any additional drivers you add to your Traders policy are over 25 years of age. Any drivers younger on the policy will result in a significant increase of your insurance premium.
• If you haven't got any No Claims Bonus in the Motor Trade, ask your insurance broker if you can 'mirror' your No Claims from a private car policy. This means you could still get generous discounts even though your No Claims has not been earned in the Trade.
• If you have the available funds, pay for your insurance in one payment at the inception of the policy. Although most brokers can finance your policy, you will pay more for your insurance in interest charges.
• Many policies will not cover high performance vehicles, within your Motor Trader insurance. If you need cover for a Subaru Impreza, Mitsubishi EVO or other high performance vehicles, you must notify your insurance broker or insurer. Otherwise you may unwittingly end up without cover in the event of a claim.
• Consider the amount of additional cover you require, by limiting the amount of premises cover or increasing the voluntary excess you are willing to pay, you can make large savings on the cost of your Motor Trade policy.

To find out more about our Motor Traders Insurance and how much you can save - Get a Motor Trade Quote with iQuote Insurance.

Traders Insurance in times of austerity

In the past week the coalition government has announced a wide range of spending cuts, that will impact across all areas of society. Whether or not the spending cuts directly effect you and your Motor Trade business, there is likely to be a knock on effect to consumer confidence. With potentially hundreds of thousands less in work and with less disposable income to purchase used or new cars. This doesn't just effect vehicle sales, but also car valeters, mechanics and has wide ranging implications for all traders.

Therefore it has become even more important to purchase Motor Traders Insurance keenly. There are a number of factors to consider when purchasing a Motor Trade Policy, price is obviously a key consideration. However price should not be the only factor, you should consider if you do have to make a claim - will your policy provide adequate cover to fully cover the cost of your claim.

When purchasing your Traders Policy, you should review whether you will require Demo Cover, Indemnity and Premises cover on your policy and the level of cover required for each item. When you get a Motor Trade Insurance Quote with iQuote Insurance, you will speak to an expert advisor who will get you the best possible quotation for Traders Insurance - that cuts your costs, but not your cover!

To find out more about a Motor Trade Policy with iQuote Insurance call today: 0845 434 7819

IMI will introduce Electric Vehicle qualification and training for the Motor Trade

Electric Vehicle (EV) and hybrid vehicles are still far from ubiquitous, however they are becoming increasingly popular within the UK. This means that as cars of this type begin to enter the used car market, it is important for consumers to be able to have these vehicles serviced by a local garage or even mobile mechanics.

Earlier this year the IMI (Institute of the Motor Industry) announced an industry wide training, accreditation and qualification scheme to cover EV's. This scheme is now ready for introduction in January 2011, it is hoped this scheme will provide a much higher level of competency across the Motor Trade when dealing with this exciting technology.

There will also be increased choice for the consumer and by not being tied to a specific manufacturers dealer network for servicing and repairs, there is likely to be a benefit in terms of both convenience and cost.

Need cheaper Motor Traders Insurance? Get a quote for your Traders Policy and save up to 40% off!

Internet Marketing is becoming critical to Motor Traders

Much of the Motor Trade has been slow to harness the power of the internet, as a tool to drive new business, however this is rapidly changing. As consumer patterns are changing, prospective customers are increasingly likely to book vehicle servicing, repairs and purchase vehicles online. For those Motor Traders that have not already harnessed the power of promoting their business online, it is becoming increasingly important to drive visitors to their website - or be left behind by competitors.

In many other industries, but particularly insurance this transition is a familiar story. The insurance industry has been revolutionised by changing consumer patterns. If we look at the example of Motor Trade insurance, companies that haven't been able to gain a strong online presence have ceased to exist.

Although the Motor Trade has been slower to adapt to an online market place, a solid strategy for online marketing for Car Dealers, Mechanics and Valeters is becoming ever more important. The first place that a customer will research for your services are online. The actual purchase may happen on the phone, or face-to-face but the majority of customers will complete their research on the net. So whatever type of Motor Trade activity you are involved in, you should review your website and how prominently it appears within Google for your products and services.

Looking for cheaper Traders Insurance? Call us today on: 0845 434 7819 to find out how much you could save.

Car Dealers offering independent scrappage schemes

The government scrappage scheme was widely acknowledged as a huge success within the Motor Trade industry, by the time the scheme had run it's course in March 2010 it had accounted for 400,000 vehicle sales. When vehicle sales had been predicted to plummet, the scheme provided a much need boost for Motor Traders.

Since the schemes expiration earlier this year, many manufacturers have since provided their own offers to recycle your old car for a newer model. Although not government backed, there are still many bargains to be had when shopping around within the range on offer from car dealers. Nissan, Kia and many others are offering schemes to recycle your old vehicle when you purchase a new car. This is helping to drive new car sales and put cleaner, greener vehicles on Britains roads.

Looking for a better deal on your Traders Insurance? Find out how much you can save when you get your Motor Trade Insurance Quote with us.

