UK driving licence holders living in the EU may have to take new driving tests in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the government has warned.

The AA estimates that this will affect up to half a million ex-pats living in France and Spain, with the government warning that they will need to pass a driving test in their country of residence to be able to carry on driving there.

• Car insurance costs are rising due to Brexit

Ex-pats are being advised to exchange their UK driving licence for a local European Union (EU) driving licence before 29 March 2019 or risk taking a new test. Increased demand may lead to longer processing times, especially as the country edges closer to a no-deal Brexit.

In a further development, on 28 March 2019, the type of international driving permit (IDP) that some countries outside the EU and European Economic Area (EEA) recognise will change. In the event of a no-deal Brexit, UK drivers may need an IDP in addition to their UK licence to drive in EU and EEA countries.

From 28 March, countries that are party to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic will no longer recognise 1926 and 1949 IDPs issued by the UK. Instead, UK drivers may need a 1968 IDP to drive in these countries.

Until 31 January 2019, you can get 1926 and 1949 IDPs from 89 UK post offices, or by mail order from the AA or the RAC. From 1 February, you will only be able to get IDPs over the counter from 2,500 UK post offices, at a cost of £5.50.

‘Backward step’

Edmund King, AA president, said: “Thousands of ex-pats, many of them elderly, will not relish the prospect of having to re-take their driving test in a different country and different language if there is no deal.

“Drivers without the appropriate IDP(s) could also be turned back at the ports. Currently, they could obtain an IDP from the AA shop at the Eurotunnel port but that won’t be allowed after the end of this month.

“It really does seem a backward step that drivers will no longer be able to apply for IDPs in the post. Unless these Brexit driving issues are sorted out soon many UK drivers living in Europe may well need to start practising for a new driving test.” 

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• How to get cheaper car insurance

The cost of car insurance is climbing for the first time since 2017, according to The AA’s British Insurance Premium Index.

During the last quarter of 2018, the cost of a fully comprehensive policy rose by 2.7 percent to £609.93, with the pound’s Brexit-related plunge making vehicle repairs more expensive.

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In 2018, premiums were reduced following changes in the Ogden rate, used to calculate compensation for personal injuries, but the Civil Liability Bill, which means drivers will receive a smaller payout for whiplash injuries, won’t take effect until April 2020.

The bill introduces a fixed tariff for whiplash damages, along with a rise in the small claims limit to £5,000 for road traffic accident claims. It means that legal costs cannot be recovered when the damages are under the limit.

“But underlying all of this are concerns surrounding Brexit,” said AA’s director of insurance, Janet Connor.

“Regardless of what the final deal looks like, the market has continued to battle with the value of sterling. This has led to the rising cost of imported car parts, further adding costs to the car repair industry which ultimately finds its way to the premiums we pay.”

Green Card woes

Insurers are warning UK motorists of the need to arrange extra documentation in the event of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit. Last year, the Department for Transport issued guidance notes for vehicle insurance following a no-deal scenario, stating that access to the Green Card-free circulation would cease.

Huw Evans, director general of the Association of British Insurers (ABI), said: “As it looks increasingly possible that a no-deal Brexit may happen, we want all insurance customers to know the facts about what this means for them.

“If you live in Northern Ireland and drive to the Republic of Ireland, or if you plan to drive your vehicle to mainland Europe after a no-deal Brexit, you will need a Green Card to prove you are insured.

“You should contact your insurer before you travel in order to get one. This advice applies to businesses as well as individuals.”

Green Cards are currently issued free-of-charge, but insurance providers may increase administration fees to reflect production and handling costs. 

• How to get cheaper car insurance

Motorists could be forced to pay up to £1,000 a year to park at work, as councils move to tackle air pollution and congestion.

At least 10 local councils are considering a so-called ‘Workplace Parking Levy’ (WPL), following the lead of Nottingham City Council. The charge will be imposed on businesses with 11 or more parking spaces, but there are fears this cost will be passed on to staff.

• UK council parking profits could top £900 million in 2018

In Nottingham, businesses with at least 11 parking spaces will be charged £415 for the period from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020, with the council advising businesses that they can ‘choose to reclaim part or all of the cost of the WPL from their employees’.

Last year, a report by the think tank Centre for Cities argued ‘the WPL is one way cities can generate funding for policies to extend prosperity to more people – in this case, by improving public transport and therefore increasing access to opportunities for more people.

‘But it is also essentially a tax on something that nobody likes – congestion. By encouraging commuters to carpool or switch to public transport, it reduces congestion and its cost to business and residents. The reduction in traffic also improves carbon emissions and air quality.’

In Nottingham, where charges were introduced in 2012, the WPL has raised around £9m a year, which is why the likes of Cambridge, Oxford, Reading, Bristol, Glasgow and Edinburgh are considering introducing a levy.

Meanwhile, councillors in Hounslow are considering the introduction of a WPL in 2020, following a consultation that closed earlier this month. Charges of £500, £750 and £1,000 have been assessed, with proceeds from the 4,200 workplace parking spaces expected to be spent on the introduction of new rail service between Syon Lane and Brentford.

Revenues would also be used to fund walking, cycling and bus schemes, as well as the proposed West London Orbital rail service to Cricklewood.

‘Poll tax on wheels’

Not everyone is a fan of the parking levy. Edmund King, AA president, said: “We need more incentives to switch to electric vehicles rather than a tax on work to drive businesses out of town or out of business. If it spreads to other cities, workplace parking levies could become the new ‘poll tax on wheels’. ”

Robert Halfon, Conservative chairman of the Commons education select committee is similarly sceptical, saying: “This is complete madness. It’s yet another tax on motorists and all it will do is hit working people with the cost of the living. It’s entirely the wrong thing to do.”

In February 2018, WPL to reduce air pollution in Greater Manchester was rejected, with councillors calling for a ‘dirty diesel’ scrappage scheme and a timeframe for non-polluting vehicles.

But an increasing number of councils are viewing Nottingham’s levy with interest, and Edinburgh is expected to become the first Scottish city to introduce a WPL. “We’re still at a very early stage and our next steps will involve setting out an argument and rationale for introducing a workplace parking levy,” said the city’s transport and environment convener last year.

“However, we’re confident that introducing a workplace parking levy would achieve many benefits – reducing the number of car journeys made into the city and in turn lowering congestion, improving air quality and encouraging active travel.”

Would you welcome a WPL in your city? Let us know in the comments below.

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Pure Highway 400 review: DAB and Spotify for older cars

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The brand-new A90 Toyota Supra has generated plenty of interest this week, but how much would you pay to own the very first example off the production line?

An astonishing $2.1 million (£1.63 million) is the answer. A rather serious markup compared to the regular $49,990 (£52,695) list price that the Supra will sell for in North America.

The huge amount paid for the first Supra was one of the highlights from the giant Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale sale in Arizona, which saw records broken and scores of special cars crossing the block on ‘Super Saturday’.

Doing it all for charity

Helping raise the sale price of the first fifth-generation Supra was the fact all proceeds would be going to charity. Toyota North America had donated the specially created car, allowing all money to be split between the American Heart Association and Bob Woodruff Foundation.

The winning bidder was serial car-collector and philanthropist, John Staluppi. No stranger to Barrett-Jackson auctions, Staluppi sold 140 cars from his extensive collection at a Palm Beach sale in 2018. More than sufficient to fund the purchase of a very special Supra.

Finished in a unique matte paint, with red mirror caps, and matte black wheels, Supra ‘number 1’ will be like no other. Staluppi will also receive a custom-create race suit, a VIP track day experience, and the chance to drive a Toyota pace car at a NASCAR race.

Hypercars, autobots, and more

Despite the incredible price tag, the first A90 Supra was not the car making the biggest sale at the 2019 Scottsdale event.

That record was taken by another production line first – with $2.5 million (£1.94 million) paid for a 2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition wearing VIN 001. Motorsport magnate Rick Hendrick was the winning bidder, with all proceeds again going to help good causes.

More money was raised for charity, with $500,000 (£388,000) raised for the collection of four Bumblebee Chevrolet Camaros, as used in the Transformers movie franchise.

There were more silver screen connections, with the 1967 ‘Eleanor’ Ford Mustang as used in the 2000 Gone in 60 Seconds movie selling for $385,000 (£299,000). A healthy profit compared to the $216,000 (£169,000) paid for it in 2009.