Warnings for Car Dealers on HMRC tax bills

Motor Dealers have been claiming overpayment of VAT on sales of demonstrator vehicles. The resulting claims have been paid with minimal queries by HMRC to dealers who submitted claims.

However HMRC has begun reviewing this process and believes they may have made overpayments to Car Dealers, in some cases with substantial amounts. This is related to a partial exemption status for VAT for the claims submitted. Within this retrospective review, which dates back two years many of those who have already received refund payments from HMRC have utilised the funds within their business - and will now be asked for repayment.

Many of those effected by the current process will be larger Motor Dealers with substantial claims. Understandably many of those effected are unhappy with the retrospective nature of the current review.

Need to save money on Traders Insurance? We specialise in Motor Trade policies for Car Dealers, call us on 0845 434 7819 or apply online for a Traders Policy.

Customer complaints on the increase reports OFT

The Office of Fair Trading has reported an increase in the number of used car complaints from consumers, the number of reported complaints has risen to 38,000 during the first half of 2010. From the perspective of car dealers this is causing costs to rise and increases the importance of choosing the right Motor Trade Insurance policy.

Whilst reputable used car dealers, take every reasonable precaution with vehicles they sell - there is still the potential that a substantial claim could arise from a defective vehicle that has been sold or serviced by you. Therefore indemnity insurance cover on your Motor Trade policy can help protect against this potential risk to your trading activity.

In response to the recent increase in customer complaints, the OFT has launched a campaign to help customers better understand their rights when purchasing a vehicle. Most of the complaints recorded within the figures, have become apparent in the first three months. In such circumstances the dealer will often be responsible for fixing the issue, with no charge to the customer.

Looking to save money on your Traders Insurance? Call us today on: 0845 434 7819 to find out how much you could save.

Reduction in used car values

According to Motor Trade industry figures - the value of used cars in comparison to the same month last year has fallen by 3%. This is the first time a fall in values has occurred this year.

Their are variations in these values, with small cars seeing the most dramatic drop in values. However despite heavier taxation and increased fuel costs, four wheel drive vehicles have seen an increase of over 10%.

The overall drop in values is an opportunity for a bargain when purchasing vehicles for both consumers and traders. Similarly with iQuote Insurance you could benefit from a bargain on your Traders Insurance when you get a quote online.

Car Dealers need to embrace electric cars

According to a recent industry survey many motor traders and car dealers have been hesitant to become involved in the electric car revolution. Whether electric cars really are the answer to 'green' car use, is still a subject of debate. However there is an increasing popularity with consumers, for both environmental and economic reasons.

Also the Motor Trade should keep site of the fact that electric cars will need much less dealer servicing than current vehicles with combustion engines. This will have a direct result on Motor Dealer revenues from servicing. The onus will move to the dealer to ensure that they provide a service that is compelling for drivers to require the dealer. This may involve maintenance for wear and tear on parts and safety checks on vehicles. It may transpire that to try and retain servicing incomes the car dealers may end up visiting the customer and providing a more 'bespoke' service.

At iQuote Insurance we provide a bespoke service to customers who require Motor Trade Insurance. In a challenging market for Motor Traders, we go the extra mile to save you money. So if you need Traders Insurance we will arrange a policy that cuts costs, but not cover.

Visit iQuote Insurance and get a cheaper Motor Trade Quote »

20% increase in used car values

Since the beginning of 2009 motor traders are reporting an increase of 20% in the values of used cars. This is particularly timely news in advance of the number plate change at the start of September. You could find when trading your car in for a new vehicle that you are pleasantly surprised.

Although the new car market is beginning to recover with the introduction of the scrappage scheme, there has been a marked fall in the number of used vehicles coming into the market. According to many car dealers this has only served to increase prices even further. The current situation of demand outstripping supply of used vehicles is something that hasn’t been seen in many years.

Buyers looking for high trade in values are being encouraged to do their home work. If you have a vehicle that the car dealer wants and you know that dealers are running short of supplies, this puts you in a strong bargaining position. The current incentives in the form of the scrappage scheme for vehicles over 10 years old and higher trade in values for vehicles of a lesser age, have resulted in a buyers market if you have the purchasing power.

For car dealers there is also good news, with the introduction of our latest motor trade insurance products, you can get cheaper traders insurance with iQuote. Get an online motor trade quote with us and we will beat your existing premium.

Are UK customers getting a fair deal from the Motor Trade?

A recent survery of nearly 1,500 car owners found a less than satisfactory experience in their dealings with garages, MOT centres and other outlets within the Motor Trade. Within the survey it revealed that one in five motorists have been charged more than the amount quoted for the service or repair work by their garage or car dealer.

Other findings in the survey found that one in ten motorists have or believe they have been overcharged for work on their vehicle. The ‘Motor Codes’ self regulatory body is seen as a last chance saloon for the Motor Trade. With consumer confidence at a low ebb and consumers having no knowledge of where to turn if things go wrong. The inconsistent and overpriced repair work is believed to cost UK motorists in the region of Four Billion pounds per year.