Other sale stars included $1.44 million (£1.12 million) achieved by a 2019 McLaren Senna, $1.21 million (£939,000) paid for a Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6, and a world record $918,500 (£713,000) 2012 Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition.

These days, it isn’t hard to find a new car with DAB digital radio fitted as standard. Even the £7,795 Dacia Sandero Essential offers DAB, while the now-commonplace smartphone integration has made it even easier to listen to your favourite music or radio station on the move.

However, what if you have no intention of splashing out on a new car, but want to upgrade your existing audio system? If you’re after digital radio with the added benefit of Spotify music streaming, the Pure Highway 400 might be the answer.

• Sounds great: 20 of the best in-car audio systems

The Highway 400 costs £139.99 and is Pure’s mid-range in-car solution, offering digital radio, Bluetooth music streaming, a wireless display and smartphone voice assistant. For an additional £20, you can upgrade to the Highway 600, which offers hands-free calling.

Yes, you can buy DAB head units for upwards of £99, but a Highway system works with your existing audio system, which might be an important consideration if you hope to retain the OEM look or the present system is an irregular size.

Wired for sound

The flipside is that you’re left with a wireless controller fastened to your dashboard and an antenna attached to the windscreen. Also, depending on the quality of your DIY install, you may have to live with a few exposed wires, but more on this in a moment.

Not that the Highway 400 is an unattractive device. In common with Pure’s range of household digital radios, the battery-powered wireless controller looks neat and obtrusive, while the OLED screen is clear and crisp, regardless of whether it’s night or day.

The system comes with a chunky instruction manual – but fear not, because only the first 22 pages are English. You will need to read it because while the installation is straightforward, it’s important to follow the instructions. Get it wrong and you risk not optimising the digital reception. Worse still, it might fail to function entirely.

It’s not worth running through the entire installation as part of this review, but there are some key things to note. Firstly, the antenna must be positioned as high as possible on the windscreen and at least 4cm from the side of the screen.

The magnetic grounding tail slots through the tap between the roof liner and the roof and needs to touch the bodywork. I chose my £100 Renault Laguna as the lucky recipient of this DAB upgrade and, if I’m honest, I’d have liked the antenna to sit closer to the A-pillar. It’s not a fault of the system, merely my inability to find a magnetic connection.

Aside from that, I’m delighted with the results. The lead is long enough to pull around the inside of the top of the A-pillar, down through the inside of the rubber door seal, behind the glovebox and centre console, and out through the ashtray. It’s a tidy job.

Power to all our friends

There are two ways to connect to the wireless controller: either using the aux-in socket – which is the recommended way – or via the FM radio. The Laguna doesn’t have an aux-in socket, so the Highway system is broadcasting the DAB signal on 87.6MHz.

The Highway name appears on the Laguna’s OEM display – at least it does when the car’s screen is functioning correctly – before being replaced by the name of the radio station. Save the Highway as a preset and it will make it easy to find if you’ve switched to another FM station.

Assuming the installation has been done correctly, the receiver will pick up the available digital stations within seconds and you’ll have filled the 20 presets in no time at all. It really is that easy.

The buttons are a little small and tightly packed together, but the central dial makes it easy to switch between stations and songs. Speaking of which, thanks to the Pure Highway 400, the Laguna now benefits from in-car Spotify. Who needs Apple CarPlay?

You’ll need a premium account to use the music streaming service, but connecting is easy. You simply download the Pure Go app, login to your Spotify account, and connect to the wireless receiver via Bluetooth.

The sound quality isn’t as crisp and clear as when listening to the radio – there’s a noticeable ‘hiss’ between songs – but it’s good (not to mention a legal requirement) to access Spotify or other apps without touching your smartphone. The songs are displayed on the wireless controller, and you can skip tracks and select playlists via the buttons.

You can even hit a ‘Go’ button if you hear a song on the radio and you want to add it to your playlist. I can’t tell you if this feature is any good, because I tend to listen to Radio 5 Live, where music tends to be off the menu. If I’m honest, I don’t think it’s something I’d ever use.

Do you want to dance?

Overall, I’m delighted with the Highway 400. I felt pretty smug about the quality of my install – the fact that the wires are almost completely hidden behind the dashboard is a bonus. I also like the way they feed in from behind the ashtray and are therefore hidden away when the lid is closed.

The size of the power adaptor means that the lid cannot be closed when the digital radio is in use, but when I leave the car I simply unplug it, put the adaptor in the ashtray and tuck the wire into the space next to the cigarette lighter. Crucially, the adaptor has two USB ports, meaning you can keep your phone on charge when on the move.

So far, the digital radio reception hasn’t been quite as good as I’ve found when using OEM systems. There are the usual DAB dead zones in rural Devon, but the Highway 400 seems to drop out earlier and reconnect later than the other systems. 

Other gripes? The antenna and aerial look a tad unsightly on the windscreen of my otherwise, ahem, immaculate £100 Laguna, and thanks to the unique way in which the dashboard is sculpted and finished, I could only find one place to mount the wireless controller bracket. French cars, eh?

For me, it adds a little extra to the £100 Laguna. I have simple desires – Radio 5 Live and Spotify are enough for me – so this ticks two boxes. Whether or not it represents good value for money at £40 more than the price of the car is up to you. Personally, I like it.

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The colour of their new car is one of the biggest choices motorists can make. It’s something most of us spend ages agonising over, staring endlessly at brochures or clicking constantly at the online configurator. For years, the top colours have therefore been seen as a reflection of the mood of the nation.

And in 2018, it seems we’re feeling rather glum and sober, based on the choices of our new car colour as ranked by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Let’s run through the favourite shades of Britain’s best-selling cars, then, before looking at the best-selling new car colour overall at the end.

Kia Sportage: white

The Kia Sportage was the 10^th best-selling new car in Britain last year, with over 35,000 new models finding homes. The top choice of colour was white – perfect for bringing out the facelifted car’s crisp lines and LED-accented front end.

Ford Kuga: grey

Another SUV in the top 10, Ford Kuga buyers preferred grey. Called Magnetic, it’s interestingly a so-called ‘exclusive’ colour, costing £750 – regular metallic paint on the Kuga is £600.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class: black

The new Mercedes-Benz A-Class was launched in 2018 and, like many a Merc, the favourite new car colour pick for Brits was black. Because any Mercedes-Benz looks great in black, we fully approve of this.

Mini: grey

Mini buyers are cheery sorts, but even they seem to have been swayed by the glum mood in Britain last year. There are umpteen bright shades on offer in the range, but our favourite was still grey.

Volkswagen Polo: black

The Volkswagen Polo is another new car for 2018, and another model in which Brits preferred it in black. We must say, though, based on the image above, it does look pretty good in black, doesn’t it?

Ford Focus: blue

The Ford Focus was also new in 2018 and we also fully endorse Brits’ pick of blue as their favourite colour. Chrome Blue is a more subtle shade but we particularly like the Desert Island Blue pictured above – it really pops.

Nissan Qashqai: black

Back to black for the Nissan Qashqai. The Sunderland factory has an excellent paint shop so it looks just as rich as the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, we reckon.

Vauxhall Corsa: grey

The ageing Vauxhall Corsa is currently being sold in special edition Griffin guise, in which the feature colour is red. This may sway things for 2019, but for 2018, the moodier shade of grey was top choice.

Volkswagen Golf: grey

The sensible, sober-suited Volkswagen Golf was yet another car that was most popular painted in grey. VW offers two shades – Urano Grey is actually free, and Indium Grey metallic is £580.

Ford Fiesta: grey

Our favourite new car by far in 2018 was the Ford Fiesta. And the colour we chose above all for it was, yes, grey. Again, Ford’s grey is called Magnetic, an exclusive colour that costs £650, as pictured here on the exceptional new Ford Fiesta ST.

Grey day

And the best-selling new car colour in 2018 overall? It’s perhaps no surprise to read it is grey. Perhaps reflecting the mood of the nation, the many shades of grey beat the previous top colour, black, into second place. It’s the first time grey has topped the charts, reports the SMMT.  

So let’s cheer things up a little: we may all be feeling a little grey, but if it means picking a racy McLaren 600LT like the one pictured above, we reckon we’d soon cheer up once we got behind the wheel…

With car thefts rising across the country, a new group has been formed by policing minister Nick Hurd to take action.

The taskforce intends to emulate the recent successes seen in London across the rest of the UK. A similar model in the capital was able to reduced moped-related crime by a third, with the police taking bold tactics to stop criminals.