For Motor Traders, we also believe a fare deal is something that should be expected. So at iQuote Insurance we guarantee to beat any genuine Motor Trade quote. Visit us online and enter the best quote you have received from our competitors and we will save you money on your Traders Insurance.

The Motor Codes regulatory body is trying to deliver and maintain standards within the Motor Trade. Garages adhering to the scheme will have the Motor Codes logo on display and this is the guarantee of professionally completed work at reasonable prices. Support your local garages that are members of the scheme and help repair the reputation of the motor trade.

Motor Traders switch to online marketing

In a recent survey of two hundred car dealers in the UK, the top 3 marketing methods are all internet generated (Promotion of vehicles on their own websites, being coming out top). There has been a pronounced shift away from traditional media to get customers buying cars.

Car dealers have also confirmed the success of the vehicle scrappage scheme. With 53% of dealers experiencing improved sales compared to the first half of 2008. The improvement of car sales is even more pronounced for used vehicles, with 75% of dealers seeing improvements in this sector.

This improvement is all the more remarkable, with the reduction in marketing spend; 77% of dealers have reduced their marketing budgets. The Traders that are doing well in the current market, are those who have switched their focus to small hatchbacks, superminis and family cars. Those who are struggling have a business model based on 4x4’s or luxury cars as many buyers are carefully considering their choice of vehicle.

In addition to marketing online, their are further savings by shopping around for Car Dealer insurance online. iQuote insurance can provide cheap motor trade insurance and expert advice on your traders policy. To find out more call iQuote on: 0845 434 7819

Vehicle Scrappage boosts sales of Hyundai

The company which has benefited from increased sales is Hyundai, since the scrappage scheme was introduced their UK sales have increased to over 11,000 vehicles. This volume is more than in the previous four months and is bucking the trend of depressed figures elsewhere in the Motor Trade.

For car dealers the scrappage scheme is providing mixed fortunes, due to the weakness of the pound against other currencies (particularly the Euro). The biggest concern is that small cars will just not be available as manufacturers divert the supply of vehicles to schemes elsewhere, with a more favourable exchange rate.

However even for car dealers experiencing a lull, there is some positive news with low cost traders insurance available for combined cover or road risks only from iQuote Insurance. We guarantee to beat any genuine motor trade quote and will provide expert advice and a traders insurance policy tailored to your business.

To find out more about the savings available under the scrappage scheme visit the Hyundai website.

Car Dealers concerned as new car production falls

Despite the introduction of the vehicle scrappage scheme new car production has fallen by 43% in May 2009. The first five month of the year have seen new car production fall by 54%, the figures for commercial vehicles see an even sharper decline of 65% for the year.

However the scrappage scheme was not implemented until mid-may, the figures for June should provide a more accurate picture of the market. Due to the changeable conditions in the new car market, the production ouput of firms is heavily influenced by sales on Car Dealer forecourts.

The Motor Trade and in particular the commercial sector is experiencing the worst downturn for many years. However to assist Car dealers and Motor traders, iQuote Insurance are offering a saving of 40% off your Traders Insurance.

Visit the iQuote Motor Trade website for a motor trade quote to get your ‘credit crunch’ saving on a traders policy.

Used Vehicle values rise for 7th Month

The average prices of used vehicles continues rise, based on reported figures at UK vehicle auctions. The figures continue to rise despite the introduction of the government backed vehicle scrappage scheme for new cars.

Average values rose by over 2% in May, this was a 5.7% increase on the same period for 2008. Motor Traders welcomed the news and reflect the demand for used vehicles within the current ecomonmic climate.

The figures are particularly welcome news for the trade, as this is traditionally the quietest time of year for car sales. This suggests that the prices are resilient and the used car sector will continue to provide strong demand, both in car dealerships and auctions.

If your a Motor Trader and would like to save money on your Traders Insurance, get a Motor Trade Quote with iQuote Insurance to save up to 40% off your premium.

Suzuki poised to gain dealer servicing market share

The car maker has joined forces with Motaquip and has launched a servicing program for all makes of vehicles. This is expected to help drive their servicing business forward and help to make up the shortfall in revenue due to the fall in new car sales.

Motor Traders are having to work harder to maintain their incomes in the current ecomonic climate. More car dealer networks are expected to diversify into this manner to try and whether the current trading conditions. To assist with falling revenues, iQuote Insurance can save you money on Traders Insurance. For a limited time we guarantee to beat your existing motor trade quote.

Whatever make of car you own the dealer will type your registration into a parts catalogue to access 6,700 models of vehicles and all their components. The scheme is expected to have a positive effect on workshop business throughout the Suzuki GB dealer network. To facilitate this scheme Suzuki have partnered with Autodata for the supply of technical data to the car dealer network.