Plans are in place for the new vehicle theft taskforce to publish a new nationwide action plan, and also ensure best practice is shared between partners.

A shocking increase in car crime has prompted the new taskforce. Across the country, vehicle crime has risen by 7 per cent in the past twelve months alone, ‘leaving no community unaffected’.

Attendees at the first meeting included representatives from the National Police Chiefs’ Council, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Association of British Insurers, and West Midlands Police.

Theft of vehicles has risen after decades of decline. I have convened a cross sector task force to develop a new plan to prevent & disrupt increasingly organised crime.Thx to @PoliceChiefs @WMPolice @MOPACLdn @CITS_UK @BritishInsurers @ThatchamRsrch @WestMidsPCC for input pic.twitter.com/r57id3DJPc

— Nick Hurd (@NickHurdUK) January 15, 2019

Underground chop shops and relay thefts driving crime

The inclusion of West Midlands Police is significant, as the force area has suffered a staggering 100 per cent increase in vehicle thefts during the past four years.

A network of ‘chop shops’ – illegal garages repairing written-off cars with parts from stolen vehicles – has been blamed by the force for fuelling the increase in thefts. Cars can be specifically stolen to order, with high-end vehicles the most profitable.

Keyless entry ‘relay attacks’ have also been described as an ‘epidemic’ by the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner. These thefts allow criminals to steal cars without using the keys, with equipment available online for relatively low prices.

‘Swift and decisive action’

Whilst chairing the first meeting of the taskforce, Policing Minister Nick Hurd said: “We are determined to take swift and decisive action on emerging crime threats. With rates of vehicle theft increasing, I am keen to ensure everything is being done to prevent these crimes”.

Part of the challenge for the new taskforce will be tackling a problem which has spread across the country. Whilst the surge in moped crime was primarily focused on London, chop shops and relay thefts are an issue facing almost all police forces. 

The taskforce aims to improve standards in vehicle security, along with investigating how best to prevent criminals from exploiting the salvage process for written-off cars. It is due to meet again in six months’ time.

Gran Turismo Sport players are set to receive a late Christmas present, with a host of new cars and bonus content.

Rolling out on 17th January 2019, Update 1.32 includes eight cars handpicked by Polyphony Digital, along with the return of an epic circuit to race them on.

There are also the regular additions of new championships and competitions, a new photo location, plus minor tweaks and bug fixes for the PlayStation game.

Curated for the masses

Polyphony has billed the octet of cars as being some of ‘the most popular cars in the world’ according to GT Sport players. It’s a bold claim, but looking at the list it’s hard to see any which would not feature as a top pick.

There is classic American muscle, to high-revving Japanese street racers, and everything in between with this latest update. The full list of cars is:

• 1953 Aston Martin DB3S
• 1956 Porsche 356 356 A/1500 GS GT Carrera Speedster
• 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350
• 1971 Ferrari Dino 246 GT
• 1998 Honda Integra Type-R (DC2)
• 2000 TVR Tuscan Speed Six
• 2001 BMW Z8
• 2007 Nissan Fairlady Z Version S

As with every GT Sport update, the cars have been beautifully modelled, featuring exquisitely detailed interiors, and the ability to tune and modify each car as you so desire.

Taking the long way around

The new circuit added in Update 1.32 certainly sees GT Sport gamers getting value for money. At over 30km long, Special Stage Route X will be familiar to anyone who has played previous iterations of the Gran Turismo franchise.

It may only feature two corners, but with the longest straight measuring some 12km this is the track to find out what the ultimate highest speed is for the cars in your virtual garage.

A new GT League ‘Z Heritage’ event sees Nissan’s Z-cars battle it out on track, whilst other existing championships gain new rounds.

Wait, what about those playing Forza Horizon 4 on Xbox One?

Sony PlayStation fans are not the only gamers getting free racing content this month. Microsoft’s Forza Horizon 4 also sees extra features, and seven special Mitsubishi models, added for free.

The Japanese brand had been notably absent from the open-world racing game, causing problems for those who needed a Lancer Evo to race against a Subaru Impreza. Now they have a choice of four Evolution versions, plus other performance Mitsubishi offerings.

New challenges and bonus content also play a part in the latest update.